Veteran legislator offers additional measures for legislation, key provision already included

February 23, 2010 ... Continuing his call for small business relief and an improvement in government efficiency, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, today offered testimony in support of his provisions to enhance an economic development bill led by Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, and Sen. Karen E. Spilka, D-Ashland, Senate Chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

Sen. Moore, testifying with Diane Schmalensee, Vice Chair of the Pioneer Institute, and Leonard Deneault Executive Director of MassExcellence, on Senate Bill 2270, An Act Promoting Economic Development in the Commonwealth

Speaking before the packed crowd in the State House hearing room, Sen. Moore was joined by Diane Schmalensee, Vice Chair of the Pioneer Institute, and Leonard Deneault, Executive Director of MassExcellence, in offering insight on S 2270, An Act Promoting Economic Development in the Commonwealth. The legislation, as Senate President Murray noted, includes Sen. Moore’s provision for a “Sunset Review Commission,” which establishes a committee that would set abolition or continuance dates, or the consolidation of, each reviewed state agency. Sen. Moore has cited the successes of Sunset Committees created in the state of Florida and the state of Texas—where 12 agencies have been abolished, 58 have been consolidated, and over $800 million have been saved.

Ms. Schmalensee’s testimony of behalf of the Pioneer Institute, a well-respected, privately funded organization dedicated to unbiased research, reiterated Sen. Moore’s emphasis on Section 4 of S 2270, which implements a performance measurement and management system to assess the quality and impact of the Office of Business Development. MassExcellence, the state’s only recognized Baldridge Criteria for Performance Excellence Institute, echoed the importance of the performance review measure through the testimony offered by Mr. Deneault. The Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Presidential Award was specifically developed to help United States organizations regain a competitive edge and succeed—particularly during difficult economic times.

While Sen. Moore’s Sunset Review Commission is included in the legislation, the Senator stressed that aid to small businesses through tax relief and procurement processes, and lessening the clenching burden of health care costs for small businesses are key to a successful model of economic development. In his testimony, Sen. Moore pushed for the inclusion of his Affordable Health Plan legislation for small businesses—filed last June with his House Health Care Financing Committee counterpart, Rep. Harriett Stanley, D-Merrimac. 

Additionally, the Senator called for the addition of language that would provide relief and encourage preliminary measures in protecting small businesses from losses in a natural disaster, as well as lowering the minimum corporate excise tax on small businesses that require the ability to retain their revenues during difficult economic times. 

Sen. Moore discussed the importance of adopting the MORE Infrastructure Program, which would designate economic development zones in municipalities by residential agreement. The zones would be financed by the taxpayers within the zone, but would provide a 35 year pay back for property owners, as opposed to a maximum of 20 years under existing laws for betterments and assessment.

Local business’ ability to conduct business with the state should also be examined, as small businesses have found it increasingly difficult to sign contracts with the Commonwealth, Moore expressed. The Senator’s amendment would expand a section of the law that reserves state or municipal business interaction to specific entities, to include “small businesses,” as defined in the General Laws.

The additions offered by Sen. Moore come on the heels of a government efficiency legislative package that he filed in mid-January. Moore has noted that his economic development and government efficiency proposals not only aim to streamline and enhance services, but also rely strongly on public input.

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