Jobs For Connecticut Now

As Connecticut continues to sink deeper and deeper into a recession, it is more important than ever to promote policies that will be good for business and encourage growth, development and job creation.  Unfortunately, some policymakers in Connecticut seem to be doing just the opposite.

The legislature recently considered the hotly-contested Paid Sick Leave bill, which would have required companies with more than 50 employees to provide paid sick leave for their employees.  While the bill didn’t pass the State Senate, it was a very close vote.  Policies like this will only place a greater burden on businesses (especially small businesses) that are already struggling in this economy.  Rather than mandate expensive policies that will take money out of the pockets of business owners and jeopardize their ability to employ Connecticut workers, legislators should be thinking about ways to help companies stay afloat and increase incentives for new businesses to open.

Most recently, the Attorney General suggested that utility regulators hit AT&T, one of Connecticut’s largest employers, with more than $1 million in fines for failing to meet a regulation that doesn’t apply to all of its competitors.  The Department of Public Utility Control has said that the standards are obsolete and need to be reexamined before a fine is imposed.  Unfortunately, it seems that bad business policies are becoming a trend in our state.  

Jobs for New England Now recently released a set of principles necessary to make our region most competitive.  If policymakers encourage innovation, competition and investment, New England will become an increasingly attractive place to do business.  More businesses opening and expanding will mean more jobs, greater prosperity and greater revenues for the states.  We know that our state policymakers can do better, and we will continue to work with them to help do so.