Governor proposing pension cap – Rell urges raising retirement age
http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2010/09/08/news/local/505964.txt
September 8, 2010
GEORGE KRIMSKY
Retiring Gov. M. Jodi Rell has proposed “bold and decisive measures” to reduce the state’s largest financial obligation — $34 billion in unfunded pensions and health benefits for state retirees.
In a letter Tuesday to a study commission that she appointed last February, the two-term Republican governor recommended a dozen changes in future retirement benefits for state employees. Most of her recommendations have already been rejected by the Democratic-led state legislature and state employee unions.
While the General Assembly doesn’t reconvene until January, when Rell leaves office, the state unions were quick to react Tuesday. In a press statement, the main union consortium, representing 45,000 state employees, labeled Rell’s announcement as “political grandstanding at its most cynical.”
Robert Rinker, head of the largest state union, added that “she waited until an election year to offer up talking points for Tom Foley’s campaign for governor,” referring to the GOP nominee. The state unions have endorsed Dan Malloy, the Democratic candidate.
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