The incoming Republican leader of the Connecticut House is concerned the state labor department is not doing enough to reduce unemployment taxes for businesses.
By January, Connecticut companies will be paying the highest federal unemployment taxes in the country, said Rep. Themis Klarides of Derby.
Connecticut has not obtained a waiver that would have given the state an extension on repaying federal loans it used to pay unemployment benefits during the recession, she said. That’s why she’s written to the state labor commissioner seeking an explanation.
“It seems odd to me, that of all the states, and there are a lot of states who have borrowed money, and of eight states who have not paid it all back — we are the only one who have not received a waiver,” Klarides said
The state Department of Labor received Klarides’ letter on Tuesday, department spokeswoman Nancy Steffens said.
Connecticut decided not to seek a waiver because it would have required paying more interest on the loans, she said. It was a matter of having employers pay less now or pay more later, Steffens said.
