“So where is it?” Fasano Seeks Details of ‘Honest’ Budget Savings from Lamont

Sen. Fasano Seeks Details
of ‘Honest’ Budget Savings from Gov. Lamont

“Show the State of Connecticut where the $450 million is saved.”

Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) has written to Gov. Ned Lamont requesting that the governor provide information and documents related to the alleged pension and health care savings in the still unsigned state budget bill.

“I am looking to find evidence of where the $450 million in state employee union savings is in this state budget that Gov. Lamont intends to sign into law,” Sen. Fasano said. “Ok, so where is it?  I asked for this information a week ago, prior to the budget vote.  I never received it.  Here we are, a week later, and I continue to ask for details.  The governor says this is an ‘honest’ and ‘balanced’ budget.  If so, then show the State of Connecticut where the $450 million is saved.  Be transparent with the people of this state.”

“We’re talking about nearly half a billion in taxpayers’ dollars,” Sen. Fasano added. “Taxpayers deserve to know if that number is real or fiction. Look them in the eye and be straight with them. Democrats who voted for the budget last week apparently believed this $450,000,000 in savings was real. If the savings isn’t real, then those Democrats were duped into voting for an unbalanced budget and they should be outraged. If the savings isn’t real, then those Democrats should also be held accountable for voting ‘yes’ on a document with a ton of phantom savings. I would also remind the governor that he cannot sign into law a state budget that is not in balance.”

Sen. Fasano’s June 10 letter to Gov. Lamont requests the following:

Any and all documents, including emails, with respect to “Smart Shopper” or health care savings or the re-amortization of the Connecticut State Employee Retirement System (SERS) reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all documents, including emails, relating in any way to negotiations of any kind between the State of Connecticut and state employee labor unions with respect “Smart Shopper” or health care savings or the re-amortization of SERS reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all agreements, including emails, with state employee labor unions with respect to “Smart Shopper” or health care savings or the re-amortization of SERS reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget in which the unions have agreed that the savings can be realized.

Any and all documents, including emails, that reflect any communications to members of state employee unions regarding “Smart Shopper” or health care savings or the re-amortization of SERS reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all last best offers made by the State of Connecticut or state employee labor unions with respect to negotiations over “Smart Shopper” or health care savings reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all documents, including emails, relating in any way to negotiations of any kind between the State of Connecticut and state employee labor unions with respect “Smart Shopper” or health care savings reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings as those relate to State of Connecticut retirees.

Any and all documents, including emails, that reflect any communications to State of Connecticut retirees regarding “Smart Shopper” or health care savings reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all communications in any form with any medical provider regarding “Smart Shopper” or health care savings reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all communications in any form with any insurance company regarding “Smart Shopper” or health care savings reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all communications in any form with any third-party administrator regarding “Smart Shopper” or health care savings reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all communications in any form with any pharmacy or pharmacy group regarding “Smart Shopper” or health care savings reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.

Any and all communications in any form with any consultants regarding “Smart Shopper” or health care savings or the re-amortization of SERS reflected in the Pension and Health Care Savings line item within the state budget.