Brian Lockhart, Staff Writer
Updated 11:21 p.m., Monday, June 6, 2011
HARTFORD -- The House of Representatives was expected to approve legislation allowing Bridgeport to escape massive annual pension payments Mayor Bill Finch argues would clobber taxpayers.
The proposal, anticipated to be approved by the Senate Tuesday or Wednesday, would allow Bridgeport to pay $7 million rather than $20 million in the coming fiscal year into a pension plan covering certain police and firefighters. The language was included in a massive budget bill that ate up several hours of debate Monday with the Republican minority targeting a host of other high-profile sections.
But early on in the debate, House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, pointed out what he considered the hypocrisy of Democrats supporting Bridgeport's request.
"I remember when the (state) budget was passed (in May) ... the majority party, in concert with our governor, took great pride in the fact we did not underfund our pension obligations," Cafero said.
State lawmakers have traditionally delayed pension payments in tough budget years. New Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy insisted this tradition end this session.
"And yet it's my understanding this governor and this legislature are saying, `We can do it, but if you're a city out there and you're up against it a little bit, you don't have to,' " Cafero told the House.
House Majority Leader Brendon Sharkey, D-Hamden, in an interview said Bridgeport is in a unique situation.
"It is an extremely distressed community that has been subject to past minimum pension obligations and has made and exceeded those in recent years," Sharkey said.
Finch, a Democrat who visited the Capitol on Friday in part to lobby for the pension relief, has made more of an effort to fund it than his two predecessors.
Under the proposal before the General Assembly, Bridgeport's annual payments would be recalculated each year using a 5 percent rate of growth, resulting in amortization after 24 years.
Asked about the legislation, which he has to sign, Thursday, Malloy reiterated his distaste for delaying pension payments but said he will review Bridgeport's request. Finch has said it was prepared with the cooperation of Malloy's budget office.
Staff Writer Brian Lockhart can be reached at brian.lockhart@scni.com
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