|
News from Beacon Hill
Rep. Stanley's Monthly Cable Access Show
Rep. Stanley hosts a cable access show, The Stanley Report, on the Waltham's Municipal Access Channel (MAC). During the fifth episode, Rep. Stanley speaks with Michael Widmer, President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (MTF) about the history and role of MTF as well as state revenue and tax policies.
In episode 4, Rep. Stanley speaks with DCR Commissioner Ed Lambert to discuss local projects and the many duties and responsibilities the agency performs across the state. In episode 3, Rep. Stanley spoke with Attorney General Martha Coakley to discuss the foreclosure crisis and her office's HomeCorps initiative. In episode 2, Rep. Stanley and State Auditor Suzanne Bump discuss the role of the Auditor's office as well as the McKinney-Vento reimbursement included in the FY 13 Budget. In
episode 1 , Rep. Stanley met with State Treasurer Steve Grossman to discuss unclaimed property, the Small Business Banks Partnership Program and other issues affecting Waltham and the Commonwealth.
The purpose of MAC is to provide resident with the medium to be connected with local government through the coverage of public meetings, as well as programs that highlight the government operations. To learn more about MAC, click here.
Governor Lays Out Plan to Close Budget Gap
Due to slowing economic growth and lower than anticipated tax revenue collections, Gov. Patrick last week outlined a plan for closing an estimated $540 million gap in the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. The Patrick-Murray Administration revised the FY13 tax revenue estimate from $22.01 billion to $21.496 billion, a reduction of $515 million. Because $25 million of the tax revenue already collected this year is from tax settlements that are one-time in nature and already committed to certain one-time costs, the total shortfall in tax revenues available to support the budget is $540 million.
To close the budget gap, Governor Patrick has outlined a balanced plan that includes budgetary reductions and other fiscally prudent solutions, including the reallocation of savings from the Commonwealth's borrowing and health care costs, to help address the tax revenue shortfall and ensure the FY13 budget is balanced.
Rep. Stanley Co-Signs Letter to Protect Human Services Salary Reserve
Rep. Stanley recently signed onto a letter with 100 of his colleagues addressed to Gov. Patrick to express concern with the delayed distribution of the Human Services Salary Reserve. Earlier this year, Rep. Stanley supported the passage of the fiscal year 2013 Salary Reserve line item for human service workers and helped override the Governor's veto of those funds.
The last annualized salary increase for human service workers was in fiscal year 2008. The FY13 budget would have given employees making less than $40,000 a year an annualized increase of between one and two percent, helping them keep up with the rising cost of shelter, utilities and health insurance. Human service workers provide direct care to our most vulnerable citizens, and are a lifeline for individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and medical challenges.
Rep. Stanley Speaks at Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition Event
Rep. Stanley helped celebrate the abilities and talents of those affected by mental illness at a recent event at the State House by addressing a crowd in Great Hall. On Tuesday, November 27th, the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition, family members and allies raised awareness about mental illness, educating the community and "paving the way to recovery" at the State House. Members who participated in the event helped educate the public and legislators about the abilities, talents and needs of those who are working to recover from mental illness. To learn more about the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition, please click here.
