Pledge, Prayer: Pres. Paul Moore
Song: Bill McLaughlin
Brents Card Game Winner: Bob Antoniac
Seargeants Report: Rick Beck
Raffle Winners: Sam, John, Andy
Happy Bucks: Lots for Bob Antoniac who has present for the first time in a while - Welcome back Bob! Other happy bucks were in honor of our guest, Rep. Marilyn Guiliano, the Turkey Drive and our newest member, Kirby Kloter
Announcements:
Marty: Torchlight Parade, our 24th year hosting the hospitality tent for the marchers is Dec. 10. Volunteers are needed so please sign up with Marty.
New Member Induction: Bill McLaughlin
Kirby Kloter, sponsored by Caroll Bowser, was inducted. Kirby's classification is Public Health. Be sure to welcome Kirby in the coming weeks.
Program: Rep. Marilyn Guiliano
We were fortunate to have Marilyn stop in and talk about whats going on in Hartford. As soon as the meeting was over, she was on her way to Hartford to receive the final versions of some important bills that were to be voted on. Marilyn lives in Old Saybrook and is the school psychologist at the Lyme-Old Lyme High School. The most pressing issues facing the State is the health of business and the ability to attract businesses and jobs to Connecticut. Meetings with business owners have allowed them to air their frustrations with the difficulty doing business in Conn. Frank the Baker said, "Government is killing us" and it needs to get out of the way and stop taxing us so much! A bus company owner spoke about the fact that he has job openings but state regulations results in weeks (8-12) for driver approvals where other states take a few days. A florist stated that the the retroactive income tax hurt her business because people lost that extra cash that may have resulted in sales of flowers.
Marilyn has worked with the governor through caucases to try to make our state more business friendly. If businesses expand, so do jobs and individual incomes. People spend more and the economy improves. The Jobs Bill hit a snag and had to be reworked and Marilyn was to see the final version later today. The Governor is promoting the Jackson Lab deal but some have reservations. This proposal will cost almost $300 million. Construction of the facility near the UCONN Health Center will provide jobs but the long term job outlook is uncertain. At least 300 jobs are guaranteed. Some of those jobs are scientists who will come from out of state. Jackson does not produce products, rather they are a reseach firm working on a new approach to fighting disease. Jackson is a nonprofit organization, so there won't be much if any tax revenue flowing from the corporation such as property tax or income tax.
Marilyn took questions and the meeting was adjourned.
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