In his closing address for the 2011 General Assembly session, Gov. Malloy characterized Connecticut”™s unemployment situation as an emergency and told lawmakers that state government must now focus on jobs.
The most recent U.S. unemployment report showed that the nation only gained 18,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate rose to 9.2 percent. Considering the national numbers, as well as the latest report from the state Department of Labor, which showed that Connecticut lost 2,900 jobs in May and that unemployment remains at 9.1 percent, the governor”™s emphasis on jobs is critical.
As part of this emphasis, he cited three new initiatives.
First, he is asking all agency heads to make job creation and economic growth an integral part of their agendas.
Second, he announced he”™s traveling across the state for a listening tour of the state”™s business community, accompanied by Catherine Smith, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development. The purpose, he said, is to “listen to the business community about ways state government can aid in job creation.”
Finally, the governor asked legislators to return to the Capitol this fall for a special session focusing solely on jobs.
Although some of us may be frustrated that more of a concerted effort on jobs was not made during the legislative session, it”™s important now that the business community takes advantage of this opportunity to talk to government leaders about what policy changes are necessary to unlock private-sector investment. It”™s also an opportunity for policymakers to show that they recognize private-sector investment as the key to job creation and sustained economic growth.
In the coming weeks, employers must engage the governor, legislators and state commissioners in frank discussions of the breadth of issues facing Connecticut businesses. Tell them how the state”™s high business costs and taxes are making it increasingly difficult to operate in Connecticut. Urge them to streamline the regulatory process so that it serves its purpose without impeding economic growth. Make sure they understand that Connecticut has a rich diversity of business and industry that can provide a bright economic future, but only if business leaders believe that this is a state where they can be successful and have confidence that they”™ll get a good return on their investments.
John R. Rathgeber is president and CEO of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association in Hartford. Reach him at john.rathgeber@cbia.com.
