Posts tagged Jan Hochadel
State Senator ‘Proud’ of Conflict-of-Interest Voting Record
August 2, 2024 // What is particularly concerning is Sen. Hochadel’s dual role as a lawmaker and president of the Connecticut American Federation of Teachers (AFT) — the state’s other teacher union. This overlap raises a serious question: why does Hochadel not recuse herself from voting on legislation that directly benefits both AFT union members and her? Sen. Hochadel has served as AFT’s president since 2015, a position elected every two years. Notably, she earns over three times more in her union role ($154,810) than in her state Senate position ($49,000). This financial disparity makes it clearly advantageous for her to prioritize union growth and benefits for its members.
CONNECTICUT: Senator’s Dual Roles Raise Ethical Questions Amid Legislative Decisions
April 29, 2024 // Citing the need to pay people “a fair wage and a fair pension,” Sen Hochadel argued that the state must provide higher wages — which already exceed the private sector — to address state job vacancies. This stance suggests a dual agenda: to attract job candidates to the state and swell the ranks of her union with more dues paying members. During her remarks, the Senator acknowledged her members, expressing appreciation for their contributions to the state of Connecticut and urged her colleagues “to vote yes.” While this advocacy may not be surprising, she also serves as the president of the Connecticut American Federation of Teachers (AFT) — one of the unions involved in the negotiations. AFT represents a broader group than just teachers. The union also includes dues paying members who are state employees in the executive and judicial branches, as well as staff at state colleges, universities and UConn Health.