Greg Bialecki, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development on CNBC's Rating of Massachusetts Business Climate

They we are joined by Greg by Mikey he's -- Massachusetts secretary of housing and economic development since he was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2009 and he took exception with the report by CNBC yesterday which dropped Massachusetts's. Business friendly rankings from number six all the way down to number twenty Greg welcome to the show are you don't. Great help us understand you -- I know you you feel that -- CNBC made a mistake yesterday. Drop in Massachusetts. Out of the top ten why would he think what you think cap. Well bubble -- You know this is really eight survey -- ranking the perception of the state and that it's not. Reflective of our actual -- performance. And I think part of out that we have is that people perceive -- reflection of Massachusetts is actually doing and it's not for example mark. Carolina got ranked fourth we rank 28 but in fact are important rate is six point 0% and -- is. Nine point 4% so first like to see. And more focused actual economic performance but actually I think that it is also a suggestion. You know that we dropped so much that something happened in Massachusetts over the last year that's been unfriendly to business. And in fact. We can't really figure out what is weak at the corporate tax rate earlier this year we've started regulatory reform. Initiative to help us on the matter regulation. I I missed that corporate tax rate cut will it was that great. We cut the corporate tax rate in Massachusetts. Each here for the last three years. Now that eight point zero anywhere in the -- and that you will in the country that has corporate tax rate we're now back in the middle of the pack. -- he stole. If you look where we're headed in that it in the already changed. It has happened from your year added in the right direction and we think what really happened that would try to learn more about it really not calling in -- expressed. Our our disappointment or our frustration we're just trying to learn more about it eight we think that between last year and this year. Things only happen in a positive direction and if there's change. It's really change in the way that they are scoring stage or the week they're thinking about. Wisconsin at that aspect is. That as mr. It when I talk. To CNBC they said that the cost of doing business here was one of the things that hurt or score because I interviewed the fell yesterday. And I exception to some of the that the ratings and anything yet but buried -- your housing costs are higher there and your employment costs it costs more to hire employees in Massachusetts. Then advice in in other parts of the country like Texas. So -- quite -- those things are true last year as well. And in fact you know the average wage in Massachusetts actually been pretty flat. Actually you know in the big picture we wish it was going up more because people have more money in the pockets. But so -- challenges that that the more expensive place housing. Higher wages. A -- true. What they have continue to be -- their. Pretty much true this year as last year there's challenges we continue to work on but the I think people took away from. What are are you working on Greg is that's it that's the concern -- I talked other business owners and guys of the driver they'll say what -- you know. It's almost as if he -- this senses that may be the governor has become complacent Ers are unemployment rates only 6% so were so much better than the rest of the country. We don't have to do anything to make Massachusetts a better place for business. Right and -- radically. We think that the success so far hasn't been an accident we're working on things that we continue to do that so that's coming your particular couple I dispersant called governor announced earlier this year. He regulatory reform and it should that's run yeah people -- an assistant secretary in my office combing through. The regulations. The entire body of state regulation we're going to be. Throwing outs. It doesn't regulations that are continuing to be a paperwork burden on businesses but. Don't really have any. Clear public that it anymore but we're also focused on the cost point. Gonna be making a major -- over the coming year. Better explain -- folks out outside of Greater Boston. -- it's actually has a pretty competitive cost profile. We have one nice steps a couple of years ago Liberty Mutual. -- open the call center in Springfield a 300 person call center in Springfield. Day. Did an analysis and compared the cost of doing business the wait cost housing cost. Of Springfield Massachusetts where. In other southern states that people would think that has been more cost effective location. And they said what -- -- is actually. It's really right in line. With those others were developed a test. So in Springfield and about 300 people working are never happy with. -- the great -- I I understand it for that story acted like he'd give you five others where you know mutual fund companies have moved people down to Texas New Hampshire Rhode Island. -- united I I hope. You guys are are are trying to get more on the cutting -- in and to create more jobs in Massachusetts. Because even though our unemployment rate is 6% it's still the still lot of people hurting in the state. Absolutely and it and it's eight unequally distributed in different regions of the state and different industry so that but that's a way to create -- currently at that fast. In the manufacturing sector in the middle class jobs where a number of companies that have. That static on that expansion decisions but having to make consolidation. Stations but we got a string of the last twelve months of companies that out. Decided consolidation decisions to actually come -- port Massachusetts. National west and move -- couple hundred people from New Hampshire. Two Massachusetts. Earlier this year other companies that move folks from upstate New York from Canada. Back to Massachusetts -- We get a better job and telling that story but the fact is that a lot of parts of the -- outside of greater Austin. Is a very attractive place. Having some some extent telling businesses about that we -- yet it will Laporte. Brilliant all right Greg thanks for your time I hope you come back some time. Thank that's Greg by Leckey joining us from the common the networks as governor.