Ridgefield State Representative John Frey wants to change how state employee pensions are calculated.  He says they should be based only on stated income, just like most other private sector workers.  Frey doesn't want longevity pay, mileage reimbursements and overtime pay be counted toward pension calculations. 

Pensions are currently calculated based on the three years state employees made the most income total.

He has also introduced a bill to eliminate state pensions for elected officials in Connecticut.  He says it doesn't make sense for the part-time employees to participate in a pension program.  Frey added that it also makes no sense for their years of service in the legislature to count towards a pension if they eventually go on to hold a full-time state job. 

This bill is unlikely to be popular among some of his colleagues, but Frey says it's the right thing to do.  He notes that this would help relieve Connecticut of a massive burden to its state budget by addressing the massive costs of state employee pensions without raising taxes.