February 23, 2010 ... Addressing members of the Greater Milford Business Alliance Tuesday morning, Milford's state senator, Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, told the gathering that the Legislature's top priority was to put people back to work and to make state government work in a more cost-effective manner.

"The message that legislators, like me, hear constantly from my constituents is that they want to keep the jobs they have, or if they're out of work, to get a job as soon as possible," Sen. Moore told the local business gathering. He said that he believes the best way to stimulate jobs is to help small businesses, in particular, to stay in business and to grow. "I listen to the voters, and that's what I hear over and over again," he said.

Moore said that this was exactly the goal of a major bill that would be the subject of a public hearing later that day at the State House, championed by Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, and Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland. Sen. Moore explained that some of his ideas to make state government more effective by sunsetting state agencies and pushing performance excellence were part of this comprehensive economic development legislation. 

The bill on tap at the State House focuses on merging duplicative economic development agencies to create a one-stop shop for businesses needing state help. It also highlights the need to make credit more accessible for small businesses and entrepreneurs and to help cut costs of doing business in Massachusetts.

Sen. Moore is also leading efforts to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses and their employees. "If small businesses could find more affordable health insurance, some of the savings could be used to hire more workers to help business expand," he said. Sen. Moore is the lead sponsor of legislation to slow the growth in provider costs and insurance premiums and their harmful impact on small businesses.

The meeting, which was held at the Milford public library, included over 20 individuals that are part of the Greater Milford Business Alliance. In addition to discussing his proposals for the economic development legislation, Sen. Moore highlighted the importance of Business Express, which is a new group insurance product for small businesses throughout Massachusetts.

Business Express, which became effective as of February 1, 2010 through the Commonwealth Health Connector Authority, is available for employers who employ between one and 50 persons. From a group of nearly 10 providers, a business can select one health benefit plan under a single health carrier. Currently, a Health Maintenance Organization plan (HMO) is the only coverage available through Business Express. Businesses with one to five employees have an additional incentive, as they do not have an annual membership fee, and will save an estimated $300 or more a year in employer costs. 

As Moore explained to the business leaders, Business Express simplifies a small business’s shopping experience through the Connector Authority: identifiable, brand name insurance companies’ plans are available, and may be reviewed on the web at www.mahealthconnector.org. 

"If we're going to recover from this national recession, we've got to ease the burdens on small and medium-size businesses who are the economic engine of the state and nation," Sen. Moore told those gathered at the Milford Public Library. "In the longer term," he added, "we've got to get health costs in check for everyone's benefit, and we have to make sure state government is run more efficiently, so that it's part of the solution, not just another hurdle to overcome."

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