Economic development and job growth is an issue that I have highlighted since Day 1 of the campaign, including a post back in March after the Senate President announced proposal similar to those for which I had already advocated and back in February which highlighted the need for Unemployment Insurance reform.

The real problems in need of real solutions discussed by the members of our business community this morning are very consistent with the issues that I have highlighted in my campaign as necessary for our state to be a better place to grow a business and add workers.

The Beverly Citizen today published an editorial that mirrored very closely a press release sent by my campaign to the local press on Friday of last week. A little credit in the editorial would have been nice...

The Citizen agreed with my position and comments on the importance of the unemployment insurance rate freeze passed last week by the legislature and now awaiting the governor's signature. It also agreed with me that this move was just the first step in reforming our unemployment benefit system.

Today I released the following statement in response to the State Senate's unanimous approval on Thursday of an unemployment insurance rate freeze for businesses in the commonwealth. The House of Representatives approved a similar measure last week. Estimates indicate that this will save businesses in the commonwealth nearly $400 million in 2010.