Proposal to legalize marijuana among many Connecticut lawmakers to address in 2017 session Issues on tap include state deficit, marijuana and criminal justice

Sen. Martin Looney and Sen. Len Fasano Sen. Martin Looney and Sen. Len Fasano Photo: CTNewsJunkie File Photo Photo: CTNewsJunkie File Photo Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Proposal to legalize marijuana among many Connecticut lawmakers to address in 2017 session 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The 2017 legislative session is scheduled to start Wednesday with hundreds of campaign promises at stake and a General Assembly split by just seven seats in the House and a tiebreaking lieutenant governor in the Senate.

The budget — depending on which analyst you believe — is in deficit by $1.3 billion or $1.5 billion and will be a focal point for lawmakers who don’t want to raise taxes or further cut state services.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will deliver his state-of-the-state address at noon Wednesday and has repeatedly warned state employee unions that more layoffs will be necessary if they are unable to renegotiate the health and pension benefit package that doesn’t expire until 2022. The unions were recently able to reach an agreement with the administration over changes to the pension fund. However, none of those changes would make an impact on impact the benefits state employees receive as part of the agreement they inked with Malloy in 2011.

Lawmakers can raise the new pension package for a vote. But if they don’t, it will automatically go into effect 30 days after the session starts on Jan. 4.

In addition to the budget and labor issues that are likely to consume most of the debate, there are also several pressing policy discussions.

Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, pre-filed legislation calling for the legalization and taxation of marijuana. Looney’s legislation suggests revenue from marijuana sales should go to the general fund.

Read more at ctnewsjunkie.com.