Representative Don Humason



19 DAYS 19 days. There are only 19 days left in July. That means there are even fewer days that the Massachusetts Legislature will meet in formal sessions to conclude business and action on pending bills. Thursday, July 31, is the last day of formal sessions. July 31 is also my 41st birthday. I mention this not to solicit cards and presents (which can be mailed or delivered to my district office at 64 Noble Street by the way), but as a way of telling you that I share this birth date with other notables in Massachusetts politics including former Governor William Weld and Governor Deval Patrick. Last year I learned of Governor Patrick’s birthday from the State House News Service in Boston. I gave him a birthday card and an “I love Westfield” pin. He didn’t get me anything. This year I’m going to a party at his summer home in Richmond, Massachusetts. It’s not a birthday party for us. The Governor has invited all 200 Representatives and Senators to an “end of session” wrap-up party on Sunday August 3. Unfortunately that also happens to be the day to which our Westfield fireworks at Stanley Park are postponed. So I’ll have to leave the Patrick party early so I can get back to Westfield. Being one of the only Republicans at a party full of Democrats will go over like a skunk at a picnic, I’m sure, but I was invited so I’m going. I think it’s great that Westfield is having fireworks in August. No other town around us that I know of will be having fireworks so this should bring a lot of people to our city. With traffic that may be good and bad. It’s a chance for our city to show off and put its best foot forward. I mentioned that time is running out on our formal sessions. This week the House was only in session for one day, Wednesday. We spent the day debating the very important topic of the National Popular Vote. I’m being facetious. Only 2 people from my district have contacted me about the bill; one in favor and one opposed. The bill proposes to do an end runaround of the United States Constitution and have Massachusetts join other states in a compact to direct our Presidential electors in the Electoral College to cast a vote for whoever wins the popular vote nationwide. While it’s a worthwhile topic, I think we need to debate it further and allow the voters a chance to learn about the proposal and weigh in on it. I’m all for awarding the presidency to whichever candidate wins the most votes, as long as we change the Constitution legally. I’ve grown a bit cynical. How can I not when I see a bill like this one move through the legislative process so quickly despite its lack of political and popular support or understanding. By the same token an issue like passing a sales tax free weekend this August, which many Massachusetts citizens have called for, is languishing because the Legislative leadership opposes giving tax breaks to the people. The Governor will be issuing his vetoes of the FY’09 state budget shortly. We will need to take up those vetoes and vote to sustain or override them before session ends. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation came out with a recommendation this week urging the Administration to make many vetoes now in order to avoid having to make deep spending cuts next year, mid-fiscal year, when revenues don’t materialize. Thursday turned out to be a beautiful day. It was sunny, warm, and dry, with a nice breeze. The humidity was gone, at least for a little while. A perfect day to enjoy pancakes on the Green for the 31st Westfield Chamber of Commerce Pancake Breakfast. I was one of the event sponsors this year and it was very nice to see so many Westfield people of all ages come out to enjoy the event. Kudos to all the other sponsors as well as Lynn Boscher and the Chamber volunteers who made it happen. * * * 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

19 DAYS

19 days. There are only 19 days left in July. That means there are even fewer days that the Massachusetts Legislature will meet in formal sessions to conclude business and action on pending bills. Thursday, July 31, is the last day of formal sessions.

July 31 is also my 41st birthday. I mention this not to solicit cards and presents (which can be mailed or delivered to my district office at 64 Noble Street by the way), but as a way of telling you that I share this birth date with other notables in Massachusetts politics including former Governor William Weld and Governor Deval Patrick.

Last year I learned of Governor Patrick’s birthday from the State House News Service in Boston. I gave him a birthday card and an “I love Westfield” pin. He didn’t get me anything.

This year I’m going to a party at his summer home in Richmond, Massachusetts. It’s not a birthday party for us. The Governor has invited all 200 Representatives and Senators to an “end of session” wrap-up party on Sunday August 3.

Unfortunately that also happens to be the day to which our Westfield fireworks at Stanley Park are postponed. So I’ll have to leave the Patrick party early so I can get back to Westfield. Being one of the only Republicans at a party full of Democrats will go over like a skunk at a picnic, I’m sure, but I was invited so I’m going.

I think it’s great that Westfield is having fireworks in August. No other town around us that I know of will be having fireworks so this should bring a lot of people to our city. With traffic that may be good and bad. It’s a chance for our city to show off and put its best foot forward.

I mentioned that time is running out on our formal sessions. This week the House was only in session for one day, Wednesday. We spent the day debating the very important topic of the National Popular Vote. I’m being facetious. Only 2 people from my district have contacted me about the bill; one in favor and one opposed.

The bill proposes to do an end runaround of the United States Constitution and have Massachusetts join other states in a compact to direct our Presidential electors in the Electoral College to cast a vote for whoever wins the popular vote nationwide. While it’s a worthwhile topic, I think we need to debate it further and allow the voters a chance to learn about the proposal and weigh in on it. I’m all for awarding the presidency to whichever candidate wins the most votes, as long as we change the Constitution legally.

I’ve grown a bit cynical. How can I not when I see a bill like this one move through the legislative process so quickly despite its lack of political and popular support or understanding. By the same token an issue like passing a sales tax free weekend this August, which many Massachusetts citizens have called for, is languishing because the Legislative leadership opposes giving tax breaks to the people.

The Governor will be issuing his vetoes of the FY’09 state budget shortly. We will need to take up those vetoes and vote to sustain or override them before session ends. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation came out with a recommendation this week urging the Administration to make many vetoes now in order to avoid having to make deep spending cuts next year, mid-fiscal year, when revenues don’t materialize.

Thursday turned out to be a beautiful day. It was sunny, warm, and dry, with a nice breeze. The humidity was gone, at least for a little while. A perfect day to enjoy pancakes on the Green for the 31st Westfield Chamber of Commerce Pancake Breakfast.

I was one of the event sponsors this year and it was very nice to see so many Westfield people of all ages come out to enjoy the event. Kudos to all the other sponsors as well as Lynn Boscher and the Chamber volunteers who made it happen.

* * *

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