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Education &
Job Training
The new economy is
both "technology based" and "knowledge based". In order for
Connecticut to thrive, we need to both develop and retain a
workforce that can respond to these economic realities. Jobs in the
new economy require individuals to have strong basic educational
skills, excellent communication skills and a fluent use of
technology. Employers also need people who are flexible, adept to
change and embrace the concept of lifelong
learning.
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Implement the
recommendations of the Connecticut Employment & Training
Commission that would create a statewide plan enhancing access to,
and increasing the quality of, employer-driven training programs.
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Improve the
collaboration between the state’s industry clusters, higher
education institutions, and job-training programs to address the
shortage of skilled workers in such key industries as
manufacturing and information technology.
Transportation
The new economy is
making it possible to transact business quicker from almost
anywhere. Our transportation infrastructure is still an integral
part of fulfilling business in this new environment. Connecticut has
economic life-threatening transportation barriers that must be
addressed. Our roadways are inadequate and overused, mass transit is
underutilized and under-funded, and our airports require substantial
upgrading.
Commerce in the new
economy will seek the paths of least resistance, and if we fail to
raise consciousness regarding the severity of this issue we will be
bypassed. Making a strategic investment in transportation can open
up our economic corridors and lead to more growth and greater
opportunities.
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Accelerate the
implementation of the recommendations contained in the Southwest
Corridor Transportation Study Update and develop innovative and
feasible projects that will help relieve congestion in and around
the I-95 corridor.
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Develop a new
mission statement for the Department of Transportation that
emphasizes transportation as a catalyst for economic growth, and
helps prepare our transportation infrastructure for the 21st
Century.
Competitive
Costs
We now operate in an
environment where enough will never be enough. For all of the
progress that Connecticut has made in the last decade, our
neighboring competitive states are keeping pace or are one step
ahead of us. State government must be vigilant about containing the
cost of doing business in Connecticut, which is still high compared
to most states.
Labor
Workplace reforms in
the early 1990’s lowered the cost of doing business in Connecticut
and played a great part in spurring the state’s economic recovery.
Lawmakers need to work to safeguard the reforms that have been made
which have contributed to our economic recovery.
The General Assembly
should reject measures that would:
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Repeal worker’s
compensation reforms
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Legislate the use
of restrictive employment agreements such as non-compete
agreements
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Expand
unemployment compensation eligibility and increase unemployment
comp benefit levels
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Require employers
to provide paid family and medical leave
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Place new
mandates and restrictions on state economic development programs
Business Taxes
Connecticut’s
businesses need a tax policy that will enable them to compete in a
global, technology based economy. Progress has been made, but more
work needs to be done to achieve this goal.
Appropriate and
productive measures would include:
Eliminate the sales and
use tax on all training services.
Extend to all companies the
maximum rate of 6% for the non-incremental research and development
(R&D) tax credit.
Health Care
Escalating health care
costs are a growing concern for employers and employees, creating
new barriers to health care access. The state must not take actions
that further drive up health care and health insurance costs, which
will escalate the problem. Any changes will negatively impact cost
and the number of people insured. Increasing costs to the provider
means rate increases for employers and less coverage for
families.
Energy
The newly competitive
energy marketplace offers Connecticut consumers the potential for
lower costs, consumer choice and improved service efficiency. The
state needs to work to make these original objectives
reality.
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Encourage a
competitive marketplace that reduces costs while maintaining the
reliability of energy and telecommunications services, by
eliminating overly burdensome licensing, exit-fee and siting
requirements.
Embracing Technology
We can achieve our
potential by recognizing the central role technology will play in
the new economy. Embracing this fundamental outlook will allow the
people of Connecticut to draw on their entrepreneurial spirit and
take advantage of all the new opportunities that will emerge. We
support the following technology initiatives:
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Eliminate the
sales and use tax on computer and data processing services by July
1, 2000.
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Develop Smart
Parks and Smart Buildings to provide technology-based companies
access to teleconferencing facilities, high-speed communication
training centers, university research laboratories and business
incubators.
*Support electronic commerce by continuing to adopt
measures addressing the validity of electronic signatures and
electronic contracts.
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