Representative Don Humason



END OF FORMAL SESSIONS By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. August 2, 2008 With the stroke of midnight on Thursday, July 31, the House of Representatives and Massachusetts Senate concluded formal sessions for the 185th session of the Great and General Court. The House was in session late into the night on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Aside from budget week, the last week of formal sessions is typically the busiest. Amid the flurry, hustle, and bustle of the final days there was also a lot of “hurry up and wait” as the Democrat and Republican legislative leadership and committee members of the Ways and Means Committee, Committee on Rules, Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, and several others shuffled legislation, bond bills, and veto overrides back and forth between the branches. I wouldn’t have wanted to be a spectator trying to follow the action from the balcony of the House gallery. I’m sure it was difficult to stay on top of all the bills being taken up due to the frenetic pace and noisy chamber. There were many bills that came up for action at the last minute. Some I had to vote against. Others I could support. A bill I co-sponsored to reduce the firearm licensing fees from $100 to $40 for a six year license passed the House by a sizable margin. Unfortunately it failed to come up in the Senate. But we were able to prevail and strike a proposal by Governor Deval Patrick to increase those same fees. In light of the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision confirming the right to keep and bear arms as an individual right guaranteed by the Constitution I think the Governor was terribly misguided with his proposal. Luckily, supporters of the Second Amendment in the Legislature prevailed. Maybe the Administration will get the message: Hands off the guns of the law abiding citizens of Massachusetts. Try focusing on the criminals instead. I also had some success this week increasing an appropriation in the Higher Education Bond Bill we passed for a new academic building to be built at Westfield State College. As the ranking Republican member on the Higher Ed Committee, and a proud graduate of Westfield State, I am pleased I could prevail on Ways and Means to increase the amount by $10 million to $33 million. For the Legislature to override the Governor’s vetoes of items from the FY ‘09 state budget (which we passed early in July) the process needs to start in the House. The Senate may only override vetoes that are first overridden in the House. So, as you can imagine, there’s a lot of play between the branches. The House took up dozens of the Governor’s vetoes. Not a single one was sustained. All were overridden. Every year I find myself in the strange position of voting with Governor Patrick to sustain his vetoes more times even than many of the legislators in his own party. But I did vote to override a handful of his vetoes when they impacted my district and Western Massachusetts. I voted to override a line item that contained a $50,000 earmark for Kamp for Kids in Westfield. I voted to override a veto for school health services (for school nurses). I supported an override to restore money to the Travel and Tourism account. And I voted to override a line item that helps youth at risk by supporting the YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs. If you have any questions about what the House and Senate passed or didn’t pass, or whether an item was included in a bond bill or not, or which of the Governor’s vetoes were sustained or overridden, please feel free to contact me. My staff and I will be happy to help you. This weekend is the end of session party that Governor Patrick is throwing at his mansion in Richmond for the Legislature. I am looking forward to going. I’ll let you know how it was. By the way, Governor Patrick was kind enough to send me a birthday card on our birthday, July 31. The Westfield fireworks, which were postponed from July 3, will be held at Stanley Park Sunday night. Weather permitting we should have a huge turnout as people from the Whip City and all over Western Massachusetts come to Westfield to watch them. Plan ahead and avoid the traffic. Otherwise, enjoy the spectacular display! * * * 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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END OF FORMAL SESSIONS

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.
August 2, 2008

With the stroke of midnight on Thursday, July 31, the House of Representatives and Massachusetts Senate concluded formal sessions for the 185th session of the Great and General Court.

The House was in session late into the night on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Aside from budget week, the last week of formal sessions is typically the busiest.

Amid the flurry, hustle, and bustle of the final days there was also a lot of “hurry up and wait” as the Democrat and Republican legislative leadership and committee members of the Ways and Means Committee, Committee on Rules, Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, and several others shuffled legislation, bond bills, and veto overrides back and forth between the branches.

I wouldn’t have wanted to be a spectator trying to follow the action from the balcony of the House gallery. I’m sure it was difficult to stay on top of all the bills being taken up due to the frenetic pace and noisy chamber.

There were many bills that came up for action at the last minute. Some I had to vote against. Others I could support. A bill I co-sponsored to reduce the firearm licensing fees from $100 to $40 for a six year license passed the House by a sizable margin. Unfortunately it failed to come up in the Senate. But we were able to prevail and strike a proposal by Governor Deval Patrick to increase those same fees.

In light of the United States Supreme Court’s recent decision confirming the right to keep and bear arms as an individual right guaranteed by the Constitution I think the Governor was terribly misguided with his proposal. Luckily, supporters of the Second Amendment in the Legislature prevailed. Maybe the Administration will get the message: Hands off the guns of the law abiding citizens of Massachusetts. Try focusing on the criminals instead.

I also had some success this week increasing an appropriation in the Higher Education Bond Bill we passed for a new academic building to be built at Westfield State College. As the ranking Republican member on the Higher Ed Committee, and a proud graduate of Westfield State, I am pleased I could prevail on Ways and Means to increase the amount by $10 million to $33 million.

For the Legislature to override the Governor’s vetoes of items from the FY ‘09 state budget (which we passed early in July) the process needs to start in the House. The Senate may only override vetoes that are first overridden in the House. So, as you can imagine, there’s a lot of play between the branches.

The House took up dozens of the Governor’s vetoes. Not a single one was sustained. All were overridden. Every year I find myself in the strange position of voting with Governor Patrick to sustain his vetoes more times even than many of the legislators in his own party.

But I did vote to override a handful of his vetoes when they impacted my district and Western Massachusetts.

I voted to override a line item that contained a $50,000 earmark for Kamp for Kids in Westfield. I voted to override a veto for school health services (for school nurses). I supported an override to restore money to the Travel and Tourism account. And I voted to override a line item that helps youth at risk by supporting the YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs.

If you have any questions about what the House and Senate passed or didn’t pass, or whether an item was included in a bond bill or not, or which of the Governor’s vetoes were sustained or overridden, please feel free to contact me. My staff and I will be happy to help you.

This weekend is the end of session party that Governor Patrick is throwing at his mansion in Richmond for the Legislature. I am looking forward to going. I’ll let you know how it was. By the way, Governor Patrick was kind enough to send me a birthday card on our birthday, July 31.

The Westfield fireworks, which were postponed from July 3, will be held at Stanley Park Sunday night. Weather permitting we should have a huge turnout as people from the Whip City and all over Western Massachusetts come to Westfield to watch them. Plan ahead and avoid the traffic. Otherwise, enjoy the spectacular display!

* * *

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