The Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE) today passed a bill that would amend the eighth article of the Connecticut State Constitution and require that the state fund the Teachers' Retirement System at 100% each year. State Senator David J. Cappiello (R-Danbury) introduced the legislation and testified in favor of the bill at a public hearing last week.

"I would like to commend the members of the GAE Committee who voted in favor of the bill for recognizing how critical this issue is to our state's financial well-being," said Senator Cappiello. "Amending the Constitution should be our last resort, however, over the last several years it is clear that the legislature has consistently ignored its obligation to fully fund the system. Teachers are critical to our children's, and consequently, our state's future. We need to guarantee that our state fulfils its obligation to the fund each and every year."

This is the second straight session Senator Cappiello has proposed this legislation.

"This is an issue I have pursued for quite some time. Passing a constitutional amendment is the most infallible way of ensuring that the legislature or the governor never raids the pension fund," continued Senator Cappiello. "I am fearful of teachers having their benefits slashed in the future or state taxes being drastically raised to maintain these benefits because the legislature failed to do its job and keep this fund solvent. "