Dems Unveil Jobs Plan
by Christine Stuart | Feb 2, 2010 11:35pm
(6) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Labor, State Budget
Less than 24 hours before the start of the 2010 legislative session, Democratic lawmakers held a half-hour press conference Tuesday afternoon to talk about how they will improve the economy and grow jobs in the state.
But with a $515 million budget deficit can they afford to make the investments they say need to be made?
The plan released by the “Job Growth Roundtable” is recommending putting $12 million on the state’s credit card to support business start-ups, $7 to $10 million to create an angel investor network, and redirecting already established tax credits to invest in clean technologies and energy innovations.
“We need to make Connecticut competitive again,“ House Majority Leader Denise Merrill, D-Mansfield, said.
She said the state needs to be the catalyst for this type of economic development.
Many of the recommendations can be done at no cost to the state and many use small amounts of money that will help leverage private investment, Merrill said.
However, the state is on the verge of blowing through its credit card limit.
“We can’t sit back and let nothing happen,” Merrill said.
When asked what state bonding projects may get scaled back in order to pay for these new investments, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee looks at the state’s borrowing every year and this year is no different.
He joked that it would look first at bonding approved for Republican districts before looking at every lawmakers district.
Merrill said she did invite Republican lawmakers to be part of the discussion, but their participation “fell by the wayside.”
She said it may have been a Democratic initiative, but the panel was not political or partisan.
“There wasn’t one person in there that creates jobs for a living,” Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, said Tuesday. “They also didn’t present a single new idea.”
McKinney said many of the proposals have been made before, but that the Democratic majority has consistently voted against these proposals.
“Maybe this year their votes will match their rhetoric,” he said.
Last year there were two important reports released on Connecticut’s economic development and job growth in the state. One report was authored by the Gov. M. Jodi Rell‘s administration and the other one by the legislature‘s Program Review and Investigations Committee.
Neither of the reports set priorities for what lawmakers should tackle first.
Merrill and Looney said that’s where this report is different. It sets priorities and provides a blueprint for Connecticut’s future.
(6) Comments
posted by: City Hall Watch | February 3, 2010 2:38pm
Retreads. The only thing new in either the presenters or the ideas is that it’s the start of a new session. Has anybody on the roundtable personally created a single job or run a business? They really shouldn’t talk about concepts they don’t understand.
posted by: CT Jim | February 3, 2010 5:14pm
Yeah city I hear ya,
have any of these slugs created a job, or for that matter has M. Jodi Rell ever created a job in her 100 years on this earth or Has her predicessor Jonny boy created a Job any where or anytime in his life time ?
Even while making $139,000 a year to loose 15000 jobs in Waterbury.
Or the Great Job Czar guy himself Robbie Simmons who created a minus 200,000 jobs while making $150,000 per for 2 years as our states job czar LMAO!!!
So city where are these job makers??? LOL
posted by: City Hall Watch | February 3, 2010 9:24pm
This is not a Dem or GOP issue. I’m just sick and tired of reading and listening to nothing but B.S. rhetoric from people who couldn’t create a job if you gave them an instruction manual. Our economy and job creation have become political conversation designed so voters are faked out and believe they’re actually doing something. I heard Senator Toni Harp the other day talk about “results based budgeting.” lol It’s time to have results based elections.
posted by: CT Jim | February 4, 2010 6:27am
Its not whther they have created a job or not its do they have a grasp of the situation we are in.
And as of now the Dems are at least trying while the R’s are punting.
In the area of education was it smart for the governor to strip funding for the LPN program ?
A program with 100% placement at a starting rate of $22 to $26 per hour!
I was at a hearing where the subject was Vo-Tech schools and when the Chair brought up a letter from a parent who said in her childs classroom in tech. HS there was no paper to Write on and NO WIRE in the shop. and it was an electrical course!!
So what was the answer giving by the Rell appointed Bev Bobroske of the state Board of ED a woman who claims 40 years of experience in the school systems as well as 17 years on Bristols board of Ed????
She said in her experience the parent was LYING!!!!!
Thats getting it???
So its not experience its the will to get it right!!!
And once again a Rell appointee has NO CLUE!!!
posted by: Matt W. | February 4, 2010 1:48pm
City Hall: The problem with CT Jim is that everything is a DEM / GOP issue. He’s too blinded by his ideology to see things objectively. It’s unfortunate.
I don’t care for Jodi Rell but I can see that she’s clearly only part of the problem. I sincerely hope the next governor is a Dem b/c that appears to be all that stands between the citizens of this state and a government of responsible leaders with a balanced budget and jobs for all. I await with great anticipation the euphoria that will consume the state of CT if only the Dems had more power.
