Lawmakers to hold special session to tackle deficit

(AP) - State lawmakers are returning to theCapitol to tackle the current fiscal year deficit, estimated atmore than $300 million. The special session is beginning Monday. Leaders of the Democrat-controlled

News 12 Staff

Nov 24, 2008, 2:26 PM

Updated 5,876 days ago

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(AP) - State lawmakers are returning to theCapitol to tackle the current fiscal year deficit, estimated atmore than $300 million. The special session is beginning Monday. Leaders of the Democrat-controlled legislature say they supportabout 90 percent of the deficit mitigation plan proposed byRepublican Gov. M. Jodi Rell. It includes spending cuts and delaysto various programs, such as waiting to purchase new statevehicles. There's also a proposed tax amnesty program. But the beer and soda distributors, and some lawmakers, don'tlike Rell's plan to funnel unclaimed bottle deposits to the state.It's supposed to generate an estimated $28 million in extrarevenue. Struggling bottle redemption centers are hoping some of thatmoney can be used to increase their meager handling fees.