Daily Update 10/20: Controlling Health Care Costs for Small Businesses

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Governor’s Daily Update
Schools, Jobs, and Civic Engagement
Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Today: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

• This morning, Governor Patrick made an announcement about efforts to control health care costs for small businesses.

In the Press:

Governor Patrick stands with business leaders and owners at P.V. Sullivan Supply Co, Inc. to announce efforts to control health care costs for small businesses in Quincy.

• Controlling Health Care Costs for Small Businesses – Standing alongside business leaders and small business owners, Governor Deval Patrick today unveiled key recommendations aimed at reducing health care costs for small employers while maintaining access to quality care for employees. The series of reforms address a top concern of small business owners and reflect the administration’s ongoing commitment to collaborate with the business community on solutions to speed the state’s economic recovery. The Governor and a cross-section of business, financial, education and public policy leaders will discuss additional opportunities for collaboration between the public and private sector during a day-long summit the Governor will convene at the Boston Federal Reserve Bank on October 27th. “Skyrocketing premium increases put a stranglehold on small business growth and place a heavy burden on employers and employees alike,” said Governor Patrick. “Today, with this series of recommendations, we are tackling these challenges head on and implementing reforms that will curb costs, maintain affordable care and strengthen the business climate in the Commonwealth.” Learn more here.

     Read more in the Boston Globe, the Associated Press and the Boston Business Journal.

Governor Patrick attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Millipore Corporation’s solar panel installation project in Bedford yesterday.

• Commitment to Clean Energy – Yesterday, Governor Patrick celebrated the installation of solar power at Millipore, one of Massachusetts’s leading life sciences companies, and a leader in clean energy adoption by Bay State businesses. Millipore is a “mentor” company in the Governor’s Clean Energy Challenge, a New England Clean Energy Council initiative that has signed up 100 Massachusetts firms committing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent over three years. Millipore CEO Martin Madaus serves as co-chair of the Climate Protection and Green Economy Advisory Committee, created by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 to advise Secretary Bowles on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide. “Millipore is not only a leading employer in Massachusetts, but also a leader in creating our clean energy future,” said Governor Patrick. “Millipore is setting an impressive standard for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and showing other companies how to save energy and reduce their emissions through the Governor’s Clean Energy Challenge.” 

o       Read more in Business Wire, in Cooler Planet, and in Mass High Tech.

o       Read a supportive editorial in the Boston Globe on the Patrick-Murray Administration’s efforts with Evergreen Solar Inc., a solar panel manufacturer that has brought jobs and innovation to the Massachusetts. Read more here.

• Promoting Energy Efficiency – Yesterday the Patrick-Murray Administration unveiled plans to create a federal stimulus-funded rebate program that would reward consumers who swap energy inefficient household appliances for super-efficient new ones. The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) estimates that 27,000 old, inefficient appliances will be taken out of service as a result of the program, resulting in energy savings of 2.6 million kilowatt hours annually. The savings is the annual equivalent to eliminating 4.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide or enough energy to power 340 households for one year. “Household appliances are big energy users, so switching to more efficient models will do much more than put cash rebates in consumers’ hands,” Secretary Bowles said. “The Patrick administration looks forward to partnering with Massachusetts retailers on a program that will save families money every month for years to come, while immediately stimulating local business and supporting jobs.” Learn more here.

o       Read more in the Metro and the Associated Press.

This Week:

• Yesterday afternoon, Governor Patrick attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Millipore Corporation’s solar panel installation project in Bedford.
•  Later Monday afternoon, Governor Patrick attended a legislative leadership meeting.