The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
A bipartisan response
Legislature to meet Tuesday in hopes of helping federal workers
The General Assembly has reached a bipartisan agreement to meet on Tuesday to enable federal employees to receive unemployment pay.
Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday morning that the public-private partnership among the state, banks and credit unions will go to a vote in an emergency session of the House and Senate.
Under the legislation that is currently being drafted, non-essential workers, and those required to work without pay, could obtain interest-free loans backed by the state.
“Connecticut’s business community is stepping up to the plate to help our state’s citizens, who through no fault of their own are finding themselves unable to pay for essential bills to support their families,” Lamont said in a statement. “This is an innovative partnership, and I want to commend the banks who are working with our administration to provide this assistance.”
“Within the limits of state authority, it is imperative we do all we can for these federal workers who are being victimized by President Trump’s extreme and irrational policy,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said.
“I applaud the governor for thinking outside of the box and developing a collaborative approach to assist workers who are facing challenging times,” said Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, RNorth Haven. “Uniting state and private sector efforts is an inventive way to achieve our shared goal of helping federal employees most in need. I appreciate the governor’s work to unite lawmakers on both sides of the aisle behind this solution. I also congratulate him on his openness to working with Connecticut businesses that are eager to help Connecticut residents.”
“These are our family, friends, and neighbors who by no fault of their own are being unfairly punished by a breakdown in Washington,” Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter said in a joint statement.
“I am proud to support the emergency legislation to assist federal workers in Connecticut most adversely affected by the continuing partial government shutdown,” said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby. “This is a bipartisan response that will positively affect hundreds of workers and their families.”
As of Friday morning, participating banks include Webster Bank and People’s United and Union Savings Bank in Danbury but the list is expected to grow when the legislation gets approved by lawmakers and signed by Lamont next week.
The legislation is also expected to let cities and towns defer local property tax payments for those federal employees affected.