State Senator David J. Cappiello, R-Danbury, is proposing legislation that seeks to reduce or revoke the retirement benefits of state officials who are convicted of, or plead guilty to, any felony related to his or her office or employment. The legislation, which is up for a public hearing before the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee today, is a direct response to the recent acts of impropriety by several high-ranking state officials.

"Those officials who do not honorably discharge the duties of their office or use their office for personal benefit should be held accountable," said Sen. Cappiello. "In my view, the simple losing of their jobs is not an adequate response, after all while they were 'earning' their pension they were cheating the people of the state and that is not right."

Sen. Cappiello said that it is his hope the legislation will provide a greater degree of accountability to those who criminally violate the state's ethics laws and that further penalties, such as a loss of a state pension, will help curb such actions. "Corruption and ethical lapses by our public officials has become all too commonplace in the State of Connecticut. At some point we, as a legislature, need to stand up and say that corruption in state government will no longer be tolerated. I believe this legislation sends a clear message."

"An official or employee who violates the trust given to them by the citizens of Connecticut should no longer expect to be entitled to benefits that were promised them for the faithful execution of their duties," said Sen. Cappiello, who serves as Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee. "This piece of legislation is critical."