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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2750         FILED ON: 8/5/2010

Senate  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2602

Message from His Excellency the Governor returning pursuant to Article LXIII of the Amendments to the Constitution with his disapproval Sections 134 through 138, inclusive and 202 contained in the engrossed Bill entitled “ An Act Relative to Economic Development Reorganization ” (Senate, No, 2582).

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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DEVAL L. PATRICK

GOVERNOR

 

TIMOTHY P. MURRAY

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Executive Department

State House  ·   Boston 02133

(617) 725-4000

8/ 5 /2010

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives:

Pursuant to Section 5 of Article 63 of the Amendments to the Constitution, I am today signing Senate Bill No. 2582, “An Act Relative to Economic Development Reorganization,” and returning certain portions to you for reconsideration.

I am very pleased to sign this important legislation, which will promote economic development and create badly needed jobs throughout our Commonwealth.  Specifically, this legislation will strengthen the commonwealth’s economy by paving the way for businesses to expand and grow by: improving our capacity to provide small businesses with both capital and advice through the newly created Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation; allowing more transparent, equitable, and efficient bond financing for health care and educational facilities through the merger of the Health and Educational Facilities Authority into MassDevelopment, spurring local economic development through the recapitalization of the highly successful Growth District Initiative; attracting new investment in Gateway Cities by creating a program to rehabilitate buildings into market rate housing in their commercial areas; and making our regulatory and permitting processes more responsive to business needs.

              I regret, however, that I must disapprove Sections 134 through 138, inclusive and 202.  These sections propose item-pricing exemptions that have not been justified to my satisfaction.  They exempt warehouse clubs and certain retailers from price disclosure requirements as well as from inspection and enforcement of pricing requirements.  Accurate price disclosure is one of the most basic consumer protections and must be protected.  In addition, there is a technical flaw in the sunset provision that allows the exemption to apply indefinitely.  For these reasons, I cannot support these proposals.  I approve the remainder of this Act.

Respectfully submitted,

                                                 DEVAL L. PATRICK,

                                                              Governor.

 

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