Gov. Rell, top lawmakers meet with
300 business leaders:
Help economy, ‘do no harm’ top theme of Connecticut Business Day
 

(March 7, 2008) Keeping Connecticut businesses strong during a slow economy — and then helping them grow even stronger afterward – was an overall theme to Connecticut Business Day at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 5.

About 300 Connecticut businesspeople participated in the annual event sponsored by CBIA and the Connecticut Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE).

Business executives mingled with the state’s policymakers and urged them above all to “do no harm” to the state’s business climate and their ability to succeed.

Gov. Rell was keynote speaker and said that although Connecticut is in better shape than many other states, now is the time for fiscal caution. She cited new numbers showing that what had been an expected $350 million state budget surplus at the end of the year “is shrinking every day.”

She said many aspects of the budget proposal she made in February would help the state economy both now and position it for growth later. “We need to plan for the uptick in the economy, because it will follow,” said the governor. Among her recommendations were measures to reduce businesses’ costs and help ensure a skilled workforce.
 
Legislative panel
Legislative leaders Senate President Pro Tem Don Williams (D-Brooklyn), House Speaker Jim Amann (D-Milford), Senate Republican Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield) and House Republican Leader Larry Cafero (R-Norwalk) were on a discussion panel moderated by WVIT-TV 30’s Tom Monahan.

Asked to identify their top business priorities for the 2008 session, all of the leaders named the elimination of the business entity tax.

Most also said they hoped the legislature this year would stay away from proposals — such as those coming from the Labor Committee — that would make it harder for Connecticut businesses to compete and succeed. Some of these measures include a paid sick leave mandate, dramatic increases in workers’ compensation costs and a bill creating a new workplace harassment category for “bullying” and opening Connecticut employers to significant new costs and disruptions to their operations.

Among the lawmakers’ many suggestions for improving Connecticut’s economy:

Action is needed to address the subprime housing crisis “that’s coming home to roost in Connecticut,” said Sen. Williams. “We can’t turn it all around, but we can do something.”

Do a better job of marketing Connecticut as a good location for business, said Rep. Amann — primarily by relating the “good news and great stories” that Connecticut businesses have to tell.

Conduct a “thorough review of all state regulations to see if they are working, and if not, eliminate them,” said Sen. McKinney.

“Creating jobs is the best fix for the economy,” said Rep. Cafero. Law-makers should help businesses — especially small businesses — grow. And they should reject legislative proposals that “reach into businesses” to tell them how operate and manage their workers.
 
Business Advocate’s ‘charge’
Connecticut Business Advocate Rob Simmons enthusiastically charged up the attendees to speak with their legislators about the issues that affect their ability to compete and succeed.
 
Breakout sessions
Then Business Day attendees participated in informal breakout sessions with their local legislators. One of the breakouts featured members of the legislature’s Commerce Committee, along with Joan McDonald, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
 
CBIA and CACCE thank all of the business leaders and chambers of commerce who participated in Connecticut Business Day to make it a significant success. We also thank the many public officials who took the time during a very busy day to meet with the state’s business community.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Lisa McGuire at 860-244-1109 or lisa.mcguire@cbia.com. n