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Back to Business
State lawmakers old and new tell what business issues are important to them
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Business New Haven
11/16/1998
By: Bridget Albert
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With the November elections now behind them, area legislators are preparing to return to work and concentrate on economic issues affecting businesses and consumers. Newcomers and incumbents alike agree that the state's tax structure is a priority issue for the business community and needs addressing.
West Haven State Rep. Ray Collins (R-117) acknowledges that he can't predict which direction the legislators will take in the next session, but outlines his own agenda. Collins says he plans to continue the work that has begun on reducing the business tax burden. Collins also is a vocal advocate for the concerns of small businesses. On employment issues, Collins says he plans to continue his support for upgrading the vocational-technical school system in the state.
State Rep. Richard Roy (D-119) of Milford says he believes that the legislature will focus on retaining and building pharmaceutical and other technology-based businesses. Roy also
favors environmental initiatives that produce economic development. As an example he cites Dunedin, Fla., a community with a 35-percent retail vacancy rate in its central business district. According to Roy, trails were developed adjacent to a former rail bed creating outdoor walking and hiking paths. The attractiveness of the development and the traffic it has generated have helped to fill downtown store fronts.
Explains Roy: “This is environmentally safe and friendly; it gets people outdoors and attracts businesses. All development does not have to be tar and cement.”
Returning New Haven State Sen. Toni Harp (D-10) says she hopes to move New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr.'s Long Wharf mall project forward. She sees harbor redevelopment as central to the project, citing potential tourist attractions such as the Amistad replica being built in Mystic. Harp plans to seek state funding for harbor improvements and to utilize the waterfront's natural geography to its fullest extent.
In addition to the harbor development Harp wants to provide better export assistance to local companies. She also hopes to introduce legislation providing much-needed dollars for brownfields clean-up.
State Rep. James W. Abrams (D-83) of Meriden says he plans to focus on commuter rail service between Hartford and New Haven. He explains that since the right-of-way already exists the cost to restore passenger service would be about $3.4 million, according to a recent rail study. That, he believes, is a worthwhile investment.
Newly elected State Rep. Themis Klarides (R-114) of Woodbridge believes the overall tax structure of the state needs addressing, and expresses hope that she can be instrumental in reducing commercial, property and sales taxes. Milford State Sen. Win Smith Jr. (R-14) likewise say he will work to see the tax code revised and taxes reduced.
State Sen. Eileen M. Daily (D-33) of Westbrook, who co-chairs the environmental committee, hopes to amend the process for reclaiming brownfields contaminated by long-term industrial use and misuse, including underground storage and oil tanks currently leaking.
Other areas of importance to Daily include federal clean air mandates and issues pertaining to managed care.
Guilford State Rep. Patricia M. Widlitz (D-98) has been active on education issues. She believes that vocational education is a major concern for businesses competing for a shrinking pool of skilled workers. Widlitz also says that in order to attract more technology-based industries, the state's vocational-technical schools need to be able to better students for careers in a knowledge-based economy.
State Rep. Patricia Dillon (D-92) of New Haven is likewise interested in helping to build the biomedical and biotech industry locally. She says she also is looking at ways to decrease energy costs, property taxes and health care costs. Like Abrams, Dillon is also interested in commuter rail between Hartford and New Haven.
Hamdne State Rep. Nancy Beals (D-88) vows to address property and sales taxes by introducing new legislation to decrease or eliminate the existing levels. She also hopes to continue work on improving vocational education to meet the needs of businesses in the state.
Finally, Yalesville State Rep. Mary G. Fritz (D-90) wants to make sure the state does not go backwards with regard to reforms of workers compensation and unemployment insurance costs.
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