House Bill - 5606 "An Act Prohibiting The Storage or Toxic Waste
Near Residential Properties"
The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the storage or disposal of toxic waste at a site abutting residential property. The problem with this legislation is it does not define what "Toxic Waste" is considered. Due to the fact that this act is not defined we cannot allow this legislation to pass.
Another reason to be alarmed is this will also drastically impact the success of the Brownfield legislation we have fought so hard for over the past 3 three years.
The Environmental Committee has passed this bill and is now moving to Appropriations. Now that this bill is with Appropriations we need to make sure our voice is heard. Please reach out to our legislators and let them know that you are opposing this bill.
Here is the Link to the Appropriations Committee
http://www.cga.ct.gov/app/
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
No More Taxes!
HB-5844 "An Act Dedicating Certain Moneys to Fund the State Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Programs and Establishing a Sales Tax on Delivery Services"
This bill if passed will impose a sales tax on all delivery services. The revenue collected will go to help fund the state Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) programs for state-owned property, private colleges and hospitals.
Please contact your legislators and help us kill this bill. The Connecticut business climate is already hard to sell and this legislation will only make it harder.
If you have any questions please contact me, Jeff Rouleau at 757-0701 or by e-mail at Jrouleau@waterburychamber.com
This bill if passed will impose a sales tax on all delivery services. The revenue collected will go to help fund the state Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) programs for state-owned property, private colleges and hospitals.
Please contact your legislators and help us kill this bill. The Connecticut business climate is already hard to sell and this legislation will only make it harder.
If you have any questions please contact me, Jeff Rouleau at 757-0701 or by e-mail at Jrouleau@waterburychamber.com
Monday, April 14, 2008
All CT Businesses Beware!
With 23 days to go before this year’s short session draws to an end we have several harmful bills that "have legs" and need to be killed. This is where you, the Connecticut resident or business owner, need to step up and speak your mind!
Senate Bill- 217 "Paid Sick Leave"
This proposed legislation handcuffs a business when it comes to creating time off policies that best fit the company. This mandate is a one-size-fits-all frame of mind that makes Connecticut less attractive for future business. The flexibility to determine which time off policies work best for the company will be taken away by requiring all employers of 25 or more employees to provide a minimum amount of paid sick leave each year, regardless of their existing paid time off benefit structure, workforce demands or type of industry.
Senate Bill- 64 "SCARRING AWARDS UNDER WORKERS' COMPENSATION"
This bill if passed will allow injured workers to receive benefits for scars occurring on the body, regardless of their impact on the person’s ability to earn a living. The proposal would expand workers’ compensation benefits beyond fiscally responsible levels and cause employers’ labor costs to significantly increase. The Office of Fiscal Analysis estimates that by 2010 we will go from 21 claims (2007) to 200 claims with a price tag of one million dollars out of the employer’s pocket.
Senate Bill 255 "ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR WAGE LOSS UNDER WORKERS' COMPENSATION”
This Legislation will increase discretionary benefits for injured workers up to the maximum allowable amount for any reason and regardless of the extent of injury. The Office of Fiscal Analysis estimates that this measure will cost the state between $1.3 and $4.3 million beginning in Year 2010 and astonishingly will cost the private sector an estimated $527 million in the first year alone.
Please take the time to write a letter or e-mail to your Legislator to let them know that this type of legislation will put Connecticut's economy at a strong disadvantage. If you would like address please send me a e-mail at jrouleau@waterburychamber.com
Senate Bill- 217 "Paid Sick Leave"
This proposed legislation handcuffs a business when it comes to creating time off policies that best fit the company. This mandate is a one-size-fits-all frame of mind that makes Connecticut less attractive for future business. The flexibility to determine which time off policies work best for the company will be taken away by requiring all employers of 25 or more employees to provide a minimum amount of paid sick leave each year, regardless of their existing paid time off benefit structure, workforce demands or type of industry.
Senate Bill- 64 "SCARRING AWARDS UNDER WORKERS' COMPENSATION"
This bill if passed will allow injured workers to receive benefits for scars occurring on the body, regardless of their impact on the person’s ability to earn a living. The proposal would expand workers’ compensation benefits beyond fiscally responsible levels and cause employers’ labor costs to significantly increase. The Office of Fiscal Analysis estimates that by 2010 we will go from 21 claims (2007) to 200 claims with a price tag of one million dollars out of the employer’s pocket.
Senate Bill 255 "ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR WAGE LOSS UNDER WORKERS' COMPENSATION”
This Legislation will increase discretionary benefits for injured workers up to the maximum allowable amount for any reason and regardless of the extent of injury. The Office of Fiscal Analysis estimates that this measure will cost the state between $1.3 and $4.3 million beginning in Year 2010 and astonishingly will cost the private sector an estimated $527 million in the first year alone.
Please take the time to write a letter or e-mail to your Legislator to let them know that this type of legislation will put Connecticut's economy at a strong disadvantage. If you would like address please send me a e-mail at jrouleau@waterburychamber.com
Friday, April 11, 2008
Action Needed on Harmful Tax Bill
The Chamber is calling action on Senate Bill 701!
SB 701 would allow the local governments in 18 “targeted investment communities” (TIC's) to exempt the first $100,000 in assessed value from most residential properties in computing the local property tax. Waterbury is labeled as a Targeted Investment Communities.
Known as a “homestead exemption,” this proposal would shift millions of dollars in taxes onto commercial and industrial taxpayers. The idea has been around a long time and every session the bill has been rejected by the legislature because of the impact it would have on municipalities that adopted it. The resulting increase in the mill rate would undoubtedly affect manufacturers that still make up an important part of Waterbury. Larger Manufacturers might get by but as we know in the Brass city most of shops are small to midsize manufacturer that might not survive. This bill has steam behind it because the proponents feel that just because the Legislation is in place does not mean the towns have to enact the tax exemption. We know that taxpayer groups and other advocates will fight for enactment and if done the businesses in our towns will pack it up and move elsewhere. This legislation will do nothing but hurt our city and state because once these 18 towns get the exemption every other town will push for it.
It is better that municipalities are never given the chance to adopt the exemption and that towns find other ways to grant relief to all taxpayers.
SB 701 would allow the local governments in 18 “targeted investment communities” (TIC's) to exempt the first $100,000 in assessed value from most residential properties in computing the local property tax. Waterbury is labeled as a Targeted Investment Communities.
Known as a “homestead exemption,” this proposal would shift millions of dollars in taxes onto commercial and industrial taxpayers. The idea has been around a long time and every session the bill has been rejected by the legislature because of the impact it would have on municipalities that adopted it. The resulting increase in the mill rate would undoubtedly affect manufacturers that still make up an important part of Waterbury. Larger Manufacturers might get by but as we know in the Brass city most of shops are small to midsize manufacturer that might not survive. This bill has steam behind it because the proponents feel that just because the Legislation is in place does not mean the towns have to enact the tax exemption. We know that taxpayer groups and other advocates will fight for enactment and if done the businesses in our towns will pack it up and move elsewhere. This legislation will do nothing but hurt our city and state because once these 18 towns get the exemption every other town will push for it.
It is better that municipalities are never given the chance to adopt the exemption and that towns find other ways to grant relief to all taxpayers.
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