Readers' advice for
Governor Deval Patrick

How's the labor market? If you ask most business executives or working people that question, the answer would probably be "not good." The worker would tell you about how hard it is to find a job that pays a living wage, and the employer would talk about how difficult it is to find workers with the skills his business needs.

As Governor-elect Deval Patrick and his new team contemplate a legislative strategy, reducing the cost of private health insurance for Massachusetts's employers and employees should be high on the list of priorities. Comprehensive family coverage in this state often exceeds $12,000 per year.

Deval Patrick deserves commendation for making civic engagement a centerpiece of his candidacy -- and for practicing what he preaches by convening 15 working groups that organized public hearings on critical issues during his transition.

During his election campaign, Governor-elect Deval Patrick spoke of innovation as the engine of growth in the state's economy, and the need for continued innovation in school reform. As he prepares to take office, Patrick has a unique opportunity to create a vital nexus between these two goals by developing a more comprehensive policy to support Massachusetts' creative economy.