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The group said it was disappointed by the decision but placed the blame on Gov. Dannel Malloy and the Democratic leaders in the General Assembly, "who continually pass job-killing tax schemes without regard to consequence," the statement said.
The statement was issued Wednesday by Sen. Tony Hwang (R-28), and state Reps. Brenda Kupchick (R-132) and Laura Devlin (R-134).
“I know our community is strong," said Hwang. “I know we will all work hard with one another to build back what we are losing. I know we will come together to support the employees losing their jobs, the local companies that will lose business, and the many nonprofits and community organizations that benefited from having GE’s headquarters as a major philanthropic force in our town.
"GE is an incredible economic driver, and the jobs that do remain here will continue to benefit our community and support many families. I plan to work closely with all lawmakers as well as state and local leaders to ... create an environment where businesses want to move in, not out.”
Kupchick said the news was heartbreaking. "The governor and majority leaders assured residents and businesses the $1.8 billion tax increase in 2011 was going to fix Connecticut's fiscal problems. ... Then the majority and governor passed the state's second largest tax increase of $1.5 billion in 2013, again saying that would fix the deficit and they came up short again in 2015.
"Businesses like GE see what all of us see: A state government that can't manage its budgets and continue to come looking for more tax money to fix their poor financial decisions. For anyone to say GE is leaving because of anything other than years of punitive business polices and poor fiscal management by one party rule is kidding themselves. Bottom line, they blew it!," she said.
Devlin called the departure devastating.
“GE means so much to our community and is a direct hit to our state’s economy. Leaders at the State Capitol refused to listen to GE and other companies who have repeatedly said Connecticut is doing more harm than good in keeping businesses in state,” she said. “All GE was asking for was a predictable, sustainable business policy for the state, but unfortunately legislative Democrats ignored that reasonable request and in turn berated GE after the state budget vote in June.”
General Electric employs about 5,700 Connecticut residents, including 800 at its Fairfield headquarters. GE is also Fairfield’s largest municipal taxpayer.
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