For Immediate Release

June 4, 2009

LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS WITHOUT A BUDGET OR ANY ACTIONS TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY OR HELP BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS

Business community urging governor to veto two costly health care bills

Despite a large state budget deficit, and with residents and businesses struggling to survive the worst economic recession in recent history, the legislative session ended without the adoption of a new state budget or any significant actions that would help improve our economy or create jobs in Connecticut.

“We’re disappointed that the General Assembly didn’t respond to the concerns of Connecticut residents and employers,” said John R. Rathgeber, CBIA president and CEO. “Both clearly identify the economy and jobs as their top priorities, but the legislature didn’t pass a budget. Nor did it pass any bills that would help the economy move forward, help businesses create jobs, or secure our economic future.”

Fortunately, legislators didn’t move ahead with two anti-employer bills that would have further increased business costs and put more Connecticut jobs at risk. HB-6187 (mandating paid sick leave) and SB-365 (the “captive audience” bill, which would strictly limit employers’ communications with their employees) each passed one chamber but failed to make it to final votes.

On the other hand, legislators passed two costly health care bills that the business community will urge Governor Rell to veto. HB-6582, the pooling bill, opens the expensive state employee plan to small businesses and other groups; HB-6600, the SustiNet plan, creates a massive, expensive, government-run health care system. These bills will increase the size and cost of state government without addressing the key issue of rising health care costs. Real health care reform must focus on reducing costs, improving the quality of care and increasing access.

The business community urges lawmakers to use the special session to pass a state budget that demonstrates a strong commitment to economic growth and avoids tax increases that would further hurt our economy and cost more jobs.

“We are hopeful that legislators and the administration can work together to create a balanced budget with spending cuts that will make state government smaller, less expensive and more effective in order to meet the challenges of the future,” said Rathgeber.

###

CBIA is the state’s largest business organization, with 10,000 members.

 

For more information contact Nancy Andrews, CBIA media relations manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com.

---

350 Church Street · Hartford, CT 06103-1126 ·
Phone: (860) 244-1900 · Fax: (860) 278-8562

cbia.com/newsroom