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Weekly Roundup
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December 15th, 2009
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What do you want to tell your community?
From time to time, ONE Massachusetts features guest blogs from members of our network.
This week we have included "Praise for Patrick's Solid Waste Policy," from ONE Massachusetts Founding Leadership Team Member and Clean Water Action New England Co-Director, Lee Ketelsen:
 Governor Patrick's decision to retain the moratorium against new waste incineration is the right decision.
He has committed the state to green solutions that protect public health, promote energy and resource conservation, and create green jobs. Recycling creates more jobs and saves more energy by far than waste incineration. [Full Article]
In addition to featuring our members on our website, we are currently kicking off a local and statewide Letter to the Editor Campaign! For more information on how you can get your letter or article featured in print, radio, and tv media, check out Civic Engagement below!
Here's a look at what else has been happening around Massachusetts:
Civic Engagement | Revenue | Government Reform |
 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.
Updates:
 Letters to the Editor Campaign. ONE Massachusetts strives to strengthen the voices of each person in our state, especially those have not traditionally had a place at the table.
To get more and more folks writing their own letters, we are currently kicking off a local and statewide Letter to the Editor Campaign! We want to encourage our readers and members to write to their local media about what they value in their communities and about their support for more revenue in the state.
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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.
Updates:
 FY11 State Budget Gap. In a Dec. 10 newsletter, The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation said the state's reliance on one-time solutions and rosy predictions have set the stage for an even larger shortfall for the current fiscal year. Those moves also have pushed many of the state's current problems into the next fiscal year, setting the stage for 2011's projected $3 billion deficit, the foundation said. [Boston Business Journal]
- Elimination of Tax Breaks. The US House voted by a wide margin and along party lines yesterday to eliminate a lucrative tax break for venture capitalists, private equity firms, and hedge funds.The issue is of particular interest to Massachusetts because the state this year generated the second-highest amount of venture capital investment, $1.4 billion during the first three quarters, trailing only California. [Boston Globe]
 Lottery Budget Cuts. The lottery claims an $8 million reduction in the Lottery Commission's advertising budget will result in a $222 million drop in revenues. The expected loss comes as aid to cities and towns paid out from the Lottery is expected to drop from $844 million last fiscal year to $759 million, down from a peak of $935 million in fiscal 2008, according to administration figures. [SHNS]
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Lawrence Budget Gap. Governor Deval Patrick met with top Lawrence officials and the city's legislative delegation at a closed-door meeting to figure out ways to fill a multimillion-dollar budget gap that threatens to throw the city into receivership. Officials have floated the possibility of giving Lawrence the ability to borrow $20 million to balance its budget, a violation of state law that would require approval by the Legislature, but one of only a few plausible scenarios to help the city escape its financial mess. [Boston Globe]
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 Property Tax Bill. Legislation aimed at giving cities and towns an extra month, if necessary, to send out property tax bill was rushed by the House and Senate Thursday to Gov. Deval Patrick's desk. The Department of Revenue has not been able to keep pace with certification responsibilities it must execute in order from local officials to set tax rates and mail out quarterly bills. [SHNS]
Upcoming:
- Dec 16th: Revenue Hearing. Budget writers from the Patrick administration, the House and the Senate take testimony next week from economic experts on potential revenue figures for the fiscal 2011 budget. The testimony is meant to help the budget writers craft a consensus revenue estimate for the coming state budget.
The hearing is scheduled for December 16th at 10 a.m. in Gardner Auditorium.
- Nov 23rd - Dec 17th: FY2011 Budget Community Forums. Governor Patrick and senior administration officials will host 19 Budget Hearings and Forums across the Commonwealth over the next five weeks to ensure that citizens across the state have input in developing the Governor's budget recommendations. All forums and hearings are open to the public. [Dates and Times for Community Meetings]
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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.
 Restrictions on Tipping for Public Employees. Little holiday thank-you gifts are falling under more scrutiny this year, especially if the receiver is a government employee. New state ethics laws signed in July now prohibit all state and local government employees from receiving gifts valued at $50 or more, said David W. Giannotti, commission spokesman for the State Ethics Commission. The old law banned gifts only if they were connected to some action taken by the employee. [MassLive]
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Lobbying Reform. The new lobbying reform bill will go into effect this coming January 1st. 2010. Whether or not you are currently registered as a lobbyist, this new law may apply to you. Visit our lobbying reform site to learn more about the new bill and information that might apply to you and your non profit.
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Transportation Reform. One of the major complaints people have about state transportation agencies has been a sense of secrecy, which makes it difficult for anyone outside of government to understand decisions about tolls, fares, and government spending.
At a meeting earlier this month, the new board that oversees all state transportation balked at having a public discussion about whether to spend $11.3 million to help pay for the construction of a parking garage in Revere, by Wonderland Station. [Boston Globe]
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