Posted on March 28, 2017
HARTFORD — State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) asked the Legislative Appropriations Committee this week to pass two bills she introduced that would reduce Connecticut’s state employee pension costs: H.B. 6468, to remove mileage reimbursement from legislator pension calculations; and H.B. 5012, to help reduce the overall cost of the state employee workforce in Connecticut.
According to the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office of Research, in February 2017 the State of Connecticut employed about 66,800 workers, with over 1,000 being added just from January 2017.
“Connecticut’s state employee payroll expenses are the second highest in the nation per full-time employee. In a study by Andrew Biggs, commissioned by the Yankee Institute, simply paying state employees at market levels would save the state between $1.4 billion and $2.5 billion in annual compensation costs. Many states and municipalities have moved newly hired employees to health savings accounts and defined contribution plans. It is past time for Connecticut to do the same if the state is to set its fiscal house in order,” said Rep. Cheeseman, who urged the committee members to join her in supporting the two bills.
“With multi-billion dollar deficits going forward, now is not the time for half-measures,” Rep. Cheeseman said on addressing Connecticut’s fiscal challenges. “All options need to be explored. It seems only just that legislators should contribute to the solution. There is no logical reason that mileage reimbursement should be included in the calculation for pension benefits.”
The Appropriations committee will soon vote on whether or not to move the bill to the House and/or Senate for consideration.