Now that Labor Day and the official start of the election season have arrived, political speechifying likely will focus on jobs ”“ how to attract, create and retain jobs in Connecticut.
With an unemployment rate hovering at 9 percent and families in Connecticut still nervous about their long-term financial stability, Labor Day is an excellent time to focus on jobs.
So far, almost every candidate for state office this year is saying that he or she is “pro-jobs,” but whether that means candidates will actually align with an identifiable pro-jobs plan with measurable results remains to be seen.
How exactly are General Assembly candidates proposing to create jobs? Or grow the state”™s economy? Are they willing to make government more effective and accountable?
Although the economic recovery is starting, many Connecticut employers are still just keeping things afloat or, at best, cautiously expanding. Others are making difficult financial decisions, such as not hiring, or modifying employee benefits in order to keep their doors open. The sad fact is that we are not yet out of the woods. Most economists believe that regaining the 100,000 jobs lost during the recession will take years.
So, how can we go about creating a “pro-jobs” agenda?
First, by encouraging voters to elect a decidedly pro-jobs legislature on Nov. 2, one that will make job creation a top priority. Next comes walking the talk ”“ making sure elected lawmakers (even before they take office in January) sponsor and promote policies that will encourage jobs. This kind of emphasis will restore the confidence of employers that Connecticut is the best place for them to grow and invest in more jobs.
One of the top policy goals should be to make state government more effective and accountable. Refining state agency and regulatory processes will promote economic development. Revising state tax laws to make them more consistent and predictable for businesses will instill confidence for those looking to remain here or newly locate to the state. Refraining from imposing more costly employment and health care mandates on employers will avoid unnecessary increases in the cost of doing business and help grow jobs.
Unfortunately, businesses every year see efforts at the Capitol to pass proposals that actually would lead to major increases in their labor and workplace costs and greater operating burdens. Surprisingly, many of these harmful proposals were nearly approved this year despite our tough economic conditions. Business leaders played a major role in educating legislators about the harmful impact of such proposals on the state economy, which helped defeat the measures.
In light of the pressing need for a “pro-jobs” agenda in state government, however, was that really a good use of the time and resources of our legislators and business leaders? Definitely not. Even when harmful proposals are ultimately rejected, the fact that the Legislature even considers them erodes business confidence in the state and ultimately hurts our prospects for economic recovery and job growth.
Especially on Labor Day, policymakers should realize that Connecticut employers provide some of the best wages and benefits and safest workplaces in the nation. In this competitive global economy, employers need to hire and keep the best talent they can. Connecticut is renowned for the quality of its work force, and employers here greatly value their employees, demonstrating that appreciation through good wages, benefits and working conditions.
A truly pro-jobs legislature in 2011 will steer clear of the proposals that would increase the costs of hiring and retaining employees in Connecticut. For instance, for several years the legislators have seriously considered laws mandating the amount of paid time off that employers must give their employees.
If faced with the possibility of Connecticut becoming the first state in the nation to mandate paid time-off benefits, many employers have already told lawmakers they would be forced to cover the extra costs by reducing employees”™ benefits, cutting their hours or even eliminating positions completely. For thousands of Connecticut residents already worried about keeping their jobs, is forcing the issue of paid time off worth the cost of the very jobs themselves?
This year, the best Labor Day pledge political candidates can make is to articulate a clearly “pro-jobs” agenda that we can actually see, hear and feel. In other words, we”™ve already heard politicians “talk the talk” about jobs. It”™s time for them to “walk the walk” by pledging to make it easier for Connecticut employers to grow our economy and create and retain the jobs we so desperately need ”“ even if it means reducing the size of state government to encourage private sector job creation.
Kia F. Murrell is associate counsel at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association in Hartford. Reach her at Kia.murrell@cbia.com.
