Representative Don Humason



CONSTITUENT SURVEY RESULTS By Representative Don Humason, Jr. February 2, 2008 In my December 8, 2007 column I tried something I hadn’t done before. I included a survey of 10 questions so that my constituents, at least those who read my weekly column in the Westfield Evening News, could respond and let me know how they felt about some timely issues. It was not a scientific survey by any means and I couldn’t classify it as a true representative sample of Westfield residents and voters, but I did have a larger response to this survey than to any other column I’ve ever done including the occasional trivia contests I’ve had where the winners could actually win something. Thank you to the 32 people who responded. I appreciate your input. Your comments were interesting and enlightening. Two things before I give you the results. First, next Tuesday, February 5 is the Super Tuesday Presidential Primary Day in Massachusetts and 22 other states. Please exercise your right and your responsibility to vote. Go to the polls and make your voice heard and your choice known. And second, Good Luck Patriots! December 2007 Constituent Survey Results: 1) Should state government make it illegal for parents to spank their children or interfere with child rearing in any way? 32 Respondents. All 32 or 100% said NO. Here are a few comments from the respondents: “Absolutely not! Discipline & Corporal punishment have a place in child rearing. Sometimes there needs to be more than words to render as a consequence. I think the line has been blurred between "spanking" and "beating/abuse" and renders any and all physical punishment lumped together as abusive in nature.” “The government should not be involved in how parents raise their children – unless the child’s life is in danger.” 2) Do you favor casino gaming (resort-style casinos) in Massachusetts? 32 Respondents. 21/66% YES. 7/22% NO. 4/12% NO ANSWER. “So many people go to Connecticut for the casinos. It has provided Connecticut with income and jobs, both of which would help the Massachusetts economy.” “With the money problems that the state has, there is no denying that casino’s would be a much needed financial shot in the arm.” 3) Should state government make it illegal for you to play online poker or to gamble online in other ways? 32 Respondents. 9/28% YES. 23/72% NO “No, it should not be illegal. People are already figuring out how to get around it anyway. If anything, have the state create its own web based, online, gaming site.” “No, doing so can cause people to become addicted, ruin families, and create financial hardship.” 4) Do you support the state’s 5.3% income tax being eliminated, as a ballot question will seek to do? 32 Respondents. 12/38% YES. 18/56% NO. 2/6% NO ANSWER. “I would support putting it on the ballot but only if there is an alternative way that the state will obtain revenue to fund programs in Massachusetts.” “Yes, it should be eliminated all together. MA has overtaxed its residents and needs to control spending, not increase revenue by overtaxing its populous.” 5) Should the Legislature keep its promise from 18 years ago when it raised the state income tax and roll the income tax back to 5%? 32 Respondents. 26/83% YES. 5/15% NO. 1/ 2% NO ANSWER. “Yes, when it makes financial sense to do it.” “Promises made are promises that need to be kept!” 6) Do you support giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants in Massachusetts? 32 Respondents. All 32/100% NO. “Absolutely not!” “Why would it make sense to provide a State drivers license to individuals who don’t receive a green card or the like from the Federal Government?” “What prevents them from fleeing back to their country if they are involved in a major accident leaving the victims with no remedy?” 7) Do you favor giving illegal immigrants or the children of illegal immigrants tax- payers subsidized in-state tuition rates to public colleges like Westfield State College or UMass? 32 Respondents. All 32/100% NO. “Absolutely not!” “Illegal immigrants should not be given the same benefits as citizens!” 8) Should state government make it illegal for individuals 18 years old and younger to operate All Terrain Vehicles? 32 Respondents. 13/41% YES. 17/53% NO. 2/6% NO ANSWER. “I wouldn’t want it to be illegal, but make sure there is a training class in place.” “Make the legal age 16 and have them get a special motorcycle license.” 9) Should state government expand the bottle bill to include other beverage containers such as water bottles? 32 Respondents. 26/83% YES. 5/15% NO. 1/2% NO ANSWER. “The purpose of the bottle bill was to reduce litter and increase recycling. Containers are containers. Since when does it make a difference what is in the container?” “Yes. Bottled water, in all its various forms, is extremely popular today, and as such should be included in a bottle bill to reduce the amount of recyclables stored in the ground. We have a serious problem with our throw-away society that per-capita is the largest energy hog in the entire world. Anything that we can do, such as deposits on drink bottles will benefit our children and our children’s children.” 10) Do you support changing the law to allow sportsmen and women to hunt on Sundays? 32 Respondents. 20/63% YES. 12/37% NO. “Why not open another day to hunting or at least expand the hunting season.” “I don’t see any reason why hunters can’t hunt on Sundays during the season.” + + + Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
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CONSTITUENT SURVEY RESULTS

By Representative Don Humason, Jr.

