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Senator Richard Blumenthal visited Putnam Bank last week and met with bank officials and local business leaders. Courtesy photos.

PUTNAM — Last week Senator Richard Blumenthal joined Putnam Bank President/CEO Thomas Borner for a roundtable discussion with Putnam Bank’s executive team and local business, healthcare, and education leaders to discuss a wide range of issues facing the community. 
Borner and Putnam Bank raised several different topics, including reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program, raising thresholds for reporting suspicious currency transactions under the Bank Secrecy Act to account for inflation, and re-visiting the cap on State and Local tax (SALT) deductions under the Republican tax plan signed into law by President Trump in 2017.
Senator Blumenthal also spoke about the importance of investing in education to produce enough high-skilled workers to fill the job openings at Electric Boat, Pratt and Whitney, and the companies that make up the supply chain.
“For me, the great challenge for Connecticut and our country is how to grow our economy in a way that’s smart and wise for the future. That’s education,” said Blumenthal.
Carlee Drummer, PhD., president of Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC), spoke about QVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing program, and noted that QVCC students graduate with no federal loan debt.
Borner said: “I was pleased to host this meeting so that the senator could hear directly from many community leaders on important issues that are vital to their success. I was especially pleased to have him hear directly from our staff on the regulatory reforms that are essential to Putnam Bank and other community banks which support Main Streets throughout America”.
Other topics discussed included the need for more resources to combat the opioid epidemic, paid family medical leave legislation and immigration reform.