Sen. Joseph Markley expressed outrage Thursday over Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's executive orders that pave the way for the unionization of day care workers and personal care attendants.
The issue has been highly controversial at the state Capitol, and it has not been passed yet by the Democratic-controlled legislature. A bill this year was passed by the education, labor, and appropriations committees, but neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate passed the measure.
"I am outraged by the governor's high-handed action,'' Markley, a conservative Republican from Southington, said in a statement. "The legislature heard extensive testimony on this proposal, with strong opposition from both clients and caregivers. The heartfelt objections were enough to kill the bill, despite a Democratic majority generally sympathetic to the unions. Now--in an effort to placate the unions--Governor Malloy has taken it on himself to implement a policy the legislature wouldn't pass. This is not government by the people through their elected representatives, but by one man who does not recognize the proper limits of executive power.''
Roy Occhiogrosso, Malloy's senior adviser, said that his only comment to Markley was: "We disagree.''