No matter their political party, hometown or legislative district, this year’s candidates for the General Assembly seem to agree with nervous voters: Jobs and the economy are Connecticut’s top priorities.
Now come the real tests: Will state legislators follow through and address these top issues with positive action? Will they be held accountable for fulfilling their campaign promises?
Accountability is a familiar concept in the business world, where goals, measures, processes and outcomes are a fact of life. It’s all about setting expectations and following through — with real consequences for success or failure.
When the General Assembly convenes on Jan. 7 for its new session, accountability has to be a big part of the picture. Campaign promises will have to translate into positive legislative action to answer the steep challenges facing Connecticut. We’re in not just a financial and economic crisis, but also a crisis of confidence.
The full effect of the economic slowdown has yet to hit the state, but there are very ominous and credible forecasts of significant state budget deficits and job losses. Rarely has it been more important for Connecticut’s business community to be involved in what goes on in Hartford.
All too often, however, legislators hear most vociferously from voices outside the business community in debates on issues affecting Connecticut employers and their ability to operate effectively and create jobs.
Consequently, real progress is often stalled. Negative results — such as the numerous legislative proposals each year that would make it harder to do business in Connecticut — take up too much time at the Capitol.
This year, employers can’t afford to simply wait to see what happens in the legislature. State laws passed in Hartford often affect their businesses and the state’s economy more than federal laws passed in Washington, D.C. Businesses of all sizes need to realize that they have an important role to play in helping state lawmakers make good decisions.
For their part, lawmakers often tell us they want to know more about the business community’s perspectives on issues from health care and energy to transportation and workplace costs. It’s an invitation that more employers need to accept.
That’s why we have created a number of ways for Connecticut business leaders to make their voices heard — and themselves seen — before state legislators. We sponsor dozens of legislative breakfast meetings, often held with local chambers of commerce throughout Connecticut in which business leaders and legislators talk informally and face-to-face about the issues.
We also offer an “Adopt a Legislator” program to help individual employers forge relationships with their lawmakers. And we sponsor, along with the Connecticut Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the large-scale, “Connecticut Business Day” event at the Capitol during the session that galvanizes the employer community around our key issues.
During the session we update our members with legislative alerts about imminent debates or votes on top issues. Within those alerts we provide an easy, quick way for business leaders to contact their legislators. In fact, our CBIA.com/Gov Web site is a practical tool for anyone.
Employers Can Testify
Employers also can testify before legislative committees on key proposals. It takes the sacrifice of time and the travel to Hartford, but it is an effective way to convey critical information that lawmakers need to hear.
Righting Connecticut’s economy has to be the top priority at the Capitol, because a growing economy can cure many ills — not the least of which is bringing in the revenues necessary to balance the state budget and pay for needed government services. Employers want to see legislators work in a bipartisan manner to take the kind of actions that will help them create more jobs and invest more in the state.
What would happen if more businesses took the time to cultivate greater communication with their state legislators? We need to find out this year. The economic stakes are too high and the margin for error too narrow this year for employers not be a significant part of the debates. In order to bring about positive change at the Capitol, employers must step forward and let their voices be heard by calling, e-mailing and meeting with their legislators. Difficult times like these can be opportunities for positive change — if businesses get involved and participate.
Bonnie Stewart is vice president of government affairs for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association
