Most of the legislation the General Assembly passed in 2016 has already taken effect, but there are a handful of laws that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Here’s a look at some of the most important legislation that will ring in the New Year:
Labor
Posted inMoney
One study finds Connecticut a fine place to do business
A new study issued this month by the Council on State Taxation concludes Connecticut actually is tied for the most favorable business climate — if one considers not just the cost of doing business, but the potential for earning big profits here. But it warns against interpreting that to mean that Connecticut is a low-tax environment overall.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics
Union concessions still key focal point in a time of hard tradeoffs
With Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal less than seven weeks away, his budget director warned that unless unions grant further concessions, avoiding major tax hikes likely would require significant cuts to municipal aid, social services, higher education — and more layoffs.
Posted inMoney
CT unemployment rate falls to 4.7 percent in November
Connecticut’s unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in November as it added 2,100 jobs, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday.
Posted inMoney, Politics
GOP: CT lawmakers must go on record on new pension deal
The fate of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s plan to restructure the state employee pension system — which would shift billions of dollars of costs onto future taxpayers — mustn’t be resolved without votes by the House and Senate, according to the top Republicans in both chambers.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Fasano taps Yelmini to help with GOP labor agenda
The Senate Republican leadership has hired Linda Yelmini of Windsor, chief labor relations official for several administrations until her awkward departure from government under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy late in 2014, as a part-time consultant and legislative researcher.
Posted inMoney
Malloy, unions strike deal to stretch out spiking CT pension costs
Updated at 3:50 p.m.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced a deal Friday with state employee unions that would allow Connecticut to dodge a fiscal iceberg by holding down annual pension costs otherwise set to spike over the next 16 years.
Posted inPolitics
Controversial labor PAC disbands, refunds cash to unions
Labor United for Connecticut, an independent expenditure group that came under fire for an attack ad in October, disbanded this week after refunding more than $100,000 to member unions.
Posted inHealth, Money
DDS group home privatization effort slows down — for now
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s plans to privatize 40 group homes and lay off nearly 500 Department on Developmental Services employees next year — as well as union efforts to block those actions — are temporarily on hold, but have not gone away.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money
State agencies offer more painful possibilities for budget cuts
State agencies have offered the governor’s budget office options as it prepares a 2017-18 state budget proposal. Among those just made public: Some DMV offices could close. Housing subsidies for those with AIDS could be cut. And hundreds more state jobs could be eliminated by privatizing services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Debt costs, shrinking revenues taking big toll on next CT budget
Surging debt costs and shrinking revenues alone will force state officials to cut $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion out of the next state budget to avoid tax hikes, according to separate analyses Tuesday from two fiscal agencies. But the two reports probably still don’t reflect the full cuts to discretionary programs that would be required to stave off tax hikes.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy: Next budget will be very lean, without major tax hikes
Despite debt costs surging at unprecedented rates, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Tuesday his proposal for the next state budget would not feature any major tax hikes.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
The real war on women in Connecticut
Donald Trump’s atrocious war on women has been on full display, but there’s another war on women that takes place inside our Capitol every legislative session. Big business lobbyists, and the Republicans they now indirectly fund, routinely fight the right of women to achieve equal pay and fair workplace policies that keep women in the workforce.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
No lame duck vote on the TTP!
The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement should not be voted on during the “lame duck” session of Congress after the election — that unique moment in the political calendar when representatives who have retired or been voted out of office still hold their seats for a short time and political accountability to constituents is at its lowest.
Posted inMoney
CT lost 5,200 jobs last month as state layoffs took a toll
State employee layoffs began to take their toll on Connecticut’s job market in September even as the unemployment rate improved Thursday.