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Weekly Roundup
| April 21st, 2010
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Greetings!
As we move forward with our Community Investment Campaign we would like to update you about the progress we have made with the campaign and would like to continue asking you for your help in supporting more revenue options that strenghten our public structures across the Commonwealth.
 The ONE Massachusetts leadership team and allies agreed a few weeks ago on a revenue package that we believe would help all our communities to minimize proposed State budget cuts and would continue supporting many of the programs we all care about. With the help of our network and organizational allies we were able to secure sponsors for many of our proposed amendments [ List of filed amendments]. We are now urging you to call or email your State Representative and ask him/her to co-sponsor and support these important amendments. For more information on the Community Investment Campaign, please visit the campaign page at ONE Massachusetts. There you will find lots of great information, including sample materials [ Sample Letter] [ Sample Phone Script] that you could use when contacting your State Representative and a list of all the organizations that are supporting this effort. If you'd like to get more involved and in this campaign or in other ONE Massachusetts trainings and campaign, feel free to contact me now!
Yawu Miller
Project Director, ONE Massachusetts
yawu@realclout.org | 617-275-2918
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE:
Civic Engagement | Revenue | Government Reform
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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:
 STATE BUDGET. House budget amendments: The House Ways and Means released its budget with 869 amendments. All amendments are sorted into categories such as public transportation, courts, or health and human services among many others and are carefully evaluated by House Ways and Means staff who brief House Leadership during this so called vacation week. [All Amendment Information]
- CASINOS. Senate plans gambling vote in June: The Senate plans to wait until after Memorial Day to debate expanded gambling legislation. A day after the House passed a casino and racetrack slot machine bill, senators also said they would start with a legislative template entirely different from the measure their colleagues approved with a veto-proof majority. [SHNS]
 STATE BUDGETS. Some states favor soda and candy taxes: There is a broadening movement among states to treat unhealthy foods in much the same manner as tobacco and liquor - as vices to be discouraged through the tax code. The proposals take a three-pronged approach, says Sujit M. CanagaRetna, a tax and budget expert at the Council of State Governments. They raise revenue, reduce health care costs and bring about healthier lifestyles. "States are in dire need of revenue," he says, and the additional dollars can help with what he calls astronomical health care costs.[Stateline.org]
- BUDGET CUTS. Sex Assault, domestic violence services impeded by $1M cut. Two thousand sexual assault and domestic violence victims may be shunted to waiting lists or go without services if a $1 million cut to their programs in the House Ways and Means Committee budget holds, advocates said Tuesday. Toni Troop, spokeswoman for Jane Doe, Inc. said lawmakers should explore tax increases to help fully fund their request. "If you ask people if they want these services to be there and then help them understand that these services aren't free, people will be more likely to support increased revenue," Troop said. [SHNS]
UPCOMING:
 REVENUE HEARING. The Joint Committee on Revenue is holding a hearing on the referendum to abolish the sales tax tomorrow Thursday beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Gardner Auditorium. ONE Massachusetts is opposed to this referendum and will testify against it. Please consider joining us and showing your support against this initiative during these challenging economic times.
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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
| 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:
- STATE REVENUE. Teens push for jobs funding: Organizers say about 700 teens will march on Beacon Hill this afternoon to push for jobs funding, pressuring Sen. Scott Brown and state legislative leaders to restore government spending that supports summer employment for youngsters. Through state and federal cuts, organizers said, Boston will lose up to 2,000 jobs this year, bringing the city 3,200 jobs below its employment level in 2001. [SHNS]
UPCOMING:
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GOVERNMENT REFORM
| | Goal: By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local policy-making process will be in place.
UPDATES:
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 Want More Information on ONE Massachusetts?
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Want to get connected to the rest of the ONE Massachusetts network?
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STATE BUDGET. Conversation with Secretary Jay Gonzalez. Join the 
TRANSPARENCY. House Amendments. 
