On Thursday (Feb.29), the eagerly awaited “Green Monster” bill was unveiled with significant changes, since originally reported, and has a public hearing set for March 8. Notably, the bill eliminates the mandate for electrification in […]
Join us on March 20 for the Capitol Insiders’ Breakfast. You’ll get the inside scoop on: Good bills and how we’re fighting for them Dangerous bills to watch What you can do in the final […]
February 27, 2024 Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Insurance & Real Estate Committee in support of HB 5427: An Act Concerning Employee Health Benefit Consortiums.My name is Bryce Chinault, I am […]
The Connecticut Parents Union (CTPU), an educational advocacy group, is holding an “Education Super Bowl Press Conference” highlighting the disparities within the state’s public education system at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, on Feb. […]
A national organization dedicated to civics education has criticized the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE)’s new social studies standards, saying they fail to teach students to “love America for its liberty,” instead inciting them […]
In an email circulated by the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, Rep. Christine Palm (D-Chester) shed more light on her proposed “Green Monster” bill — formally known as the Connecticut Climate Protection Act of […]
On April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, George Washington — the hero of the American Revolution — was sworn in as the United States’ first president after being unanimously elected under […]
February 21, 2024 Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the General Law Committee in support of SB 135: An Act Establishing a Maximum Charge for Certain Occupational Licenses, Certifications, Permits and Registrations. My […]
The bills being heard by the Labor and Public Employees Committee on Thursday, February 22, are a classic case of a “cure” that’s worse than the disease. By mandating paid sick time for small businesses […]
Flashback: Lamont Opposes Paid Sick Day Mandate on Small Businesses In a striking shift from his earlier position, Gov. Ned Lamont has introduced a bill aimed at expanding the paid sick leave mandate. This new […]
The Connecticut State Legislature will begin its 2023 session on January 4th and will adjourn on June 7th. The “long session,” as non-election years are called in Hartford, will be centered around the biennial budget. The Office of the State Comptroller reports that state government found a way to spend $47.11 billion in 2022 and, if trends continue, we can expect that number to grow even more going forward. Concerns over energy prices, inflation, and general cost of living continue to dominate the headlines and the threat of a recession hovers over economic forecasts.
What will our elected officials be working on to improve policy outcomes for Connecticut residents? What tax reform proposals will there be? What can be done to lower home heating bills? How will state and local budgets be affected by fewer federal resources? How will schools be implementing to curriculum requirements?
While we wait to see the thousands of individual and committee bills that while dominate the myriad policy debates this year, Yankee Institute is hard at work promoting free-market solutions to the problems we face from Stamford to Putnam and Mystic to Salisbury. To that end, we have produced a new edition of our Charter for Change. The Charter provides commonsense reforms to make Connecticut’s government work for its residents.
Though the list of reforms may be exhausting to review, it is far from exhaustive! And that’s why we want to work with you to build a broad-based coalition to encourage sound policy reforms to enable Connecticut residents to forge a better future for themselves and their families.
It’s also imperative that we do so. As we noted in a report and CT Mirror op-ed last year, the debate over whether we’re in a national recession really misses the point for Connecticut residents. We had more people employed in the private sector in 2007 than we do today. Our economy has grown at one of the slowest rates in the nation for the past decade, and we are getting outpaced year after year. We’re not attracting innovation and industry. We’re losing some of our best and brightest as they seek other parts of the country where it’s easier to make a living.
But together, we can reverse this trend.
At Yankee Institute, we know Connecticut is a state with boundless opportunity, and we intend to help make our state more than a place where people are just able to make ends meet! Connecticut should be a place where everyone can thrive – and with your help, it will be.