Gov. Ned Lamont will be the keynote speaker for the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s 2019 Legislative & Economic Summit breakfast event, scheduled to be held Tuesday, February 12, 2019, from 7:30-9:45 a.m. at the Wyndham Southbury Hotel. “The Waterbury Regional Chamber is delighted that Governor Lamont will be able to attend and present his vision for Connecticut to the Greater Waterbury business community,” said Gary O’Connor, a partner with Pullman & Comley LLC and vice chairman at large for the Chamber.
The event also offers the opportunity to connect with the legislators who serve Greater Waterbury. The Chamber has invited all 22 members of the region’s legislative delegation. The Summit at the Wyndham Southbury Hotel will include three informative Breakout Sessions featuring panel discussions with legislators: Taxes, Spending & Labor; Health, Human Services & Regulation, and Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy & Environment. The breakout sessions will feature smaller groups of legislators, allowing attendees to connect with them and discuss state public policy issues that affect businesses.
The Waterbury Regional Chamber will also present its third annual Legislator of the Year Award, honoring a legislator from the region who has worked the hardest on behalf of businesses in Greater Waterbury. The Chamber will share its 2019 Legislative and Regional Agenda with members legislators and attendees. The Agenda represents the business community’s priorities in matters of public policy and economic development in Greater Waterbury, and represents months of work by the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee and Health Care Council, as well as by the Chamber’s board of directors and staff. The Agenda sets priorities members would like the state General Assembly to address during the 2019 legislative session.
The event also will include the Chamber presenting the results of its Regional Economic and Job-Hiring Survey. During the Summit’s three breakout sessions, which will be presented simultaneously in separate meeting rooms between 9:15 and 9:45 a.m., legislators have been invited to participate and speak directly with attendees. – more – Discussion in Session A on Taxes, Spending & Labor will focus on the state budget deficit; how to deal with declining tax revenue; how to best prioritize and control spending, and labor-related proposals including the $15 minimum wage and paid Family & Medical Leave. Invited legislators include Sen. Joan Hartley; Sen. Rob Sampson; Rep. Craig Fisbhein; Rep. Arthur O’Neill; Rep. John Piscopo; Rep. Joe Polletta and Rep. Lezlye Zupkus. Discussion in Session B on Health, Human Services & Regulation will focus on how to best address the opioid crisis, mental health & addiction service, reimbursement rates, and more.
Legislators invited to participate in Session B include Sen. Mary Daugherty Abrams, Sen. George Logan; Rep. Larry Butler; Rep. Anthony D’Amelio; Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria; Rep. Liz Linehan; Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, and Rep. Rosa Rebimbas. Topics in Session C on Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy & Environment will focus on the Special Transportation Fund, Tolls, Brownfields, energy policy and more. Invited legislators include Sen. Eric Berthel; Sen. Henri Martin; Rep. Stephanie Cummings; Rep. David Labriola, Rep. Ron Napoli Jr., Rep. Geraldo Reyes, and Rep. David Wilson. Gold sponsor for the 2019 Summit is Saint Mary’s Hospital; Silver Sponsors are Eversource Energy, Post University, and Pullman & Comley LLC; Bronze Sponsor is Webster Bank; Audio/Visual Sponsor and Provider is Powerstation Events, and Brass Sponsors are Hubbard-Hall Inc.; Secor, Cassidy & McPartland, PC, and Waterbury Hospital. Tickets for reserved seating are $45; $500 for a reserved table of 10 with priority seating and company signage and recognition. Reservations are requested by Tuesday, February 5, 2019. To learn more or to register, call 203-757-0701, visit www.waterburychamber.com, or contact Cassie Michaels at cmichaels@waterburychamber.com or Alison Amato at aamato@waterburychamber.com.