Rep. Stanley Attends Drug Lab Oversight Hearing As a member of the Joint Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, Rep. Stanley joined his colleagues from the Joint Committee on Public Health and the Joint Committee on Public Safety for a public hearing on the alleged violations at the Hinton State Drug Lab and related public safety concerns at the State House. The Committee listened to testimony on questions surrounding the practice, policies and procedures of a crime lab and issues surrounding the alleged violations of such protocols at the Hinton state lab. The Committee heard testimony from Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Secretary Mary Elizabeth Heffernan, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Undersecretary Kurt Wood, Forensic Science and Technology, Major James Connolly, Deputy Division Commander, Massachusetts State Police Forensic Services Group, Nancy Brooks, Manager of Forensic Chemistry, Massachusetts State Police Forensic Services Group, John Cronin, Director of Administrative Services, Massachusetts State Police Forensic Services Group, Lt. Col. Robert R. Roussel, Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, David Meier Esq., Special Counsel to Governor Deval Patrick's Office and District Attorneys Association President Michael O'Keefe and Vice President Daniel F. Conley. Gov. Patrick Swears In Major General L. Scott Rice as Adjutant General of the MA National Guard Gov. Patrick swore-in Major General L. Scott Rice as Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard. Major General Rice has served as Acting Adjutant General since April. Prior to being appointed Acting Adjutant General in April, Major General Rice served as the commander of Massachusetts Air National Guard and as the Air National Guard assistant to the commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe. Major General Rice will oversee the administration and operation of the 8,500 soldiers and airmen of the Massachusetts National Guard, ensuring that the Guard will continue to be a well-trained, equipped and mission-ready force to respond to a state emergency declared by the Governor, or be responsive to a national security mission. Since September 11, 2001, the Massachusetts National Guard has deployed more than 12,000 soldiers and airmen overseas. Gov. Patrick Convenes Meeting with Community College Board Chairs Gov. Patrick hosted the first meeting of the Commonwealth's community college Board Chairs to discuss the implementation of his community college plan. The 15 newly-appointed Chairs will partner with the Administration to create a more integrated, effective community college system responsive to both local and statewide employer needs that gives community colleges additional capacity to expand student access to high-quality, relevant educational and training programs. The Governor's community college plan, supported by the Legislature and included in the FY13 budget, calls for the Governor to appoint the Chair of the Board of Trustees at each community college. Appointments were announced in mid-October and reflect an experienced and skilled team ready to partner with the Administration in strengthening our community college system. Initiatives Designed To Increase Housing In Massachusetts Outlined Committed to creating new housing that is vital to maintaining Massachusetts' young, well-educated base of talent, Gov. Patrick recently outlined initiatives designed to produce 10,000 multi-family units of housing per year, the first production goal of this kind set by any state in the country. At "Under One Roof," the state's first Housing and Community Development Conference in more than a decade, Gov. Patrick detailed the new Compact Neighborhoods program, designed to encourage and create well-planned housing that fulfills the demand for homes near jobs, transit and the vitality of city and town centers. Compact Neighborhoods complement smart-growth programs by providing incentives to encourage residential development near transit and town centers. The program will recognize communities planning ahead systematically for economic and housing growth, and will offer Chapter 40B relief and priority consideration in discretionary funding programs, such as the MassWorks Infrastructure Program. Governor Patrick Announces Four New Cabinet Secretaries Governor Patrick announced the appointment of four highly-regarded leaders from the worlds of finance, education, health care and public safety to positions in his Cabinet. Glen Shor will replace Jay Gonzalez as Secretary of Administration and Finance. Shor, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, currently serves as the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, the state's official public health insurance exchange. Matt Malone will replace Paul Reville as Secretary of Education. Malone, who holds a master's degree and PhD from Boston College, is currently the Superintendent of the Brockton School System. A passionate advocate for closing the achievement gap, he led turnaround efforts in Boston and San Diego. John Polanowicz will replace JudyAnn Bigby as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Polanowicz serves currently as the President and CEO of St. Elizabeth's Medical Center. Prior to that, the West Point graduate and Stanford MBA served for eight years as the President of Marlborough Hospital. Sheriff Andrea Cabral will replace Marybeth Heffernan as Secretary of Public Safety and Security. In 10 years as Suffolk County Sheriff, Cabral has been lauded for reforming prisoner reentry programs and modernizing the county's correctional facilities. Largest Onshore Wind Energy Farm in Massachusetts Nearing Completion Gov. Patrick joined state energy officials to celebrate the near completion of the Hoosac Wind Power Project, the largest wind energy facility in both Massachusetts and Southern New England. Located in Florida and Monroe, the project includes 19 turbines made in the US that will work