Governor’s OPM Chief Takes Heat on Budget
Special Election Update
CRMA Golf Outing Update
Retail News and Notes
- On Wednesday of this past week, Melissa McCaw, Governor Lamont’s Office of Policy and Management Director, faced some tough questions as she went before the legislature’s Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee to defend the Governor’s budget.
- McCaw answered questions that came from all corners of the committee but were particularly hard from Republican members.
- They pressured McCaw to explain Lamont’s plan to divert to the general fund from the special transportation fund, expanding the sales tax to a variety of services, and of course the implementation of tolls.
- Keith Phaneuf of the CT Mirror has a good overview of the R’s questions.
- Some D’s on the Finance Committee also have concerns with the Governor’s revenue plans with progressives pushing hard for a higher income tax on wealthy CT residents.
- McCaw’s testimony before the Finance Committee is the first step in what many are predicting will be a very long budget debate between now and the end of the session in early June.
- For CRMA we continue to be watchful of this debate because of the importance that the sales tax has not only on our members but on consumers. We have a lot at stake in the budget battles and will keep you posted on the progress of those discussions.
Special Election Update
- On Tuesday of this week, CT held a special election for some of the open races that were the result of current legislators taking jobs in the Lamont Administration.
- All things considered it was a good day for Republican’s. They picked up two surprise victories.
- One in the State Senate, where the 6th District (New Britain), Republican John Bizzarro defeated current House Democrat Rick Lopes. And in the 99th House District, (East Haven) Republican Joe Zullo defeated Democrat Josh Balter.
- Meanwhile Democrats held onto their seats in the remaining special elections that were held on Tuesday, including races for the State Senate in the 3rd and 5th districts and in the House 39th District.
- The Hartford Courant has a good overview of the races. You can go here for that story.
CRMA Golf Outing Update
- Earlier this week we sent a save the date card to all folks asking that you set aside Tuesday, June 18th for our 2019 CRMA Golf Outing.
- We have made some changes to this year’s event, including moving our location and time, but are confident that this year’s event will continue in our tradition of a first-rate outing.
- If you would like to register for the outing, you can do so today by visiting our website, www.crmaonline.com.
- We appreciate all our supporters of the CRMA Golf Outing and encourage you if you have not played before to consider helping us this year. The CRMA Golf Outing is an important fundraiser for us, so any help you can give is greatly appreciated.
Retail News and Notes
- Best Buy beat holiday forecasts with a 3% rise in fourth-quarter same-store sales, buoyed by strong sales of smart-home devices, early Black Friday deals and a bigger selection of toys to capture former Toys R Us shoppers, the company said. E-commerce revenue grew 9.3%, and nearly 22% of the retailer’s total sales came via digital channels.
- NRF survey: St. Patrick’s Day attracts younger consumers
- Around half of Americans will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, spending an average of $40, an amount that hasn’t varied much in recent years, according to a survey from NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics. But the popularity of the holiday is growing among young people with more than 70% of those under 35 planning to celebrate, compared with about 50% in 200
- TJ Maxx grows as other stores close
- Off-price retailer TJ Maxx is bulking up its inventory with stock from suppliers to retailers that are liquidating in bankruptcy, including Gymboree and Payless ShoeSource, CEO Ernie Herman said. “Whenever [bankruptcies] happen, we end up with some of those vendors that supply them reaching out to us,” he said.