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Weekly Roundup
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April 9th, 2009
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Greetings!
We all want to expand opportunity and quality of life in our state.
If you aren't sure how the revenue debates going on in the State House and the Massachusetts Media directly affect our lives, or are interested in learning more, think about attending one of our upcoming Connect the Dots trainings.
These workshops bring together training on Tax & Budget Literacy and Effectively Communicating About Government. Check out our upcoming events in Fitchburg (tonight) and Boston (next week)!
Here is a look at what's been going on across Massachusetts: |
 Youth Testify at State House Revenue Hearing
 Advocates packed Gardner
Auditorium at the State House Tuesday for a seven-hour-long Revenue Committee
hearing during which arguments were made for and against tax proposals including
local options taxes, ending tax exemptions on telecom property, and ending sales tax
exemptions on alcohol, candy and soda.
 A highlight of the hearing was testimony
from Boston Public Schools students in favor of
local options taxes. The young people waited from 10:00am to 4:30pm to testify in favor of some of the Governor's tax proposals
WBUR, The Boston Globe [State House News Service], and The Patriot Ledger published thorough stories on the hearing, but were not there to see these polished, well-informed testimonies at the end of the hearing. They were covered in our blog at ONEMassachusetts.org - cross-posted at Blue Mass Group!
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 Connect the Dots
- TONIGHT, Thursday, April 9th
6:00 - 7:30pm Worcester County
Fitchburg Art Museum
185 Elm Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420
[Map]
- Tuesday, April 14th
2:00 - 4:30pm Suffolk County
Public Policy Institute
30 Winter Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02108 [Map]
Stay tuned for more information on Connect the Dots
trainings throughout the year! For more information on scheduling
a training in your community or organization, please contact us at info@onemassachusetts.org. |
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.
Current Developments:
- Election Day Registration. Save the Date: April 29th, 2009 - Election Day Registration Lobby Day at Gardner Auditorium at 10:00 am. If you can not make it to this important event please call your Representative and Senator to let them know your support for Election Day Registration. To find who your Representative and Senator are go to: www.wheredoivotema.com
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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.
Current Developments:
- FY10 Municipal Budgets. Local public officials across Massachusetts have been holding budget briefings to examine the potential impacts of reduced local aid and revenues. Check out budget news from Boston, Winchester, Bridgewater, and Easton, or for more see our News Roundup.
- Revenue Hearing. Policy makers, advocates, and Massachusetts residents packed the Gardner Auditorium to testify for and against numerous revenue bills before the Legislature. See more in Community News [above].
- State Budget. Governor Deval Patrick's $27.97 billion spending plan could require a $500 million reduction, Senate President Therese Murray said [last] Thursday. Murray said the consensus projection for fiscal 2010 revenues reached between lawmakers and Patrick budget aides in January, an estimated $19.53 billion, would likely prove to be too high, gutted by sliding revenues. [State House News]
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Goal: By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local policy-making process will be in place.
Current Developments:
Transportation Transformation.
The House approved a bill late last night to eliminate the
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and reorganize the rest of the state
transportation system, paving the way for a debate on increasing the state gas tax.
"Tonight's transportation vote represents a step forward for reform,"
said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo in a statement after the bill was
approved by a vote of 147-7. [Boston Globe]
Pension Reform. Governor Deval Patrick offered testimony Monday morning before the Joint Committee on Public Service's hearing on pension bills, outlining a number of steps officials can take to strengthen the rules governing public retirement systems. The Governor has long advocated for pension reform and renewed his call for change last month as part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan. [Testimony on Mass.gov]
Changing pension rules on current state workers appears to be illegal, the House chair of the Legislature's pension committee said Wednesday, putting him at odds with the Senate, which passed a bill Tuesday tightening rules for thousands of workers currently employed by the state. "Everyone seems to agree from a legal perspective that a contractual obligation begins the day an employee makes a contribution into the retirement system," Rep. Robert Spellane, co-chair of the Public Service Committee, said in a phone interview. [State House News]
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