Business groups intent on boosting the influence of Republicans in the General Assembly outspent labor allies of majority Democrats by roughly a 2-1 margin in independent expenditures reported to the State Elections Enforcement Commission through Tuesday, according to an analysis by CT Mirror.
Connecticut Business and Industry Association
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Municipal, business and labor leaders plan summit on economy
Connecticut’s municipal, business and labor leaders will convene their second annual fall summit next month to develop strategies to bolster the state’s economic future.
Posted inMoney, Politics
House Democrats outline agenda with a pro-business flavor
EAST HARTFORD — Facing an electorate that gave the General Assembly a 24-percent approval rating, the House Democratic Majority unveiled a campaign framework Tuesday that focuses on job creation and fiscal responsibility and downplays labor issues, such as raising the minimum wage and making the tax structure more progressive.
Posted inMoney
Nation’s income gains strong, but Connecticut’s lag far behind
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Census Bureau’s good news that median income rose significantly in the United States last year wasn’t as cheerful for Connecticut. The state was among a dozen with the smallest rate of household median income growth in the nation, which had a robust increase of 5.2 percent. And not everybody benefited from Connecticut’s modest 1.8 percent income growth.
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CT businesses making profits but still wary about adding jobs
About two-thirds of Connecticut businesses made a profit last year, yet fewer than half expect to add jobs at this time, according to the Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s annual survey of businesses.
Posted inPolitics
GOP looking to gain CT House seats, despite presidential year
The last time Republicans won a majority in the Connecticut House, they had the assistance of a Ronald Reagan landslide and a party lever that encouraged straight ticket voting. But the GOP sees opportunity for gains this year in open Democratic seats and polls showing an electorate deeply dissatisfied with a Democratic governor and General Assembly.
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CBIA targets swing districts, tries to tilt CT Senate to GOP
The state’s largest business trade group is making its first major foray into world of independent expenditures with a $400,000 campaign aimed at helping Republicans win a majority in the Connecticut Senate and narrow the Democratic majority in the House.
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CT budget details trickle out as partisan debate heats up
While Democratic legislative leaders released one key document tied to a tentative state budget deal, others remained under wraps. And Democratic leadership in the Senate, where a budget debate tentatively is expected to begin on Thursday, rebuffed a Republican call to delay any debate until all budget-related documents were available for public review.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Money
Green Bank raid upsets business, environmental communities
The raid on the Green Bank and other clean energy programs to help plug the state’s huge budget deficit is bringing together groups often at odds. Environmentalists and business interests, including the state’s most prominent business lobby, agree the raid is a bad idea.
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General Assembly’s shrinking agenda frustrates progressives
A prominent pollster gave House and Senate Democrats a private rundown on the mood of the Connecticut electorate Thursday. The news surprised no one. Voters are unhappy with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, and they see pretty much every issue paling in importance next to the state’s business climate.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Estate tax measure may preview 2017 state tax debate
The arguments surrounding a bill to eliminate Connecticut’s estate tax — a bill not expected to advance this year – might offer a preview of the battle some anticipate next year over the fairness of the state’s tax system.
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Malloy to businesses: Tell lawmakers to accept budget cuts
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy warned business leaders Wednesday that Connecticut faces five to six more years of “economic adjustment” and urged them to help convince unwilling legislators to support difficult state budget cuts.
Posted inMoney
CT businesses offer first of six blueprints to cut state spending
Connecticut’s businesses delivered the first of a promised series of blueprints Wednesday to cut state spending over the long haul. The Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century estimated the state could save $657 million annually on long-term care costs by 2025.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Business leaders push to intensify control of state spending
Connecticut’s business leaders had high praise Tuesday for the deep spending cuts and absence of tax hikes in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s new budget. But they also warned that without an even harder, bipartisan push to control spending, businesses will remain reluctant to grow — or to support the tolls and gasoline tax hikes recommended to finance transportation improvements.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Winter power, gas supplies, new pipelines – a volatile mix in CT
Another winter, another warning from the folks who run the power grid that natural gas shortages could cause power problems. The warning once again focuses all eyes on natural gas pipelines – viewed as either a big answer to the region’s power difficulties or a big problem, depending on whom you talk to.