Representative Don Humason



5 PERCENT By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. July 19, 2008 Governor Deval Patrick has signed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2009. He also vetoed over $100 million in items out of the budget. While that sounds like a lot of money, it’s only a drop in the bucket of the $28.2 billion budget. I’ve warned before that next year is going to be tough and the budget may be too costly, bloated, and unsustainable. Unfortunately, many of the Governor’s vetoes unfairly impact Western Massachusetts, including a couple that hurt programs here in Westfield. My office is currently reviewing line items and making a list of veto overrides I would support. Question. If you were walking down the street and saw a penny laying on the ground would you pick it up? Some people may say no, it’s not worth the bother, and pass it by. But what if you saw a nickel on the ground? Would you pick it up? I think most people would. I would. I have! A nickel is a nickel, only 5 cents. But it’s 5 percent of a dollar. I think people like to save 5 percent. They love it when their favorite stores offer a sale. They love it even more when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers them a holiday from the 5 percent state sales tax. At least history shows they have over the past four years that the Bay State had a sales tax holiday.. Last weekend Vermont, which has a 6 percent sales tax, offered a sales tax holiday for the first time. Their governor reported it was very succesful in spurring on the Vermont economy during a normally sluggish time. The Massachusetts Senate President has said she thinks it would be very helpful to consumers, merchants, and the state to offer the holiday again. Republicans like me in the House offered an amendment to the state budget to have a sales tax holiday. But the Speaker says no, not this year. He claims Massachusetts can’t afford to give up what we would take in in sales tax over a slow summer weekend. I disagree. If you would like to help me encourage the Speaker to change his mind and allow the House to vote on a sales tax free holiday weekend for Massachusetts in August, give him a call. Speaker Sal DiMasi’s office number is 617-722-2500. His email address is Rep.SalvatoreDiMasi@hou.state.ma.us. Hurry, we’re running out of time. The Legislature adjourns from formal sessions on Thursday, July 31. I have a new addition to my staff that I’d like to introduce to you in case you missed it last Saturday in the Westfield Evening News. Jonelle Gingrich (no relation to Newt) will be working in my Boston office at the Massachusetts State House. She will primarily be responsible for budgetary and legislative matters. Jonelle and Sarah Latour, newly promoted to my Chief of Staff, will work together helping me to represent the citizens of Westfield. Jonelle is a recent graduate of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Affairs with a regional concentration of Asia, and Geography. She also completed a minor in Political Science. Jonelle is a resident of Sandwich, Massachusetts. She began her political career as a legislative intern for Representative Jeffrey Perry (R-Sandwich) during the summer of 2004. I am certain that Jonelle will bring a fresh new perspective to my staff. Her enthusiasm, experience, and education make her an ideal fit and I am looking forward to all that I will be able to accomplish with her assistance. She’ll be coming out to Westfield soon to acquaint herself with the people, places, history, and institutions of the Whip City. I encourage you to extend her a warm Westfield welcome. * * * 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
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5 PERCENT

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

July 19, 2008

Governor Deval Patrick has signed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2009. He also vetoed over $100 million in items out of the budget. While that sounds like a lot of money, it’s only a drop in the bucket of the $28.2 billion budget. I’ve warned before that next year is going to be tough and the budget may be too costly, bloated, and unsustainable.

Unfortunately, many of the Governor’s vetoes unfairly impact Western Massachusetts, including a couple that hurt programs here in Westfield. My office is currently reviewing line items and making a list of veto overrides I would support.

Question. If you were walking down the street and saw a penny laying on the ground would you pick it up? Some people may say no, it’s not worth the bother, and pass it by. But what if you saw a nickel on the ground? Would you pick it up? I think most people would. I would. I have!

A nickel is a nickel, only 5 cents. But it’s 5 percent of a dollar. I think people like to save 5 percent. They love it when their favorite stores offer a sale. They love it even more when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers them a holiday from the 5 percent state sales tax. At least history shows they have over the past four years that the Bay State had a sales tax holiday..

Last weekend Vermont, which has a 6 percent sales tax, offered a sales tax holiday for the first time. Their governor reported it was very succesful in spurring on the Vermont economy during a normally sluggish time.

The Massachusetts Senate President has said she thinks it would be very helpful to consumers, merchants, and the state to offer the holiday again. Republicans like me in the House offered an amendment to the state budget to have a sales tax holiday. But the Speaker says no, not this year. He claims Massachusetts can’t afford to give up what we would take in in sales tax over a slow summer weekend.

I disagree. If you would like to help me encourage the Speaker to change his mind and allow the House to vote on a sales tax free holiday weekend for Massachusetts in August, give him a call. Speaker Sal DiMasi’s office number is 617-722-2500. His email address is Rep.SalvatoreDiMasi@hou.state.ma.us. Hurry, we’re running out of time. The Legislature adjourns from formal sessions on Thursday, July 31.

I have a new addition to my staff that I’d like to introduce to you in case you missed it last Saturday in the Westfield Evening News.

Jonelle Gingrich (no relation to Newt) will be working in my Boston office at the Massachusetts State House. She will primarily be responsible for budgetary and legislative matters. Jonelle and Sarah Latour, newly promoted to my Chief of Staff, will work together helping me to represent the citizens of Westfield.

Jonelle is a recent graduate of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Affairs with a regional concentration of Asia, and Geography. She also completed a minor in Political Science.

Jonelle is a resident of Sandwich, Massachusetts. She began her political career as a legislative intern for Representative Jeffrey Perry (R-Sandwich) during the summer of 2004.

I am certain that Jonelle will bring a fresh new perspective to my staff. Her enthusiasm, experience, and education make her an ideal fit and I am looking forward to all that I will be able to accomplish with her assistance.

She’ll be coming out to Westfield soon to acquaint herself with the people, places, history, and institutions of the Whip City. I encourage you to extend her a warm Westfield welcome.

* * *

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