Area Lawmakers Talk to Local Business Owners about Legislation

EAST HAVEN – State lawmakers, Senator Len Fasano and State Representatives Joe Zullo and Vincent Candelora held a business coffee hour on Monday morning to talk to local business owners and professionals about legislation passed during the 2019 Legislative Session.

Rep. Zullo said, “I want to thank the East Haven Chamber of Commerce for co-hosting our ‘business coffee hour’ this morning. It proved to be a wonderful opportunity to discuss new laws passed this session that will have an impact on business owners.

Zullo added, “This past session, I voted against a number of bills I felt were ‘anti-business.’ We need to be doing more to create jobs and grow our economy and I am a firm believer that becoming more business-friendly, especially to our State’s small businesses, will help grow jobs and make our State more prosperous and secure.”

“I want to thank everyone who joined us on Monday, and all those who have reached out to me directly about their experiences running a business and working in our state. Connecticut must do more to support the state’s job creators and find solutions to lead this state in direction that that gives everyone access to opportunities and the chance to succeed.”

“Connecticut’s economic recovery is long overdue, and a big part of that story is the legislature’s poor record of supporting our state’s business community. Events such as this are critical to changing that trend—they provide an opportunity for Joe, Len and I to not only explain what’s happening in Hartford, but also collect concerns and ideas from people who feel the effects of action taken by the legislature. We do everything we can to share that information with our colleagues who don’t necessarily prioritize the interests of business owners. ”
The causal “business coffee hour” was held at Twin Pines Diner in East Haven. Business owners who attended expressed their concerns about tolls, the new payroll tax, and the increase in business filing fees.

During the 2019 legislative session, the majority party passed legislation that will have a significant impact on small and large employers including:

– A half-percent payroll tax to fund paid family leave;
– A Digital Download Tax
– A tax on Plastic Bags
– Increased Business Filing Fees

For more information or to reach out to the lawmakers, contact 860-240-8700.

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