• State still needs to fix unemployment tax
Last month, the Legislature approved and Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed a bill that will hold the average increase in the 2010 unemployment insurance tax bill, paid by Massachusetts employers, to $111 per employee in 2010.

• Lobby law has unintended consequences
When Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed the Ethics, Lobbying and Campaign Finance Reform bill into law on July 1, many of us celebrated its measures to create a more open, honest government, and many of the changes were good and necessary.

• Creating jobs a key priority in Bay State
From Day One, our administration has been working to create jobs.

• It's time for men to challenge violence
From male college students at UMass-Amherst to Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, men are taking a pledge not to commit, condone or stay silent about domestic violence or sexual abuse.

• Hughes school fosters success, not failure
An editorial that appeared in the Springfield Republican on Jan. 28, titled "Hughes Academy should face facts," stated that the Robert M. Hughes Academy Charter Public School had been a failure.

• It takes a school to put an end to bullying
With yet another tragedy brought on by adolescent harassment, the society-wide issue of bullying has once again claimed the spotlight.

• Revive White House Children's conference
At the turn of the century, President Theodore Roosevelt had the wisdom to convene the first White House Conference on Youth and Children, stressing the importance of family and home life and improving foster care.