Our former state labor commissioner is going to run for state representative in the 38th District. Sharon Palmer would not vote on anything involving teachers or pensions being a former teacher. Would she? Conflict of interest? Others do it all the time. 

The fiscal mess the state is in, is not because of the unions, but the contracts that our legislators passed. Per Comptroller Kevin Lembo, some contracts do not expire until 2022. Currently, when an employee retires, the state keeps paying their medical until they become Medicare eligible. Then, the state pays the Medicare fee and the gap coverage for the employee for the rest of their lives.

The retirees will not allow the unions to reopen/alter these contracts, would you?

There are so many things wrong with the pensions, COLAs, number of sick and vacation days allowed to accumulate, part-time earnings towards pensions, that the last thing we need is another person elected to Hartford that has baggage. The Day’s David Collins keeps us informed about some of these double dippers, but does anyone do anything about it? Call your state representative and let them know how you feel? I did, they never called back. 

Well, don't forget the "lights." 

Jim Rondeau

Montville