Senate Democrats approved raises for around 42,000 Connecticut workers
All but one Senate Republicans voted against the agreement, despite the caucus’s purported concern over Connecticut’s cost of living
Sen. Heather Somers was among the Republicans who compared state worker raises to livestock feeding at a “trough” before voting “no”
Nearly all Connecticut Senate Republicans voted Wednesday against a new contract providing raises for corrections officers, nurses, plow truck drivers, and tens of thousands of other Connecticut workers.
Despite heavy Republican opposition, Senate Democrats approved a negotiated agreement providing around 42,000 Connecticut workers a 2.5% raise and a step increase in each of the next three years. The resolution will cover workers like correctional staff, healthcare providers at state facilities, child protection workers, and more.
While Senate Republicans have argued at length that the cost of living is too high in Connecticut, all but one voted to prevent thousands of workers from getting a raise.
Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, invoked the imagery of livestock animals feeding at a “trough” as she discussed her opposition to giving raises to the group of Connecticut workers.
“With the cost of living being extraordinarily high, now we’re coming back to that trough, and we’re asking them to fund this type of salary increase,” Somers said before voting against state workers.
Somers wasn’t the only Republican to liken Connecticut workers to animals on Wednesday. According to the Connecticut Post, House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora made similar comments ahead of a House debate on the contracts.
“We have to stop feeding the pigs and start worrying about our taxpayers,” Candelora, R-North Branford, said, according to the Post.
Sen. Paul Cicarella, a North Haven Republican and former correction officer, voted against giving his former colleagues a boost in pay. Sen. Ryan Fazio, a Greenwich Republican who worked at a “growth equity firm” voted against raises for plow truck drivers.
“This is not a difficult vote,” Fazio said as he opposed raises for blue collar workers.
Of the Senate’s 11 Republicans, only Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, voted with Democratic legislators to approve the agreement.
By Hugh McQuaid
