State Senator John A. Kissel, R-Enfield, this morning met with local business leaders at a forum he hosted at the Enfield Public Library to hear their concerns about state policies and their effect on the business climate. Over 30 business people attended the forum from Enfield, Somers, Suffield and other surrounding towns. State Business Advocate and former congressman Rob Simmons was a special guest at the forum as well and encouraged business leaders to speak out against burdensome regulations while supporting Senator Kissel’s efforts to repeal the business entity tax.

“The purpose of this forum was to listen, foremost and to reach out to community business leaders. Local business people know exactly how the local economy is going and their insights as to how state government can be a help, and not a hindrance, is invaluable. With well over 30 people in attendance there was a great mix of ideas and we’re already planning another meeting for May or June,” said Senator Kissel. “Over 70% of businesses in Connecticut have nine employees or less. If we focus on helping these small businesses we can make tremendous progress in boosting our local economy,” concluded Senator Kissel.

Simmons, who was appointed as Connecticut’s first state Business Advocate by Gov. M. Jodi Rell last year, said that small businesses are the engines that fuel the economy. “One of the great things about this country is free enterprise. We need to do everything we can to encourage and assist small businesses and help them grow,” said Simmons, who along with Sen. Kissel, is leading the effort to repeal the business entity tax.

Sen. Kissel and his caucus leadership have introduced legislative initiatives to help small businesses create jobs and add to Connecticut’s economy. The proposal, which builds on the Job Creation Tax Credit passed into law in 2007, aims to grow the state economy by helping small businesses create new jobs, eliminating counterproductive regulations, repealing the business entity tax, and attracting new “next generation” industries to Connecticut.