Hartford, CT — State Representative Joe Hoxha (R-78) today issued a forceful call to Governor Ned Lamont to veto Senate Bill 8, a controversial piece of legislation that would allow striking workers to collect unemployment benefits after just 14 days — even if they’ve only worked a single day on the job or aren’t part of a union.

“This bill is a slap in the face to every hardworking taxpayer in Connecticut,” said Rep. Hoxha. “It creates a loophole so massive it might as well be an open invitation for anyone, even someone who started their job yesterday or has no union affiliation, to walk off the job and still get a government paycheck.”

Hoxha criticized the bill as a dangerous rewrite of what unemployment insurance is supposed to be: a safety net for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, not a reward system for those voluntarily participating in labor disputes.

“Let’s call this what it is: a politically motivated giveaway at the expense of Connecticut businesses and the people who actually fund the unemployment system — our employers,” Hoxha continued. “This bill doesn’t just tip the scale, it smashes it in favor of walkouts, regardless of merit or responsibility.”

The legislation passed the House by a narrow margin, with bipartisan opposition and strong backlash from the business community. Despite this, the majority party pushed it through in the final hours of the session.

Hoxha warned that if signed into law, the bill would set a dangerous precedent, allowing any employee, union or not, to strike, disrupt operations, and expect unemployment compensation while doing so.

“This is not labor justice. This is legislative recklessness,” said Hoxha. “The governor must veto this bill before it does irreparable harm to our economy and emboldens a wave of irresponsible work stoppages.”