Unless Sen. Maynard serves out this upcoming term, he is not eligible for medical benefits or a retirement that could apply at age 55.
Republican columnist Kevin Rennie took issue with one of his own in his latest Hartford Courant column, scolding former Congressman Rob Simmons for suggesting that the injured Andrew Maynard be awarded a pension and health benefits should he be incapable of serving the term to which he’s just been elected.
State Senator Maynard won re-election handily, despite the fact that he has not been seen in public since an accident in July, in which he suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Under rules that apply to all state legislators, the eight years Maynard has served so far make him eligible to receive a state pension when he turns 65. But unless he serves out this upcoming term, to give him ten years of service, he is not eligible for medical benefits or a retirement that could apply at age 55.
This could potentially leave his family in a difficult situation, given that Maynard has been hospitalized and receiving rehabilitative care for the past four months.
In remarks made to WNPR prior to the election, Simmons, who lives in Maynard’s district and counts the Democrat as a friend, suggested that an exception could be made to the rules in the event that Maynard cannot take his seat for the upcoming session.
In the original story, "Rob Simmons Supports Friend Maynard, Despite Party Differences and Injury Doubts," WNPR paraphrased Simmons's response on the pension question, instead of quoting him directly. It’s that paraphrased response that Rennie quoted in his Courant column.
Since Simmons's words are now the center of a new controversy, WNPR has decided to make the original interview response available on our website. Listen to it below:
