Senate Leadership
April 3, 2007
Senate Democrats: Governor Rell Needs to Focus on Jobs, Economic Development
State lacks Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development; Governor’s budget guts ‘Jobs for the 21st Century’
State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) and state Sen. Gary LeBeau (D-East Hartford), co-chair of the legislature's Commerce Committee, today called on Governor Rell to focus on the state's need for economic development and jobs.
The Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc.'s Benchmarks Report (Dec. 2006) shows that since 1989, the U.S. has experienced a 24% growth in jobs. During this time, the number of Connecticut jobs actually slipped .2%. From 2000 to 2005, employment growth in Connecticut was actually negative (-.4%).
According to the Connecticut Economic Digest (Feb. 2007), employment for 2006 increased by less than 1% (.6%, non-farm employment) across the state. In some areas, the economy contracted. The Norwich and New London area lost 900 jobs and the Waterbury area lost 700.
Sen. Williams noted that when the governor accepted the resignations of six agency commissioners-including that of the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development(DECD)-back on December 21, 2006, her news release said, "Governor Rell will be naming replacement commissioners over the course of the next few days and weeks."
"It has now been more than 100 days and we still don't have a new commissioner in arguably one of the most important state agencies," Sen. Williams said. "In addition, the state still lacks an executive director of the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism-another valuable part of economic development."
Sen. Williams added that by comparison, New York State is far ahead of Connecticut in terms of economic development. Governor Eliot Spitzer was elected at the same time Jodi Rell was elected. Yet he was able to conduct a search and put his economic development team of national experts in place by the end of January. There's no excuse for Connecticut not being up to speed on this."
"We understand from the governor that the administration is close to moving on a DECD commissioner," said Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). "This is too vital an area to delay any longer."
Added Sen. Williams, "To make matters worse, the governor's budget guts portions of the landmark 'Jobs for the 21st Century' economic development bill passed just last session. It's time for the governor to start showing some leadership in this important area.
"Economic development in Connecticut is not just a one- or two-year commitment. It's an ongoing investment that requires funding and leadership," Sen. LeBeau said. "I think three-and-a-half months is enough time to advertise for and hire a DECD commissioner. And I hope once he or she is in place, they can help change the governor's mind about some of her proposed cuts to the pro-jobs and pro-business initiatives in the 'Jobs for the 21st Century' bill."
Among the items the governor cut in her budget are:
- $4 million for Urban Youth Employment
- $2 million for the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Connecticut
- $250,000 for Engineering Connecticut forgivable loan program
- $250,000 for You Belong graduate reimbursement grants
- $125,000 for Generation Next
- $125,000 for Future Scholars
"There is a disturbing pattern here of what seems like an abandonment by the governor of the state efforts on jobs and economic development," Sen. Williams said. "We should get a new DECD commissioner immediately and rethink the cuts to our historic 'Jobs for the 21st Century' bill."
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
