Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007

• People and businesses most worried about taxes, spending, jobs and economy
• Proposal to redesign state's high schools
• Property taxes: Slow the growth or redistribute the burden?
• Focus sharpens on brownfields needs
• Health Care Authority, Hospital Task force progress
• Business ideas needed at strategy forums
• New projects to bolster region's energy grid
• Workers' comp commissioner reappointments
• Rates to rise in 2008
• DPS looks at private detective licensing for HR screening
  

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007

• Employers offer more health care control, choice
• Workers' comp rates likely to rise in 2008
• Manufacturers: Not enough skilled workers
• State leaders to discuss climate change
• Energy groups focusing on conservation
• State surplus growing, biz climate lags
• DEP moving on business-related measures
• Extend R&D credit
• Workplace cases in high court; NLRB strikes 'salting'

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007

• Many business-related laws taking effect Oct. 1
• Bonding package still elusive
• Health care reform ahead, but state's direction troubling
• Compromise reached on state contracting reform
• Final rule on 'no match' letters, but ...
• Brownfields task force begins 2nd year

Friday, Sept. 7, 2007

• Connecticut, CBIA awarded grant of up to $13.2 million to foster next generation of scientists, engineers
• Business leaders name Connecticut's top advantages, challenges

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2007

• State's economy yields big surplus, more jobs
• Energy on tap at Capitol workshop Aug. 9
• Federal 'Fair Pay Act' overturns court, weakens employers
• CBIA members to advise DEP on initiatives
• DOL report shows business concerns over FMLA
• New gubernatorial task forces have CBIA representation
  

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

• New state budget funds priorities, but overspends cap
• Legislative studies abound
• Federal 'card check' bill stopped in Senate
• Health care spending increases in key areas
• State boosts education funding and accountability
• New rules for in-house counsel
• New brownfield funding
• State budget: Energy funds restored
• Legislature addresses affordable housing

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

• Commentary on '07 Session: Accentuating the positive
• Avoided: No major tax increases in new state budget
• Approved: Brownfield remediation reforms
• Failed: Labor Committee bills would have hiked costs
• Approved: Health care progress, but concerns, too
• Boosted: Education gets budget boost
• Transportation: Latest upgrades approved
  
• Job creation tax credit expanded
• Energy bill approved
• Compromise not reached on state contracting reform
• Bill tilting balance to plaintiffs dies

Friday, June 8, 2007

• Special session to iron out budget
• Harmful labor bills die
• Government-run health care stalls
• Energy bill is approved
• Brownfield redevelopment gets boost
• Anti-sourcing bill fails

Friday, June 1, 2007

• Senate approves significant hike in workers' comp costs
• Negotiations ongoing, but spending level a big concern
• Senate approves costly paid sick leave bill
• Lawmakers about to take up energy proposal
• Still time for real health care reform
• Senate passes bill
• House to take up anti-sourcing bill
  

Friday, May 25, 2007

• Workplace: Paid sick leave mandate will push benefit costs higher
• Energy: Final legislative approach still to be resolved
• Health care: 'Pooling' bill dies; still time for real reform
• Courts: Superior Court considers needed rule change
  

Friday, May 18, 2007

• Budget: Now's the time to speak up
• Workplace: Mandating paid sick leave set for committee vote
• Health care: One government-run health care proposal dies in committee -- but others still alive
• Workers' comp: Committee approves costly 'discretionary' bill
• Development: EPA awards brownfields grants, state needs to act
• Taxes: Diesel fuel bill would help Connecticut businesses
  

Friday, May 11, 2007

• Soaring state tax revenues + taxpayers' concerns should = no tax increases
• Expect 13.2% hike in workers' comp costs
• Workplaces will fall silent on workplace issues
• Finance approves government-run system
• Legislature eyeing regulatory relief for small biz
• Improvement of environmental regs process OKd
• Repeal training services tax, boost competitiveness
• Contracting bill will thwart doing business with state
• Legislation aims to promote affordable housing
• New economic development commissioner named
• Governor calls for 'whole new DOT'

Friday, May 4, 2007

• Budget talks should weigh impact of higher spending
• Workers' comp costs could spike $152 million
• 'Scarring' bill defeated; 'captive' bill approved
• Government-run health care: Bad medicine for CT
• DEP, lawmakers weighing cost impact of RGGI
• Lawmakers consider intrusive contracting standards
  

Friday, April 27, 2007

• New state budget must be responsible, affordable
• House Republicans release 'no tax increase' budget
• New health care coalition offers reforms
• Bill to muzzle employers nears committee vote
• Steps to government-administered health care taken
• Vote nears on bill expanding workers' comp benefit
• Brownfields progress will be tied to budget
• Anti-sourcing bill is wrong message, wrong time
• Bad economic development bill changed, approved

Friday, April 27, 2007

• Tax package includes hikes on most CT businesses
• Time for a fiscal reality check
• Prevailing wage, employee benefits mandated
• Business law, liability issues addressed
• Workplace 'bullying,' other bills die
• Eminent domain remedies attempted

Friday, April 13, 2007

• Democrats' budget hikes spending, taxes over governor's plan
• Connecticut businesses can't compete without noncompetes
• Real health care reform Rx needed now
• Two very harmful workers' comp bills still being considered
• Status Report of bills CBIA is tracking (PDF)

