Legislators attend Labor and Public Employees Committee Public Hearing

MIDDLETOWN – Rep. Dave Rutigliano (R-123), joined his fellow legislators at a Labor and Public Employees Committee, Public Hearing at the Middletown City Hall, Feb. 24.  The audience in attendance counted in the hundreds, and included fellow legislators, local union representatives and Connecticut residents.

The Public Hearing covered prevailing wage issues in Connecticut, and took place at the off-campus site in Middletown, following the guidance of the current House Speaker, Rep. Brendan Sharkey.

Dozens of bills were discussed at the hearing on prevailing wage, unemployment benefits, and public works projects.

Most of the bills were requested by municipal leaders, looking for some property tax relief, and the local businesses looking for some relief from special unemployment, Rep. Rutigliano said.

“What we want to do is simple: contribute to job growth in our state, and help businesses stay here,” he said.

Rep. Rutigliano is a ranking member on the Labor and Public Employees Committee. He is also a member of the General Assembly’s Finance, Revenue & Bonding, and General Law Committees.

The Labor and Public Employees Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, conditions of employment, hours of labor, minimum wages, industrial safety, occupational health and safety, labor unions and labor disputes; all matters relating to the Department of Labor; and all matters relating to conditions of employment of state and municipal employees and the substantive law of state and municipal employees’ collective bargaining.