In a change from the long-delayed budget deliberations with Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell, House Speaker Chris Donovan says his goal this year is to pass the state budget in early May.
In recent years, Rell and the Democratic-controlled legislature - which had veto-proof margins in both chambers - often battled with little progress over taxes and spending. The budget debate even spilled into September in the longest fiscal battle in state history - surpassing the epic clash that produced the state income tax in 1991.
By contrast, both Donovan and Malloy are hoping to move the process much faster this year because the administration and the legislature are both run by Democrats.
"The governor has put out a package that is generally in the right direction, and we just have to work out the details,'' Donovan told Capitol Watch.
The spending package that will be crafted by the appropriations committee and the tax package that will be molded by the finance committee will be "close to the real deal,'' Donovan said.