Nine Connecticut business groups are urging Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to use their expertise to improve the state’s economy and government services.
They are calling for, among other concepts, achieving four objectives that they call “absolutely fundamental” to sustaining Connecticut’s long-term growth:
- Retaining and recruiting young talent across all sectors;
- Strengthen the livability and competitiveness of urban centers;
- Ensuring a best in class transportation system through operational improvements and infrastructure investments; and,
- Re-establishing historical 4 percent annual increases in per capita income.
The groups are: Bridgeport Regional Business Council, Business Council of Fairfield County, Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce Eastern Connecticut, Greater New Haven Chamber, Metro Hartford Alliance, Middlesex Chamber, Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, and the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.
The group said its expertise can also be used:
- To reform Medicaid funding to maximize federal revenue, ensure access to affordable care, improve the quality of care, and establish a shared savings component in the Medicaid program that engages all participating providers;
- To implement the recommendations of the Connecticut Institute for the 21st Century regarding several state funded and managed services; and,
- Support the governor’s efforts to secure changes in work rules, pension calculations, and other key components of state employee labor agreements and to work with him, State Comptroller Kevin Lembo, and State Treasurer Denise Nappier to address the underfunded and unfunded components of the state retiree pension and health care benefits.
In their letter, the business groups said replacing the historical and often rigid approaches to economic growth and the delivery of public services with innovative strategies and processes will save money, increase meaningful employment opportunities, and enhance residents’ quality of life.
Among its proposals are a bi-annual planning meeting on Connecticut’s economic and employment strategy and objectives modeled after similar programs in Michigan and Minnesota. The business groups also want to see the meeting held by July, 2017.
The group also supports the governor’s call for a special transportation fund lockbox amendment to the state constitution and a meaningful cap on spending.
