Klarides Sisters Support Bill to Help CT Federal Workers

HARTFORD - State Representatives Themis Klarides and Nicole Klarides-Ditria have voted in favor of public-private partnership with banks that will aid Connecticut federal employees who are currently not receiving pay because of the Federal Government shutdown.

 

Under the bill, affected employees are eligible for up to three loans from banks, each equal to their monthly after-tax pay, up to $5,000, less unemployment benefits. The bill prohibits interest on the loans for 270 days after the shutdown ends.

 

Rep. Klarides said, “I am proud to support the emergency legislation to assist federal workers in Connecticut most adversely affected by the continuing partial government shutdown. This is a bipartisan response that will positively affect hundreds of workers and their families.”

 

"Not paying federal workers who help protect our national security is something we can't just sit back and watch happen," said Rep. Klarides-Ditria. "I wish lawmakers in Washington D.C. would open government back up, but in the meantime, Connecticut federal workers can be rest assured that they can pay their bills. We should continue to keep the pressure on our federal delegation to work together and compromise to locate a way to get our Federal Government open."

 

The bill also authorizes municipalities and municipal subdivisions to establish a tax-deferment program for such employees’ real and personal property or motor vehicles taxes, or water or sewer rates, charges or assessment payments; and

 

In addition, if federal law or guidance allows them to do so, authorizes such employees to receive unemployment compensation benefits (generally, federal employees that must work without pay during a shutdown are ineligible for unemployment benefits).

 

(This is a press release from Press Secretary Spencer Rubin)

 

Klarides Sisters Renew Call to Provide Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans

HARTFORD - House Republican Leader Themis Klarides and her sister State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria are continuing to fight to pass legislation that helps disabled veterans.

 

House Bill 5231 will allow municipalities, with their legislative body's approval, to freeze property taxes on homes owned by certain disabled veterans and their spouse or surviving spouse.  To be eligible, the veteran must have a service-connected disability and either the veteran or spouse must have lived in Connecticut for at least one year.

 

House Republican Leader Themis Klarides said, "In these difficult economic times, we are aware that municipalities are struggling financially. That is why this bill was written to provide towns and cities an option to offer this opportunity rather than mandate it."

 

Rep. Klarides continued, "Veterans who are injured as a result of their service live on fixed incomes and freezing their property taxes will help make living in our state more affordable."

 

Rep. Klarides-Ditria added, "Letting our local governments decide to freeze taxes for disabled veterans is something they should be allowed to do. Disabled veterans deserve this tax relief, and I will continue to fight to get this legislation passed."

 

The Veterans' Affairs Committee passed this legislation unanimously. Before the bill can become law it must pass both the House and Senate.

 

(This is a press release from Spencer Rubin, State of CT House Republicans)

Gentile Applauds Approval of $1.2 Billion State Employee Concession Plan

State Representative Linda Gentile (Derby, Ansonia) applauds the House approval of a $1.2 billion state employee concession plan that will enact several significant structural changes and save $24 billion over the life of the agreement.

 

This is an historic agreement that prioritizes structural, verifiable reductions to long-term pension and benefit costs, while also achieving significant savings in the coming biennium. This groundbreaking agreement substantially reduces the unfunded liability for both the state employee retirement system and our retiree health benefits trust fund.

 

Under this labor deal, the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition has agreed to zero wage increases for three years, higher health co-pays and premiums, and three unpaid furlough days in 2017-18.

 

“This labor agreement is the first step toward solving our budget deficit as it adopts a spending plan that generates new revenue, restructures our pension system into the future, while respecting the promises made in the past, and takes advantage of our demographic reality.” Rep. Gentile said. “This deal will put Connecticut on the path to financial sustainability, produce immediate savings in healthcare and enact several significant structural changes by gradually shifting costs onto employees and retirees into the future.”

 

Other structural changes include overtime capped at 60 percent, health insurance redesign, pension reforms, increased co-pays, premium cost sharing and COLA reforms.

 

Additionally, the plan will require all employees to pay 2 percent more into their pension over biennium and establish a new tier IV of employees going forward that will have a defined benefit and contribution plan.

 

In regards to savings, this agreement:

• Saves taxpayers approximately $710 million in Fiscal Year 2018 and $850 million in Fiscal Year 2019,

• Savings grows to $24 billion over the next 20 years,
• Turns a $20.7 billion unfunded liability into a $1.5 billion surplus over 30 year

(This is a press release from Gentile's office)