Westport Democratic Town Committee

“Blame me for the medicine, but don’t blame me for the problem,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said Saturday morning as he discussed his efforts to deal with the state’s $38 billion budget deficit. Malloy addressed about 100 Westport Democrats at a breakfast fundraiser that was also attended by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and other Democratic elected officials.

Malloy told the Minuteman he hoped state union employees will agree to givebacks negotiated by their leadership to help balance the budget, but if they don’t, other steps will have to be taken. Two key unions said this week they wouldn’t go along with the givebacks.

Malloy answered “I hope not” when asked whether the additional steps may include reductions in state aid to municipalities, a prospect that state officials mentioned this week.

“We’ve decided to play it straight, which it hasn’t been played in Connecticut for a long time,” Malloy told the Democrats gathered at Tavern on the Main.The event was hosted by Westport Democraic Town Chairman Jim Ezzes. Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff gave opening remarks. In addition to Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, state Comptroller Kevin Lembo, and Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, State Reps. Jonathan Steinberg and Kim Fawcett, as well as Westport Democrats serving on boards and commissions in Westport, Weston and Wilton, attended the breakfast.

Westport was the only town Malloy won in the Fourth Congressional District in last November’s election. He defeated Republican businessman Tom Foley by 6,440 votes statewide.

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