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2007 CT Legislative Agenda
TAXATION:
- Property Tax – Accelerate the schedule for elimination or immediately eliminate the Personal Property Tax on newly acquired and existing Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment. We are still at a big disadvantage verses our neighboring states (MA, RI, NY, NJ).
- Corporate Surcharge – Do not reinstitute a corporate surcharge that was eliminated last year via HB5845.
- Tax incentives - Implement tax incentives for investments in R&D, innovation and productivity.
- Sales Tax on Labor - Reinstitute the tax exemption on labor associated with installing or repairing equipment used in the manufacturing process.
- C Corp Tax Credits - Expand tax credits available to "C" corporations to also be available for "S" corps, LLC's and sole proprietorships
ENVIRONMENTAL:
- Brownfields – Expand scope of HB5865 beyond pilot program status and provide additional funding for assistance of implementation including Phase 2 and Phase 3 work.
- DEP – Provide adequate funding to the DEP for additional responsibilities to allow elimination of the 20% fee to the DEP for Phase 3 cleanup which is a deterrent to cleaning up Brownfields.
- Standards - Standards for sediment should not be absolute standards.
- Task Force - Adopt recommendations of the new task force to expedite the process of getting those of the 130 manufacturing companies that are deserving removed from the RCRA closure list.
ENERGY
- Pay off bond being securitized with CT Conservation Fund Dollars – A portion of the surplus should be used to pay off the balance of this bond that is being repaid with dollars that create $4 of economic benefit for every $1 spent. This includes adopting the Treasurer's language that classifies this bond as state debt.
- Additional Generators - Provide additional financial incentives and tax breaks to encourage new generation facilities in CT, including proposed peaker plants by the public utilities, as well as alternative energy sources to combat congestion charges.
- Deregulation - Maintain checks and balances of DPUC and ECMB to allow markets to function.
HEALTH CARE
- Unfunded Mandates – Health care costs continue to skyrocket. Do not impose any new unfunded mandates. Support a study of all existing unfunded mandates for effectiveness and eliminate those mandates that no longer make sense.
- Money follows the person - Support legislation that allows people to come home from nursing homes and still receive Medicare support for home care. The savings is estimated to be $35,000 per person per year.
- Wellness program incentives - Encourage healthier lifestyles by providing incentives for employer-based wellness and disease management programs.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
- Workforce Investment Boards - Provide additional funding to encourage incumbent worker training.
- Apprenticeship Funding and Customized Job Training – Expand programs to better prepare employees for the demands of the global economy. Funding for manufacturing apprenticeships should be restored.
- Unemployment- Change the threshold from $500 in wages to 30 days employment before eligible to collect to lessen exposure for employers who hire for on-the-job training.
ANTI-BUSINESS LEGISLATION
- Workers Compensation - Oppose any new legislation that would undo past successful workers comp reforms including removing current limits on discretionary benefits and expanding awards for scars.
- Communication - Oppose legislation that restricts employer's ability to communicate with their employees.
- FMLA – Oppose legislation that would mandate that time off for family and medical and other non work related reasons be paid time off.
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