· Four rounds of rescissions;
· A ban on hiring and out-of-state travel;
· Three deficit mitigation plans;
· A freeze on state agency purchasing for the remainder of the fiscal year.

“Republicans and Democrats built an agreement both parties could stomach, so I expect that we’ll be able to do it again,” he said. “That’s what we’re elected to do. I’m sure that’s what people in my district expect.”

Majority party Democrats included $168 million in savings that Republicans proposed in their deficit mitigation plan, and Rigby said he is particularly proud of the effort he and his caucus colleagues put forth in fighting to remove cuts in the original bill to special education funding and bridge repair projects.

Good news for seniors is included in the plan in the form of a prescription drug coverage change expected to save 30,000 seniors an average of $1,200 a year medication costs, while saving the state money.

“We’ll have harder choices to make very soon. And more debate, for sure. But that’s only because everyone here wants to do what they think is best for the people of this state,” Rigby said. “For example, I think we need reduce the size of government. It’s bloated. And we need to do it without raising taxes on businesses and families.”

“In my opinion, last night’s vote was a launching pad toward accomplishing those goals,” he said.

“This is a clear indication that the public doesn’t want tax increases when we’re in the middle of an economic recession. I have consistently urged spending decreases to deal with our fiscal crisis and so far we have had little to no action from the people who control the legislature, state Rep. John Rigby said.

“The longer we wait, the worse the deficit grows,” he said.

The poll shows that Democrats are almost evenly divided on the question with 41 percent favoring tax increases and 47 percent pushing for spending cuts. The data shows that 89 percent of Republicans want spending cuts and 72 percent of unaffiliated voters support cuts to spending to offset the deficit.

“Connecticut can’t afford tax increases at a time when people are losing their jobs and revenue across the board is disappearing,’’ Rigby said. “I know people in the Northwest Corner can’t.”

Nearly 70 percent of those polled said that proposed budget cuts, including elimination of two dozen state agencies, are either appropriate or that they do not go far enough, Rigby said.

The Q-Poll also showed that:

• At least 82 percent or respondents said now is the time to shrink state government as Republicans have urged for months.
• 59 percent said the state of Connecticut’s workforce should be decreased even if it means layoffs or a reduction in services.
• 61 percent said no tax increases should be considered, compared to 36 percent who said some taxes hikes should be considered.

Since last spring Republicans have called for budget adjustments to account for the diminishing revenues and proposed reforms on everything from printing costs to unnecessary and costly improvements to the Capitol, a rollback of legislators’ pay and personnel reductions.

“Proposals from my colleges and me and been ignored in the House chamber. Residents of this state, based on the Qunnipiac poll, understand what’s at stake and they want reform,” Rigby said. “It’s time this legislature listen.”

Combining certain functions of higher education and the state education department

Re-ordering the functions of numerous departments within Legislative Management that is responsible for running the state Capitol

Eliminating 400 vacant state positions and cutting at least another 400 through consolidations

Anticipating $550 million in cost-saving measures from public sector employee unions. Rigby said that could mean possibly offering early retirement to those who qualify to reduce state payroll

For weeks state lawmakers have stated that everyone must come together to solve an anticipated $8 billion budget deficit over the next two years. Rigby said the legislature should pass a budget as early as possible to help towns and cities put their own tax and spending plans together. It’s a request that Northwest Corner leaders voiced during a recent meeting where they outlined their legislative priorities. “We all have to work toward the goal of avoiding any new taxes. Connecticut cannot afford it and now we have the opportunity to recast state government to work more efficiently,’’ he said.

HARTFORD — There’s no better way to understand how the state’s fiscal woes will affect municipal budgets than to hear from the people in charge of them, Rep. John Rigby said Tuesday. More than two dozen leaders-mayors and first selectmen-from communities throughout the state were at the Capitol for a roundtable discussion organized by House Republicans. Municipal leaders such as Goshen First Selectman Robert Valentine and Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham gave legislators suggestions about how they could make life easier for their communities in the face of a massive state budget crunch. Rolling back unfunded mandates and temporarily suspending binding arbitration were among the suggestions from the invited group, which also included Kent First Selectman Ruth Epstein. Local leaders called for even greater communication as the budget crisis continues to unfold. “Municipalities are further ahead in building their budgets than the state is, and that poses a big problem for officials at the local level who are worried about how to balance their books in these tough economic times without significant tax increases for residents,” Rigby said Tuesday afternoon. The roundtable session with local officials started with a status report on the state budget from a representative from the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis. The presentation was well-received by the local officials, split evenly as representatives from both sides of the aisle. Most called Tuesday’s nonpartisan approach refreshing. At present, Gov. M. Jodi Rell has forecasted a budget deficit of more than $900 million for this fiscal year. The numbers are even worse for coming years-in the billions, perhaps. For the local officials Tuesday, financial aid from the state was a concern-particularly funding for education. Most municipal leaders said they would be happy to at least receive the same amount of money as last year. At the end of the two-hour session, the invited guests told House Republican Leader Larry Cafero, of Norwalk, that they look forward to meeting again as the legislative session proceeds. “For state legislators, these types of events are a great way to not only give the people you work for a clear understanding of what’s going on with the budget, but also for them to tell us what specific actions we can take to help them as they try to run their towns,” Rigby said. “I can’t wait for the next one,” he said.