Saving taxpayers $1.5 billion over two years
July 23, 2017The state House of Representatives took a significant step Monday toward solving Connecticut’s fiscal crisis by securing a crucial piece of the budget puzzle – ratifying a concessions deal with the state workforce. This agreement is expected to save taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next two years and $24 billion over the next 20 years.
On Monday, I had the privilege of leading House passage of the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) agreement. This historic deal, which will put Connecticut on the path to financial stability, passed in the House in a 78-72 vote.
Under this agreement, thousands of middle-class state workers agreed to zero wage increases for three years, higher health co-pays and premiums, three unpaid furlough days next year, and increased pension contributions.
During the more than four hours of debate, we discussed the agreement as well as the House Republicans’ proposal to make these changes unilaterally by eliminating collective bargaining in Connecticut. Doing so would be -- in my opinion -- both legally, and morally wrong.
Instead of going down that path, this collectively bargained agreement shrinks Connecticut's budget deficit, makes deep structural changes to state workers’ pensions and benefits – all while reaffirming the role our state workforce and collective bargaining has played in building, maintaining and preserving the middle class in this state.
The SEBAC agreement now heads to the Senate for consideration.
To learn more about the SEBAC debate, watch these videos:
Introducing the SEBAC agreement
Debating the SEBAC agreement with Republican legislators
Democratic legislators weigh in on the SEBAC agreement