State Representative Charlie Meier issued a statement following the passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) state budget scheduled to take effect July 1, 2023:
“The state budget crafted and supported by Democrat lawmakers behind closed doors sets the stage for a progressive income tax hike. Some programs are funded for only six months to make it appear we have a balanced budget. This was not the time to increase programs but instead look for savings. The budget approved spends an additional one billion on health care for undocumented immigrants while underfunding services for our most vulnerable and their caregivers. Taxpayers are paying more for everything these days, yet the Democrat majority gave themselves a pay raise. My Republican colleagues and I offered to work with the Democrats on a state budget that is balanced, that would have included our shared priorities, however, the Democratic leadership chose to pass a budget that spends more money without a plan to pay for these new programs in the future.”