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Greater Boston Chamber Public Policy News
January 2010 
 
POLICY
In This Issue
2010 Public Policy Agenda | Education Reform | Unemployment Insurance | Health Care
 
2010 Public Policy Agenda
With the 2010 legislative session underway, the Chamber has outlined a policy agenda designed to drive job growth, boost economic competitiveness, and enhance the quality of life throughout Greater Boston. The Chamber will work to advance the region?s competitiveness in four key areas: reducing business costs, improving the talent pipeline, promoting innovation, and strengthening infrastructure & development.

For more information on the Chamber?s 2010 Public Policy Agenda, click here.
 
Education Reform: Chamber-supported legislation enacted  
The Chamber has long been a supporter of charter schools. In recent months, the Chamber has worked with a coalition of civic and business leaders for legislation that included a lift of the cap on charter schools and additional reforms. This month the Legislature and the Patrick Administration enacted such a bill, and the Chamber applauds their hard work.

The bill doubles the number of charter schools in the state?s lowest-performing districts, expands the number of in-district charter schools, and creates new tools for turning around underperforming schools. These reforms will provide the tools to expand Greater Boston?s talent pipeline, and enable Massachusetts to compete for upwards of $250 million in federal 'Race to the Top' funding.
Unemployment Insurance: Legislation needed to avert premium spike

The Chamber is working with a coalition of business groups for unemployment insurance rate relief. Under current law, Massachusetts employers will face a 43% increase in the first quarter of 2010 in unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates. Massachusetts UI costs are already among the very highest in the nation, and that increase would raise UI costs by an average of $250 per worker.

The Chamber urges enactment of legislation in early 2010 to prevent such an increase, without jeopardizing the long-term solvency of the UI trust fund based on current projections. Such action would advance economic recovery, drive future state and local revenue growth, and send an important signal to employers that Massachusetts is prepared to compete for their business.

Health Care: Chamber recommends steps to expand low-cost insurance plans
The Governor and Legislature are currently considering payment reform measures to lower health care costs. In December and January, the Division of Insurance (DOI) held informational hearings to investigate increases in small business premiums. In a recent letter to DOI, the Chamber urged changes to laws and regulations that may be hindering the development of lower-cost health plans than those currently available to small businesses.

The Chamber will continue to advocate for new methods of health care cost containment that focus on making the health care system more efficient, and improving consumers? ability to choose lower-cost health care options.
For more information on the Chamber's policy agenda, contact Jim Klocke, executive vice president, Tim Sweeney, director of public policy, or Sarah Lanning, assistant director of economic development.

 

 

JOBS
December 2009 Jobs Update: State loses 8,400 jobs 
Each month, the Chamber releases a monthly jobs update to administration officials, legislators, key policy-makers, and Chamber members, informing them of the state's latest job numbers, emerging trends in job creation, and the state's current employment numbers in relation to the state's 2002 peak.

Headlines from the December 2009 Massachusetts Jobs Update include:

  • Massachusetts lost 8,400 jobs last month; posted a 2.0% job loss in the last 12 months, moderately better than the US annual job loss rate of 3.1%
  • The state unemployment rate jumped to 9.4% following two consecutive months of rate decline; the Massachusetts rate is the highest rate since August 1976, yet remains below the US rate of 10.0%
  • Nine of the 12 regions lost jobs last month; all 12 regions shed jobs year-over-year
  • Education, Health Services, Manufacturing, and Financial Activities posted job gains last month
UPCOMING EVENTS

Government Affairs Forum

Governor Deval Patrick
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Wednesday
February 10, 2010
Westin Copley Place Boston
7:45 a.m. Registration
8:10 - 9:00 a.m. Program


Government Affairs Forum

Senate President Therese Murray
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Wednesday
April 14, 2010
Location TBD
7:45 a.m. Registration
8:10 - 9:00 a.m. Program

Government Affairs Forum

State Treasurer Timothy Cahill
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Tuesday
May 11, 2010
Boston Harbor Hotel
7:45 a.m. Registration
8:10 - 9:00 a.m. Program

INSIDE THE CHAMBERR
On January 19, Liz Minnis, co-director of Programming for the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), addressed the Chamber?s Development Committee. She provided an overview of upcoming projects, methods of applying/bidding on projects, and DCAM?s evaluation of project applications.
On January 21, Senator Karen Spilka, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies, addressed the Chamber?s Government Affairs Committee. She provided an update on the state?s overall economic development and business climate.

CHAMBER POLICY STAFF

Jim Klocke, executive vice president

Tim Sweeney, director of public policy

Sarah Lanning, assistant director of economic development

 
 
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