Massachusetts General Election is Nov. 2
 
Don't forget to vote in the Massachusetts General Election on Tuesday, November 2nd!  If you have questions about your elected officials, where to vote or how to register to vote, please click here.

 

Safe Driving Legislation Now in Effect!
 
On July 2, 2010, Governor Patrick signed into law the Safe Driving Legislation.  This law becomes effective on September 30 and bans sending/reading text messages behind the wheel, bans junior drivers from talking on a cell phone, as well as other new violations including improper use of a mobile phone by operators 18 and over, elder driver provisions and medical fitness reporting. Please visit Massachusetts Department of Transportation's website for complete information.

 

Mass. Insurers Rank In Top 10 Nationwide

Four Massachusetts health plans ranked in the top 10 nationwide, according to the latest rankings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which rates plans based on performance, member satisfaction and accreditation. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Associated Health Plan captured the top two spots, while Fallon Community Health Plan and Health New England were also ranked in the top 10. 
 
Economic Development Reorganization Overview
 
Senate Bill 2345, the Economic Development Omnibus Bill, recently became law and will create a business-friendly environment that will stimulate job growth and improve the ease with which MA businesses can operate in the markets they serve. The bill implements strategically-focused economic development policies that will promote job retention and job creation throughout the state and within the targeted sectors in which MA can be competitive; enables all segments of the workforce to grow in a coordinated and concentrated manner; eliminates redundancy and waste in the economic development activities funded by the government and holds the entities conducting those activities responsible for delivering results;  facilitates assistance for new and existing businesses; and strives to ensure that state government is not an obstacle to job creation.

 

State Announces Incentive for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

State officials announced that they are taking applications over the next 60 days from cities and towns interested in installing electric vehicle charging stations.  According to state officials, $200,000 is available to pay for installation of 80 to 100 stations, or more if partners like malls, garages or hotel owners offer matching funds.  While all 351 cities and towns are eligible to apply, the Department of Energy Resources will give preference in awarding the funds to cities and towns that have been designated as "Green Communities."
 
Update on the Spending Bill
 
The House and Senate delivered a $420 million spending bill to Gov. Patrick last week.  The governor signed the bill on Friday with an amendment that sets limits on the costs non-network ambulance companies may charge insurers.  The $420 million bill is funded through federal stimulus money that will not be available next fiscal year and aims to put nearly $200 million into a state rainy day fund that has been depleted during the recession.  The budget includes funds for government health care programs as well as services to the disabled and the State Police.

 

Public Health Board Approves Caritas Sale

The state Public Health Council approved the sale of the non-profit Caritas Christi hospital chain to Steward Health Care System, a subsidiary of the major private equity firm, Cerberus Capital Management. Attorney General Martha Coakley endorsed the transfer last week.  The hospitals run by Caritas include the Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Norwood Hospital in Norwood, St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River and St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) commends Rep. Stanley for his commitment to economic growth and job creation. AIM, a nonprofit association of MA employers, seeks improvements in the economic climate of MA on behalf of its member employers and their employees. 

 
Rep. Stanley voted for landmark transportation reform that eliminated the antiquated and inefficient transportation structure in MA while bringing considerable cost-savings. The transportation reform bill also alleviated any need for an increase in tolls.  

 
Rep. Stanley voted to pass economic development legislation that included a sales tax holiday and promotes a business-friendly environment that will help small businesses open, expand and create jobs. The new law will overhaul the state's network of business development agencies, establishing a streamlined, cohesive model with built-in oversight and transparency to reduce redundancy and waste.

Rep. Stanley also helped pass small business health care legislation that will reduce small business health insurance costs and promote job retention and job creation. The bill reduces premium fluctuations in the market and requires insurers to offer affordable health plans.  Last winter, Rep. Stanley also voted to halt a scheduled increase in the unemployment insurance assessment that all employers pay.

 

NSTAR and Northeast Utilities Announce Merger
 
Northeast Utilities and NSTAR announced that both companies' Boards of Trustees have approved a merger agreement that will create one of the nation's largest utilities, with a total enterprise value of $17.5 billion.  The Company will continue to be called Northeast Utilities.  The companies will come together in a stock for stock merger of equals as well as provide electric and gas energy to over half of the customers in New England.  
 
