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February 4, 2010                                                                                     

House Passes Unemployment Insurance Rate Freeze Legislation

Protects employers from large per-employee assessment increase

(BOSTON) – State Representative Timothy R. Madden of Nantucket joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation to halt a scheduled increase in the unemployment insurance assessment that all employers pay.

As a result of increased claims to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund during the current economic slowdown, the contribution rate employers pay into the fund was scheduled to increase dramatically. The bill passed by the House of Representatives will freeze the rate at the 2009 level.

“While we remain concerned about those who rely on unemployment insurance to survive, we must also lessen the burden on our businesses, which fund our unemployment system,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said. “This bill sends a clear message to businesses across the Commonwealth that we are serious about economic growth and job creation in Massachusetts.”

“Without this legislation, higher unemployment insurance rates would have resulted in increased business costs, forcing businesses to make difficult choices that could result in further job loss,” said Rep. Madden. “I applaud my colleagues for supporting this important legislation. In order to pull ourselves out of the current recession and unemployment rates, we need to be investing every dollar we can into businesses, as to encourage economic and employment growth.  This bill protects businesses from an excessive increase to their operating costs, which would be felt by both employees and consumers.”

In 2009, the average employer contribution into the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was $584 per employee. Without legislative action, this per-employee assessment would have jumped to approximately $852.

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House of Representatives Passes School Nutrition Bill

Legislation Improves Food Choices at Massachusetts Schools to Help Fight Childhood Obesity

 BOSTON – State Representative Timothy R. Madden of Nantucket joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation that would ban the sale of unhealthy competitive foods and drinks in Massachusetts public schools.

The bill – modeled after the recommendations of a 2007 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report – calls for a ban on unhealthy competitive foods and beverages that do not meet scientifically based nutritional standards and are not part of federal meal programs. It would also require schools to sell non-fried foods and vegetables at any location where foods are sold.

“With childhood obesity rates skyrocketing, we must be more proactive about providing healthier choices for kids when it comes to food,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said. “This bill promotes purchasing food from local farms which not only teaches our kids good eating habits but also stimulates business for local farmers in a time of need.”

“By improving the nutritional standards for foods and drinks sold in schools, the legislation approved by the House today achieves real progress in the efforts to both improve student health and tackle a primary source of avoidable health care spending,” said Rep. Madden. “Additionally, I co-sponsored an amendment to the bill that would make bake sales and boosters club events to be exempt from the guidelines, allowing them to continue as before.” 

The bill’s provisions will apply to public elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. The legislation does not prohibit high school students from purchasing food sold off school ground during breaks. Additionally, parents will still be allowed to give their children any type of food to bring to school.

Other provisions of the bill include: continuing education of school nurses, nutrition and exercise instruction in schools, collection and reporting of obesity trends and the establishment of a farm to school program developed by the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Agricultural Resources.

The legislation establishes nutrition standards as set by the IOM’s April 2007 report, “Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth.” This groundbreaking report was commissioned by Congress and was written in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in order to make recommendations for the appropriate nutritional content of foods sold in competition with federal meal programs.

The American Heart Association has confirmed that childhood obesity is one of the most critical public health issues facing our nation today, threatening to reverse the last half century’s gains in reducing cardiovascular disease and related deaths. One-third of children aged two to five years are either at risk for being overweight or are already overweight. In Massachusetts, 29% of middle school students are overweight or obese. Studies show that these children are more likely than their peers to be absent from school, experience low self esteem.

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