2011-2012 Session Begins

Legislators are busy outlining their lists of legislative priorities in light of the bill filing deadline for the 2011-2012 legislative session.  If you have suggestions on legislation to be filed, please email Rep. Stanley.

DeLeo Reelected Speaker

 The House of Representatives, by a party line vote of 128-31, reelected Speaker DeLeo (D-Winthrop).  After being reelected, Speaker DeLeo promised to revisit expanded gambling legislation, foreshadowed a budget that includes no new taxes and pledged to tackle municipal health insurance reforms in his second term.

Repeal of sales tax on alcohol takes effect Jan. 1, 2011

This past Election Day, voters in Massachusetts restored the sales tax exemption for beer, wine and alcohol.  On Jan. 1, 2011, the 6.25 percent sales tax on those items that has been in effect since August 1, 2009 will disappear and the sale of beer, wine and alcohol sold in markets or package stores returns to tax exempt status. If consumers find a sales tax on their package store purchase of beer, wine or alcohol as of Jan. 1, they should call DOR customer service at 1-800-392-6089 to report if they are unable to obtain a refund at the store.

Patrick Outlines Legislative Priorities

 Gov. Patrick's priorities include tackling medical malpractice reform and implementing pilot programs aimed at controlling health care costs.  The Governor also plans to address youth violence, pension system reforms, municipal cost-cutting tools, probation and parole system changes, business cost controls, creating "coherence' in sentencing laws and "a tax code that needs simplicity and fairness."
 

Five Parole Board Members Resign

Gov. Patrick accepted the resignations of the five members of the Parole Board who voted in 2008 to release Dominic Cinelli. Cinelli is accused of killing Woburn police officer John McGuire the day after Christmas during a jewelry robbery. Gov. Patrick plans to file a bill similar to Melissa's Law which would offer tougher sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders by requiring that an offender convicted of a third "serious" felony be sentenced to the maximum prison term.

Rep. Stanley Cosigns Letter to Fund Elder Protective Services

Rep. Stanley recently co-signed a letter with his House colleagues to Speaker DeLeo requesting increased funding ($17.2 million) for elder protective services in the upcoming fiscal year 2012 budget.  Professionals in the elder services field requested $17.2 million in funding for this account in the FY12 budget to help prevent the rising problem of elder abuse.

Elder abuse can include physical violence against seniors, financial exploitation by scam artists, mental abuse at the hands of family and caregivers and cases of self-neglect (when an elder is unable to care for his or her basic needs and thus demonstrates a level of poor judgment).  Elder abuse causes physical and emotional distress and reduces seniors' abilities to live without risk in the community.  

98% Health Care Coverage in Massachusetts

The Patrick Administration announced that over 98 percent of Massachusetts residents have health insurance, demonstrating the ongoing success of health care reform in the Commonwealth. According to the state's annual household survey on health insurance, released by the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, only 1.9 percent of state residents remain uninsured and nearly every major demographic group is within a few percentage points of universal coverage.

Patrick Administration Announces Clean Energy and Climate Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions 25 percent by 2020

Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Ian Bowles set the statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions limit for 2020 required by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 at 25 percent below 1990 levels, the maximum authorized by the Act, saying that measures already in place will get Massachusetts much of the way toward that goal.

The Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), signed by Gov. Patrick in August 2008, mandates the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, and requires the Secretary of EEA to set a legally enforceable GHG emissions limit for 2020 of between 10 percent and 25 percent below 1990 levels by January 1, 2011, and to issue a plan for achieving those reductions while growing the clean energy economy. Secretary Bowles set the limit at the statutory maximum of 25 percent and released the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020, which contains a portfolio of policies designed to meet the limit.

State Interested in Offshore Wind Area South of Islands

The Patrick Administration is interested in the federal government's initiation of a leasing process for offshore wind energy development in federal waters off of the Massachusetts coast. The effort further secures the state's place as the nation's leader on offshore wind development. The US Department of Energy (DOE) projects 43,000 clean energy jobs to be created in the offshore wind industry nationally by 2020.

The US Department of Interior's Bureau of Offshore Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) issued a Request for Interest (RFI) to measure the offshore wind industry's interest in developing renewable energy projects within a 3,000 (2,224 nautical) square mile expanse of federal waters off the Massachusetts coast, beginning approximately 13.8 (12 nautical) miles south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force - an interagency group of federal, state, tribal, and local elected officials - partnered with BOEMRE to draw the boundaries of the RFI area, which has excellent wind resources and water depths able to accommodate current and near term wind power technologies.

MA is a Leader in Lottery Ticket Sales

Of the 42 states with lotteries, New York, Massachusetts and Florida had the leading number of tickets sales in 2009, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. New York saw $6.8 billion in lottery sales in 2009, Massachusetts $4.2 billion and Florida $3.7 billion. New York awarded $4 billion in prizes, Massachusetts $3.2 billion and Florida $2.3 billion, the Census Bureau said. 

