Regulation

While a bill to raise Connecticut’s minimum wage to $15 an hour died in May, legislators may want to consider a new report before resurrecting the idea during the next session.

Rep. Josh Elliott, D-Hamden, is an outspoken proponent of increasing Connecticut’s minimum wage to $15, going so far as to grade fellow House Democrats on whether or not they support the increase. There’s only one problem: Elliott doesn't pay his own employees $15 per hour.

Connecticut’s proposed family medical leave program would cover employees who wish to visit their “third cousin, once removed that had some kind of family medical issue,” according to an exchange between Representatives Christopher Davis, R-Ellington, and Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford at a Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee meeting last week.

After years of employers telling Connecticut lawmakers they can’t afford another minimum wage increase or a paid family medical leave program, it turns out that Connecticut government can’t afford those changes either.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Connecticut Department of Public Health sent out an email marked “high” importance, encouraging organizations to testify before the Labor Committee on Thursday in support of a paid family medical leave bill. The email sent from DPH raises concerns regarding the agency’s use of state time and resources in pushing for legislation that many business leaders and organizations say will ultimately hurt their ability to hire employees.

Greenwich residents may soon be paying more at the grocery store. A town ordinance under consideration would ban plastic grocery bags and require stores to charge customers a minimum of 23 cents for recycled paper bags.