Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters
Association of Connecticut
LEGISLATIVE ALERT – March 8, 2006
The Labor and Public Employees Committee
on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 sent (JF) the following bill to the Planning and
Development Committee.
SUPPORT
S.B. No. 16 (RAISED)
LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. 'AN ACT PROTECTING MUNICIPAL RETIREE HEALTH
INSURANCE BENEFITS', to prohibit municipalities from eliminating or diminishing
retiree health insurance benefits.
I have
attached the list of the Planning and Developement Committee Members along with
their phone numbers. Please call the committee members and ask them to support and vote S.B. 16 out of committee. I have
also attached the Talking Points for the Bill. Please inform me of any response
you receive from a legislator. You can contact me at GSkeets@aol.com
or cell phone (203) 592-1288. Gary Keating Director Legislative/Political
Affairs UPFFA
Talking Points:
Several
private sector industries have attempted to reduce or eliminate the benefits of
individuals
after they have left employment. This practice is also starting to be seen in
some
municipalities in the State. The Waterbury retired fire fighters brought suit
and won
a
partial victory in the Connecticut Supreme Court. However, it is widely
believed that
without
legislative intervention, similar attacks upon retirees will continue. That is
why
legislation
safeguarding retiree health benefits is crucial.
Proposed Change
•
Seeking to modify state law to
not allow the reduction or elimination benefits of an
individual
post retirement.
Supporting Facts
•
Affects the most vulnerable of
our society at a time when they need the medical
benefits
the most.
•
Retirees have limited options
to see adjudication via the court system which is a
cost
prohibitive item for an individual on a fixed income.
•
These benefits were part of a
negotiated “total inclusive” package
o
A deal is a deal, why allow 1
party to back out of a deal years after it
was
mutually agreed to.
•
This bill would allow the
municipalities to reduce costs by maintaining their ability
to
competitively bid medical benefits while providing the same level of coverage.
•
In many cases, these retirees
gave something else up along the way to ensure their
retirement
would be safe. A deal is a deal. Retirees should be able to count on
their
municipalities to uphold a mutually agreed upon deal.
Committee Members:
Planning and Development Committee
Name Position Party
S02 -
Coleman,
Eric D.
Co-
Chair
Bloomfield,Hartford,Windsor 860-240-5302 D
109 -
Wallace,
Lewis J.
Co-
Chair
Danbury 1-800-842-8267
D
S05 - Harris,
Jonathan
Vice
Chair
West Hartford,Bloomfield,Burlington
860-240-0558 D
059 -
Jarmoc,
Steve
Vice
Chair
Endfield 1-800-842-8267
D
S34 -
Fasano,
Leonard
Ranking
Member
East haven,North Haven,Wallingford (800) 842-1421 R
066 - Miner,
Craig A.
Ranking
Member
Bethelem,Litchfield,Morris,
Warren,Woodbury 1-800-842-1423 R
014 - Aman,
Bill
Member South Windsor 1-800-842-1423 R
011 - Christ,
Michael A.
Member East Hartford 1-800-842-1902 D
094 - Dyson,
William R.
Member New Haven 1-800-842-8267 D
132 - Drew,
Thomas
Member Fairfield 1-800-842-8267 D
146 - Fox,
Gerald
Member Stamford 1-800-842-8267 D
104 -
Gentile,
Linda
Member Ansonia,Derby 1-800-842-8267 D
127 -
Hennessy,
John
Member Bridgeport 1-800-842-8267 D
008 - Lewis,
Joan A.
Member Columbia,Coventry,Vernon 1-800-842-8267 D
122 - Miller,
Lawrence G.
Member Shelton,Stratford 1-800-842-1423 R
141 - Ryan,
John J.
Member Darien,Rowayton 1-800-842-1423 R
043 - Urban,
Diana S.
Member North Stonington,Stonington 1-800-842-1423 R
063 - Wilber,
George M.
Member
Barkhamstead,Canaan,ColebrookHa
rtland,Norfolk,North
Canaan,Winchester
1-800-842-8267
D
