The Connecticut state flag.(portal.ct.gov) Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Senator Kelly, Representative Candelora, Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz, members of the General Assembly, since I last joined you here in the people’s chamber, we lost a champion for Connecticut, Representative Quentin “Q” Williams. Q fought for a more equal and just Connecticut. Let us all dedicate ourselves to that work. My primary focus for the next two years, and beyond, will be economic growth and inclusive opportunity. That is what my proposed budget will deliver. For the first time in over a generation, Connecticut has enjoyed strong economic and population growth – more taxpayers, a growing economy, coupled with our shared fiscal discipline, has resulted in four consecutive balanced budgets – soon to be five. Building off this momentum, my budget continues to grow the economy through a middle-class tax cut, investments in our young families, education, workforce training, workforce housing, and helping families eliminate medical debt. We continue to move from rescue to recovery, lifelines to ladders to opportunity. None of this would be possible if not for our collective hard work over the last four years which is the foundation of which our next chapter of growth and opportunity for […]