Sen. Fasano Statement on Governor’s Failed Negotiations with Tenet Healthcare

Hartford – State Senator Len Fasano (R-North Haven), Senate Minority Leader, released the following statement today in response to the announcement that negotiations between the governor and Tenet Healthcare have ended with no deal.

“This is a devastating blow to the Waterbury community as well as the entire state,” said Fasano.

“Governor Malloy had the opportunity to close this deal and he failed. It is unfortunately consistent with his lack of leadership over the last two years on this issue.

“The legislature worked hard to open the doors. And when the plan crumbled, I was proud to join with Sen. Martin Looney and other legislators to try to resuscitate the deal and get both sides back to the table.

“While I am disappointed, I am not surprised. It was Governor Malloy whose veto in 2013 set back this whole process. It was Governor Malloy whose executive agency OHCA proposed conditions that went above and beyond what the legislature previously rejected as too onerous. It was Governor Malloy who closed the negotiation doors to those who got Tenet to come back to the table.

“Governor Malloy likes to say Connecticut is ‘Open for Business’ but here is a prime example where he has slammed that door shut. He slammed the door on a private company that was willing to invest nearly half a billion dollars in Connecticut, and he slammed the door on the faces of Waterbury Hospital employees.”