In 2010 I voted with my colleagues in the legislature to create health insurance purchasing cooperatives to give small businesses access to the same purchasing power as large companies when negotiating for health insurance. I was proud to be a co-sponsor of the original bill which addressed the number one concern of our small businesses: escalating health insurance costs.

I'm pleased to say that in January, the first two of six purchasing groups have been certified by the Division of Insurance.

Beginning Jan 1, 2012, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives are certified to negotiate for and provide health insurance to their membership. The cooperatives may be able to offer products in the spring or summer of 2012.
 

There are currently 45 qualified associations from around Massachusetts that can enter into agreements with the cooperatives (see the list of all qualified associations). This includes 32 local or regional Chambers of Commerce, and other professional and industry organizations.

As a member of the Committee on Healthcare Finance I will continue working to address the cost of healthcare for our residents and businesses.

On January 19, I voted with my colleagues in the House to pass a mid-fiscal year supplemental budget that addressed support services for seniors and fuel assistance for low income families and seniors.

Specifically, the bill provided $35 million to the MassHealth Senior Care Adult Day Health program. Adult Day Health centers are assistance centers that provide care for seniors during the day when other family members or caregivers may have to work or handle other responsibilities. This funding will extend adult day health services until July 1, 2012.

The legislation also directs $21.2 million to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This state funding will supplement federal LIHEAP funding to help heat the homes of low-income elders and income eligible households, especially those who may have been affected by the loss of a job.

I was honored to receive the 2012 Environmental Leadership Award from the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. (MNLA) at the annual New England Grows Convention on February 2, 2012. MNLA member businesses are the backbone of our Commonwealth's agriculture industry and the local businesses that drive our economy, so this award was especially meaningful.

Over the past several years I have been pleased to work with MNLA to support their member firms by actively opposing legislation that would have curtailed the ability of the landscape industry to provide design services. I also worked with the organization to develop and support a bill that will level the playing field for small agricultural businesses by implementing an agricultural investment tax credit comparable to the credit already available to incorporated agricultural entities.