Proposal to Freeze Unemployment Insurance Rate Passes Unanimously

FROM THE OFFICE OF BETTY POIRIER: Area State Representatives Betty Poirier (R-North Attleboro), Jay Barrows (R-Mansfield), George Ross (R-Attleboro), Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk) and Daniel Winslow (R-Norfolk, along with their Republican colleagues, voted today in favor of freezing the current Unemployment Insurance rate. 

      An Act Relative to Unemployment Insurance Rates was drafted in response to the already large financial burdens that are placed on the states small business market.

      Any increase to the unemployment insurance rate would, on average, increase businesses unemployment payments $228 per employee. However, even with the rate freeze in place, the Commonwealth’s unemployment costs are close to two times the national average.

      The Representatives stated, “We were happy to freeze the Unemployment Insurance Tax toprevent our employers with being hit with a significant increase in unemployment insurance premiums while many are still struggling with the recession.  In addition, we realize that there is a need to make additional fundamental reforms so that Massachusetts can be competitive with other states.”

      The legislation is now before the Governor for his review and he has indicated he will sign it.