“At his press conference today, Gov. Ned Lamont insisted that he has no power to suspend a scheduled wage increase for state employees at a time when Connecticut is facing unprecedented unemployment and budgetary problems. He’s essentially telling us state government unions are so powerful – and their perks so ironclad – that no elected leader can review them even in a time of unprecedented economic crisis.
That’s not good enough. The people of Connecticut deserve fairness during this crisis. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo suspended a scheduled state employee wage increase in April and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf froze the pay of 9,000 state workers. If the governor has the power to suspend legislative actions and regulations, to close over 36,000 businesses in Connecticut and put hundreds of thousands out of work, then he has the power to suspend state employee raises that will further strain Connecticut’s budget. Shared sacrifice during this time has to be shared by all — including government employees who have not missed a paycheck during this pandemic. This is more evidence of Connecticut’s government unions’ stranglehold over state government. Gov. Lamont should do what’s right and take the steps that he knows are necessary to put this state on the right path to recovery.”
Statement attributable to Carol Platt Liebau, President of Yankee Institute
John
June 9, 2020 @ 2:50 pm
He could freeze all wages and raises but he chooses to stand with the unions over the people
Carol
June 11, 2020 @ 7:17 pm
You most certainly can stop these raises from happening. You freeze them! This is an excuse!
Brad Chonka
June 11, 2020 @ 2:17 pm
Guess officials are above everyone else? I think not, they are supposed to be same as everyone else. Lead by example not stupidity and greed. Everyone elses wages are frozen so why are yours the exception?