to produce enough electricity to power over 10,000 homes a year. The project will offset approximately 64 million pounds of carbon dioxide a year, relative to conventional electricity generation, the equivalent of taking over 20,000 cars off the road. This project will help Massachusetts meet its nation-leading greenhouse gas emission reduction targets as set in the Global Warming Solutions Act signed into law by Governor Patrick in 2008. The project is also contributing to the local economy. Hoosac spent $3.8 million dollars locally during construction and will generate approximately $6.8 million in tax revenue for the towns and another $3 million in lease payments to local landowners over the life of the project. Governor Patrick Swears-In Third Statewide Youth Council Gov. Patrick swore in new members to the Governor's Statewide Youth Council. The 28 members, representing all 14 counties in Massachusetts, are the third Youth Council class and will serve for two years. Governor Patrick established the Council by an executive order in April 2008 to encourage young people to become civically engaged in their local communities and help tackle the state's biggest challenges, including education reform, youth violence and anti-bullying, by assuming leadership roles. Members were selected by an application review committee for their excellence in leadership and their outstanding potential to create change in their communities. Members range from ages 14-20. The Youth Council will hold formal bi-monthly sessions and will advise the Governor as representatives of Massachusetts youth. In addition to their bi-monthly meetings, Youth Council members gather independently to share what they see in their communities and talk about how state government can partner with local communities to create solutions. The first two classes of the Youth Council worked with the Administration to advocate for the passage of several important policy issues, including the Governor's 2010 anti-bullying legislation. If you are interested in speaking with a member of the Governor's Youth Council, please contact the Governor's press office at 617-725-4025. December 5th: World AIDS Day The Second Annual World AIDS Day at the State House was commemorated on Wednesday December 5 in Nurses Hall. House and Senate Members, the LGBT and Black and Latino Caucuses, The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and local AIDS service organizations joined together to recognize the day in honor of those living with HIV/AIDS. Gov. Patrick Plans to Automate Tolls Gov. Patrick will recommend switching to an automated tolling system in MA, a $100 million investment which would pay for itself over a three-year period and enable motorists to pay their tolls while traveling at highway speeds. Massachusetts law requires the governor in January to present the House and Senate with a long-term plan addressing the state's gap between revenues available and revenues needed to maintain the existing public transportation system and make new investments. Massachusetts 8th Graders Perform Among World Leaders in Math & Science Achievement Massachusetts students have once again scored among the top performing nations across the world in mathematics and science. The 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) show that Massachusetts 8th graders made a 14-point gain in mathematics and an 11-point gain in science achievement since the last time the test was administered in 2007. Massachusetts students tied for second in science achievement, trailing only students from Singapore. In mathematics, Massachusetts 8th graders tied for fifth, trailing only the four highest performing Asian countries (Korea, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong SAR). When comparing results back to 1999, Massachusetts 8th graders have made the highest gains of any participating country or benchmarking entity in mathematics and second highest gains in science. State Announces Agreement with Amazon Gov. Patrick and Amazon announced that Amazon will collect and remit sales tax in Massachusetts starting next fall, and that they will work together toward enactment of federal legislation to resolve the sales tax issue by creating an equitable and simple framework for collecting sales taxes. Amazon also plans to create hundreds of high tech jobs in Massachusetts in coming years. The agreement will take effect on November 1, 2013, in time for the next holiday season. The Patrick-Murray Administration continues to support federal legislation allowing states to require remote sellers, including internet retailers, to collect and remit sales tax. Legislation currently before Congress would create a simple and equitable framework for sales tax collection to protect states' rights, allow states to collect all of the revenue owed, and resolve the sales tax issue for states, consumers and retailers. Ways to Save Money on Your Winter Heating Bills Whether you heat your home with gas, oil, electricity or some other fuel you can save money by "winterizing your home." By taking steps to make your home more energy efficient you will lower your energy consumption and thereby reduce your heating bill. Click here to view 15 things to do now to winterize your home. Mobile ticketing for Commuter Rail now available Commuter Rail customers: Buy your single-ride, 10-ride tickets, and monthly passes via the MBTA's new mobile app for smartphones. Single and 10-ride tickets are now available for the Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lowell, and Newburyport/Rockport Lines. Purchase your monthly pass from your smartphone. No waiting required. Please click here to learn more. Indoor ice skating rinks Ice skating is a great winter activity for people of all ages and abilities. Many ice skating rinks have skate rentals and snack concessions. Click here for a list of rinks listed alphabetically by city or town. Support Mass. farmers & buy locally for the holidays All season long, especially during the holiday season is a great time to support Massachusetts growers and food producers. Build your holiday shopping list full of locally grown items like farm raised turkeys, cranberries, maple syrup, organic vegetables, award winning artisan cheeses, and locally grown and produced wines. Massachusetts is home to hundreds of award winning specialty food producers many who sell their hand crafted specialties like fiery hot sauces, maple butter, and Whoopee Pies at your local farmers' market. Click here to view a food buying guide. 