KID LETTERS

I hope you had a happy Independence Day.

July 1 marked the beginning of the state’s new fiscal year.  The House is suddenly a beehive of activity and we were in formal session Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  The pace of Legislative business will likely grow even more hectic as July 31, the last day of formal session, approaches.

Some good news:  The bill filed by Senator Knapik, Representative Kocot, and me that would allow the state Department of Fisheries and Wildlife to acquire a conservation restriction on watershed lands of the city of Westfield passed the House and Senate, and was signed into law by the Governor.  That means Westfield will be receiving a check from the state for $1 million.  It couldn’t come at a better time!

A bill reforming the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, called an act protecting children in the care of the Commonwealth, which came about because of the horrible case of the abuse of 11 year old Haleigh Poutre, finally passed the Legislature this week.  Governor Patrick is expected to sign it into law soon.  I was a part of Speaker DiMasi’s Special Ad Hoc Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect that met last year and gathered testimony on this issue.  Senator Knapik was on the Conference Committee that worked on the bill.

The Legislature voted this week to increase taxes on cigarettes, as well as to increase the taxes on many corporations doing business in the Commonwealth.  I voted against both these bills because I find them incredibly short sighted. 

As I’ve said in this column before increasing taxes on cigarettes will do little to stop smoking but will drive Massachusetts smokers out of state to do their shopping.  And I question the wisdom of further burdening the employers of this state with higher taxes (costs that will most likely be passed onto us consumers anyway) especially at a time when the economy is so shaky and our unemployment rate jumped from 4.1% to 4.9% in one month.

On Thursday we voted on the Conference Committee’s final budget for fiscal year ’09.
I’ll write more about that in my next column.

Before school got out for summer vacation, I had the chance to go and speak to a group of 3rd grade students at Juniper Park School.  Recently, I received a packet of letters from their teacher, Mrs. Cindy Gaylord.

I love reading letters from kids.  They are so honest and straightforward.  Shannon wrote, “Thank you for coming into my class.  I learned that you have been our Representative since 2002.  I also learned that Massachusetts has 160 representatives and that you only have the office for 2 years.”

You’ve got to be careful when you talk to kids.  They tend to repeat what you say.  Stefan wrote, “Thank you for telling me how you vote on stuff when you are at work.  I learned that sometimes you vote on silly stuff and sometimes you vote on stuff that isn’t silly.  Thanks again for coming to our school.”

Kids have a way of keeping you humble.  Here’s a great line from a letter from Mike.  “I’m not trying to be mean but I never heard of you.  I don’t watch speeches.  I come in from playing outside then I only watch cartoons.”

Cody drew a picture of my “I love Westfield pin” on the bottom of the letter.  He said, “My favorite part was when you told us you went to Boston every day.  Also, you told us that you went to Juniper Park too.  I learned that you might support a longer school day, me too.”

Hannah’s letter was very mature and very serious. “I learned a lot about the government system in Massachusetts.  I also learned that what you fear most is losing your family.  I think a lot of people have that same fear.  I hope you enjoyed your time coming to my school.”

One student, George, inquired about family relations.  He wrote, “I learned that you are a Republican.  Also, that you went to our school as a kid and you have a sister.  Do you fight with your sister like I do with mine?”  I used to George.  Now we’re both grown up and we get along great.

Sullivan said, “I liked when you asked us who we would vote for John McCain or Barack Obama.  You also made me happy when you complimented me about the question I asked you.  Thank you.”

Finally, Sofia summed up how I feel about my job perfectly when she wrote, “I learned that you think the best part of your job is talking with the people.  The worst part is driving from Westfield to Boston.”

*****

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