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Senate Minority Leader Raises Questions On Deal To Keep GE In Connecticut

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Connecticut Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano is raising questions about why the State of Connecticut is preparing a taxpayer-funded counter-offer to try to keep General Electric in Fairfield when Democrat legislative leaders have stated the state budget will not be detrimental to GE.

Connecticut Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano is questioning a taxpayer-funded counter-offer to try to keep GE in the state.

Connecticut Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano is questioning a taxpayer-funded counter-offer to try to keep GE in the state.

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“According to news reports, this counter-offer from state government will be laden with economic incentives which have not been disclosed,” said Fasano (R-North Haven). “If these reports are true, then they contradict remarks made recently about GE by Democrat leadership in the Connecticut General Assembly.”

One Democrat lawmaker recently said GE could be bluffing about leaving Connecticut, Fasano said. The lawmaker has also suggested that GE’s harsh criticism of state tax increases may be a cover for Connecticut layoffs already planned by GE.

“If Gov. Malloy is preparing a state taxpayer-funded counter-offer for GE to ensure that the company keeps jobs here in Connecticut, I wonder if he has taken these statements from leading Connecticut Democrat legislators into account,” Fasano said. “These lawmakers feel strongly that GE is not negatively impacted by the new state budget. So why is Gov. Malloy prepping a taxpayer-funded aid package for GE less than two months after he signed the state budget into law?"

Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau, in an appearance on “Face the State” on WFSB on Sunday, said it would be a "tremendous" blow to the town if GE moved out.

GE pays more than $1.8 million in property taxes plus the taxes on homes and cars by its employees who live in town. Tetreau also said a GE departure would hurt “Bridgeport, Stamford, and Norwalk,” where the company has additional offices.

He said in the interview that GE is not bluffing as it threatens to move out of state. 

Tetreau, a Democrat, criticized the direction of the state, “Connecticut is becoming increasingly less friendly to business. I want to see an ad in the Wall Street Journal as to why Connecticut is good for business.”  

Tetreau said he has spoken daily with Malloy and GE since the threat to move was made but said he was not privy to details of any package to entice GE to stay.  

Watch the full interview with Tetreau here at the WFSB website. 

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