Connecticut Policy Institute

About the Event
This event is part of the Connecticut Policy Institute's Lunch Briefing and Policy Discussion series.  Each briefing features 15-20 minutes of remarks from a featured presenter, followed by a period of Q&A and open discussion.  The briefings are free and open to the public -- attendees may either bring their own lunch or purchase in advance a Panera salad or sandwich through the Connecticut Policy Institute for $12.00.

This briefing will discuss what it will take to get Connecticut employers hiring.  Connecticut has seen almost no job growth in the last year, and our recovery from the economic recession has lagged far behind the rest of the country's.  This presentation will review the reasons for that lagging job growth and what policies need to change in Hartford for employers to start hiring.

About the Presenter
John Rathgeber is president and chief executive officer of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), the state's leading business organization with more than 10,000 member companies.  The association works to promote a healthy business climate, which encourages economic growth and job creation in the state.

Since joining CBIA in 1977 as a staff attorney, Rathgeber has served in a number of positions for the organization, including general counsel, executive vice president, and chief operating officer.  He has also served on a number of public sector committees, councils and task forces concerning education, the economy, fiscal policy, transportation, health care, and the environment.  Rathgeber received a bachelors degree from Colgate University in 1972 and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1976.

Logistics
The briefing will take place in Trumbull, CT (precise venue TBD) on August 6, 2013, beginning at 12:00 PM.  The discussion will end no later than 1:30 PM.

About the Event
This event is part of the Connecticut Policy Institute's Lunch Briefing and Policy Discussion series.  Each briefing features 15-20 minutes of remarks from a featured presenter, followed by a period of Q&A and open discussion.  The briefings are free and open to the public -- attendees may either bring their own lunch, or purchase in advance a Panera salad or sandwich through the Connecticut Policy Institute for $12.00.

This briefing will discuss strategies for urban crime prevention in Connecticut.  It will review what is already being done well, as well as policies and programs that could be enacted at the state and / or city level to prevent and combat crime more effectively.

About the Presenter
Dean M. Esserman is the Chief of Police in New Haven, CT.  He has had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, having served previously as the police chief in Providence, RI; Stamford, CT; and at the NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro-North Police Department.  Chief Esserman has also served as a Clinical Visiting Lecturer of Law at Yale Law School, Distinguished Executive in Residence / Visiting Scholar at Roger Williams School of Law and the School of Justice Studies, and a Fellow at the Yale University Child Study Center.  He has a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from NYU Law School.

Logistics
The briefing will take place in New Haven, CT (precise venue TBD) on July 10, 2013, beginning at 12:00 PM.  The discussion will end no later than 1:30 PM.

About the Event
This event is part of the Connecticut Policy Institute's Lunch Briefing and Policy Discussion series.  Each briefing features 15-20 minutes of remarks from a featured presenter, followed by a period of Q&A and open discussion.  The briefings are free and open to the public -- attendees may either bring their own lunch, or purchase in advance a Panera salad or sandwich through the Connecticut Policy Institute for $12.00.

This briefing will review the most important developments of the 2013 CT legislative session, placing them in the context of the broader direction of Connecticut government over the last few years.  The presentation will focus on how recent developments in Connecticut government impact the day-to-day lives of the state's residents, and what they suggest for the state's future.  Spoiler alert: it's not good.

About the Presenter
Chris Powell is the managing editor of the North Central CT Journal Inquirer, where he also writes a regular column on Connecticut government and politics.  His columns are available at: http://www.journalinquirer.com/opinion/chris_powell/

Logistics
The briefing will take place in Hartford, CT on June 25, 2013 at The Lyceum, 227 Lawrence St.  It will begin at 12:00 PM, and the discussion will end no later than 1:30 PM.

The CPI participated in a forum on Connecticut's public pensions at CCSU, moderated by former Democratic governor candidate Ned Lamont.  A video of of the event is available at this link.

Topics discussed included: Will defined benefits or defined contributions be the way to go? How are public pensions being funded currently and will this be adequate for the future? What is happening to pension funding in the current (proposed) budget?

Panelists were:

Wade Gibson, Senior Policy Fellow at Connecticut Voices for Children
Ben Zimmer, Executive Director of the Connecticut Policy Institute
Steve Greatorex, Employee Trustee, Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission

Panel discussion of Hartford's iQuilt plan.  You can watch a video of the event here.