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Weekly Roundup
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June 29th, 2009
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Greetings!
We all have issues in our state that we are passionate about, beyond other public concerns. Community advocates and public officials have worked for years on each of these issues to build a stronger, more vibrant state!
 Recently, advocates and interest groups have been releasing fact-based reports showing how our state's budget impacts different members of our communities. One example is a recent study of the economic health of senior citizens in our state. This report illustrates that senior neighbors and friends, like all of our neighbors and friends, rely on effective and adequately-funded public structures to lead healthy, safe lives.
But seniors are just one example of how our current budget situation affects us all. It is time that we step beyond the focus of our individual issues - and work together to support all of our public structures!
If you are interested in learning more about how our fiscal history has affected the public health of our state, and what we as informed Massachusetts residents can do to move us forward, please contact us today!
Here is a look at what else has been going on across Massachusetts: [Skip Ahead: Civic Engagement | Revenue | Government Reform]
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 Civic Engagement
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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.
Upcoming:- Tomorrow - United Teen Equality Center to Host the Lowell Connector Event at the ICA.
 Dozens of the center's teens will host the Lowell Connector Fundraiser
Event on Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Institute for
Contemporary Art. After a gallery viewing of the work of Shepard Fairey
(creator of the Barack Obama "Hope" poster) and a reception, young
members of the greater Lowell community will take the stage to perform
spoken word poetry, dance routines, and speeches about their stories of
empowerment and success during their time at their youth organization. [Full Article at Open Media Boston]
- Tomorrow - Anti-Defamation League and the Latino Professional Network Luncheon. Dick Glovsy, ADL National Chair for Latino/Hispanic Relations will host the
launch of the Latino/Jewish Roundtable, an exciting new initiative
designed to advance partnerships between the Latino and Jewish
communities. [June 30th, 12 - 1:15 PM, at Prince, Lobel, Glovsky & Tye LLP, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 2200, Boston. RSVP required. More info]
 This Summer - Governor Patrick's Town Hall Tour. Keeping to his commitment to encourage civic engagement, Governor Deval
Patrick will embark on his second annual town hall-style meeting tour.
All are encouraged to come and talk directly with Governor Patrick
about issues they care about. [More at mass.gov]
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| Revenue |
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.
Upcoming:
- More Voices for More Adequate, Balanced Revenue.
In a recent article, State Representative Linda Dorcena Forry said
lawmakers were faced with closing a $5 billion deficit in the
budget... "If we're
going to sustain some programs and help the need among us,
we have to figure out how to create new revenue," she said of the tax
hikes. "It's about compromise." [Full article at the Dorchester Reporter]
At the Democratic Convention earlier this month, Robert Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO insisted that "We don't have a spending problem in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we have a revenue problem," and called for the state to freeze its corporate tax reduction rate and to consider other new revenue sources. Haynes also strongly noted the power Massachusetts Democrats have... encouraging Democrats to not grow complacent but to demand positive action from these people that unions helped elect. [Full article at MA AFL-CIO Website]
"There's no fiscal crisis
of the last 50 years that hasn't had both major spending cuts and a broad-based
tax increase,'' said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers
Foundation, a business-funded fiscal watchdog group. "In that context, the sales
tax, I think, was predictable because of the size of the revenue
collapse.'' [Full Article at Boston.com]
- Legalized Gambling? A hunger for new revenue to support state spending is... the aim of lawmakers
intent on expanding legalized gambling in Massachusetts. Late Thursday, Senate leaders
announced they'll hold a four-hour informational hearing on Monday to learn more
about the possibilities. [State House News Service]
- Gas Tax Talk.
"The public... is clamoring for services and are very, very concerned.
We're still not done cutting," Patrick explained. Friday, he left the
door open to future consideration of a gas tax hike in order to create
a guaranteed revenue stream for transportation infrastructure. "The
Legislature has still not dealt with that, and until they do we have
not solved all of the transportation challenges," Patrick said.[ Full article at the Berkshire Eagle]
- FY10 Budget. The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is expected to eliminate a planned
toll hike hours before Gov. Deval Patrick signs a state budget that
includes a 25 percent hike in the state sales tax.
"I will approve the new revenues we need to bring our budget into
balance, offset the need for even more difficult cuts, and expand
opportunity throughout the Commonwealth,'' Patrick said in a statement.
"Due to the economic challenges that all states are facing, this new
revenue is necessary to prevent us from losing ground on our long-term
goals in education and healthcare, and further straining safety net
services that are struggling to meet the increased demand.''[Full article at Boston.com]
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Government Reform
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Goal: By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local policy-making process will be in place.
Updates:- Reform Bills. House and Senate leaders announced a compromise on ethics and campaign finance reform legislation... that includes a ban on gifts to public employees ...and would also ban the use of special campaign funds. [Full article at Boston.com]
 "This is a serious, thoughtful, and comprehensive bill," said Pam Wilmot, director of Common Cause Massachusetts. "It is the most significant ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance disclosure reform in decades." [More at WBZTV]
"I think we've taken a giant step in delivering government that not only the public expects, but what it deserves. Taken together, they are a sweeping set of changes and a real down payment on credibility," Patrick told The Eagle in an exclusive, 15 minute phone interview. The timely completion of ethics, pension and transportation reform by the House and Senate in the span of less than six months can be seen as a significant accomplishment for all involved. [Full article at Berkshire Eagle]
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