Life Expectancy Hits New High Of 80.4

According to a report issued by the Department of Public Health (DPH), as of 2008, the life expectancy for Massachusetts residents hit an all-time high at 80.4 years.  The report states that females born in MA could expect to live to be 83 and males could expect to live to be 78.  According to the report, the death rate from diabetes decreased by 12 percent in 2008, the infant mortality rate for those living in areas with the greatest poverty was three times higher than the rate for those in areas with the least poverty, and cancer and heart disease continues to be the leading causes of death (accounting for almost half of all deaths in 2008).

Koutoujian to Serve as Middlesex County Sheriff

Gov. Patrick appointed Rep. Koutoujian as Middlesex County sheriff.  Koutoujian, who has served as a state representative since 1996, will fill the seat left vacant by James V. DiPaola, who committed suicide last year.

Public Health Council Approves Limited Ban on BPA products

The state Public Health Council approved new regulations that ban the production or sale of reusable food and beverage containers containing Bisphenol-A (BPA) intended for use by toddlers and infants, such as sippy cups and baby bottles.  Bisphenol-A is a chemical in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins widely used to produce food containers, including baby bottles, spill-proof cups and infant formula packaging. A significant number of studies have raised concerns about the potential health effects of exposure to BPA - particularly for infants, nursing and formula-fed children and children developing in pregnant women.

First numbers from the 2010 Census are here!

 The US Census Bureau announced that the 2010 Census showed the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2010, was 308,745,538!  This represents a 9.7 percent increase over the 2000 figure. The nation's population shifted from the north to the south and west. Texas gained the most population since the 2000 Census, while Nevada had the highest percentage growth in population. In our region, New Hampshire saw the biggest percent growth in the past decade with a 6.5% increase between 2000 and 2010. Numerically, New York saw the biggest increase from 2000 and 2010 (401,645).   As a result of the 2010 Census, congressional seats have been reapportioned, reflecting this shift in population. Texas is the largest gainer with four seats. New York loses two seats and Massachusetts loses one seat, while the remaining New England states remain the same.  For additional information and results, please click here.

Attorney General Martha Coakley recently issued information on gift certificates. For detailed information on purchasing and using gift certificates, expiration dates, fees and store closing and bankruptcy issues, please click here.

Foreclosure Resource Center

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's web page offers resources for consumers, data and analysis, research and articles from our publications and information on policy and regulations related to foreclosures.  Please click here to learn more.

New Guardianship Rules and Forms

The Probate and Family Court has issued two new rules and two new forms for guardianship, effective November 16, 2010.  Please click here for additional information.

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.

Constituent Tours offered by the State Library
 
 The State Library welcomes Rep. Stanley's constituents to the library and arranges tours for school groups or other groups who wish to view the premises and see some of its special holdings.  Staff can show materials about Rep. Stanley's district and about subjects of interest to Waltham and Lexington. To schedule a tour, please contact pamela.schofield@state.ma.us or call 617-727-2590 or email the reference department directly using the above number or email reference.department@state.ma.us.  You may also contact Rep. Stanley's office for assistance. You may wish also to visit the library's blog.

RMV Customer Service: Road Test Online Booking
 
 Road tests can now be booked online at www.mass.gov/rmv. The newest customer convenience to the RMV online branch could help reduce the demand on the call center by approximately 260,000 callers a year. In the last 18 months, MassDOT RMV has made the online branch the busiest by adding a dozen new website transactions which resulted in 39% more customer traffic.

MassDOT RMV examiners conduct 2,500 road tests a week at 29 locations throughout the state. During a two week test launch of the new online feature, more than 1042 permit holders booked a road test through www.mass.gov/rmv. Those who prepay for the exam when they book online also save themselves a trip to an RMV branch once they've completed the road test.

Bay State Gas Residential Past-Due Balance Forgiveness Program
 
 Residents struggling to pay overdue utility bills are finding it a bit easier now with help from the Bay State Gas past-due balance forgiveness program. The program provides qualified customers with assistance in budgeting for their current natural gas bills, while each month also forgiving a portion of past-due balances. To take advantage of the forgiveness program, current Bay State customers must first qualify for the company's residential assistance rate. Anyone interested in more information should speak with one of Bay State's specially trained call center representatives by calling 1-800-688-6160. Please click here to learn more.
 

Online access to statewide community resources
 
 Mass 2-1-1 online directory is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help paying your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals, parents and families. Click here to learn more about Mass 2-1-1.

Apply online for Food Stamps or Health Insurance and Health Assistance!
 
 You may be able to complete a Food Stamps or Health Insurance and Health Assistance Programs application online. A simple screening survey asks questions about people in your household and compares your answers with the program rules. For more information, please click here. 

Job Opportunities with the Commonwealth of MA

 There are a number of job listings posted on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts home page. For more information, click here.