"Massachusetts Tech Council Gives State Lawmakers an "F""

The Boston Business Journal reports that the Bay State's high tech council gives lawmakers a failing grade. Why does that matter here? Well, for a couple of reasons. Our high tech cluster represents a major growth sector and it's important to keep an eye on the competition. Further, what industry looks for does not vary a great deal from state to state. So, by considering the mistakes made by their counterparts in Massachusetts, our lawmakers can avoid doing similar damage here.

In that spirit, consider the factors considered by the Massachusetts High Technology Council.

"The legislative scorecard is designed to create a better understanding of the technology sector?s priorities on Beacon Hill and to consistently remind legislators that their votes have an impact long after they have been cast," said Council President Christopher R. Anderson.?While there were some positive developments in this legislative session, the MassTrack rankings show some severe backtracking on key areas of economic competitiveness." 

Legislative passage of a nearly $500 million tax hike and an increased healthcare assessment were two issues that hurt the rankings of legislators who supported those measures, according to MassTrack.  Anderson noted some positives from the session, including the passage of the $1 billion Life Sciences investment package and the Green Communities Act. 

Additionally, legislators were afforded the opportunity to self-identify as supporters of the 2008 Unemployment Insurance rate freeze that, if not passed, would have resulted in a $153 million rate hike for Massachusetts employers. The UI rate freeze was a top priority of the Council and was approved by both branches without a roll call vote.

Tax hikes, rising healthcare assessments, and UI costs - sounds pretty similar to the competitiveness threats we're looking at here. Let's work to make sure Olympia does a better job than Boston did.