Reps. Carney, MacLachlan Supports Public-Private Partnership to Help CT Federal Workers

State Representatives Jesse MacLachlan and Devin Carney voted in favor of a public-private partnership with Connecticut banks today 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 a bank, 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.

“It’s unacceptable that the Federal Government isn’t paying workers that are working important jobs that protect our country and state,” said Rep. MacLachlan. “We should be looking at more ways we can implement public-private partnerships to make our state more affordable for hard-working families. I encourage residents who are concerned with the federal shutdown to contact our Congressman and U.S. Senators.”

“There are currently 1,500 eligible workers impacted by the Federal Government shut down in Connecticut, and roughly 200 of them are deemed essential and cannot collect unemployment, which is just not right. For example, Coast Guard employees are not getting paid, but they are still carrying out essential duties like tending to public safety and performing search and rescue operations – just to name a few. These individuals and all that they do are absolutely critical to shoreline communities like the ones I represent, and for this reason I voted in favor of this measure,” said Rep. Carney.

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.

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).