Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she has directed the Commissioners of the Department of Labor and the Department of Transportation to immediately assess the state-level effects of the failure by Congress to act Friday on critical legislation extending unemployment insurance benefits and key transportation programs that expire on Sunday.
Congress recessed Friday without action on legislation that would have extended emergency unemployment insurance benefits and a federal subsidy for health insurance under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, commonly referred to as COBRA. Lawmakers also failed to act on two bills authorizing a number of key highway programs, meaning states will not be reimbursed for expenditures which have already been obligated for funding out of the federal Highway Trust Fund.
“We need to know – in detail – how the state will be affected by the dysfunction that exists in Congress,” Governor Rell said. “It is frankly shameful that these programs – programs that tens of thousands of Connecticut residents are counting on – have fallen victim to partisan squabbling. Our state has lost tens of thousands of jobs since the recession began and unemployment insurance checks are a lifeline for many families. The federal subsidy for COBRA has also been a boon for many of these same families as they seek new careers in the midst of the worst economy in a lifetime. Both of these programs must be restored immediately – and retroactively.
“Congress must also make sure that the efforts of states like Connecticut to keep and grow jobs through highway construction projects are not thwarted by petty partisan bickering,” the Governor said. “Not only do we have many projects in the planning and bidding stages, but many projects that are already under way will not receive reimbursement until this is resolved. Time is absolutely of the essence.
“Regrettably, Congress has accomplished little in the past several weeks and we have no way of knowing when they will finally act in common to pass these needed programs,” Governor Rell said. “What we do know is that every day they delay hurts states like Connecticut that are counting on transportation funding and tens of thousands of people who are counting on unemployment insurance and health insurance assistance.”
