CRMA begins 2022 Legislative Preview with House Minority Leader
Important news from Washington
News and notes from the State Capitol
News and notes from around the state
- On Wednesday of this week, CRMA President Tim Phelan sat down, via Zoom, with Connecticut House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R-86) to discuss the upcoming legislative session, which begins on February 9.
- Phelan and Mr. Candelora covered several important topics in their short conversation, which you can watch by going here.
- This is the first in a series of visits that we are planning with the Legislative Leaders of the four caucuses of the General Assembly, leading up the start of the legislative session.
- We encourage you to watch these recorded conversations and send us any thoughts you have about issues that retailers may be facing in the General Assembly.
- And just an editorial note – Mr. Phelan mentions in the video that the Legislative session begins February 2nd. That was an inadvertent mistake. The legislative session begins February 9. We apologize for any confusion.
Important news coming from Washington, DC
- A flurry of activity is coming from our nation’s capital that we want to share with you this week.
- First, the Supreme Court yesterday voted to block the Biden administration’s rule requiring larger businesses to ensure that workers receive the COVID vaccine or wear masks and get tested on a weekly basis.
- Our friends at the NRF responded with a statement indicating that “While NRF has maintained a strong and consistent position related to the importance of vaccines in helping to overcome this pandemic, the Supreme Court’s decision to stay OSHA’s onerous and unprecedented ETS is a significant victory for employers.”
- Read the full NRF statement here.
- Also, the NRF has launched a campaign urging Congress to include small retailers in the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
- Small retailers would be eligible for direct grants if included in the program, providing small retailers with the same opportunity as restaurants to rebuild their businesses and serve their communities.
- Read more about NRF’s efforts in their recent blog
- CRMA is urging Connecticut’s Congressional delegation to support the plan. Read CRMA’s letter here.
News and notes from around the State Capitol
- Lamont has been reluctant to reveal how he plans to handle the looming expiration of his emergency orders and legislative leaders were unsure this week whether the legislative session that opens in February would begin with a debate on COVID policy. CTNewsJunkie reports on the latest here.
- Tax credits to film companies have cost Connecticut hundreds of millions of dollars through the years. Now, some are questioning whether the effort to attract the industry here was worth it. CT Mirror reports on the concerns being raised here.
- The 2022 gubernatorial race seems to have begun in earnest this week, with Republican ads beginning the attack on incumbent Gov. Ned Lamont, who has indicated he will seek re-election. CT Mirror reports on the first wave of ads here.
- With an unprecedented state surplus of nearly $2 billion, Gov. Lamont and Senate Republicans have announced their goals to cut state taxes. That debate is just beginning, with calls for property tax reform, sales tax reductions, and more. CT Mirror’s Keith Phaneuf has the details here.
- With an open seat for the first time in 12 years, at least nine candidates are running to become Connecticut’s next Secretary of the State. The Hartford Courant’s Chris Keating has the who’s who, here.
- Top House and Senate leaders said this week that addressing Connecticut’s overburdened and understaffed mental health system for children and adults will be a bipartisan priority when the General Assembly convenes next month. CT Mirror reports their comments here.
- The future of Connecticut’s Congressional districts is back in the hands of a court-appointed special master after a last-minute appeal for compromise this week among legislative Democrats and Republicans was unsuccessful. CTNewsJunkie has the update here.
- Workers’ compensation premiums in Connecticut are decreasing for an eighth consecutive year, which will translate into more savings for businesses, state officials announced this week. Hartford Business Journal reports on the new rates here.
News and notes from around the state
- For the first time in three weeks, the net total of patients hospitalized with COVID in Connecticut has dropped, potentially offering hope that the latest surge, one of the worst since the start of the pandemic, is slowing. CT Post has the latest state data here.
- Workers’ compensation premiums in Connecticut are decreasing for an eighth consecutive year, which will translate into more savings for businesses, state officials announced this week. Hartford Business Journal reports on the new rates here.
- Connecticut had a 20% increase in new business registrations in 2021 after averaging about 5% growth for the past decade, according to data analysis from the Connecticut Data Collaborative. Hartford Business Journal reports on the data here.
- City of New Haven officials announced this week the city will spend $10 million in new federal pandemic relief money to support city businesses. New Haven BIZ has the news here.
- Women business owners can apply for grants and business assistance from Comcast as part of a major expansion of the cable provider’s RISE program. New Haven BIZ reports on the company’s plans here.