Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is praising an economic development bill proposed by Democratic House leaders but says he will urge legislators to restore a provision that would discourage non-compete agreements in the private sector.
Patrick had proposed eliminating the agreements that some claim stifle competition among technology companies, and instead beef up trade secret protections. The measure introduced by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, a fellow Democrat, did not include that provision.
The governor says he was generally "delighted" by the House proposal but would try to convince lawmakers the non-compete language was important.
Patrick spent the past week on a trade mission to Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
He also has high marks for a gun control bill pending in the Legislature, but says it would not address the problem of straw gun purchases.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
