CT is acting illegally here. Using SW license funds to close budget shortfalls in other areas is a direct violation of the Magnuson-Stevens act, and subjects the state to possible loss of some significant federal matching funds.
You guys are getting screwed and if you take it lying down, you only have yourselves to blame
CT will not offset the loss of the federal funds with increased license revenue--you can bet your bottom dollar on it. No one from RI is going to pay $80 next year when they can fish CT with reciprocal privileges on their own RI license or even a $10 Mass non-resident license.
You can bitch and complain, or you can act---the choice is yours.