House Democrats released proposed changes to legislation authorizing the Connecticut Department of Transportation to move forward with implementing tolls on Connecticut’s highways.
Joe Aresimowicz
A light-hearted “Toll Troll” demonstration by Yankee Institute at the Capitol on Tuesday drew media attention and ire of House leadership.
Approximately 150 protesters gathered outside the Connecticut Supreme Court across from the Capitol on Monday to protest Janus v. AFSCME, a free speech case being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Last week Pelletier decided to lash out against the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth with an op-ed in the Hartford Business Journal and some quotes in a CT Mirror story. According to her, the commission “attacks working people” because it is daring to discuss Connecticut’s financial problems and — gasp! — look at charts and graphs.
In a cautiously worded opinion issued Thursday, Attorney General George Jepsen said the state legislature does have the ability to change existing labor contracts but would need “substantial justification.”
Union members will receive $2,000 lump sum payments, which will count toward their pensions, next July as part of the concessions deal worked out between Gov. Dannel Malloy and union leaders.
SEBAC, the bargaining coalition that negotiates benefits for state government unions, represents approximately 40,000 members, meaning the state of Connecticut could have to make a payout as high as $80 million, although the lump sums will be pro-rated for part-time employees.
Connecticut's top union official wrote a letter to state employees asking them to approve a concession deal negotiated with Gov. Dannel Malloy and warned of "projected budget deficits in the billions."
In a letter to state union members, AFL-CIO President Lori Pelletier told union members they could secure their benefits until 2027 and gain four years of layoff protections under the concessions agreement.
