Senate Leaders Calling For Business Tax Changes

HARTFORD (AP) — Senate Democratic leaders proposed several changes in state law Tuesday designed to make Connecticut more business friendly.

They want to eliminate a tax on manufacturing equipment as part of an overhaul of state business taxes. They also propose merging the insurance and banking departments in an effort to streamline services the insurance industry.

“The most important challenge facing the state of Connecticut is to grow the economy and to create the jobs that protect our standard of living and quality of life,” said Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr, D-Brooklyn.

Other parts of the Senate Democrats’ agenda, dubbed An Act Concerning Jobs for the 21st Century, include reducing gridlock on the highways, investing more in stem cell research, and working to reduce health insurance and energy costs for businesses.

Meanwhile, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities called on lawmakers to help cities and towns take steps to reduce local property taxes and cover the cost of local education. CCM also wants the legislature to discourage suburban sprawl, improve the state’s transportation system, and upgrade the technology needed to respond to emergencies and disasters.