As he runs on a platform for job growth and lower taxes, Republican nominee Bob Stefanowski is proving he’s the only gubernatorial candidate committed to changing Connecticut’s course after nearly eight years of failed Democrat policies.
During the most recent gubernatorial debate, Stefanowski told the audience that he plans to woo businesses that have left Connecticut back to the state by making it more competitive like neighboring Massachusetts, where GOP Governor Charlie Baker has fought against tax hikes and promoted a welcoming business climate through pro-jobs policies.
While Democrat Ned Lamont has dismissed Connecticut business departures like that of General Electric, claiming “it wasn’t that many jobs,” Stefanowski has made it clear that he will fight to make Connecticut more competitive and friendlier to businesses than it has been under Failed Governor Dan Malloy.
Bob Stefanowski, the Republican candidate for governor in Connecticut and a former General Electric Co. executive, wants to woo the conglomerate back from Boston.
During a debate with his Democratic opponent Monday, Stefanowksi was asked about the use of corporate tax incentives in Connecticut. In his response, he recalled a recent conversation he had with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker after Stefanowksi won the Republican nomination.
‘After I won, Charlie Baker out of Massachusetts, who’s a perfect example, called me to congratulate me,’ Stefanowksi said. ‘I said, ‘Charlie, you know how I’m going to get GE back to Connecticut?’’ — at that point, Stefanowski and members of the debate audience laughed – ‘He said, ‘How are you going to do that?’ I said, ‘Because I’m going to lower the corporate tax rate.’ He said, ‘Bob, if you do that, I’m going to lower the tax rate even more.’ That’s the type of cycle we want to get into. That increases jobs, it increases revenue.’
GE (NYSE: GE) announced in January 2016 that it would move its corporate headquarters from Fairfield to Boston. Leading up to the announcement, company executives had complained about the taxes in Connecticut, though after the move they publicly hailed Boston’s workforce as a primary motivating factor. The city of Boston and the state put up close to $150 million in tax incentives to persuade GE to come to the Bay State…
Asked whether Stefanowski really wants to bring GE’s headquarters back to Connecticut or if the comment was in jest, a spokesman for his campaign said: ‘Whether it be GE, or any other company, Bob will be extremely aggressive and proactive in recruiting businesses to move their operations to Connecticut and create great-paying jobs in the state.’
