While Rell Misleads Job Growth Record - DeStefano Launches Plan

September 27, 2006

While Rell misleads Connecticut on her job growth record - DeStefano announces plan to grow 200,000 jobs - endorsed by Republican Roger Joyce (Chair of CBIA)

New Haven: John DeStefano - Democratic nominee for governor - stood with Roger Joyce, Vice President of Engineering at the Bilco Company and current Chair of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) today to announce a new plan to help grow 200,000 jobs and to call on Gov. Rell to stop misleading voters about her record on job growth.

In Gov. Rell's new ad, she states, "We are a leader in New England in creating new jobs." In truth, in the last two years, both Massachusetts and New Hampshire have had greater job growth than Connecticut. [BLS, U.S. Department of Labor, July 2004 & July 2006.

"Under Gov. Rell's tenure, Connecticut ranks 44^th in the nation in job creation," said DeStefano. "Incredibly, Gov. Rell thinks this is something to be proud of. I believe Connecticut can be a national leader in job growth and our families deserve nothing less."

Roger Joyce echoed DeStefano's statement, saying it's time for new leadership that will work with the business community, "I support DeStefano because he is an effective leader and is a visionary," said Joyce. "He is talented and has experience implementing ideas. He always asks people what they think, no matter what political party they belong to, and I respect that.

Joyce continued, "Right now business leaders across Connecticut are frustrated because this is a tough place to do business. The transformation of New Haven under John DeStefano is remarkable and with John DeStefano as governor, he will be able to transform the state. There is very broad based support among the business community for John because of his record and new ideas for moving Connecticut forward."

DeStefano's plan builds on a number of previously announced initiatives which will combine to create 200,000 new jobs in Connecticut. DeStefano would:

• Cut electric rates for businesses, which are among the highest in the nation
• Lower health care costs for small businesses through universal health care
• Immediately eliminate the property tax on manufacturing equipment
  

In addition, DeStefano has called for college scholarships for Connecticut residents in job growth fields, ending payoffs for layoffs and replacing this with effective incentive programs, as well as investing in early childhood education to create the most competitive workforce in America.

DeStefano's new plan to cut the red tape and support Connecticut business focuses on reforming how Connecticut state government engages and supports business. As governor, DeStefano would:

• Create the Connecticut Economic Development Partnership - featuring a board of directors consisting of business, health care, labor and higher education leaders. The new entity will be Connecticut's one-stop resource for businesses seeking to grow, and provide services ranging from site location assistance to job training grants, from help with permits to tax abatements.
  

• Speed Up Business Loans by charging our state's lending agencies with holding themselves to the same standard as banks in terms of the speed and efficiency.
  

• Make Permitting a Priority. Businesses report that permitting processes in Connecticut are slow and inefficient compared to their experiences in other states. Just like in the private sector, the Connecticut Economic Development Partnership will set written deadlines and be ready to expedite approval where it is necessary.
  

• Focus on the development of a skilled and competitive workforce. As governor, DeStefano would make workforce development more responsive to economic development needs; organize workforce development around industry clusters; and promote the use of skill-based assessment and credentials.
  

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"Over the last six months, I have met with a variety of business groups and leaders across the state to listen to their thoughts about stagnating job growth in Connecticut and the future of our state's economy," said John DeStefano. "They know right now the job isn't getting done and they want new leadership which listens to their concerns and understands being 44^th in the nation isn't something to brag about."