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caption:
On Tour
Senator Richard Blumenthal toured Nutmeg Container last week. From left: Blumenthal, Putnam Bank CEO Thomas Borner, and Charlie Pious, Nutmeg president. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
The Quiet Corner wasn't quiet last week and the state's newest U.S. Senator, Richard Blumenthal, heard them loud and clear.
Business owners, local government officials, educators and residents joined Blumenthal when his "Listening Tour" came through eastern Connecticut and told him, as National Chromium owner said, "government needs to understand when to get out of the way" of the small businesses that form the backbone of the U.S. economy. Businesses won't hire when regulations continually pop up and spin out of control; when health care reform seems murky. Colleges need for the Pell grants, used by so many students in eastern Connecticut, is increasing. Putnam Mayor Bob Viens said there are grant programs that the town will not go after because the red tape is overwhelming. Government needs to be streamlined, not made more complicated.
Thomas Borner, CEO of Putnam Bank, told Blumenthal that the big guys cause the problems and the small business are the "casualties." Blumenthal listened at a forum at Putnam Bank, while taking a tour of Nutmeg Containers, part of Unicorr Packaging Group, and on Main Street.
Blumenthal said he enjoyed visiting eastern Connecticut and listening. He said he "I heard from manufacturers and small business owners, who stressed to me the importance of working together to lower health care and energy costs so that they can create new jobs and continue to grow their businesses."
He added "I’ve laid out a number of top priorities I want to accomplish for the people of Connecticut: Creating more jobs in Connecticut and helping small businesses; standing up for middle-class families; advocating for veterans and making sure our nation honors its promises to them; fighting to protect consumers and working to increase renewable energy and green jobs."