Senator Kelly Disappointed in Approval of Pension Agreement

HARTFORD, Conn. – State Senator Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) today released the following statement regarding the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) Pension Refinancing Agreement that was approved today in the General Assembly.

“I am disappointed that this deal has passed,” said Sen. Kelly. “This agreement saddles our children and grandchildren with 11 billion dollars in new burdens. I believe that future generations of Connecticut deserve better.”

The State Senate today approved the pension agreement with a vote of 18 to 17, along party lines, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution 76 to 72.

“Instead of being proactive about our fiscal situation our state is being reactive and making it even more difficult to achieve pension reform in the future, ” said Sen. Kelly.

“We have a $4.4 billion pension problem to fix and the Governor’s solution is an $11 billion tax bill for our children. As a parent with children I cannot vote for an agreement that is going to put almost three times the cost of today’s problem on the backs of our kids,” said Sen. Kelly. “Our children continue to leave this state because of decisions like this. I could not, in good conscience vote for this refinance and I am disappointed the Governor and his majority decided to continue the practice of kicking the can down the road.”