How would candidates for state office handle the enormous challenges of Connecticut”™s steep budget deficits and an economy that is struggling to regain thousands of lost jobs?
It”™s a question that voters throughout the state should be actively asking their candidates for governor, state offices and the state Legislature as the Nov. 2 general election approaches.
CBIA has opened an Election Central website at cbia.com to help voters connect to the candidates and the issues candidates should be talking about. Voters need to ask candidates their plans for reviving our economy, restoring fiscal responsibility, getting back the jobs we”™ve lost and creating sustainable jobs for the next decade.
This year, many candidates are saying they are “pro-jobs.” But are they for promoting private-sector job growth? Because that”™s the way to grow a healthy economy that generates the jobs, wages and benefits we need to support our families and communities ”“ and provide the tax revenue we need to pay for critical public services.
Connecticut businesses need to be able to trust that state government will do its part to help them invest and grow here. Candidates can start to renew that trust by supporting policies that will give businesses the best chance to create jobs and drive our economic recovery.
Here are some of the issues candidates should be addressing:
State budget and taxes
Higher taxes hurt jobs and stifle economic growth. With the state”™s economy still struggling and a state budgetary deficit of nearly $10 billion over the next three years (as well as billions more in long-term budget obligations) it”™s imperative that we make state government smaller, more affordable and more effective.
Businesses and individuals have had to tighten their budgets ”“ now state government must do the same. Recipients of state services expect and deserve the most efficient delivery of services; taxpayers demand that those services be as cost-effective as possible. And we can improve the quality of state services and lower their costs through innovative thinking, greater use of technology and streamlining programs and processes. Controlling state spending is the only way we”™ll avoid the harmful tax increases that will hurt our families, businesses and the state”™s economy.
Ask the candidates if they will:
Review every part of state government to find ways to reduce wasteful spending, and streamline or eliminate underperforming programs.
Explore alternative programs that can provide high-quality services and better results at lower costs, particularly in high cost areas like long term care and corrections.
Bring state employee wages and benefits more in line with those in the private sector.
Improve state fiscal planning to reduce long-term state and municipal unfunded liabilities and shortfalls in federal aid.
Avoid any tax increases that would stifle economic recovery and promote predictable, consistent and fair tax policy that will encourage employers to invest more in Connecticut and create more jobs here.
Labor and health care costs
Connecticut businesses can”™t create more jobs if state government keeps increasing their costs, which already are among the highest in the nation. But policymakers consider proposals every year that would lead to major increases in labor and health care costs. Public officials must understand that these proposals hurt employers”™ ability to survive and employ people in Connecticut.
And we need health care reform in Connecticut that brings down costs and improves quality so employers and employees can afford coverage. But reform must be affordable, encourage healthier lifestyles and avoid damaging our economy or interfering with federal actions.
Ask the candidates if they will:
Recognize that Connecticut employers provide good wages, benefits and safe workplaces; avoid any mandates that would increase costs and make it more difficult to create and retain jobs here.
Strengthen Connecticut”™s private-sector health insurance marketplace through commonsense, affordable reforms that reduce health care costs, improve quality and increase access, such as promoting electronic medical records, data transparency and wellness programs
Energy
Energy costs in Connecticut are among the highest in the nation and recent legislative efforts to expand the role of state government in the energy arena will only make matters worse. The best way for policymakers to help lower energy costs for businesses and residents would be to support efforts to improve Connecticut”™s power infrastructure and encourage increased generation in the state.
Ask the candidates if they will:
Help Connecticut consumers better manage their energy costs and increase energy reliability by upgrading infrastructures, diversifying fuel sources and promoting innovation and competition.
Education and skilled work force
Connecticut has long had a highly educated and skilled work force. But we”™re at risk of losing that advantage for many reasons ”“ including a decline in student performance relative to other states and countries, and the fact that employers can develop talent anywhere in the world.
We need a highly skilled work force and we need to give our young people the tools required to succeed as employees, higher-education students or entrepreneurs.
Progress was made last session in this area when policymakers enacted a landmark education law calling for a wide range of reforms targeted at improving state schools and giving our young people a better future. These reforms are also important to demonstrate Connecticut”™s strong support for education reform ”“ a prerequisite to potential federal Race to the Top funds. But to be effective, these reforms must be properly implemented.
Ask the candidates if they will:
Promote a highly skilled workforce and give all of our young people their best opportunity for success by ensuring that the education reforms adopted this past session will be properly implemented by the state.Â
Transportation
In today”™s global marketplace, businesses have to be able to move people and products more easily and less expensively. Connecticut should strategically marshal its transportation resources in a way that will fully support a growing economy ”“ and maximize limited funding resources.
Ask the candidates if they will:
Meet the increasing demands of a global marketplace by maximizing Connecticut”™s state and federal transportation resources and making sure those dollars are focused on priority, economy-boosting projects.
We urge all voters to delve into their legislative candidates”™ records, compare their past performance with what they”™re promising, ask them probing questions and make an educated judgment about which candidates are genuinely committed to private-sector growth and public-sector fiscal restructuring.
Joseph F. Brennan is senior vice president of public policy at the Connecticut Business & Industry Association in Hartford.
