Saving Connecticut Jobs:
It's time to take action

Because jobs are critical to economic recovery, state lawmakers must do all they can to help employers suc­ceed and grow here in Connecticut. Legislative proposals should be held up to the piercing light of whether they will help or hurt our economy. Proposals that can't stand up to that very basic scrutiny should be discarded.

Much of this will mean restoring trust between the private and public sectors. Businesses must be able to trust that state government will enable employers to invest and grow here. Government must trust that employers will respond by doing what they can to keep and create good jobs in Connecticut.

Lawmakers can renew trust by voting in favor of policies to improve Connecticut's economic competitiveness, making it easier for businesses to grow and to create jobs.

In its 2010 Government Affairs Agenda, CBIA outlines dozens of actions policymakers can take to create a healthy business climate and promote economic revival. Our lists of “dos” include proven strategies for encour­aging business and consumer confidence and economic revival as well as new initiatives to drive long-term, private-sector job creation.

Our lists of “don'ts” are shorter but just as important. Policies that discourage business investment, hamper economic growth, increase state government beyond our affordability and ignore our long-term debt crisis will make a difficult situation worse.

We should agree that growing Connecticut's economy is a “win-win” proposition in which we create opportunities for everyone; and that economic growth is not a zero-sum game. We cannot afford to waste efforts in chasing myriad special-interest agendas, because all the people of Connecticut—employers, employees and their fami­lies—want positive action and proven methods.

Free enterprise, job growth and a healthy economy are the ways to get Connecticut back on the right track and keep us there.