Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, potential candidate for Governor in 2010, today responded to Gov. Rell's deficit mitigation plan: "It's nice to see the Governor is finally taking action on the budget. She's right that these are difficult times, and we need to make difficult decisions. But, I fundamentally disagree with the concept that there is nothing that shouldn't be cut. "While just about everything should be on the table, there's at least one thing that shouldn't be: more devastating cuts to an already devastated population. Connecticut's social services safety net has been under continuous assault in recent years. These programs are relied upon by thousands of the State's most needy, and they are already underfunded. "Of less immediate concern -- but certainly as shocking -- is the $12 million dollars that Governor Rell wants to take from the Citizens Election Fund. This is a program that the Governor signed into law and claims to support, yet $18 million have already been cut in the last budget, and this $12 million would pull the program well below the $48 million that its director says is needed for 2010. "This is particularly alarming given the potentially large primary fields for next year's statewide elections, especially considering that some candidates may be looking to self-fund, which would put an added strain on the system by driving up the amount of money for participating candidates. What happens then? "There's no question that Connecticut has to close its deficit, but I would hope we could all agree that it doesn't have to be closed on the backs of our most needy, or by dismantling a program that was championed as a national landmark in campaign finance reform."