(860) 527-1044

Friday Facts – May 5th

by | May 5, 2023 | friday_facts

Scheduling bill reported out of committee
4 weeks to adjournment
Other news and notes from the State Capitol
News and notes from around the State
CRN Golf Outing

  • Earlier this week, the Appropriations Committee reported out of its committee HB 6859, An Act Concerning Predictable Scheduling. 
  • While it was not unexpected that the Committee took that action, it is noteworthy that four House Democrats, all part of the House Moderate Caucus, voted against the bill. 
  • We are disappointed that the bill is still pending, and it looks like we will have to slog this out to the end of session, but the four no votes, plus comments by the Senate Chair of the Committee, Sen. Cathy Osten, and Sen. Joan Hartley – who voted for the bill but expressed much concern – demonstrates that this bill does not have widespread support. 
  • It is up to us – with your help – to keep the pressure on legislators by letting them know that the implications of this bill will be extremely harmful to the entire retail industry. 
  • We will continue these efforts and will keep you posted on the progress of the bill. 

 

Just four weeks to go before adjournment

  • As we end this week and look forward to next week, we will be just four weeks from adjournment. And there are a ton of issues still pending before the General Assembly. 
  • One of the big issues remains the state budget and House Republicans proposed an alternative budget this week. CTNewsJunkie  has more on the Republican proposal.  You can go here to read more about that.   
  • Yesterday, the House took up another big issue with a debate concerning early voting. Under the bill, which passed 107 – 35, Connecticut would offer 14 days of early voting in elections beginning next year. The bill now advances to the State Senate, where it is expected to pass. CT Mirror reports on the latest here.  
  • Both the House and the Senate were in formal session for 2 days this week. The House has set aside Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as session days next week, while the Senate is scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.   

 

Other news and notes from around the State Capitol

  • Connecticut voters approve of Gov. Ned Lamont’s performance and proposed tax cuts by wide margins, according to a statewide poll  by Wesleyan SurveyLab released this week.  CT Mirror reports on the survey here.
  • Speaking of the Governor, he recently sat down with the CT Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas and hinted that he might be up for running for a 3rd term. You can go here for more about that. 
  • Towns and cities in Connecticut could save more than $33 million next fiscal year under an agreement, announced this week by State Comptroller Sean Scanlon, which would restructure a state-run pension plan for municipal workers.  CTNewsJunkie reports on the plan here.
  • Cannabis retailers could soon have the ability to sell products at marijuana-centric events and festivals, much like breweries across the state have been doing for years, if a legislative proposal is approved.  New Haven BIZ has that story here.
  • One of Connecticut’s most expensive business tax credit programs — which has awarded over $1.5 billion to the film, television and digital media industry since its inception in 2007 — appears to have lost money in 2022, as it has for over a decade running.  CT Mirror has the data here.
  • Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas has launched a Civically Engaged Organization program, which invites businesses and nonprofits to commit to being civically engaged through a variety of means.  Details here from Hartford Business Journal. 

 

News and notes from around the state

  • The Subway sandwich chain, with headquarters in both Milford and Florida, shut down 571 U.S. restaurants in 2022 as part of ongoing efforts to streamline operations. The chain had 20,576 restaurants nationwide by the end of 2022, a decline of 6,196 outlets since 2016, New Haven BIZ reports.
  • Toronto-Dominion Bank, better known as TD Bank, and First Horizon Corporation jointly announced this week that they have mutually agreed to call off their merger.  TD Bank has locations in 45 Connecticut communities. Fairfield County Business Journal reports on the change of plans here.
  • Southern Connecticut State University obtained accreditation status for its School of Business on Thursday.  New Haven BIZ has the details here.
  • After years of planning, Windsor is on the brink of connecting its trail along the Connecticut River to the riverfront walk in Hartford.  The completed trail would connect to other walkways and bike paths that would provide off-road routes between Windsor, East Hartford, South Windsor, Enfield, Suffield and beyond.  The Hartford Courant reports on plans here.
  • Tomie dePaola, the beloved children’s book author and illustrator who was born and raised in Meriden, is being honored with a postage stamp, which will be issued by the United States Postal Service.  The Hartford Courant has the details here.
  • Mystic is one of the 10 best summer vacation places in the United States, according to USA Today.  CT Post has more on Mystic’s prominent place on the list here.

 

CRN Golf Outing 

  • Mark your calendar for the 2023 CRN Golf Outing will take place on Tuesday, June 27, with registration and a deluxe full breakfast beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Sponsorships are still available to support the event, being held again this year at Wampanoag CC in West Hartford.  
  • We hope you will join your fellow retailers and friends at this fun and important event. The money raised helps keep CRN the strongest voice for Retailers in Connecticut.