August 4, 2010

The last month has brought strong signs of improvement in the Massachusetts economy. CNBC ranked Massachusetts as the 5th best state in the country to do business. Our second quarter growth for 2010 was more than twice that of the nation and we added over 3,000 private sector jobs in the month of June alone. But we cannot be complacent. Many Massachusetts workers are still unemployed. I have continued to work on legislation to improve the economy, helping to pass a slate of bills that will help benefit businesses and provide relief to both employers and working families.

July marked the last month of formal sessions for this legislative cycle. My colleagues in the House and I worked closely with our partners in the Senate to send Governor Patrick legislation to help our businesses and communities. In the coming weeks, bills that we passed providing health insurance relief to small businesses, offering mortgage counseling and foreclosure assistance for struggling families, and creating stricter oversight for prescription drugs, will become law. We also finalized work on a school nutrition bill to provide healthier meals to our students and encourage farm-to-school partnerships to teach students about the benefits of local produce. The economic development reform bill we passed last month will also become law, streamlining our economic development agencies, making Massachusetts more attractive to businesses, and establishing a sales tax holiday in August. I am also proud a bill mandating health insurance coverage for autism treatments will soon be signed into law, helping thousands of families struggling to provide services for their loved ones.

The House and Senate also sent the Governor legislation expanding gaming in Massachusetts. After much deliberation, we reached a reasonable compromise, allowing a commission of experts to offer a maximum of three casino licenses and two licenses for slot machines at existing race tracks. The bill also included the strictest oversight and regulatory language in the country and offered mitigation for communities and businesses impacted by expanded gambling. The Governor returned the bill after we ended our formal sessions, so we will take no further action on introducing this new industry this year.

Every month I am inspired by constituents across the district. This month I had the distinct pleasure of recognizing two heroes among us. Kathy Farnsworth of Shirley has dedicated her life to helping children, opening her home to over 500 kids in the foster system. She has been a mom to hundreds of children and deserves our thanks for her tireless efforts. Every day, our police officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities. Officer Omar Connor of Lunenburg almost lost his life apprehending a suspect, but he has persevered and continues on the long road to recovery. Officer Connor and Ms. Farnsworth truly represent the best in all of us.

July has been another busy month in the district. I toured the new 220 kilowatt solar photovoltaic installation at Carlson Orchards in Harvard, met with leaders at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, toured Burroughs Farm in Boxborough, congratulated Chief Massak at his swearing in as the new Shirley Police Chief, met with the Executive Director of Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, Melissa Fetterhoff, and attended the Minuteman Airfield Open House in Stow/Boxborough, to just name a few. The 37th Middlesex District is full of great businesses, people and organizations. I plan to highlight some of the outstanding district businesses in upcoming newsletters. If you have ideas on places for me to visit or highlight, please email me at Jennifer.Benson@MAHouse.gov or you can contact my Boston office at 617.722.2130. You can always keep up with the latest news at my website: www.jenbenson.org.

This month I want to celebrate local flavor and encourage everyone to attend a Farmer's Market near you. Supporting our local farms is supporting our local economy. They are small businesses and an important part of our overall economic health and diversity.

Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market: Sundays, 10am-2pm, West Acton Village (July–October)
Harvard Farmers Market: Saturdays, 9am-Noon, Hildreth Elementary School (August–October)
Lancaster Farmers Market: Thursdays, 4-7pm, Town Green (July–September)
Lunenburg Farmers Market: Mondays, 3-7pm, Ritter Building (July–October)