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Greetings!
![Back to School [school.discoveryeducation.com]](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs037/1101662827233/img/295.gif?a=1103627004868) , a national nonprofit that collects and publishes education data to inspire and guide parents towards improving their schools and strengthening their communities has featured Westwood, Belmont, Acton, Weston, Winchester and Sudbury as six of the top ten public school systems in small U.S. cities.
This is great news for more than just parents!
According to CNBC's Best States for Business, what is good for education is good for business. Massachusetts made its top five cut this year, due largely to its impressive education systems.
So how do we make sure that all of our school systems are educating students to their full potential? How do we make sure that each of our cities and towns is safe and healthy?
It's time to gather our diverse voices in real conversations about how we support our state in a way that is stable, adequate, and balanced. For information on revenue reform and how you can lend your voice to help build better communities, please contact ONE Massachusetts today!
Sincerely,
Harmony Blakeway
Director of Operations, ONE Massachusetts
harmony@realclout.org | 617-999-8469
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REVENUE
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. |
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State Budget
State to borrow $1.2 billion for cash flow
Seven weeks into the new fiscal year, state government heads to the market Wednesday to borrow $1.2 billion to meet cash needs. Treasurer Tim Cahill announced the planned sale of revenue anticipation notes on Tuesday, which will be coupled with $358 million in long-term general obligation bonds. The notes will be repaid in April, May and June, 2011, according to the Treasury, which said the notes had on Monday received the highest short-term borrowing ratings available from Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investor Services and Standard & Poor's... [State House News Service]
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Budget Amendments
Dispute could be on fast track to SJC
Supreme Judicial Court ![Supreme Judicial Court [mass.gov]](http://www.mass.gov/courts/sjc/images/johnadamscourthouse248.jpg) | A $6 million appropriation for the Trial Court has become a proxy in a constitutional struggle between Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders, a contest that some officials and observers said could be marked for resolution by the state's high court... House members, after conferring with Clerk Steve James, said the governor overstepped his constitutional authority by issuing the amendments, which alter budgetary spending plans for the Trial Court, transitional assistance programs and a public health trust fund. The amendments seek to change "outside sections" to the budget - sections that are appended to the main spending document but that could also stand alone as separate legislation - and infringe on lawmakers' ability to appropriate funds as they see fit, according to House members who participated in the session last week. In legislative parlance, the governor's move lacked "constitutional competence," they said. [State House News Service]
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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
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. |
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Governor's Youth Council
Patrick Congratulates Inaugural Class For Leadership and Service.
![Governor's Youth Council [mass.gov]](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs037/1101662827233/img/294.png?a=1103627004868) In celebration of their hard work and dedication over the past two years, Governor Deval Patrick honored members of the Statewide Youth Council during their graduation ceremony Saturday. The Governor, joined by Youth Council advisors, friends and family members, met with Council members at UMass Medical School in Worcester to recognize the students' achievements and encouraged them to continue in the principals of respect, leadership, and service now that they have moved on from the group. [State House News Service]
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Voter Registration
Immigrant voter push launched
Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition has launched a voter registration drive as part of its larger effort to get immigrants to the polls during elections. It's the first of four voter registration drives at naturalization ceremonies in Boston.
Marcony Almeida, director of organizing for the group, said advocates hope to register around 8,000 new voters during the campaign drive. [Full Article: Dorchester Reporter]
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GOVERNMENT REFORM
By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local
policy-making process will be in place. |
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Financial Transparency
Lawmakers call for online accessibility of financial forms
Two key state lawmakers said Massachusetts should post government officials' financial disclosure forms online, following a Globe report that the forms are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain... Some watchdogs said they believe Massachusetts might now be the hardest place in the country to view the filings, called Statements of Financial Interest, which detail the stock holdings and other financial holdings of thousands of state and local officials.
The Ethics Commission said it does the best it can to make the forms available, but is hampered by increased demand to see the forms, limited staff, and legal restrictions that block it from posting the forms online... [Full Article: Boston Globe]
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- To increase understanding of current issues that impact Latinos in Massachusetts,
- To provide new data reports on immigration, education, health, economic development as well as updated demographic reports,
- To create a dialogue between policy makers and Latinos on the impact of public policies and organizational practices,
- To serve as a network connector for participants interested in the advancement of Latinos.
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 Want more information on ONE Massachusetts and how you can get involved? Check out our: |
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