The combined company will operate six regulated electric and gas utilities in three states and will have nearly 3.5 million electric and gas customers.  Northeast Utilities will have nearly 4,500 miles of electric transmission lines, 72,000 miles of electric distribution lines and 6,000 miles of gas distribution lines. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Northeast Utilities' earnings in the first year following close.

Attention Veterans: Stop Loss Pay
 
The deadline to apply for Stop Loss Pay has been extended to December 3, 2010.  The Defense Department will provide retroactive stop loss special pay. Active, reserve and former service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to stop loss are eligible for this special pay, if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009. Applications for stop loss pay must be received before December 3, 2010.  Service members must provide documented proof they were stop lossed with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.   Please click here for contact information.

 

Amnesty Helped Mass. Collect $32.6 Million in Taxes
 
In an effort to balance the state budget, a two-month amnesty period (April and May) allowed delinquent business taxpayers to avoid penalties resulted in the collection of more than $32.6 million for the state. The delinquent filers that paid up avoided nearly $9 million in penalties.  According to a report from the Patrick Administration, 8,495 taxpayers made full or partial payments on what they owed the state in a variety of tax categories: sales, meals, income, cigarette, rooms, meals, alcohol and fuel, among others.

 

Need help with your medications?
 
MCPHS Pharmacy Outreach Program is a confidential information and referral service available to all MA residents seeking help with their medications. There are no income guidelines.  By calling a toll-free help line, residents can speak to pharmacists and case managers to receive personal assistance, answer pharmacy related questions or find programs to help with the cost of medications. MassMedLine is open from 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. Services include medication counseling, prescription drug plan counseling and referrals for free and discount drug programs. All MassMedLine services are free.
 
MassMedLine does not have prescription drugs to give out or money to help pay for prescriptions. It is an information and referral service. MassMedLine will try to find government and private programs to help any resident get the medicine they need.  Mass Medline is a partnership between the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.  To learn more, please click here.

SMART Retirement & Beyond Seminar Series

Attention state employees!  Join us for SMART Retirement & Beyond, our third year of offering a retirement planning seminar series exclusively for Massachusetts State Employees sponsored by State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, the Massachusetts State Board of Retirement, the Deferred Compensation SMART Plan, the Social Security Administration and Group Insurance Commission.

This seminar is designed to provide you with the information and tools needed to help achieve financial security and comfort in retirement. Seminars are conveniently scheduled in the evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the following locations: October 14 at Holyoke Community College, October 21 at Framingham State College, October 28 at North Shore Community College, Danvers Campus & Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, November 4: at University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth and November 18 at Massachusetts State  Lottery Headquarters in Braintree. Registration is required.  Click here to register.

National Guard to Host Open House on Cape Cod
 
The public is invited to attend a free Open House on Camp Edwards, Massachusetts Military Reservation showcasing the base's rich history and highlighting its current mission. The open house will be on Saturday, October 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is welcome and admission and parking are free.  Please enter through the Main Gate off the Otis Rotary in Bourne. Concessions will be available.
 
Observe Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War II encampments complete with role players reenacting famous battles chronicling the history of the base. Saturday features a demonstration by the National Lancers, a mounted honor guard.  Tour the Sgt. Michael J. Kelley Tactical Training Base, a replica of a forward operating base simulating military life and housing in Iraq, Afghanistan, or the Balkans.
 
On display will be Army and Air National Guard aircraft and military vehicles, Explosive Ordnance Device Robots, artillery and weapons. Vast amounts of information, kids' games and activities will be available to teach about the base's natural resources and military training that coincides with the environment. Information will also be on hand about the Massachusetts Army and Air National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Air Force 6th Space Warning Squadron, all co-residents of the Massachusetts Military Reservation. 

Fall Publication of Abandoned Property Listings Available 
 
Abandoned Property includes forgotten savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends and contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes.  After three years of no customer-generated activity, most accounts are considered "abandoned" and are turned over to the Treasury.  An updated list of abandoned accounts is published twice annually as new accounts are turned over to the Commonwealth. There is no time limit to claim abandoned property and, in many cases, claimants will receive interest.  Please click here to check the Abandoned Property list. The newly released list includes 2 accounts over $100,000, 3 accounts between $50,000 and $100,000, and more than 250 accounts in excess of $5,000.  In addition to bank accounts, the new accounts include 100 abandoned safe deposit boxes, 25 owners of mutual funds and 7,652 owners of stock.