House Passes Bill to Strengthen Mortgage Lending Consumer Protections
 
Rep. Stanley joined his colleagues in House in passing legislation that will bring MA into compliance with a federal law to require all mortgage loan originators to be licensed through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. 
 
In an effort to address the role of unprofessional and unscrupulous individuals offering risky home loans which contributed to the mortgage lending crisis, Congress passed and the President signed the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE Act) which is designed to provide additional safeguards for consumers when working with their mortgage loan originators. 
 
Prior to the SAFE Act, states had varying standards of compliance for loan originators who offered mortgage loan services to consumers.  A mortgage loan originator accepts a residential mortgage loan application; or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan in exchange for compensation.  As a result, in some cases unqualified or unscrupulous individuals who lacked education and training provided confusing and false information to borrowers.
 
The SAFE Act will not only enact important consumer safeguards, but will establish a system of compliance, enforcement and continuing education for mortgage loan originators to ensure that the highest ethical standard be met.
 
While states are charged with enacting licensing standards that meet the requirements of the SAFE Act, overall responsibility for interpretation and compliance rests with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The law requires that all states codify the legislation by July 31, 2009.
 
MSBA Takes Action on Minuteman RSD
  
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Board of Directors recently met and under the leadership of state Treasurer, Tim Cahill, approved (unanimously) $100 million for 10 vocational technical school projects, including Minuteman Regional School District. The district's project is described in MSBA documents, as an "addition and renovation". It is by far (by early estimates) the largest project of the 10 vocational schools. Of the remaining nine schools, seven are "repair projects" and two are small additions. One of the major components of this vote was the annual commitment of 20% of MSBA funds targeted towards vocational technical school projects; thereby making the long term financial commitment the district had hoped for.
 
United States: Census 2010
 
The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. All residents of the United States must be counted every 10 years. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens. The next census occurs in 2010. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. The questions ask you to provide information that is accurate for your household as of April 1, 2010. The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U.S. President by December 31, 2010. The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.  For additional information about the 2010 census, please click here.
 
MA School Building Authority Accepting Statements of Interest for FY2010 Process
 
State Treasurer Tim Cahill, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and Katherine Craven, MSBA Executive Director, announced that the MSBA is accepting Statements of Interest (SOI) electronically through its online web-based SOI System for the FY2010 filing season. The filing season began Friday, July 31, 2009 and will close Friday, October 23, 2009. Submitting a SOI is the first critical step in the MSBA's process for schools building construction and renovation grants. The MSBA program is a non-entitlement competitive grant program, and grants are distributed by the MSBA Board of Directors based on need and urgency, as expressed by the community and validated by the MSBA.
 
Through an SOI, districts are asked to outline any specific school building deficiencies and any resulting negative educational impact. Selection of which school projects get funded in the new program will be a competitive process where grants will be directed to school projects that present the greatest need and urgency for capital improvements. Once projects are selected, the MSBA and the local community will collaborate on a solution that makes educational and financial sense.
 
To learn more or apply, please click here.

 

Rep. Stanley Cosponsors Letter on Behalf of SHIRE HGT
 
Rep. Stanley, along with Sen. Fargo, Rep. Kaufman and five additional legislators, sent a letter to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center located  in support of Shire HGT's expansion proposal. The legislators wrote that "Shire HGT, like the Center, exists at that same intersection of medical and scientific know-how and the kind of jobs and growth that Massachusetts can and should foster and sustain.  For both medical and economic reasons, we enthusiastically endorse the proposal from Shire that is now before you."
 
The Commonwealth's investment in Shire is important given the MA economy. During difficult fiscal times, Shire HGT has created approximately 350 new positions in MA and has plans to create an additional 400 more by 2013.   It is estimated that the employment levels resulting from Shire's expansion in Massachusetts may generate up to $36 million of state personal income tax through 2014.  
MA #1 in Nation for America's Legislators Back to School Program Legislator Participation
 
The National Conference of State Legislators has informed MA of the nationwide results of America's Legislators Back to School program, and Massachusetts and Utah are number 1!  The two states tied for the highest percentage for Legislator participation in the 2008 - 2009 Back to School Program. This is the third consecutive year Massachusetts has been #1. During the NCSL Summit held this summer, the 10th anniversary of the Back to School Program was lauded during a general session. Please click here and then click on the "video" icon.  

AARP launches new web tool to help lower drugs costs
 
AARP launched its new Doughnut Hole Calculator, a free web tool that can help residents "avoid the dreaded coverage gap" which can leave folks stuck with thousands of dollars in unbudgeted spending.  Click here to access this calculator.  According to the AARP, in 15 minutes visitors can view a graph of their out-of-pocket spending by month, look up lower cost drugs for their conditions, create a Personal Medication Record and print out personalized letters to their doctors to help start a conversation about safely switching prescriptions.