Representative Don Humason



LOCAL BILL By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. June 28, 2008 I’m writing this column Thursday at my desk in the House Chamber. The House is finally having a formal session! We took up a bunch of local bills, a green communities bill, an energy bill, a mental health parity bill, and, of particular importance to us in Westfield, a local bill, Senate bill 2674, an act relative to the authorization of the Department of Fish and Game to acquire a conservation restriction on lands of the city of Westfield. This is the bill filed by Senator Knapik, Representative Peter Kocot who represents Montgomery, and me. It was approved locally by the Mayor and Westfield City Council. It involves watershed land in the town of Montgomery that Westfield owns. The state Department of Fish and Game will pay Westfield $1 million to acquire the conservation restriction on the land to preserve and protect wildlife and habitat. That will open the land up to everybody for passive recreational use like hiking, birding, and hunting. Motorized vehicles would be excluded. The bill is extremely time sensitive. We added an Emergency Preamble to the bill so it will become law immediately upon being signed by the Governor. Then the House enacted the bill, which means it passes the House. The Senate will enact the bill on Monday. At that point we have to get it to Governor Patrick’s office right away so his staff can review it and so that he can sign it before midnight on Monday. July 31 is the last day that the Legislature may meet in formal sessions. That leaves us with only one month in which to finish up deliberation on a number of high profile bills like the state budget and various bond bills, along with thousands of other local bills and legislation. One issue people are beginning to ask me about is a Sales Tax Free Weekend in August, as we’ve done in Massachusetts for the past several years. I have always supported this. In fact, Republicans pushed an amendment during the state budget debate this year to make the sales tax holiday permanent. Unfortunately, the majority party voted against it. The Speaker seems to be hesitant about passing a sales tax holiday law this year. He says he doesn’t think the state can afford to give up the sales tax revenue it would take in over a weekend in August. I respectfully disagree. History shows that the sales tax free weekend has been a huge boost for retailers and merchants. It has given people a reason to go out and shop who otherwise would stay home. What the state may lose in sales tax is more than made up for by increased collection of income tax, gas tax, and meals tax. This is a similar argument to the one I’ve used to try to convince the Governor and House leadership not to repeal the sales tax exemption on aircraft, aircraft parts, and storage. I hope we can convince the leadership to change its mind. Next week is Independence Day, when Americans celebrate the birth of our country and our declaration of independence from Great Britain. Weather permitting; Westfield will hold its fireworks at Stanley Park on Thursday evening, July 3. Legislators have been asked to help get the word out to remind our constituents that fireworks are dangerous and illegal to possess, use, or sell in the Commonwealth. Play it safe, don’t break the law. Leave the fireworks to the professionals and set a good example for the children. The Westfield neighborhoods of Hampton Ponds and Wyben will each hold parades and Independence Day ceremonies on July 4th. I’ll be there! On Wednesday I got to participate in a great fundraising event for the YMCA called the Great Golf Ball Drop. It was held at Tekoa Country Club. A hot air balloon dropped pre-purchased, numbered golf balls onto the course. The winner whose ball got into the hole received $1000. It was a lot of fun. Saturday night the Y celebrates its 120th Anniversary at a gala held at Stanley Park. I’d like to congratulate the Westfield YMCA on their anniversary. I also want to congratulate my pastor, Pastor David Young of the Westfield Evangelical Free Church, on obtaining his Doctorate of Ministry degree. Way to go, Dr. Dave! Have a great week. Happy Independence Day! * * * Representative Don Humason and his legislative 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 Website: www.DonHumason.org
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

LOCAL BILL

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

June 28, 2008

I’m writing this column Thursday at my desk in the House Chamber. The House is finally having a formal session!

We took up a bunch of local bills, a green communities bill, an energy bill, a mental health parity bill, and, of particular importance to us in Westfield, a local bill, Senate bill 2674, an act relative to the authorization of the Department of Fish and Game to acquire a conservation restriction on lands of the city of Westfield.

This is the bill filed by Senator Knapik, Representative Peter Kocot who represents Montgomery, and me. It was approved locally by the Mayor and Westfield City Council. It involves watershed land in the town of Montgomery that Westfield owns.

The state Department of Fish and Game will pay Westfield $1 million to acquire the conservation restriction on the land to preserve and protect wildlife and habitat. That will open the land up to everybody for passive recreational use like hiking, birding, and hunting. Motorized vehicles would be excluded.

The bill is extremely time sensitive. We added an Emergency Preamble to the bill so it will become law immediately upon being signed by the Governor. Then the House enacted the bill, which means it passes the House. The Senate will enact the bill on Monday. At that point we have to get it to Governor Patrick’s office right away so his staff can review it and so that he can sign it before midnight on Monday.

July 31 is the last day that the Legislature may meet in formal sessions. That leaves us with only one month in which to finish up deliberation on a number of high profile bills like the state budget and various bond bills, along with thousands of other local bills and legislation.

One issue people are beginning to ask me about is a Sales Tax Free Weekend in August, as we’ve done in Massachusetts for the past several years. I have always supported this. In fact, Republicans pushed an amendment during the state budget debate this year to make the sales tax holiday permanent. Unfortunately, the majority party voted against it.

The Speaker seems to be hesitant about passing a sales tax holiday law this year. He says he doesn’t think the state can afford to give up the sales tax revenue it would take in over a weekend in August.

I respectfully disagree. History shows that the sales tax free weekend has been a huge boost for retailers and merchants. It has given people a reason to go out and shop who otherwise would stay home.

What the state may lose in sales tax is more than made up for by increased collection of income tax, gas tax, and meals tax. This is a similar argument to the one I’ve used to try to convince the Governor and House leadership not to repeal the sales tax exemption on aircraft, aircraft parts, and storage. I hope we can convince the leadership to change its mind.

Next week is Independence Day, when Americans celebrate the birth of our country and our declaration of independence from Great Britain. Weather permitting; Westfield will hold its fireworks at Stanley Park on Thursday evening, July 3.

Legislators have been asked to help get the word out to remind our constituents that fireworks are dangerous and illegal to possess, use, or sell in the Commonwealth. Play it safe, don’t break the law. Leave the fireworks to the professionals and set a good example for the children.

The Westfield neighborhoods of Hampton Ponds and Wyben will each hold parades and Independence Day ceremonies on July 4th. I’ll be there!

On Wednesday I got to participate in a great fundraising event for the YMCA called the Great Golf Ball Drop. It was held at Tekoa Country Club. A hot air balloon dropped pre-purchased, numbered golf balls onto the course. The winner whose ball got into the hole received $1000. It was a lot of fun.

Saturday night the Y celebrates its 120th Anniversary at a gala held at Stanley Park.
I’d like to congratulate the Westfield YMCA on their anniversary.

I also want to congratulate my pastor, Pastor David Young of the Westfield Evangelical Free Church, on obtaining his Doctorate of Ministry degree. Way to go, Dr. Dave!

Have a great week. Happy Independence Day!

* * *

Representative Don Humason and his legislative 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

Website: www.DonHumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group