(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by the office of state Rep. Paul Adams.)

Representatives Paul Adams (R-Andover) and Jim Lyons (R-Andover) joined the entire House and Senate Republican caucus in filing legislation to freeze the anticipated unemployment insurance tax rate.

 Citing the current economic climate as the reason for this legislation, House and Senate Republicans seek to prevent a tax increase of $220 per employee, or 31 percent, on the Commonwealth’s businesses. This would mark the fourth straight year that a similar bill has been passed by the Legislature protecting Massachusetts employers from this damaging and unnecessary tax hike.

 Although this tax hike triggered on January 1, 2012, employers will not receive the bill for a few more weeks. In the interim, the Legislature has the opportunity to ease the potential burden on the Commonwealth’s businesses.

"This rate freeze is essential," said Rep. Jim Lyons of Andover, "to protect struggling small businesses. Otherwise, a huge government rate hike will place an unacceptable burden on family-operated shops and stores.

"We must," Lyons emphasized, "improve the climate for local employers to thrive and create new jobs. This legislation is one step in the right direction, one that helps small businesses and will lead to greater job creation and economic growth."

"Freezing this tax now and reducing taxes across the board will build confidence within the private sector, helping keep people employed and end our state's part-time jobs crisis,” said Rep. Paul Adams of Andover. “Most importantly, overhauling the Commonwealth's unemployment insurance system will help private-sector job creators stay here and expand here for the long term."

“Unemployment insurance is already a major cost for employers in Massachusetts, and one that relates directly to the number of people they employ,” said Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), the Senate Minority Leader. “A substantial rate increase now will not only imperil a struggling economic recovery, it will also put a new obstacle in the way of getting people back to work.”

In addition to freezing the unemployment insurance tax rate hike in the coming weeks, the House and Senate Republican Caucuses will introduce comprehensive unemployment insurance reform and long-term job creation opportunities for the Bay State.