State House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, (Derby) released the following statement about General Electric’s reported decision to leave Connecticut and head to Boston:
“Connecticut’s toxic business climate, combined with the Malloy administration’s failure to take seriously the threats that it posed to our corporate community, has led us to this day that many of us feared was inevitable. Any doubt about the effect of the punitive policies of ever higher taxes, hyper regulation and the uncertainties that they create for business have been erased because of GE’s apparent decision to move its corporate headquarters out of Connecticut.
“The decision makers at GE and other valued companies are not stupid; they understand their businesses and what it takes to grow them and create and sustain good jobs. Business owners big and small do not trust the State of Connecticut to do the right things to allow them plan for the long horizon – for five and 10 years out.
“GE did not arrive at this apparent decision overnight, just as it took the Democratic-controlled legislature decades to create the business climate that GE could no longer tolerate.’’
GE employs about 5,700 people in Connecticut, including almost 800 in its Fairfield headquarters. It has been estimated that the company spends $14 billion in the state and supports 65,000 suppliers in Connecticut.
Klarides also noted that the company workers are vital assets in their communities through volunteering and charitable support.
“This is truly a blow to Connecticut,’’ she added.
