All 15 Republican state Senators, including Mike McLachlan of Danbury, and 64 GOP state Representatives have signed a petition calling for a Special Session to remedy budget cuts ordered by Governor Malloy to hospitals and social service programs, and to make corrections to the budget before a big deficit builds. 

But leaders of the General Assembly's minority party acknowledged Tuesday they need at least four Democrats in the Senate and 12 Democrats in the House to join all 79 Republicans in signing the petition.

Democratic leaders say the petition is "the GOP continuing to put political grandstanding ahead of serious policy".  House Speaker Brendan Sharkey said Democrats plan to announce alternatives to Malloy's cuts, which he called devastating.