FRANKLIN - U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., spent much of Friday morning meeting with business and civic leaders during a swing through the region.

The state's junior senator touched on a range of issues, from the Supreme Court's health care ruling to upcoming trade deals.

"We still are the only country amongst our economic competitors that has fairly robust economic growth with declining federal budget deficits, and that's why you're seeing foreign capital pouring into the United States," he said during a Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut-sponsored business breakfast at the Norwich Holiday Inn.

Later in the morning, he met with the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board's executive committee in Franklin.

"As we try to envision the future of Connecticut manufacturing, there's all sorts of good news," he said.