Governor Lamont: U.S. News & World Report Rankings Underscores Need for Connecticut to Improve Transportation System and Strengthen Its Fiscal House

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today said that while Connecticut ranks high in the areas of criminal justice, healthcare, education, and environment, the U.S. News & World Report “Best States” analysis that was released this morning indicates that the top issues the state needs to focus on to improve its overall standings are in the areas of transportation and fiscal stability – two factors the governor has strongly been stressing the state needs to improve in order to get its economy growing again.

The annual ranking of all 50 states uses a series of key metrics across a range of criteria, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and the economy. Overall, Connecticut’s ranking improved to 21^st on this year’s list, up three spots from last year, facilitated in part by ranking 7^th in crime and corrections, 12^th in education, 3^rd in healthcare, and 6^th in environment.

The report also found improvements in Connecticut’s economy – jumping from a 43^rd place ranking in that category last year to 30^th place this year, underscored by a 1^st place ranking in the subcategory of top company headquarters, indicating that Connecticut has more Fortune 1000 companies headquartered in the state on a per capita basis than any other state in the nation.

The two areas where the state lagged, however, are its 46^th ranking in infrastructure and its 46^th ranking in fiscal stability, which Governor Lamont said comes as no surprise and should be a wake-up call to everyone who has an interest in creating a better state.

“Connecticut is a great state to live, raise a family, and work, and we want to do everything we can to improve the overall quality of life for the people who call this state home and for the businesses that support our economy,” Governor Lamont said. “But if we want to improve – if we want to grow jobs, grow our economy, and get our state on a path of success – we need to fix our transportation system and create more stability in our finances. This should be a wake-up call to every elected official – this data is staring us in the face. Let’s do something about it now – we were elected to take action.”

Earlier this year, Governor Lamont proposed a plan that is currently under consideration by the legislature to provide more stability and predictability in how Connecticut funds its infrastructure and allow for a major upgrade of its transportation system. He also announced that he was putting the state on a self-imposed “Debt Diet,” which seeks to reduce long-term debt service payments and save the state as much as $2 billion over the next decade.

For the full analysis of Connecticut’s standings, click here.