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State Rep. George Peterson, Jr. and state Rep. Matthew Beaton have joined House and Senate Republicans in filing legislation to freeze the anticipated unemployment insurance tax rate.
Citing the current economic climate as the reason for this legislation, House and Senate Republicans, including Peterson, R-Grafton, and Beaton, R-Shrewsbury, seek to prevent a tax increase of $220 per employee, or 31 percent, on the Commonwealth’s businesses. This would mark the fourth straight year that a similar bill has been passed by the Legislature protecting Massachusetts employers from this damaging and unnecessary tax hike.
“Implementing this rate freeze is the best and most concrete way we can help to move the Massachusetts economy forward in the New Year,” said state Rep. Bradley H. Jones Jr., R-Reading, House minority leader. “In these tough fiscal times, we need to remove any impediments to economic growth in the Commonwealth.”
Although this tax hike triggered on Jan. 1, employers will not receive the bill for a few more weeks. In the interim, the Legislature has the opportunity to ease the potential burden on the Commonwealth’s businesses.
“In these trying fiscal times, we need to remove any impediments to economic growth in the Commonwealth,” Peterson said. “As a Legislature, our top priority must be to foster a business-friendly environment within the Bay State, and by implementing this rate freeze, we will have taken a step in the right direction.”
In addition to freezing the unemployment insurance tax rate hike in the coming weeks, the House and Senate Republican Caucuses will introduce comprehensive unemployment insurance reform and long-term job creation opportunities for the Bay State.
“We must ensure that businesses in Massachusetts are afforded tax relief whenever possible,” Beaton said. “In freezing the Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate, we will allow cash-strapped businesses in the Bay State the opportunity to recover, and ultimately grow, in these tough economic times.”
'The Good Old Days'
I remember at one time we were a Country called the United States, where most of the time we cared about our fellow citizens common interest. In todays World, its I have mine, the heck with you, and Greed is Good! Some say our Children may be the first Generation where they have it worse then the older Generation. Are we becoming a 3rd World Nation, or a Nation of Have and Have Nots?
The Days of working for a Company for 30-40 years are gone! In most cases you are nothing but a number, and you can be laid off at any time. That is why Unemployment Insurance is important, if a Company can have the best years of your life and lay you off at any time its relevant in todays world.
If their was no Unemployment Insurance in my opinion eventually society would have to shoulder all the Society Associated cost's with not having it, kind of like pay me now or pay me later?
Hopefully all our Politicians may work with the Goal of bringing United back into United States, and maybe if we stopped taking care of the entire World and being the Policeman of the World, plus repeal the Bush Tax Cuts for the Top 1% we may have a better standard of living in America.
Really could you imagine if their was no Unemployment Insurance?, I wonder what these Politicians would do if they lost their Job, and their Health Care for their family, and other benefits with their employment? I guess the Fast Food places are always hiring?