Rep. Yaccarino, Republicans Host Roundtable Discussion for CT Business Owners and Executives

In a natural extension of his North Haven Business Tour, State Representative Dave Yaccarino (R-87) on Wednesday participated in a business roundtable at the Legislative Office Building that brought more than 50 business owners and executives together to express their concerns over Connecticut’s poor business climate and offer their ideas for solutions.

Many of the ideas shared were not new to Yaccarino, who has been touring North Haven businesses in an effort to gather input in advance of an Oct. 26 special legislative session focused on improving a state business climate that ranks among the nation’s worst.

“Business owners throughout my district have been telling me how difficult it is to stay competitive when energy and health care costs and state regulations are so prohibitive,” Rep. Yaccarino said. “Over and over I hear that Connecticut is a great place to live but because of government policies it’s a difficult place to run a business.”

Nearly every business owner or company executive who spoke described their bad experiences in trying to navigate a seemingly endless, cumbersome and costly set of state regulations spread across several agencies.

Many also expressed frustration over a governor’s administration that’s asking them what they need to create more jobs shortly after not only imposing the largest tax increase in state history, but also forcing some employers to provide mandatory paid sick leave to employees.

“Government needs to get out of the way and allow businesses to do what they do best,” Rep. Yaccarino said. “We should support the businesses we already have and work to bring new companies here with lower energy costs, a streamlined permitting process and elimination of the business entity tax. We should not be adding mandates and raising taxes on the job creators of our state.”