Mark Greenberg and Mike Clark, two of the five Republican candidates seeking the 5th District seat held by Chris Murphy, signed a pledge to abide by term limits and to eschew Congressional pensions, should they be elected.

“Refusing a Congressional pension is a no-brainer,” Greenberg said. “Serving in Congress is an honor and a privilege that should not result in a lifetime of taxpayer-funded entitlement. Term limits are also much more in tune with what the framers of our government originally envisioned – a citizen government, not a legislature comprised of career politicians.”

According to a release from the Greenberg camp, Andrew Roraback and Justin Bernier "refused" to sign the pledge, presented to them at a Southbury RTC meeting Tuesday night.

The fifth GOP candidate, Lisa Wilson-Foley, did not attend the candidate forum.

The full release from Greenberg, with the complete text of the pledge, is below:

Mark Greenberg, Republican candidate for Congress in the 5^th Congressional District, last night pledged to the district’s voters that he will support and abide by term limits of 4 two-year terms, that he will refuse any kind of Congressional pension and that, as a member of Congress, he will not exempt himself from any law enacted by Congress.

“Refusing a Congressional pension is a no-brainer,” Greenberg said. “Serving in Congress is an honor and a privilege that should not result in a lifetime of taxpayer-funded entitlement. Term limits are also much more in tune with what the framers of our government originally envisioned – a citizen government, not a legislature comprised of career politicians.”

“It makes no sense for members of Congress to exempt themselves from the laws they pass that apply to ordinary citizens,” Greenberg concluded. “How can members of Congress place themselves above the people they represent?”

Greenberg made the pledges last night at a candidate forum sponsored by the Southbury Republican Town Committee and immediately asked his opponents to support the common-sense, much needed policies represented by the pledges.

The candidate forum was attended by candidates Mark Greenberg, Mike Clark, Andrew Roraback and Justin Bernier. Greenberg and Clark signed the pledge at the forum. Roraback and Bernier refused to sign the pledge. Lisa Wilson-Foley, the fifth candidate vying for the nomination, did not attend the Southbury forum.

The pledges are below:

CONGRESSIONAL PLEDGES TO THE VOTERS OF THE 5^thDISTRICT

As a Member of the United States Congress, I Pledge that:

· I will not accept a pension of any kind for my service in Congress.

- The honor of serving in Congress is a privilege that should not result in a lifetime of taxpayer-funded entitlement.

· I will support and abide by term limits of no more than 4 terms for a total of eight years.

- The Founding Fathers intended a citizens’ government, not a legislature comprised of career politicians. Members of Congress should do more of the We the People’s work and less work on their own re-election campaigns.

· I will not, as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, exempt myself from any law enacted by Congress.

- Congress refuses to obey many of the laws it imposes on ordinary Americans. Nearly 20 federal laws -- including Obama Care, the Civil Rights Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act -- either do not cover Congress at all or apply to Congress differently than to the rest of the country.