Representative Don Humason



TIC TOC TIC TOC By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. July 26, 2008 Congratulations Westfield taxpayers and shoppers! In case you haven’t heard, your lobbying efforts (and mine) brought about a turnaround in House Speaker Sal DiMasi’s opposition to allowing a sales tax holiday bill to come to the floor for a vote. For the past few weeks I have written here in this column about how I believe the Legislature should focus on doing things that help our citizens; things like passing a sales tax holiday bill to stimulate our economy during the dog days of summer and give consumers a break. I am very happy that we were able to prevail on Speaker DiMasi to change his position on a sales tax holiday for the people of the Bay State. Five percent isn’t much, but it’s the least we in state government can do to help our consumers and businesses alike during the typically slow month of August. Despite earlier objections by the Speaker, the House passed the two day sales tax holiday bill by a vote of 139-15. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 32-5. It’s now on Governor Patrick’s desk awaiting his revue and signature. When he signs the law, the holiday will take place the weekend of August 16th and 17th. The tax holiday began as a one day event in 2004, but expanded to a two day holiday in 2005. This will mark the fifth year of the holiday. What else did the House do this week? Well, as the clock winds downs and the end of session rapidly approaches, the House was a flurry of activity Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We passed a bill banning the rental of pets, another bill protecting a mother’s right to breastfeed her child in public, several bills pertaining to life insurance and annuities, and two bond bills pertaining to the environment and capital projects. There’s a late-file bill making its way through the legislative process that would help motorists get discounts at the pump for paying for their gasoline with cash rather than credit. Certain franchise agreements exist with the major oil companies that disallow a station owner from offering those discounts. I support this bill and hope we get the chance to vote on it before July 31. Attention farmers! John Cougar Mellencamp was in Boston recently to announce that he would be doing another “Farm Aid” concert this year and that he would be doing it in or around Boston.&nb sp; The Farm Aid concerts raise money and call attention to the plight of farmers across America. Attention veterans! According to a recent public service announcement from the IRS, you can still get your federal stimulus payment. The Internal Revenue Service reminds veterans and qualifying retirees that it’s not too late to file. In fact, there may be 5.2 million Americans who are eligible but have not yet filed. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 provided for payments of up to $600 ($1200 per married couple filing jointly) for taxpayers who normally file a tax return and have a tax liability. It provided that stimulus recipients could receive another $300 for each eligible child younger than 17. The Act also created a special category for people who had certain types of income but may not file a tax return because their income is too low or nontaxable. More information for veterans: The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) has a new public service program to help veterans or their families if they need help in appealing a state or federal benefits decision. Each Monday between 3:00 and 5:00 PM a veteran who needs to appeal a veteran’s benefit decision can call the MBA at (617) 338-0572 to be matched with a volunteer attorney at no cost. Feel free to call my office at 568-1366 if you need additional information. Next week will be extremely hectic as Thursday at midnight the clock will finally run out on formal s essions for this year. Please bear with us next week if you have to call me or my staff. I promise I’ll read everything I get by mail or email. And Jonelle and Sarah will give me every phone message we receive. It’s just going to be a little crazy. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to starting my summer on August 1! Have a great week * * * 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

TIC TOC TIC TOC

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.
July 26, 2008

Congratulations Westfield taxpayers and shoppers!

In case you haven’t heard, your lobbying efforts (and mine) brought about a turnaround in House Speaker Sal DiMasi’s opposition to allowing a sales tax holiday bill to come to the floor for a vote.

For the past few weeks I have written here in this column about how I believe the Legislature should focus on doing things that help our citizens; things like passing a sales tax holiday bill to stimulate our economy during the dog days of summer and give consumers a break.

I am very happy that we were able to prevail on Speaker DiMasi to change his position on a sales tax holiday for the people of the Bay State. Five percent isn’t much, but it’s the least we in state government can do to help our consumers and businesses alike during the typically slow month of August.

Despite earlier objections by the Speaker, the House passed the two day sales tax holiday bill by a vote of 139-15. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 32-5. It’s now on Governor Patrick’s desk awaiting his revue and signature.

When he signs the law, the holiday will take place the weekend of August 16th and 17th.

The tax holiday began as a one day event in 2004, but expanded to a two day holiday in 2005. This will mark the fifth year of the holiday.

What else did the House do this week? Well, as the clock winds downs and the end of session rapidly approaches, the House was a flurry of activity Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We passed a bill banning the rental of pets, another bill protecting a mother’s right to breastfeed her child in public, several bills pertaining to life insurance and annuities, and two bond bills pertaining to the environment and capital projects.

There’s a late-file bill making its way through the legislative process that would help motorists get discounts at the pump for paying for their gasoline with cash rather than credit. Certain franchise agreements exist with the major oil companies that disallow a station owner from offering those discounts. I support this bill and hope we get the chance to vote on it before July 31.

Attention farmers! John Cougar Mellencamp was in Boston recently to announce that he would be doing another “Farm Aid” concert this year and that he would be doing it in or around Boston.&nb sp; The Farm Aid concerts raise money and call attention to the plight of farmers across America.

Attention veterans! According to a recent public service announcement from the IRS, you can still get your federal stimulus payment. The Internal Revenue Service reminds veterans and qualifying retirees that it’s not too late to file. In fact, there may be 5.2 million Americans who are eligible but have not yet filed.

The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 provided for payments of up to $600 ($1200 per married couple filing jointly) for taxpayers who normally file a tax return and have a tax liability. It provided that stimulus recipients could receive another $300 for each eligible child younger than 17. The Act also created a special category for people who had certain types of income but may not file a tax return because their income is too low or nontaxable.

More information for veterans: The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) has a new public service program to help veterans or their families if they need help in appealing a state or federal benefits decision.

Each Monday between 3:00 and 5:00 PM a veteran who needs to appeal a veteran’s benefit decision can call the MBA at (617) 338-0572 to be matched with a volunteer attorney at no cost. Feel free to call my office at 568-1366 if you need additional information.

Next week will be extremely hectic as Thursday at midnight the clock will finally run out on formal s essions for this year. Please bear with us next week if you have to call me or my staff. I promise I’ll read everything I get by mail or email. And Jonelle and Sarah will give me every phone message we receive. It’s just going to be a little crazy. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to starting my summer on August 1!

Have a great week

* * *

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