Democratic Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz Receives Honor

BERLIN, CT - Democratic Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz, a state representative whose district covers Berlin and Southington, was recently awarded the 2015 AARP Legislative Achievement Award "in recognition of his leadership on retirement savings in Connecticut."

AARP recognized Aresimowicz for his work on establishing the Connecticut Retirement Security Board, which helped determine that creating a retirement savings plan at no cost to taxpayers is feasible and would address the retirement savings crisis in Connecticut.

“I’m truly honored to receive this award from AARP,” said Aresimowicz in a statement. “Currently, more than 600,000 Connecticut residents, mostly small business workers, do not have a retirement savings plan available to them through their employer—and most fear they have not saved enough for retirement. I am proud and grateful to work with organizations like AARP to pass legislation that would make it easier for Connecticut residents to save enough money to live comfortably in their retirement without having to rely on public assistance programs.”

Added John Erlingheuser, Advocacy Director for AARPCT, “On behalf of AARP Connecticut's more than 600,000 members, we are proud to honor Majority Leader Aresimowicz with a legislative achievement award. Through his leadership, residents of Connecticut are one step closer to a more secure retirement. ”

Earlier this year, AARP released the results of their own survey among Connecticut voters, age 35-64, about workplace retirement savings plans, which support the findings of the CRSB study. Eighty-eight percent of those surveyed said they wished they had saved more for retirement, and 61 percent, or 3 out of 5, said they were concerned that some residents have not saved enough for retirement and could end up being reliant on public assistance.

Photo: Joe Aresimowicz