Rebuilding Our Economy and Bringing Back JobsThrough Creative and Aggressive Actions to Retain & Attract Jobs
There is no question the national recession has devastated business activity in Connecticut. More than 100,000 jobs have been lost --- with more likely from the closure of some 26,000 businesses in just the past two years.
The good news is that Connecticut is in a better position than most states to recover. Connecticut workers are still the most skilled in the country and our schools, communities and quality of life are the envy of the nation. We remain the highest earning state per capita and are tops in worker productivity.
But these advantages are a small consolation to the many families struggling to make ends meet – and to businesses fighting to stay open.
The solution lies in a single word --
JOBS.Creating private sector jobs is the best, if not the only, way to get our economy back on track.
The situation couldn’t be more straight-forward.
People who have jobs pay income taxes, sales taxes and business taxes. They pay their mortgages and purchase goods and services. They contribute to the economy and generate revenue to pay for needed government programs. People who don’t have jobs need more government services -- like unemployment insurance, health care and housing assistance – and those services require more tax dollars.
Working people and successful employers will ignite our economy – just as they’ve done so in past economic recoveries. But strong leadership and the right solutions are needed to turn our existing strengths into a competitive advantage – not just in the short-term but for long-term economic growth.
As a successful businessman for two decades, I know what makes companies grow – and understand what hinders them.
Twenty years ago, I started an information technology firm in my hometown of Stamford that I grew into a national company with offices in states across the country.
Joining Dick will be conservative Connecticut legend, Tom Scott, shown here with the late Wm F. Buckley.