2013 outdoor recreational licenses available Purchase your 2013 hunting, sporting, fishing and trapping license online, at any walk-in license vendor location, or at the MassWildlife District office. Please click here for more information. New Health Care Cost Containment Website Governor Patrick launched the next phase of health care reform, signing legislation that builds on the Commonwealth's nation-leading access to care through landmark measures that will lower costs and make quality, affordable care a reality for all Massachusetts residents. The mission of the Center of Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) is to improve health care quality and contain health care costs by critically examining the Massachusetts health care system and providing objective information, developing and recommending policies, and implementing strategies that benefit the people of MA. Click here to visit CHIA's website which outlines information on the law, notice of upcoming events and a single portal for connecting with other health care related state agencies, authorities and commissions. Get Emergency Information on Your Smartphone Ping4alerts! is a new mobile communications app for alerting the public in emergencies and disasters. Through geofencing technology, ping4alerts! enables the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to send highly targeted, instant multimedia alerts to iPhone and Android devices to notify citizens about situations and events happening near them. The ping4alerts! FREE mobile app is one way that MEMA sends emergency information and messages. To learn more, click here. Do you have unclaimed property in Massachusetts? The Massachusetts State Treasury has identified hundreds of thousands of new individuals, charities and businesses over the last six months that are entitled to over $60 million in unclaimed property. As part of an effort to return this money, the Treasury will be publishing in newspapers a list of names identified over the past six months owed more than $100. Unclaimed Property includes forgotten savings and checking accounts, un-cashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends, and contents of unattended safe deposit boxes. Most accounts are considered unclaimed and turned over to the Treasury for safekeeping after three years with no activity. In addition to the $60 million that the Treasury identified over the last six months, the Commonwealth is holding over $2 billion in trust until rightful owners can be identified. The newly released list will include 11 accounts over $100,000, 23 accounts between $50,000 and $100,000, 434 accounts between $10,000 and $50,000 and 10,795 accounts in excess of $1,000. Due to space constraints the list will not include the names of approximately 297,000 individuals identified in the last six months who are owed less than $100, but anyone can easily check to see if they are owed money at www.findmassmoney.com or by calling 888-344-MASS (6277). One in ten people in Massachusetts has unclaimed property in their name. Mass.gov Offers Open Government Website To foster an "open government," Mass.gov offers information about legislative and regulatory processes, public records, campaign finance reports, lobbyist registrations and reports, open meetings and more. Residents can also get details on the state budget, see where the state's money comes from, locate a law on a topic that is of interest to you or obtain information on any city or town in Massachusetts. Residents can also view detailed information on state government spending. To learn more and visit the site, click here. MassDOT RMV Customer Service has New Number MassDOT announced a new telephone number for Registry of Motor Vehicles business and transactions, 857-DOT-8000/857-368-8000. The number serves the RMV's Call Center which answers an average of 45,000 calls each month. Over the next year, customers will become familiar with the 857-DOT area code and exchange as MassDOT offices across the Commonwealth transition to the new number. The telephone transition will result in annual phone bill and maintenance savings of approximately $422,000. Concerned about lead in your home? Lead is a toxic metal that can come from a number of materials found in and around our homes, including old paint and contaminated soil. If you have lead pipes, or brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures, it can enter your drinking water via the plumbing. Lead exposure frequently occurs without any symptoms, and can cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures and death. Children six years old and younger are most at risk. The state offers information about lead and removing it from your home. To learn more, visit the Health and Human Services' website. File for unemployment insurance benefits online or by phone The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) administers the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, providing temporary assistance to unemployed Massachusetts workers. Click here to get help with filing a new claim.
Find Volunteer Opportunities at Connect & Serve Connect & Serve is a free web-based volunteer portal administered by the Massachusetts Service Alliance. The Connect & Serve website is a valuable resource for organizations who recruit volunteers and for individuals who wish to find fulfilling volunteer opportunities in their communities. Click here to find a volunteer opportunity near you.
