Connecticut received an F from some 225 companies that participated in a recent small business friendliness poll. The Hartford region received the lowest score of any metropolitan area in the nation, and the New Haven area’s F put it among the bottom four locales in the nation. As someone who co-founded a small business in Connecticut, I am listening.

At the State Capitol, I will continue to work with anyone—Republicans, Democrats, business owners, entrepreneurs—to make our state’s policies more business friendly.

At the top of our agenda should be removing unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles, lowering the cost of doing business, and making it easier to navigate the difficult regulatory environment.

I urge anyone who feels the same way to contact me at art.linares@cga.ct.gov or 800-842-1421. Let’s view this terrible report card as an opportunity to start turning Connecticut’s business climate around.

State Senator Art Linares represents the 33rd Senatorial District, which includes Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook.