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AUBURN, Mass. - State Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury) was recently named a “Great 8” legislator by the Restaurant and Business Alliance for the 2011-12 legislative session.
Four Senate Democrats and four House Republicans were selected as “Great 8” legislators for their efforts at creating a more business-friendly environment in the Commonwealth.
“I’m very excited about getting this recognition,” Moore said. “It shows how over my four years in office, I’ve worked hard to promote small businesses, and I’ve had a strong pro-business agenda in the Senate.
“If our economy is going to recover, then we need to help these small businesses,” Moore continued. “I’ve helped pass legislation to help these businesses, making it a more business-friendly environment in Massachusetts.”
Moore pointed at his fair share legislation that eliminates fines for businesses that hire employees with different health care providers.
Before this legislation, businesses were fined $295 per employees per year for uncovered employees. If a business hired veterans, spouses, students or retired workers, they were punished because the wording of the law didn’t make exceptions for them. Moore said that his legislation fixes this loophole.
“That big financial burden is lifted from small businesses,” Moore said. “The business can hire more people and expand as a result.”
Dave Andelman, President and CEO of the Restaurant and Business Alliance, praised Moore for passing legislation to help businesses.
“Senator Michael Moore has supported the unemployment rate freeze, lifting the ban on educational meals for doctors and co-sponsored the Meals Tax Holiday proposal,” stated Andelman in a press release. “He also opposed mandatory minimum rates on businesses, as well as supporting reforms that would reduce frivolous class action law suits.”
The other “Great 8” legislators include state Sen. Anthony Petruccili (D-East Boston), state Sen. James Timilty (D-Walpole), state Sen. Brian Joyce (D-Milton), state Rep. Keiko Orrall (R-Lakeville), state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton), state Rep. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) and state Rep. Kevin Kuros (R-Uxbridge)
The Restaurant and Business Alliance made its picks based on the activity of legislators on the alliance’s agenda items and their responses to a survey sent to all legislators.
Alliance officials said the recognized legislators worked on a law to allow restaurants to host educational dinners for doctors, on efforts to resist steep vending machine fee increases, and on unemployment insurance and health insurance reforms aimed at helping small businesses.
Alliance officials say they plan to push again in 2013 for a meals tax holiday bill, which would suspend the 6.25 percent state meals tax for Sunday through Thursday in March or October to spur restaurant activity, and on a liability proposal to facilitate the flow of surplus food from restaurants to food pantries.
Comments (1)
Mike,
"Keep On Punching For Northbridge!"
If we may ever build a New DPW we may need your assistance in attaining some Brownfield Grants, or other potential State Grants, or whatever possible help or assistance from DEP, Commonwealth, in potentially cleaning up our old DPW site on Fletcher Street.
Keep up the good fight for Sutton Street, Rockdale Bridge, Douglas Road Bridge, the State DOT., presently and future to be working on.
This Taxpayer deeply appreciate's all the Chap 70, Chap 90, Restricted and Non Restricted State Aid for Northbridge, from the Commonwealth.
"Thanks Again", appreciate your efforts!!!