Economy tops campaign priorities; will it be same at Capitol?

Businesses in the state will be watching closely to see if the campaign promises they heard this fall will turn into positive action at the Capitol. What lawmakers do next will go a long way in establishing business confidence and Connecticut’s ability to survive the current crisis.

Connecticut is potentially facing one of the worst fiscal times in state history, a crisis that will require bipartisan cooperation in the legislature to address. It’s still too early to know what the full effect of the economic slowdown will mean for the state, but indications are that many jobs could be lost over the next six to nine months.

Righting Connecticut’s economy has to be the top priority at the Capitol, because a growing economy can cure many ills — not the least of which is bringing in the revenues necessary to balance the state budget and pay for needed government services.

When the new legislature goes to the Capitol in January, there will be 114 Democrats and 37 Republicans in the House (a gain of 7 Democrats); and 24 Democrats and 12 Republicans in the Senate (a gain of 1 Democrat) — giving
Democrats a veto-proof majority in both houses.

The Democratic House caucus has already tapped Rep. Christopher Donovan (D-Meriden) to be the new speaker, and Rep. Denise Merrill (D-Chaplin, Mansfield) as majority leader.

And, as anticipated, there will be many new state legislators when the 2009 session of the General Assembly begins in January. Eighteen current state representatives and four members of the Senate did not seek re-election this year. Two of those state representatives — Kevin Witkos and Toni Boucher — won election to the Senate.

It is more important than ever for consituents — especially Connecticut’s employers and business leaders — to make their concerns known and to urge legislators to solve the state’s biggest challenges: Closing the budget gap and stimulating economic growth.

Here’s a list of the new state legislators (including Witkos and Boucher):

New State Senators
Kevin Witkos (R-8) Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury, Torrington
Anthony Musto (D-22) Bridgeport, Monroe, Trumbull
Michael McLachlan (R-24) Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman
Toni Boucher (R-26) Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, Wilton
L. Scott Frantz (R-36) Greenwich, New Canaan, Stamford

New State Representatives
Hector Robles (D-6) Hartford
Jason Rojas (D-9) East Hartford, Glastonbury, Manchester
Timothy Larson (D-11) East Hartford, South Windsor
Timothy LeGeyt (R-17) Avon, Canton
Mae M.E. Flexer (D-44) Killingly, Plainfield, Sterling
Christopher Coutu (R-47) Canterbury, Norwich, Scotland, Sprague
Susan Johnson (D-49) Windham
Matthew Conway (D-61) East Granby, Suffield, Windsor
Annie Hornish (D-62) Barkhamsted, East Granby, Granby, New Hartford
John Rigby (R-63) Barkhamsted, Canaan, Colebrook, Hartland, Norfolk, North Canaan, Winchester
Michelle Cook (D-65) Torrington
Christopher Wright (D-77) Bristol
Gary Winfield (D-94) New Haven
Matthew Lesser (D-100) Durham, Middlefield, Middletown
Lonnie Reed (D-102) Branford
Elizabeth Esty (D-103) Cheshire, Hamden, Wallingford
Theresa Conroy (D-105) Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Seymour
Christopher Lyddy (D-106) Newtown
Barbara Lambert (D-118) Milford
Auden Grogins (D-129) Bridgeport
Ezequiel Santiago (D-130) Bridgeport
Anthony Hwang (R-134) Fairfield, Trumbull
Terrie Wood (R-141) Darien, Norwalk
Peggy Reeves (D-143) Norwalk, Wilton
Patricia Miller (D-145) Stamford
Alfred Camillo (R-151) Greenwich

Stay involved
By staying involved in the legislative process, businesses can help improve Connecticut’s economy. CBIA has many ways for you to participate — from informal, legislative breakfast meetings to an “Adopt a Legislator” program, and “Connecticut Business Day” during the session. To learn more about how to become involved, contact CBIA’s Liz Krueger at 860-244-1169 or elizabeth.krueger@cbia.com.