Pension ban for criminals and welfare limits up for testimony today

MONTPELIER — Two of Gov. Peter Shumlin’s more high-profile recent proposals are up for committee discussion in the Vermont House.
On Thursday morning and afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee will take testimony on a plan by Shumlin to bar public employees convicted of financial crimes from having those crimes pad their pensions.
That push follows charges last year against former Vermont State Police Sergeant James Deeghan, who has been accused of inflating his pay by filing false overtime reports.
On Thursday afternoon, the House Human Services Committee takes testimony on Shumlin’s plan to put new time limits on how long someone can stay on the state’s welfare-to-work Reach-Up program.