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Weekly Roundup
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March 9, 2009
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Greetings!
 ONE Massachusetts members have been working hard to arrange this week's series of Connect the Dots trainings in Western Massachusetts. These trainings will focus on how budget priorities and revenue policies affect our state, and how to effectively communicate about our state government. We'd love to see you there!
Also, be sure to check out the new ONE Massachusetts video: Progressive versus Regressive Taxes
Here is a look at what's been going on across Massachusetts:
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Goal: By 2013, the voice and input of the state's multi-racial, multi-ethnic communities will create a counterweight to the currently dominant voice and will be tangibly reflected in the public decision making process.
Recent Developments
- Election Day Registration. Together with MassVOTE, ONE Massachusetts is taking an active role in
helping plan and organize a lobbying day for EDR. Please
mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 from 10:00am to
1:30pm, and join us at the State House to show your support for this bill!
- The Role of Social Work in a Challenging Economy: Legislative Education and Advocacy Day 2009. The National Association of Social Workers is holding their annual advocacy day Monday, March 23rd, from 9am - 2pm in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House. The event includes workshops that focus on various aspects of social work and meetings with state
legislators regarding policy and future legislation affecting the populations
that they work with. [More Information on NASW's LEAD 2009 Event]
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Goal: By 2013, a fair, adequate, and stable tax system will be implemented. It will raise sufficient revenue so that state and local governments can fund the array of services needed.
Recent Developments
- Gas Tax. Massachusetts business groups endorsed a 25-cent increase in the state
gas tax, a more aggressive hike than Governor Deval Patrick's 19-cent
request, saying that the state needs to move even faster to fix its
ailing network of roads and bridges to encourage a strong business
climate. A 25-cent increase would generate about $650 million a year in
new tax revenues for the state."The political stakes are high, but the
leadership here is necessary," said Paul Guzzi, president and CEO of
the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. [Boston Globe]
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Goal: By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local policy-making process will be in place.
Recent developments
- Speaker DeLeo announced that the Ethics Committee in the House was reviewing the Governor's Integrity Task Force Report, and expected it to be on the House Floor for debate before the Budget scheduled for late April. Working with Common Cause and MASSPIRG, ONE Mass has been in communication with Chairman Peter Kocot (D Florence) the importance of ensuring that the public has easy access to the appropriate information in the new lobbying and ethics reforms.
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 Western Mass Connect the Dots:
Wednesday,
March 11
- 1:00pm - 4:00pm Franklin County
Greenfield Community Youth Center
20 Sanderson Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 [Map]
- 6:00pm - 8:30pm Berkshire County
Lenox Community Center
65 Walker Street, Lenox, MA 01240 [Map]
Thursday,
March 12
- 9:30am - 12:00pm Hampshire County
Hampshire Educational Collaborative, Conference Room A/B
97 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA
01060 [Map]
- 4:00pm - 7:00pm Hampden County
Tapestry Health
365 Bay Street, Springfield, MA 01109 [Map]
Stay tuned for more information on Connect the Dots trainings in April, and throughout the year! For more information on scheduling a training in your community or organization, please contact us at info@onemassachusetts.org.
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 On March 4th, Mass Senior Action marched on Governor Patrick, demanding that he restore cut funding to Prescription Advantage and Home Care programs. Click on the image to see news coverage by New England Cable News.
Stories are coming in from all over our state: Local citizens are working with friends and neighbors to rebuild the
public structures in their communities. Submit stories from your local paper, or straight from your street!
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