A local lawmaker introduced an amendment to allow the House Republican budget proposal be brought up for a hearing and a vote.  Southbury Representative Arthur O'Neill, whose district also includes Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington, called it an unprecedented amendment.  But he said the state finds itself in an unprecedented situation as well.  Connecticut is more than three weeks into the fiscal year, with no approved budget plan in place.

There is a projected $5 billion deficit over the next two years.

O'Neill said the fiscal picture is worse than he's ever seen it.  He means that it is not time for business as usual.  O'Neill said the current budget process has broken down and is not working.

The Appropriations Committee failed to vote out a plan before the General Assembly session ended in June.  A planned special session to vote on a proposal at the end of last month was called off.  Legislative leaders also declined to vote on a mini-budget, a three month spending plan, offered by Governor Malloy.