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AUBURN, Mass. – As the election campaign heats up between incumbent state Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury) and Auburn Selectman Steve Simonian for the 2nd Worcester District seat, many businesspeople have gotten behind Moore, saying that he is a strong advocate of small businesses.
Jeannie Hebert, President and CEO of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, Rob Branca, owner of Dunkin Donuts franchises in Worcester County and Dave Andelman, President of the Restaurant and Business Alliance and CEO of the TV show Phantom Gourmet, say Moore is always looking out for businesses.
Hebert said that Moore has “stepped up to the plate whenever a business is in need.”
“He’s always been instrumental in opening doors for businesses,” Hebert said. “If there are laws that are causing a burden on small businesses, he will take a second look at the laws and advocate to fix them. I always know that he will help us out and follow through.”
Hebert said that he is available all the time for any questions and concerns from business owners.
“He really goes above and beyond,” she said. “If there is a start-up in the area who needs help getting started, he’ll bring connections to them. And that one referral can go a long way.”
Branca pointed to the fair share legislation that Moore supported as an example of a way Moore listens to "all the things that prevent us from hiring." Branca said that businesses are getting unfairly taxed as a result of the state's health insurance mandate.
“If I have 10 employees, and two of them receive my health insurance while the eight others receive it from their parents or spouses, then I get penalized for the eight who didn’t get the health insurance from me,” Branca said. “It discourages employers to hire certain people who already have health insurance. Mike understood this is wrong, and he has sponsored an amendment to address this problem."
Andelman said Moore has been supportive of the Restaurant and Business Alliance’s Great 8 agenda items.
“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,” Andelman said. “He also opposed mandatory minimum rates on businesses, as well as supporting reforms that would reduce frivolous class action law suits.”
Comments (1)
And how do you think Mike voted on this nasty little piece of legislation? More smoke and mirrors right Mike?
The House voted 32-119, again mostly along party lines, and rejected a Republican-sponsored rule requiring a two-thirds vote to ship proposed amendments off to a study committee unless the sponsor of the original amendment agrees with conducting a study. Only one Democratic legislator voted with the GOP in favor of the rule.
The rule is designed to stop what Republicans describe as successful attempts by Speaker Robert DeLeo and his Democratic leadership team to prevent Democratic members from having to vote directly against GOP proposals to reduce taxes.
Here’s an example of how it works: The Republicans offer a proposal to reduce the income tax from 5.3 percent back to 5 percent. If the Democratic leadership does nothing, there would be a roll call vote directly on the tax reduction. Most Democrats would vote against the reduction and then would be open to charges of being against tax relief.
Instead, a Democratic member offers a “delaying” amendment that would prohibit the tax reduction from taking effect until the Department of Revenue studies its economic impact.
Under House rules, the amendment to study and delay the tax cut is voted upon first. If it passes, which it always does, no other amendments can be introduced and the original proposal that would simply cut the tax is dead without ever having a direct vote on it.
Read more: Beacon Hill Roll Call: Mass. House begins budget process - Holliston, MA - Holliston TAB http://www.wickedlocal.com/holliston/news/x1783280577/Beacon-Hill-Roll-Call-Mass-House-begins-budget-process#ixzz21YNSiLMN