McLachlan, Roraback propose pension reform [Danbury News-Times]
January 24, 2012Story as it appeared in the Danbury News-Times on January 24, 2012
Two area Republican state senators — Michael McLachlan of Danbury and Andrew Roraback of Goshen — have proposed overhauling the state pension system by taking such steps as ending pensions for new state employees and instead offering them a 401(k) plan.
The two senators were joined by state Sen. Jason Welch, R-Bristol, in their proposal.
It comes a day after Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, proposed a plan for annual increases to the state pension fund, which is now underfunded.
“This is a big problem that cannot be fixed overnight, but we also cannot wait another night to start working on the solution,” MacLachlan said in a press statement.
Malloy senior adviser Roy Occhiogrosso, said in rebuttal Tuesday that pensions were part of the agreement Malloy reached with state employees during the budget negotiations in 2011.
The Malloy administration reached an agreement last year with state employees that will save Connecticut taxpayers $21.5 billion over 20 years,” Occhiogrosso said. “That agreement covers these issues, and Sen. Roraback knows that.”