February 2, 2008

In my December 8, 2007 column I tried something I hadn’t done before. I included a survey of 10 questions so that my constituents, at least those who read my weekly column in the Westfield Evening News, could respond and let me know how they felt about some timely issues.

It was not a scientific survey by any means and I couldn’t classify it as a true representative sample of Westfield residents and voters, but I did have a larger response to this survey than to any other column I’ve ever done including the occasional trivia contests I’ve had where the winners could actually win something.

Thank you to the 32 people who responded. I appreciate your input. Your comments were interesting and enlightening.

Two things before I give you the results. First, next Tuesday, February 5 is the Super Tuesday Presidential Primary Day in Massachusetts and 22 other states. Please exercise your right and your responsibility to vote. Go to the polls and make your voice heard and your choice known. And second, Good Luck Patriots!

December 2007 Constituent Survey Results:

1) Should state government make it illegal for parents to spank their children or interfere with child rearing in any way?

32 Respondents. All 32 or 100% said NO.

Here are a few comments from the respondents: “Absolutely not! Discipline & Corporal punishment have a place in child rearing. Sometimes there needs to be more than words to render as a consequence. I think the line has been blurred between "spanking" and "beating/abuse" and renders any and all physical punishment lumped together as abusive in nature.” “The government should not be involved in how parents raise their children – unless the child’s life is in danger.”

2) Do you favor casino gaming (resort-style casinos) in Massachusetts?

32 Respondents. 21/66% YES. 7/22% NO. 4/12% NO ANSWER.

“So many people go to Connecticut for the casinos. It has provided Connecticut with income and jobs, both of which would help the Massachusetts economy.” “With the money problems that the state has, there is no denying that casino’s would be a much needed financial shot in the arm.”

3) Should state government make it illegal for you to play online poker or to gamble online in other ways?

32 Respondents. 9/28% YES. 23/72% NO

“No, it should not be illegal. People are already figuring out how to get around it anyway. If anything, have the state create its own web based, online, gaming site.” “No, doing so can cause people to become addicted, ruin families, and create financial hardship.”

4) Do you support the state’s 5.3% income tax being eliminated, as a ballot question will seek to do?

32 Respondents. 12/38% YES. 18/56% NO. 2/6% NO ANSWER.

“I would support putting it on the ballot but only if there is an alternative way that the state will obtain revenue to fund programs in Massachusetts.” “Yes, it should be eliminated all together. MA has overtaxed its residents and needs to control spending, not increase revenue by overtaxing its populous.”

5) Should the Legislature keep its promise from 18 years ago when it raised the state income tax and roll the income tax back to 5%?

32 Respondents. 26/83% YES. 5/15% NO. 1/ 2% NO ANSWER.

“Yes, when it makes financial sense to do it.” “Promises made are promises that need to be kept!”

6) Do you support giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants in Massachusetts?

32 Respondents. All 32/100% NO.

“Absolutely not!” “Why would it make sense to provide a State drivers license to individuals who don’t receive a green card or the like from the Federal Government?” “What prevents them from fleeing back to their country if they are involved in a major accident leaving the victims with no remedy?”

7) Do you favor giving illegal immigrants or the children of illegal immigrants tax- payers subsidized in-state tuition rates to public colleges like Westfield State College or UMass?

32 Respondents. All 32/100% NO.

“Absolutely not!” “Illegal immigrants should not be given the same benefits as citizens!”

8) Should state government make it illegal for individuals 18 years old and younger to operate All Terrain Vehicles?

32 Respondents. 13/41% YES. 17/53% NO. 2/6% NO ANSWER.

“I wouldn’t want it to be illegal, but make sure there is a training class in place.” “Make the legal age 16 and have them get a special motorcycle license.”

9) Should state government expand the bottle bill to include other beverage containers such as water bottles?

32 Respondents. 26/83% YES. 5/15% NO. 1/2% NO ANSWER.

“The purpose of the bottle bill was to reduce litter and increase recycling. Containers are containers. Since when does it make a difference what is in the container?” “Yes. Bottled water, in all its various forms, is extremely popular today, and as such should be included in a bottle bill to reduce the amount of recyclables stored in the ground. We have a serious problem with our throw-away society that per-capita is the largest energy hog in the entire world. Anything that we can do, such as deposits on drink bottles will benefit our children and our children’s children.”

10) Do you support changing the law to allow sportsmen and women to hunt on Sundays?

32 Respondents. 20/63% YES. 12/37% NO.

“Why not open another day to hunting or at least expand the hunting season.” “I don’t see any reason why hunters can’t hunt on Sundays during the season.”

+ + +

Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group