The hiring of Chris DiPentima ends a tradition of promoting a government affairs professional from within CBIA.
Connecticut Business and Industry Association
Posted inMoney
CT economy poised for strong growth in 2019
Connecticut’s economy and the nation’s are poised for strong growth in 2019, though both are at risk of recession by 2020, economic experts warned hundreds of business leaders Friday.
Posted inHealth
CVS, Aetna urge Connecticut regulators to approve proposed acquisition
The Connecticut Insurance Department now has 30 days to decide whether to approve CVS Health Corp.’s acquisition of Hartford-based Aetna Inc. – a merger the companies say will drive down health care costs and opponents portray as anti-competitive and harmful to patients.
Posted inMoney
Survey: CT companies lukewarm about state’s economic future
While most Connecticut businesses are optimistic the nation’s economy will grow over the next year, a new survey has found many have broad anxiety about the state’s economic future.
Posted inMoney
Business community cautious with new fiscal stability plan for CT
Connecticut’s business leaders offered much praise but were more cautious with their support when it came to the recommendations of the state’s Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth.
Posted inMoney
Economist Gioia: ‘Historic’ state budget will boost business confidence
A vice president and economist with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Peter Gioia has spent the past 18 years with the state’s chief business lobby, managing its research department and tracking Connecticut’s economy through a quarterly survey. In this week’s Sunday Conversation he talks about the recently approved, bipartisan state budget; the long struggle to adopt it, and its impact on Connecticut’s business community.
Posted inEducation, Money, Politics
Big deficits two years from now could undercut tax cut promises
While the new state budget promises an array of tax cuts two and three years from now, it also leaves the next governor and legislature to close a $4.6 billion projected shortfall — far larger than the deficit lawmakers addressed in the current plan.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT’s delayed energy plan could mean trouble for Millstone bill
With TV ads and ferocious lobbying on both sides of the issue, it’s unclear whether any legislation to help out the Millstone Nuclear Power Station will survive this legislative session. A delay in the release of an updated state energy strategy isn’t helping matters.
Posted inPolitics
CT Senate leaders blame Democratic losses on PACs, not policies
Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, blames the rare loss of Democratic legislative seats in a presidential year on the targeted spending by business groups, not voter dissatisfaction with Hartford after two decades of Democratic control of the Connecticut General Assembly. His GOP counterpart’s view: “Hogwash.”
Posted inPolitics
Business, labor bet big on fight for Connecticut Capitol
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.
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.
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.
Posted inPolitics
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.
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.