By Robert Henrey
On April 1 the Retired Men’s Association was pleased to present Governor Ned Lamont, answering questions about the issues facing Connecticut today and over the next few years. The presentation was in the form of a conversational interview, skillfully conducted by RMA President David Michonski before an audience of over 100 members and guests from the general public. Questions submitted in advance were addressed first, followed by questions from the floor. This is the fourth time that Governor Lamont has addressed the RMA to discuss issues related to the State’s fiscal health, infrastructure, and future challenges.
He was first asked about fiscal discipline and economic recovery. The Governor highlighted the State’s significant shift from fiscal dysfunction to stability, noting that on taking office, the State’s pension funds were only 35% funded due to 40 years of neglect. Today, thanks to principal contributions totaling $11 billion and a strong stock market, that figure has risen to 65%. Despite this progress, the Governor cautioned that it would take another 15 to 20 years to reach full funding. Key fiscal achievements discussed included:
• Seven consecutive balanced annual budgets, a stark contrast to the volatile budgeting of previous decades.
• Constitution of a “Rainy Day Fund,” from zero in 2018 to $4.5 billion today, providing a critical financial buffer against economic volatility.
• Economic growth: Connecticut is now one of the ten fastest-growing states in the country, with an unemployment rate below the national average.
Regarding infrastructure, the Governor emphasized massive investments in roads, bridges, and rail to rectify 35 years of slippage. Improvements aim to reduce travel times to and from Connecticut towns to New York City by 10 to 15 minutes. The goal is to bring cities like Bridgeport as close to New York City in travel time as Stamford is to the City today.
He also championed the early Childhood Endowment. By supporting pre-K and infant care, the State aims to improve student readiness while saving young parents $10,000–$15,000 annually, allowing them to return to the workforce sooner.
On the issue of the housing crisis and local control, the Governor recognized that housing has emerged as a top concern for businesses and residents alike. He cited a national deficit of four to seven million units, noting that for expanding businesses, housing has replaced taxes as the primary concern. He clarified his stance on Section 8-30g, the State’s affordable housing land-use procedure which allows developers to appeal to the courts if a local commission denies an affordable housing project. This places the burden of proof on each town to justify a denial based on significant health or safety concerns. The Governor’s view is that Section 8-30g was needed to push affluent towns to revise zoning rules that had long blocked lower-cost housing, even as schools, police, and other local officials sought affordable local homes for their employees.
He stated that his current housing priorities include:
• Incentives over mandates: He recently vetoed a heavy-handed housing bill that lacked buy-in from local leaders.
• Partnering with towns: The approach encourages towns to lead by identifying locations for workforce housing—such as old parking lots or abandoned mills—with the State providing support for sewers, water, and schools.
• Defining “affordable”: he emphasized that affordable housing is designed for essential workers such as teachers, nurses, and police officers so they can live in the communities where they work.
Addressing high electricity rates, the Governor commented on his decision to double down on maintaining the Millstone nuclear power plant with a guaranteed contract at five cents per kilowatt-hour. He noted a significant shift in public sentiment toward nuclear power and expressed openness to small modular reactors (SMRs), provided the risks to ratepayers are managed.
On the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the governor expressed the view that it is a major opportunity for Connecticut’s highly educated workforce. While some legislators view AI as a threat, the Governor is pushing for its integration into education and industry, noting that Connecticut state colleges and universities now offer AI as a minor.
On workforce development, the State is doing the following to combat labor shortages in trades and advanced manufacturing:
• Expanding trade programs by encouraging high school students to enter 18-week certificate courses for high-paying roles in laser welding and construction.
• Supporting major employers with programs such as the one providing a pipeline of workers for Electric Boat which is hiring 8,000 people this year to build submarines.
• Promoting initiatives for the training of nurses that will make it faster and less expensive to qualify with the goal of reducing reliance on high-cost traveling nurses.
On social issues, the Governor addressed several sensitive topics:
• Anti-Semitism: He condemned the rise in harsh rhetoric and noted that the State has allocated tens of millions of dollars for security upgrades at houses of worship.
• Immigration: He estimated the State’s undocumented population at 2–3% and defended the Trust Act which prioritizes teaching children over checking their documentation status while at the same time cooperating with federal authorities to remove dangerous criminals.
• Veterans: The state is retrofitting veterans’ homes to provide single rooms and wraparound services, including mental health support and free bus service.
Looking Ahead: When asked about his future and the national political landscape, the Governor praised the efficacy of governors on both sides of the aisle, making them strong candidates for national leadership. He avoided commenting on a potential presidential run, instead emphasizing his commitment to not leave a hole in the budget for his successor.
The session concluded with Governor Lamont receiving a standing ovation and David Michonski presenting him with an honorary RMA hat as a token of the RMA members’ heartfelt thanks for his presence. He promptly donned the hat. Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo who attended the presentation joined in thanking the Governor for honoring both the RMA and the Town with his presence.
Note: Ned Lamont was elected governor in 2018 and reelected to a second term in 2022. He’s Connecticut’s first chief executive in recent memory who has a business background. After college, he entered the cable television industry managing Cablevision’s startup operation in Fairfield County. Later, as a member of both the Greenwich Board of Selectmen and Board of Estimate and Taxation, he worked on a bipartisan effort to implement equitably a multimillion-dollar budget. For four years, he also served as chairman of the State Investment Advisory Council, overseeing a multibillion-dollar state pension fund.
The talk can be viewed by going to the RMA website at https://greenwichrma.org, clicking on “Speakers,” then “Past Speakers,” and then the blue link with the speaker’s name for that date.
The RMA’s next presentation, “New Standards for a New Century: Pop Music Today” by Lawrence Schulman, is scheduled for 11 AM on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. RMA presentations are held at Christ Church Greenwich, Parish Hall, 254 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830. In his third talk at the Retired Men’s Association of Greenwich, acclaimed, best-selling author Lawrence Schulman will give a one-hour talk entitled “New Standards for a New Century: Pop Music Today.” The talk will be about popular songs after the classic period of the Great American Songbook and will include restored video clips of the next generation of great singers including Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Amy Winehouse, George Michael, and Peter Allen. After the talk, questions would be welcome.
Schulman has written extensively about American popular music; his latest book is UNFETTERED: Words on Music by a Hi-Def Critic in an MP3 World, the second volume in a trilogy of his writings. Prior volumes include FREE: Words on Music by a Hi-Def Critic in an MP3 World, Garland: That’s Beyond Entertainment – Reflections on Judy Garland, Volumes I and II, and Peter Allen: The Boy from Oz in the Key of Camp.
To stream the presentation by Lawrence Schulman at 11 AM on Wednesday, April 15, click on https://bit.ly/30IBj21. This presentation will also be available on local public access TV channels, Verizon FIOS channel 24 and Optimum channel 79.
Note: The views expressed in RMA presentations are those of the speakers. They are not intended to represent the views of the RMA or its members.
RMA speaker presentations are presented as a community service at no cost to in-person or Zoom attendees, regardless of gender. Any member of the public who would like to receive a weekly email announcement of future speakers should send a request to members@greenwichrma.org. The RMA urges all eligible individuals to consider becoming a member of our great organization, and thereby enjoy all the available fellowship, volunteer, and community service opportunities which the RMA offers to its members. For further information, go to https://greenwichrma.org/, or contact info@greenwichrma.org.
