Index to 2007 editions

Index to 2006 editions

Friday, May 9, 2008

• Businesses are worried about the direction of the legislature

• Expanded state health plan potentially costly, risky
• Most harmful Labor Committee bills die, finally, at end of session
• No revisions made to state budget
• Fiscal outlook reshapes tax results
• State retirement plan proposal fails
• Global warming tops environmental issues
• DOT in focus this year
• Increasing privacy protections
• Harmful energy proposals lose steam

Friday, May 2, 2008

Newly projected budget deficit sharpens fiscal focus

Final updates:

• HB-5536: Costly state health care purchasing pool idea
• SB-217: Mandating paid sick leave
• SB-702: Protecting taxpayers' rights
• SB-652: No-advantage state 401(k) proposal
• SB-64 and SB-255: Increasing workers' comp costs
• SB-46 and SB-285: Improving state transportation planning

Monday, April 28, 2008

Paid sick leave mandate: Unhealthy for state's economy

• 'One-size-fits-all policy approved by Appropriations Committee

Economy taking toll on state budget

• Projected surplus now down to $15.7 million

Health care costs

• Diving into the truth behind the health-care purchasing pool idea

Business taxes

• 'Homestead' tax increase blunts economic development
• Tax proposal could level playing field in state

Retirement plan proposal

• State plan offers nothing new, no advantages to businesses

Transportation

• Positive transportation proposals

Workplace costs

• Harmful workers' comp proposal defeated

Friday, April 18, 2008

Savings suspect, costs high with state employee health plan purchasing-pool proposal

• Why Connecticut businesses are concerned about HB-5536

Business taxes

• Tax 'reform' proposal would be business tax increase

Global warming

• Electric ratepayers face more increases under DEP's regulations

Workplace costs

• Still opportunity for lawmakers to 'do no harm'

Retirement plan proposal

• Laudable goal, but state 'cost-saving' plan not the right way

Energy

• Effectiveness of 2007 Summer Savers program uncertain

Friday, April 11, 2008

Thumbs up -- or thumbs down?
This week, CBIA reviews the remaining key business proposals at the State Capitol:

At halfway mark, some progress, more concerns

• Taxes and state spending
• Labor and the workplace
• Health care
• Environment and land use
• Skilled workforce
• Energy
• Transportation

Friday, March 28, 2008

Leaner state budget approved by Appropriations Committee

• Republicans question if savings are realistic

Health care

• Woes of MassHealth provide a warning to Connecticut

Workplace costs

• Price too high for workers' comp proposals

Economic development

• Proposal to retain jobs would do just the opposite
• Two land-use bills are problematic

Taxes

• Finance Committee considering tax fairness bill

Energy

• Landmark energy legislation produces efficiency program

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Finance Committee tax hearing on Mon., March 24

• Wide range of tax proposals up for discussion

Global warming

• Proposal takes aim at state's manufacturers

UPDATE: Workplace costs

• Workers' comp costs could spike
• Paid sick leave proposal in Senate

UPDATE: Health care

• It's about the cost: Proposals take right, and wrong direction

Economic development

• More jobs the focus of Commerce Committee
• State to expand 'set-asides'

Education

• Education Committee willing to help tech schools

Judicial

• Legislature to address court's backlog

Friday, March 14, 2008

Workplace costs: Anti-jobs proposals again move out of Labor Committee

Health care costs: Approved health care proposals take aim at reducing costs

Education and training

• Technical schools need more students, continued upgrades
• More worker training funds gain approval

Taxes: Tax proposals could help (or hurt) state's businesses, economy

Energy: Energy proposals mask harm to state's economy

Transportation: DOT transition committee created by revised proposal

Small businesses: 'Cost-saving' retirement-account plan actually costs state

Politics: Republican wins state Senate seat

Friday, March 7, 2008

Connecticut Business Day:

• 'Do no harm' is theme as Gov. Rell, lawmakers meet business leaders
• Scenes from Connecticut Business Day

'Stop harmful workers' comp proposals':

• Letters pour in to Capitol to protest workers' comp bills

Transportation

• Proposal aims to get DOT on road to reform

Health care costs

• Debate needs sharper focus on the real issue

Economic development

• Help for small businesses aim of Commerce Committee proposals

Taxes

• Several business-tax proposals subject of public hearing March 11

Friday, Feb. 29, 2008

Workplace costs update:

• Paid sick leave proposal in Labor Committee will hike business costs, disrupt workplaces
• 'Bullying' proposal creates new costs, litigation

Health care costs update:

• Not-so-voluntary health insurance pooling bill subject of public hearing on March 7
• New state program, funded by new employer head tax, being looked at by Children's Committee

Economic development update:

• Commerce Committee sets hearings on business-related proposals
• Redeveloping brownfields a major focus of Commerce Committee

Workplace update: All state regulations could soon go online

Friday, Feb. 22, 2008

Business taxes:

• Insurance Committee is proposing a health care tax on employers
• Finance Committee is exploring many business-related tax issues
• Affordable housing could get tax-credit boost

Economic development:
Economic development gets Commerce Committee boost

Transportation:
Measure would speed up priority transportation projects

Workers' compensation:
Legislature aiming to increase workers' comp costs

Workplace:

• U.S. DOL proposes FMLA changes
• State false claims act proposals resurface

Friday, Feb. 15, 2008

Workplace costs:

• The legislature's Labor Committee is stockpiling anti-business bills

Economic development:

• Anti-sourcing bill returns; Expansion of job-creation tax credit proposed

Environmental and energy costs:

• DEP global warming rules could cost consumers more than $200 million
• Energy efficiency ‘Challenge’ made to businesses

Friday, Feb. 8, 2008

State budget:

• Gov. Rell calls for fiscal caution at opening of state legislature
• Business community likes plans to control spending, eliminate entity tax
• Lawmakers unveil their plans for the session

Health care costs:

• A new health care tax on all employers? Legislative committee is considering it

Workplace costs:

• Legislature's Labor Committee is already prepping an anti-jobs agenda

Legislature operations:

• 2008 Legislative Committee deadlines

Politics:

• Business leaders, lawmakers talking -- at CBIA Breakfast Meetings

CBIA events:

• Affordable housing the topic of conference in Hartford on Feb. 15
• Building a 21st Skilled Workforce for the 21st Century -- Feb. 27 in Cromwell
• Connecticut Business Day at the Capitol on March

Monday, Jan. 28, 2008

Transportation reform:

• Governor's commission says state Transportation Department needs to make 'foundational' changes
  

Health care costs:

• HealthFirst CT Authority meeting highlights the divide over employer-based or government-run health care
• House Speaker Amann's health care symposium holds second round of talks

Education reform:

• State wants business views on proposed reforms of education system; public forums taking place across the state

Politics:

• Voter registration deadlines loom for presidential primaries
• Kane arrives, Finch departs state Senate
• Business leaders, lawmakers met in Enfield to discuss issues

Employment laws:

• Governor Rell is seeking business input on state's Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO)

State taxes:

• Proposal to end the state's business entity tax gaining bipartisan support at the Capitol
• Adoption of Streamlined Sales Tax is on hold for now

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008

• CBIA's Blueprint for a healthy Connecticut economy
• CBIA's Priorities for state government in 2008
• Recommendations for a healthy economy
• Connecticut's presidential primary set for 'Super Tuesday'
• Special election Jan. 15 to fill state Senate seat
• State legislative leaders talk about the economy
• Connecticut's 'quotient' rating another wake-up call

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