Hartford Business Journal

28 Hartford Business Journal • June 27, 2016 www.HartfordBusiness.com EDITORIAL Small-biz regulation analysis smart move by lawmakers T he state legislature took a small but important step last week that could poten- tially improve Connecticut's business climate in the years ahead. The House and Senate voted to overturn Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's veto of a bill that seeks to analyze the fiscal impact of new regulations on small business. Specifically, the measure requires the legislature's Office of Fiscal Analysis to include an estimate of the number of businesses that would be affected by proposed legislation and an estimated fiscal impact on those companies. The legislation also redefines small business to include firms with 250 or fewer employees. Overriding Malloy's veto and adopt- ing the bill into law is a smart move by legislators, especially if they are going to make good on their promise to improve the state's business climate. Small businesses are the lifeblood of Connecticut's economy, yet the state leg- islature each year passes new workplace mandates — without taking into account the cost-burden on employers — that make it harder to conduct commerce in the state. Connecticut's regulatory environment is often one of the main contributing fac- tors for the state's dismal rankings in national business-climate surveys. For example, in Forbes' 2015 Best States for Business ranking, Connecticut's regula- tory environment was ranked No. 41 in the nation. Meanwhile, according to a 2015 Connecticut Business & Industry Associa- tion Public Policy Survey, regulations and mandates ranked No. 3 on employers' list of what drives their investment decisions in the state. A key criticism of state government is that it often lacks critical data in making policy decisions. We hope this new law gives lawmakers the necessary information to better weigh the cost-benefit analyses of employer mandates. Of course, actions will ultimately speaker louder than words. If lawmakers continue to pass new regulations even in the face of data indicating they will be harmful to small businesses, then the new law will be rendered feckless. Meantime, we also understand the tough position Gov. Malloy was put in when con- sidering the legislation. While Malloy said he supported the intent of the bill, he vetoed it because the measure's language was overly broad and the bill itself would place an undue burden on state agencies. No doubt, the extra analyses mandated under the law will require additional staff time and resources in various state agencies. At a time of severe budget cuts in state govern- ment, it may seem counterintuitive to pass new laws that widen state agencies' workloads. However, the state's budget crisis is being fueled by Connecticut's anemic economic growth, and the only way to reverse course is by fostering a better business climate that promotes small business investment and expansion. Improving the state's regulatory environment must be a key component of that strategy and we hope that's exactly what this new law encourages. A budget crisis is not an excuse for the state to continue to bury its head in the sand when it comes to weighing the financial impact of new regulations on the business community. Instead, it's a time for the state to reprioritize its resources. And the priority these days should always be promoting policies that foster eco- nomic growth. n OTHER VOICES Efforts to woo female manufacturers critical to CT economy By Elliot Ginsberg I t was encouraging to read the "Manufacturing Diversity: Shorthanded-producers open arms to female appren- tices" story in the May 23 issue of HBJ. The feature about Hannah Lenoce's experience as an apprentice tool- maker at Cheshire's Marion Manufactur- ing is truly inspiring on multiple levels. It speaks not only to the energy and enthusiasm Lenoce demonstrates, but also to the serious chal- lenge facing manufacturers in Connecticut and around the country — how to attract young talent, both men and women, to meet the needs of this expanding industry. As the article points out, women are dramatically underserved in the manufacturing ranks. Only one in four of the country's manufac- turing workers is a woman. The decades- old dark, dank and dirty image of manu- facturing overshad- ows the industry and discourages women from even consider- ing the field. There is good news. In addition to the outstanding work by Marion Manufacturing and Women in Manu- facturing, more positive efforts are being made to erase negative perceptions and shift the career of choice trend to manufacturing opportunities. Through Connecticut. Dream It. Do It., licensed and led by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc., the annual "Mak- ing It Real: Girls & Manufacturing Summit" gives middle and high school girls a chance to meet successful women in manufacturing and to experience what it is like to work in a manufacturing company. Hundreds of girls hear the motivating, per- sonal stories of how to succeed in a predomi- nantly male industry from women who have been there and done it. The girls are advised to be confident, assertive in expressing their ideas and diligent in striving to excel. During hands-on workshops at the event, young women work in teams representing departments — purchasing, production, quality control — to produce a product and learn how each unit is critical to the process. In other sessions, the focus is on creativity and business strategies, where girls have a set budget for purchasing raw materials and need to complete tasks within a time frame to meet customer delivery deadlines. Connecticut. Dream It. Do It.'s "Making It Real: Girls & Manufacturing Summit" is rec- ognized as a national best practice by The Manufacturing Institute and is featured in MI's toolkit to help manufacturers lead the charge in attract- ing more women to the manufactur- ing workforce. With women comprising only about 27 percent of the industry labor force, the challenge is significant but not insurmountable. According to one teacher who attended the Girls & Manufac- turing Summit, "Our students enjoyed the hands-on activi- ties provided at this workshop. Most of the students would consid- er a career in manufacturing as a result of the summit, and I feel we, as educators, are better equipped to promote careers in the manufac- turing industry to our female students." n Elliot Ginsberg is the president and chief operating officer of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. in East Hartford. HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM POLL Is bankruptcy a viable solution to fixing Hartford's fiscal woes? ● Yes ● No To vote, go online to HartfordBusiness.com. Last week's poll results: Should Commissioner Katharine Wade recuse herself from Cigna-Anthem merger. 96.8% Yes 3.2% No Elliot Ginsberg OPINION & COMMENTARY ▶ ▶ A budget crisis is not an excuse for the state to continue to bury its head in the sand when it comes to weighing the financial impact of new regulations on the business community. Instead, it's a time for the state to reprioritize its resources. ▶ ▶ … Women are dramatically underserved in the manufacturing ranks. Only one in four of the country's manufacturing workers is a woman. Send Us Your Letters The Hartford Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and guest commentaries for our opinion pages. Electronic submissions are preferred and welcome at: editor@HartfordBusiness.com.

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