With more than 24 hours to spare, the legislature's Democratic majorities on Tuesday evening delivered a two-year state budget to Gov. Ned Lamont. It doesn't raise income taxes on the rich, or deplete Connecticut's rainy day fund.

So then, just how does the $43.4 billion plan add up? And how were enough lawmakers brought on board to get it across the finish line?

Today, we dive deep into the budget to get those answers, and address Republican critics' concerns over "pork barrel" spending.

We also look at two curious budget line items. One specifically benefits one of Connecticut's insurance giants. The other exempts the board overeeing a public-private partnership between the state and Connecticut's wealthiest couple from open government and ethics laws. 

And we check out former Gov. Dannel Malloy's latest endeavor: overhauling higher education as chancellor at the University of Maine.

With more than 24 hours to spare, the legislature's Democratic majorities on Tuesday evening <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/06/04/a-tale-of-two-budgets-senate-dems-back-plan-over-gop-objections/" data-cke-saved-href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/06/04/a-tale-of-two-budgets-senate-dems-back-plan-over-gop-objections/">delivered a two-year state budget</a> to Gov. Ned Lamont. It doesn't raise income taxes on the rich, or deplete Connecticut's rainy day fund.
So then, just how does the $43.4 billion plan add up? And how were enough lawmakers brought on board to get it across the finish line?
Today, we dive deep into the budget to get those answers, and address Republican critics' concerns over <a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/politics/ctpost/article/Republicans-criticize-pork-in-Democratic-13922284.php" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ctinsider.com/politics/ctpost/article/Republicans-criticize-pork-in-Democratic-13922284.php">"pork barrel" spending</a>.
We also look at two curious budget line items. One&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/06/03/on-page-547-of-the-budget-a-favor-to-cigna/" data-cke-saved-href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/06/03/on-page-547-of-the-budget-a-favor-to-cigna/">specifically benefits one of Connecticut's insurance giants</a>. The other <a href="https://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-foi-exemption-dalio-connecticut-schools-20190604-2xq3ibfbhjdgrclsl3klxkzbra-story.html" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-foi-exemption-dalio-connecticut-schools-20190604-2xq3ibfbhjdgrclsl3klxkzbra-story.html">exempts the board overeeing a public-private partnership</a> between the state and Connecticut's wealthiest couple from open government and ethics laws.&nbsp;
And we check out former Gov. Dannel Malloy's <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/05/30/malloy-heads-downeast-to-be-chancellor-at-umaine/" data-cke-saved-href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/05/30/malloy-heads-downeast-to-be-chancellor-at-umaine/">latest endeavor</a>: overhauling higher education as chancellor at the University of Maine.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.

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