Representative Don Humason



BACK WITH RESULTS By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. November 15, 2008 It’s good to be back writing my weekly column for the Westfield Evening News. During the campaign, the newspaper asked me to hold off on writing my column and I agreed with their request. But now I’m back, and raring to go. First, let me thank everyone in Westfield who went to the polls and cast their ballots on November 4. If you voted to re-elect me as Westfield’s State Representative, I thank you. Whether you voted for me or not, you voted, and the turnout was very high. Obviously, we know now that it was a historic day with the first time an African American has been elected to the office of President of the United States. At the state level there is some speculation that President-elect Obama may ask Governor Patrick to come to Washington with him in some capacity. The Governor has repeatedly said he intends to remain in Massachusetts. Time will tell. But if the President calls and asks you to work for him I’m sure it would be very difficult to turn him down. The newest installment of my cable show, “From the State House to your House” is now showing on the Westfield Community Programming Channel 15. It airs Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM. My guests this month are Rosann Scalese from the YMCA and Kathryn Hedgepeth from the Alzheimer’s Association. Our topic is Alzheimer’s disease and the Memories in the Making art auction December 5th. Tuesday was Veterans Day. On behalf of the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth let my offer my sincere gratitude to all veterans regardless of age, or where or when they served their country. Simply, I say, thank you! I promised I’d publish the results from my September column “Another Constituent Survey.” I received nearly 3 times the responses this time than I did on my first survey. Thank you to the 93 respondents for taking the time to weigh in. Now, it’s time to compare the responses with what actually happened on Election Day! September 20, 2008 Another Constituent Survey results: 1) Do you favor using civilian flagmen on road construction jobs instead of police details? 93 Respondents. YES 71/77%. NO 18/19%. UNDECIDED 4/ 4%. 2) Should Massachusetts combine the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority with the Massachusetts Highway Department to create one state highway system? 93 Respondents. YES 68/73%. No 13/14%. UNDECIDED 12/13%. 3) Do you favor the upcoming ballot question to decriminalize small quantities of marijuana? 93 Respondents. YES 42/45%. NO 44/47%. UNDECIDED 7/8%. 4) Should state government offer taxpayers rebates or tax incentives to purchase hybrid cars, energy efficient appliances, or other green technologies for their homes? 93 Respondents. YES 60/65%. NO 29/31%. UNDECIDED 4/4%. 5) Should state government invest in approved alternative energy sources like wind, hydro-electric, solar, or geo-thermal? 93 Respondents. YES 77/83%. NO 10/11%. UNDECIDED 6/6%. 6) How about bio-mass? 93 Respondents. YES 27/29%. NO 42/45%. UNDECIDED 24/26%. 7) Should Massachusetts pass a law prohibiting discrimination based on height or weight? 93 Respondents. YES 39/42%. NO 50/54%. UNDECIDED 4/4%. 8) Do you favor increasing so-called “sin taxes” on beer and wine, cigarettes, and fast food? 93 Respondents. YES 28/30%. NO 61/66%. UNDECIDED 4/4%. 9) Do you intend to vote on Election Day, November 4, 2008? 93 Respondents. YES 91/98%. NO 1/1%. UNDECIDED 1/1%. 10) Who are you going to cast your vote for Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin? 93 Respondents. Obama/Biden 20/22%. McCain/Palin 46/49%. Undecided 27/29%. * * * Representative Humason and his Legislative Aide Jonelle Gingrich may be reached at his State House office, Room 542. Boston, MA 02133. (617) 722-2803. Representative Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at his Westfield district office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085. (413) 568-1366. Representative Don Humason’s website is www.DonHumason.org
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

BACK WITH RESULTS

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

November 15, 2008

It’s good to be back writing my weekly column for the Westfield Evening News.

During the campaign, the newspaper asked me to hold off on writing my column and I agreed with their request. But now I’m back, and raring to go.

First, let me thank everyone in Westfield who went to the polls and cast their ballots on November 4. If you voted to re-elect me as Westfield’s State Representative, I thank you. Whether you voted for me or not, you voted, and the turnout was very high.

Obviously, we know now that it was a historic day with the first time an African American has been elected to the office of President of the United States.

At the state level there is some speculation that President-elect Obama may ask Governor Patrick to come to Washington with him in some capacity. The Governor has repeatedly said he intends to remain in Massachusetts. Time will tell. But if the President calls and asks you to work for him I’m sure it would be very difficult to turn him down.

The newest installment of my cable show, “From the State House to your House” is now showing on the Westfield Community Programming Channel 15. It airs Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM. My guests this month are Rosann Scalese from the YMCA and Kathryn Hedgepeth from the Alzheimer’s Association. Our topic is Alzheimer’s disease and the Memories in the Making art auction December 5th.

Tuesday was Veterans Day. On behalf of the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth let my offer my sincere gratitude to all veterans regardless of age, or where or when they served their country. Simply, I say, thank you!

I promised I’d publish the results from my September column “Another Constituent Survey.” I received nearly 3 times the responses this time than I did on my first survey. Thank you to the 93 respondents for taking the time to weigh in.

Now, it’s time to compare the responses with what actually happened on Election Day!

September 20, 2008 Another Constituent Survey results:

1) Do you favor using civilian flagmen on road construction jobs instead of police details?

93 Respondents. YES 71/77%. NO 18/19%. UNDECIDED 4/ 4%.

2) Should Massachusetts combine the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority with the Massachusetts Highway Department to create one state highway system?

93 Respondents. YES 68/73%. No 13/14%. UNDECIDED 12/13%.

3) Do you favor the upcoming ballot question to decriminalize small quantities of marijuana?

93 Respondents. YES 42/45%. NO 44/47%. UNDECIDED 7/8%.

4) Should state government offer taxpayers rebates or tax incentives to purchase hybrid cars, energy efficient appliances, or other green technologies for their homes?

93 Respondents. YES 60/65%. NO 29/31%. UNDECIDED 4/4%.

5) Should state government invest in approved alternative energy sources like wind, hydro-electric, solar, or geo-thermal?

93 Respondents. YES 77/83%. NO 10/11%. UNDECIDED 6/6%.

6) How about bio-mass?

93 Respondents. YES 27/29%. NO 42/45%. UNDECIDED 24/26%.

7) Should Massachusetts pass a law prohibiting discrimination based on height or weight?

93 Respondents. YES 39/42%. NO 50/54%. UNDECIDED 4/4%.

8) Do you favor increasing so-called “sin taxes” on beer and wine, cigarettes, and fast food?

93 Respondents. YES 28/30%. NO 61/66%. UNDECIDED 4/4%.

9) Do you intend to vote on Election Day, November 4, 2008?

93 Respondents. YES 91/98%. NO 1/1%. UNDECIDED 1/1%.

10) Who are you going to cast your vote for Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin?

93 Respondents. Obama/Biden 20/22%. McCain/Palin 46/49%. Undecided 27/29%.

* * *

Representative Humason and his Legislative Aide Jonelle Gingrich may be reached at his State House office, Room 542. Boston, MA 02133. (617) 722-2803.
Representative Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at his Westfield district office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085. (413) 568-1366.
Representative Don Humason’s website is www.DonHumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group