Carter: Allie-Brennan's Ideology, Inexperience Bad For Business

Press release from Carter 2020:

Oct. 17, 2020

Republican and former State Representative Dan Carter responded to his opponent’s recent support for a bill that Carter voted against. The bill would have allowed the state to levy fines against businesses accused of using a person’s unemployment status as a reason not to hire them. The fines would be levied without notice, a hearing, or the right to appeal.

“This is yet another instance where Allie-Brennan is advocating for policies that hurt businesses and it shows he considers businesses as the “golden goose” to fund his progressive agenda,” said Carter. “The bill he supports would have opened the door for frivolous complaints and fines that would punish businesses and increase the cost of doing business in Connecticut.”

Carter described the 2014 bill (HB5274) as a good bill gone wrong when Democrats wouldn’t support reasonable protections for businesses. The bill would have prevented employers, employment agencies, and temporary help services from using a person’s status as unemployed against them in advertising and hiring decisions. The bill also allowed for the labor commissioner to levy thousands of dollars in fines against businesses when complaints were filed with no notice, hearing, or right to appeal. The only relief a business owner could seek would be an appeal in the superior court, which would be more costly than the fines.

“Unemployed individuals deserve a fair shot at getting a job,” said Carter. “But this law would have put the burden on businesses to pay fines or choose to risk paying legal fees to prove their innocence. It just wasn’t fair for businesses to be targeted in this way.”

Carter explained that he worked to amend the legislation to give protection to the unemployed and allow aggrieved individuals to seek relief in court, but the House Democrats wouldn’t allow the changes. The Senate did not take up the bill and it did not become law.

“It’s unfortunate that the bill died because of one party rule and failure of the Democrats to compromise,” remarked Carter. “The real losers were those who are unemployed and looking for work. It’s also clear why we can’t afford to elect people whose ideology blinds them from opportunities to help businesses and make Connecticut more affordable.”

Carter noted that the support for this bill is another example where Allie-Brennan demonstrates his lack of experience and that he does not understand the needs of businesses in the area. Carter also cited Allie-Brennan’s misrepresentation of his tax increases on small businesses and his limited understanding of what businesses will need to recover from Covid-19 as examples of his lack of business acumen.

“Today my opponent hosted a forum on small business to bolster his campaign where he proved he doesn’t understand the needs of small businesses. Fortunately, he had the Deputy Commissioner of Department of Economic and Community Development to bail him out.” said Carter. “As a small business owner and by being in touch with businesses, I know what they need – access to capital, less regulation, and fewer taxes are at the top of the list.”

This press release was produced by Carter 2020. The views expressed here are the author's own.