Thursday, April 5, 2007

• Business costs are Connecticut's 'Achilles heel'
• Committee approves 'captive audience' bill
• Price tag of single-payer health care system? Up to $17.5 Billion
• State's spending cap has brought greater fiscal responsibility
• Status Report of bills CBIA is tracking (PDF)
  

Friday, March 30, 2007

• Gov. Rell proposes property tax limit, accountability measures to accompany education reform proposal
• CBIA Board of Directors issues resolutions on education, energy
• Education Committee approves several positive bills
• Environment Committee OKs package of bills
• Bill adds second, income-based tax on many businesses
• Details of Senate Democrats' health care reform proposal
• Status Report of bills CBIA is tracking (PDF)

Friday, March 23, 2007

• Mountain of anti-jobs bills get Labor Committee's OK
• Approved Commerce Committee bills send mixed message
• Diagnosis: Health care reform
• Unsustainable single-payer system, costly mandates still alive
• Transportation proposals roll out of committee
• Business services tax weakens competitiveness
• Businesses share concerns with area legislators

Friday, March 16, 2007

• Insurance Committee approves unsustainable single-payer system
• Despite committee's uncertainty, labor-organizing bill preempted by federal law
• Raising education standards for a more competitive workforce
• Antitrust bill encourages 'whistleblowers,' hurts employers
• Labor Committee to employers: No more 'use it or lose it' policies
• Legislative breakfast meetings: New meetings set

Friday, March 9, 2007

• Leaders at Business Day: Education, health care, energy affect jobs and economy in state
• Energy Committee bills have short-term, long-term ideas
• Business community's health care reforms in several bills
• Commerce Committee to focus on brownfields
• Bill ignores court safeguards in noncompete agreements
• Legislation implements greenhouse gas reduction plan
• New companies could get lift from 'angels'
  

Friday, March 2, 2007

• House Democrats' proposal has Connecticut taking 'Healthy Steps' to health care reform
• Judiciary bills encourage lawsuits and higher damages
• Labor Committee now wants to mandate employee pay periods
• Healthy Kids group exploring ways to increase access to affordable health care
• Bill would hurt Connecticut consumers by expanding CUTPA
• Speaker pushes for state's continued investment in transportation
  

Friday, Feb. 23, 2007

• Forum held on controlling energy costs in Connecticut
• CBIA opposing anti-privatization, protectionist bills
• Grip tightening on restrictive covenants and noncompetes
• Bill would make employers liable for 'bullying'
• State should seek proven education strategies
• Leaders to speak at Connecticut Business Day March 7
  

Friday, Feb. 16, 2007

• Energy bill aims to reduce costs, build infrastructure
• Task force recommends major brownfields initiative
• New session, same protectionist measures
• Many health care proposals on the table
• Labor Committee shines misdirected light on ergonomics
• DEP moves forward on greenhouse gas limits

Friday, Feb. 9, 2007

• Governor proposes $35.8 billion, two-year state budget
• Budget overview
• Education spending, accountability lead new initiatives
• Deja vu from Labor Committee --revisiting the past
• Assembly fixes campaign finance law
• Proposals vary on how to increase access to health care
• Identity theft bills get committees' attention

Friday, Feb. 2, 2007

• Business community mobilizes to stop the destructive changes to workers’ comp system
• Campaign finance law still intact
• Public Health Committee exploring technology to help reduce costs
• Raising high school standards key to preparing next-generation workforce
• House Republicans enter health care debate
• Senate GOP stress importance of state spending cap
• State businesses lead in energy conservation programs
• ConnCAN aims for 'Great Schools'
  

Friday, Jan. 26, 2007

• CBIA's strategic plan for economic growth and job creation
• Labor Committee looking to increase workers' comp costs
• Senate Democrats unveil health plan
• Increase access to health care? Keep small-case reform
• Lawmakers moving toward energy plan
• 'Captive audience' bill back in Labor Committee
• House GOP offers affordable housing plan
• Top grades for CT employers for health care, wages
• USDOL seeking input on FMLA
  

Friday, Jan. 19, 2007

• Conference focuses on economic toll of energy costs
• Will state act on need for brownfield reform?
• Court upholds killing of Maryland 'play or pay' law
• Connecticut leads region in number and cost of health care mandates
• Connecticut's workers' comp reforms: Successful, still vital
• A brief history of workers' comp reforms in Connecticut
• Judiciary Committee looks at openness of courts
  

Friday, Jan. 12, 2007

• Health care reform quickly emerges as leading topic at Capitol
• Finding enough qualified workers a growing problem in Connecticut
• Survey results: Eastern Connecticut businesses optimistic
• Workers' comp reforms again under fire
  

Friday, Jan. 5, 2007

• Economic-impact issues to highlight 2007 General Assembly
• Execs to lawmakers: Keep focus on pro-growth proposals
• Lawmakers to grapple with rising energy prices
• Transportation upgrades -- enough and on track?
• Rates drop a bit for workers' comp insurance

CBIA, 350 Church St., Hartford, CT 06103/860-244-1900