Hartford Business Journal

18 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 13, 2023 DEAL WATCH easternct.edu/business Kainen, Escalera & McHale is a full-service employer defense law firm committed to providing outstanding representation and personalized legal services to each of our clients. We welcome the opportunity to serve your business. 21 Oak Street, Suite 601, Hartford, CT 860-493-0870 | www.kemlaw.com | Attorney Patrick J. McHale is responsible for the content of this advertisement. Your workplace is our business. SM which represents over 4,000 businesses across the state. CBIA has five in-house lobbyists, not including Davis and DiPentima, who are also registered lobbyists. So far this year, the CBIA has spent $364,931.47 on lobbying, according to Connecticut Office of State Ethics records, making it the sixth-highest spending interest group. DiPentima said CBIA typically hires lobbyists who are familiar with law, like research analysts out of the Capitol or lawyers. Davis isn't the first former state lawmaker to serve as the CBIA's top lobbyist — the organization is 208 years old and has a history of former policymakers who have been on staff. But still, DiPentima said most of Davis' predecessors weren't former legislators. "CBIA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, and sometimes with legislators coming into a position — especially if they're coming directly from having been in office — there's just a perception, which may not be reality that they're aligned with this party or that party, when CBIA isn't aligned with any party," DiPentima said. "Years ago, CBIA wasn't necessarily seen as a nonpartisan organization because of the way they endorsed candidates or certain voting records, but that's not the case at all. CBIA has always been nonpartisan." Davis said his experience at the legislature is one of the key assets he brings to the table. Many of his former colleagues are still in office, he said. "I have that intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the legisla- ture, from how bills are drafted and created to how committees operate, to who the players are and who to talk to," Davis said. ORGANIZATIONS THAT SPEND THE MOST ON LOBBYING IN CT Organization Total spend (2023) CT Hospital Association $1,118,666.77 CT Conference Municipalities $582,399.00 Eversource $479,917.26 Partnership for America's Health Care Future Action $437,952.00 Hartford HealthCare $423,814.10 CBIA $364,931.47 Avports LLC $342,704.00 Insurance Assoc. of CT $309,702.25 Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association $298,376.60 Connecticut Bankers Association $292,897.79 Source: CT Office of State Ethics 2024 objectives CBIA is in the process of identi- fying its policy agenda for the 2024 legislative session. Davis said one of his focuses will be exploring ways to make Connecticut more afford- able for businesses and residents. Fully restoring the state's pass- through entity tax credit would be one step toward this goal, Davis said, and CBIA will be advocating for that policy change again in 2024. "That's an infusion of cash directly into the hands of small business owners that are those pass-through entities to be able to invest in either research and development or employment growth here in the state of Connecticut," Davis said. CBIA will also once again push for the elimination of the 10% corporate tax surcharge as well as policies that aim to reduce health insur- ance costs for small employers, Davis said. Last year, CBIA joined various stakeholders in pushing for the legalization of association health plans that would allow small companies to pool together and negotiate directly with insurers for health benefits. CBIA will also lobby for policies to help address the workforce housing shortage in Connecticut, Davis said.

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