Connect & Serve's user-friendly design has many features to increase the visibility of opportunities across the state, including a quick search function highlighting impact areas, an easy zip-code radius search, and a monthly service projects calendar. All volunteer opportunities are promoted through a statewide collaboration with volunteer connector agencies to build awareness to a wider audience in all regions of the state. Spreading the Word on the Flu Vaccine Every flu season, local health officials work hard to get the word out about the importance of getting vaccinated. At the same time, our communities are becoming more ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse than ever before. Now there's a new, comprehensive guide to help local public health departments and community-based organizations get the message out about flu vaccine to the wide variety of people, languages and cultures in their midst. The guide provides a range of real-world practical tips and tools for anyone looking for ways to engage with hard-to-reach populations on the importance of flu vaccination. For more information about how to stay healthy this flu season, click here.
Exciting New Veterans Resource!
The Patrick-Murray Administration launched www.MassVetsAdvisor.org, a cutting-edge web portal that offers enhanced access to services and support for veterans living in the Commonwealth. The new site will help veterans and their family members access more than 200 state and federal benefits in one location, including programs for education, counseling, employment, health care and other services. MassVetsAdvisor streamlines comprehensive data from state and federal resources and lists only the benefits and services each veteran is qualified for, including an "action plan" to apply for the benefits. Veterans will be able to print, email, save or forward the action plan to their Veterans Services Officer for additional one-on-one assistance.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program WIC is a free nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services to Massachusetts families who qualify. WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children. WIC's goal is to keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and kids under 5 healthy. To apply for WIC, call 1-800-WIC-1007 or contact a WIC Program in your community. Please click here for more info.
SAVE Partners with Veterans' Services to Support Veterans & Their Families The fundamental principle of the Statewide Advocacy for Veterans' Empowerment (SAVE) program is to advocate for veterans who are not able to obtain the benefits they have earned due to institutional or personal barriers. The program's primary mission is prevention of suicide and mental health distress through the identification of issues facing veterans when they return from service and proactively providing them with access to benefits and services that may address these issues and result in positive transitions back to civilian life. SAVE acts as a liaison between veterans and their families and the various agencies within the federal and state governments. To learn more, please click here. Mass 2-1-1, in Partnership with United Way, Partners with Department of Veterans Services To learn more about the services available to veterans by MA 2-1-1 and the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services, the chief advocate for veterans and their families in the Commonwealth, please click here. 2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code for free access to health and human services Information and Referral. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember and universally recognizable number that makes a critical connection between individuals and families seeking services or volunteer opportunities and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies. 2-1-1 makes it possible for people to navigate the complex and ever-growing maze of human service agencies and programs. By making services easier to access, 2-1-1 encourages prevention and fosters self-sufficiency. It also is hoped that it will reduce the number of non-emergency calls inappropriately made to 911.
MassWildlife Offers Calendar of Events The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) is responsible for the conservation - including restoration, protection and management - of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. The Division works to balance the needs of people and wildlife today so wildlife will be available for everyone's enjoyment today and for future generations. To learn more about DFW events across the Commonwealth, such as wildlife-related workshops, talks, walks or demonstrations, please click here. MassDOT RMV urges eligible drivers to renew their licenses online Services available on the MassDOT RMV website include applying for a first time license; converting an out-of-state license; scheduling a branch appointment; registration renewals; ordering a driving record, crash report or Fast Lane transponder; viewing the status of a license, registration, driver education certificate and title; signing up for organ/tissue donation; and canceling a registration plate.
Drivers Encouraged to "Donate Life"
Massachusetts drivers can register as organ donors on their driver's license or online through the Donate Life New England registry. About 99 percent of all Massachusetts residents who designate themselves as organ and tissue donors do so through the Registry of Motor Vehicles at RMV branches and on its website. Free program to help veterans & their families quit smoking
A free, statewide smoking cessation program is designed to help Massachusetts veterans and their families live healthier and longer lives. Massachusetts veterans and their family members can now call the Massachusetts Smokers Helpline at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or click here to receive free telephone support and a two-week supply of nicotine patches to help them quit smoking.
Job Opportunities with the Commonwealth of MA
There are a number of job listings posted on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts home page. For more information, click here.
| 
