Interest-free loans will be made available through banks.

By Mark Pazniokas, CTMirror.org

Gov. Ned Lamont and legislative leaders announced Friday they have reached a bipartisan agreement to vote Tuesday on emergency legislation providing unemployment assistance to federal workers going without pay during the protracted shutdown of the federal government.

Non-essential workers who have been furloughed and essential employees now working without pay would be able to obtain interest-free loans of up to one month’s net pay, capped at $5,000. The loans would be provided by the private financial institution and backed by the state.

The legislation would implement a public-private partnership announced Tuesday by Lamont and Webster Bank officials. People’s United Bank has since signed on, and the governor’s office said it hopes other institutions follow.

“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 Friday. “This is an innovative partnership, and I want to commend the banks who are working with our administration to provide this assistance. I also want to thank the bipartisan leadership in our state legislature for working in good faith to come to an agreement and adopt the legislation needed to put this program into action.”

The leaders of the Democratic majorities and Republican minorities in the Senate and House have agreed to the plan, giving the new administration a taste of bipartisan cooperation before the more difficult task of crafting a budget.

“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, R-North Haven.

“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.”

Placing emergency legislation before the General Assembly requires the consent of Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, and House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin. Emergency certification allows action without the bill going through the normal process of review by relevant committees and a public hearing.

Lamont’s office said the bill would be released as soon as it is drafted.

“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,” Looney said.

“These are our family, friends, and neighbors who by no fault of their own are being unfairly punished by a breakdown in Washington,” Aresimowicz and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said in a joint statement. “We appreciate Governor Lamont, the Connecticut Bankers’ Association, and the participating banks for finding a way to help those impacted by the shutdown, and we will take the action needed by the legislature in an expedited manner to move this forward.”

In addition to the loan program, the bill would allow municipalities to defer property tax payments authorizes the state’s unemployment insurance system if necessary changes are made to federal law.

On Tuesday, the governor and Webster announced a plan to provide state-backed loans to federal workers going unpaid during the shutdown, raising the possibility other banks and credit unions would participate. An estimated 1,200 to 1,500 federal employees are currently working without pay in Connecticut, the governor estimated, and could be eligible, according to Lamont.

Reprinted with permission of The Connecticut Mirror. The authors can be reached at [email protected].

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!