Greetings!
Spring is finally in the air. Everyone has been outside and in our downtowns this weekend and it was great to catch up with many of you.
Politics is also in the air. Particularly since the special US Senate election in January, I have been thinking about what's important to voters and how I can best serve you as your State Representative. My conversations and observations have confirmed for me that direct interaction between you and I is very important. Such a dialog requires and frequent communication and active listening on my part.
To this end, I will continue to prioritize office hours and spending time in our communities. New media is also making it easier to stay in touch. By converting this newsletter to Constant Contact, I will now be able to get your input through online surveys like the one in this issue on casinos. For more frequent updates, you can join my Facebook "fan page" which I post to regularly.
Please stay in touch. I welcome your comments and suggestions.
Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Warmly,
Carolyn |
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Key Bills Passed Recently in the House
 An Act Relative to Safe Driving. Passed the House and Senate. Differences in the two versions of the bill, including a prohibition on handheld cellphones and restrictions on elder drivers, are being worked out in conference committee.
An Act Relative to School Nutrition. Passed into law. We join other states in requiring that snack foods offered by schools are healthy.
An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap. Passed into law. Provides a framework for turning around troubled schools, allows for more charter schools in troubled districts and provides more funding to all towns for charter school transfers. This legislation enabled Massachusetts to compete for $250 million in federal Race to the Top education funds and the state recently advanced to the next level in the competitive process.
An Act Relative to Harassment Prevention Orders. Passed into law. Allows protection orders to be issued in cases where the victim does not have an established relationship with the harasser.
An Act Providing for the Financial Stability of the City of Lawrence. Passed the House, has not passed the Senate. Allows the city to borrow and repay up to $35 million backed by the full faith and credit of the city. Puts in place an overseer required to approve the city budget and other controls.
An Act Prohibiting Devocalization. Passed the House, has not passed the Senate. Prohibits devocalization of dogs and cats unless medically necessary.
Upcoming Bills of Interest:
State budget, Casinos/gaming, Anti-Bullying |
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House Speaker Outlines Casino Proposal
Over the past few weeks advocates for and against casinos have presented information at State House forums. Earlier this week, the House Speaker shared some specifics of a soon-to-be-released gaming plan. The plan will include two resort style casinos and slot machines at the former race tracks.
I have been a casino skeptic from the beginning and have become even more so since a destination casino was proposed for our neighborMilford. Many of you have shared similar concerns in the past months. I hope you will encourage others to share their thoughts with me as well.
During the debate over casinos, representatives from other districts will bring many perspectives to the table. But one thing I believe we can all agree on is that before decisions are made, we need to see realistic revenue and cost projections. With this in mind, I join many others in advocating for an objective, cost-benefit financial analysis before true debate on any proposal can begin.
What do you consider most important in the casino debate? Take the online survey in the sidebar. |
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State Budget Process for Fiscal Year 2011 Begins
The release several weeks ago of the Governor's budget signals the start of the state budget process. The House budget will be drafted in the coming weeks. There are difficult budgeting decisions ahead again this year due to low state revenues. In the past weeks I have been actively advocating for a "local aid resolution" that will give cities and towns some certainty about local aid as they enter their local budgeting processes.
The attached letter from Rep. Charles Murphy, Chair of House Ways and Means, provides a summary of budget outlook for the coming year from the perspective of the House.
Budget season is expected to be exceptionally busy again this year, with our office sometimes receiving hundreds of emails a day. For the next several months Leah and I ask for your patience in responding to your emails. If you need immediate assistance, please call the office so we can respond right away. |
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Municipal Relief Bill Released from Committee
A multi-part bill drafted to assist municipalities facing tight budgets was released from committee last week. It will likely come before the House and Senate for a vote before Town Meeting season begins in April. Highlights of the bill include:
- Transfers municipal retirees into Medicare to match the state process
- Creates an optional early retirement program for municipal employees
- Extends pension funding schedule to allow towns to pay pension payments over a longer time period
- Provides for towns to group-purchase to realize savings
- Allows for electronic municipal billing
- Provides for local tax amnesty program
- Allows a local option for towns to fund homeowner energy-saving improvements which can be paid back via a tax bill. This will help homeowners pay upfront costs of installing improvements such as solar panels.
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Dykema Bill on School Transportation Advances
 Last January I filed legislation in response to constituent concerns about how bus fees are charged. Tight budgets are forcing schools to consider fees, and right now the state makes it even more difficult by dictating how fees can be charged. The bill I filed will lift state restrictions and put more control in the hands of local school committees.
I was pleased that the Committee on Education has included this proposal in a larger bill that will require a broad review of school transportation costs. |
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Hopkinton Recieves $2.5 million for Sewer Connection to Support Biotech Job Creation
The Governor came to Lonza Biologics in Hopkinton yesterday to annouce $2.5 million in grant funding to complete the long-awaited sewer connection to Milford. This project is a great example of town officials, a private company (Lonza) and the state, working together to help create new jobs. When the sewer line is in place later this year, it will support t 100 new jobs at Lonza and provide the infrastructre needed to create more jobs in the expanding 495 biotech cluster. The grant was awarded by the Mass. Office of Business Development.
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Dykema Co-Sponsors Bill to Control Small Business Healthcare Costs
The Committee on Small Business and Community Development continued its listening tour this month in Brockton and Dorchester, where we heard once again about the importance of addressing steadily increasing costs of healthcare on small businesses. Efforts are underway to address this with two bills under discussion in the House; one which allows small businesses to form alliances to increase purchasing power which I have co-sponsored and a second bill that caps reimbursements to hospitals.
While the legislature evaluates proposals to control healthcare costs, the state has launched a new program through the Massachusetts Health Connector that can save qualifying small businesses up to $300 per employee. For more information contact a broker or call the Connector Service Line at 1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765). |
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Join Carolyn and Friends At Winterwalk to Help End Homelessness!
 Sunday, March 14, 2010. With this weather, it's bound to be a great day! The Walk starts at 1pm and the route winds through Holliston and Sherborn. Register today at winterwalk.org. |
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What Factors Do You Think are Most Important for the State to Consider in the Casino Debate?
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Too Much Junk Mail?
If so, you may find
DMAchoice.org helpful. The Direct Marketing Association offers this free online Do Not Mail serivce to request removal from catalog and mailing lists. I just opted out of all those credit card mailings. |
Follow the State Budget Proce ss
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