Rep. Ziobron talks business with contractors

State Rep. Melissa Ziobron (R-East Haddam) was the guest speaker at the 123rd annual Convention of the Connecticut Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors on Feb. 23 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell.

State Rep. Melissa Ziobron was the guest speaker at the 123rd annual Convention of the Connecticut Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors on Feb. 23 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell.

Ziobron represents the 34th district communities of Colchester, East Haddam and East Hampton.

Founded in 1890, the PHCC is the not-for-profit trade association that represents union and non-union plumbing, heating and cooling contractors throughout the state.

PHCC has almost 4,000 open and union shop contractor members who manage businesses in residential service and new construction, commercial and industrial markets.

Rep. Ziobron (R- East Haddam) spoke about some of her first impressions of the job as a new legislator, such as her first interactions with lobbyists, as well as her thoughts on the architecture of the Legislative Office Building.

Ziobron talked about how, along with her husband Scott, she served as the general contractor for building two houses – including the one she currently lives in with her family in East Haddam. She said she understands the challenges facing not only contractors but business people in general in Connecticut.

“As a former business advocate, I know, when one business does well, it has a ripple effect and benefits other businesses,” Rep. Ziobron said. “Unfortunately, that basic economic principal is lost on most in Hartford.”

As the former Economic Development Coordinator for the town of East Haddam, Rep. Ziobron said, she has paid particular attention to the obstacles businesses face during her first 50 days in office.

Rep. Ziobron gave a Letterman-esque top-10 countdown of the worst proposals affecting businesses from the current session, such as a proposal that would allow a person denied employment due to a past criminal charge the opportunity to seek civil suit against the offending employer and a proposed bill that would subject the liquid assets of a business to a “hoarder’s tax.”

“What we need, more than anything, is an environment where businesses can thrive, where they can anticipate costs and plan, and where citizens have confidence that their jobs and financial futures are secure – so both have confidence that the decisions and investments they make will be smart ones, and not undercut by elected officials in Hartford who have no clue how to run a business or God forbid, make a profit,” Rep. Ziobron said.

Posted February 26, 2013

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