Education reform and healthcare mandates topped the headlines in Hartford this week, as CBIA's Bonnie Stewart and Eric George explain.

"Unfortunately, what small businesses have to worry about is the Insurance Committee is again considering a lot of cost driving mandates," George says.

"Mandates impact premiums right away. They make premiums go up right away -- not for everybody, but for small businesses as they only apply to certain plans, the plans that small businesses buy.

"It's really individuals and small businesses who get whacked."

Stewart notes the significance of six different groups, including CBIA, uniting this week in support of education reform. CBIA joined the Connecticut Council for Education Reform, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, Connecticut Association of Schools, the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), and the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, at a press conference.

"Education is a big issue for the business community," she says. "Fortunately for us, it's also a big issue for the Governor.

"The press conference held this week highlighted the areas these groups have in common and let people know about the Governor's [education reform] bills that are going to be heard next week.

"The Governor's bills will be heard next Tuesday and Wednesday. There's some very important measures in there and we encourage our members to contact their legislators and lend their support."

Other highlights from the second week of the General Assembly:

• The Appropriations Committee holds public hearings on the Governor's proposed budget adjustments;
• The Labor Committee raised several legislative proposals;
• Lawmakers powered up energy proposals;
• Businesses reviewing DEEP proposals for transforming release reporting and cleanup.

You'll have the opportunity to discuss these issues and more with lawmakers at Connecticut Business Day 2012 -- February 29 at the State Legislative Office Building in Hartford.