State Representative Len Greene joined fellow House Republican Legislators Rep. Themis Klarides, Rep. Jason Perillo, Rep. Larry Miller and State Senator Kevin Kelly for an early morning breakfast and discussion with Valley business owners at the Valley Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, March 15th in Shelton.
Greene, who represents the towns ofAnsonia, Beacon Falls and Seymour, met with over forty business leaders from across the Greater Naugatuck Valley and discussed a range of issues specifically concerning job growth and economic productivity in Connecticut.
“There are a lot of ideas and projects that our Governor has been talking about in Hartford that will require more money, which in other words can mean higher taxes,” said Greene. “As strong and resilient as our small businesses are in the Valley, even the slightest tax increase could mean the difference between being open for business and going out of business.”
As the morning went on, Representative Greene and his Republican colleagues talked about the ongoing budget deficit which has quickly turned Connecticut’s business environment into an unstable and unpredictable place for employers to run a business.
The legislators also discussed how Connecticut’s high taxes are continuing to hamper business growth by specifically giving mention to Connecticut’s gross receipts tax – a percentage rate tied to the price of gasoline that grows exponentially as the price of gasoline goes up.
“Nearly every aspect of living and doing business is linked to the price of gasoline – it affects everything,” said Greene. “As the price of gas continues to skyrocket we need to make sure we do what we can has legislators to help business owners and families afford to put gas in their vehicles. One great way we can do this is by capping the gross receipts tax, so when the price of gasoline does go up the tax will stay at a flat rate.”
