Democrats scheduled a veto session for Monday July 25th but are not planning to override any of the Governor’s five vetoes, a move that State Representative Tim Ackert (R- Coventry) criticized as a failure to promote the economy.
Ackert is specifically referring to a bill that would establish an economic development zone around Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Oxford. It offered tax exemptions and tax credits to manufacturers and other eligible businesses that develop or acquire property in designated census tracts in Oxford, Southbury and Middlebury. The bill sought to replicate an economic development zone that has been established around Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.
“The Governor likes to say that we are open for business- but then he vetoes a bill that would prove it. It doesn’t make sense,” Ackert said. “To make matters worse, the Democrats are refusing to override the veto of this worth while legislation even though they all supported it.”
Prior to the governor’s veto of the bill, the Senate approved the bill unanimously and the House vote was 145-1. Malloy justified his veto with two main arguments saying the exemption eligibility is too broad and that the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) had not yet had the chance to set the airport’s development goals.
“There is still time to reverse course on this- I urge all of my colleagues to reconsider and overturn the shortsighted veto of this bill,” said Ackert. “We need jobs in this state, but paying lip service just isn’t good enough. We need to take real steps to improve Connecticut’s economy.”
