State Democrats bad for business

Here we go again. The CEO of one of Connecticut’s major corporations, Marc Lautenbach of Pitney Bowes, has warned that higher taxes and anti-business regulations might send his company to friendlier states. [Page 1, May 1, “Businesses may leave if taxes rise”]. He would not be the first CEO to take his business elsewhere; he will not be the last. Connecticut is at the top of the list of the costliest states in which to do business. The corporate tax rate is 7.5%, even higher than New York.

Now the Democrats want to make the so-called temporary 10% surcharge tax permanent. It has been said that there’s nothing more permanent than a temporary tax. With billions of federal dollars on the way to the state and a near $1 billion budget surplus projected, Democrats should consider ways to make the state more attractive to businesses. Connecticut was among the last states to regain its prerecession economic status. Such a poor history should encourage political leaders to cut taxes to encourage business development and employment growth. But spend-happy Democrats just can’t seem to mend their ways.

Kenneth L. Boudreau, Farmington