Representative Don Humason



CONSTITUENT SURVEY RESULTS October 10, 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. The House of Representatives this week took up the bill pertaining to disaster preparedness with respect to a pandemic in the Commonwealth. As I have written in previous columns this has been a contentious and controversial issue since the bill first passed in the Massachusetts State Senate several months ago. There has been uneasiness and a distrust about what was perceived as an expansion of government power and intrusion into the lives of individuals. Philosophically, I believe that the powers of government at any level must be balanced and tempered in favor of the rights of the people. The good news is that the legislation, Senate Bill 2028, has been reworked substantially to address those concerns and to protect the rights of the people as guaranteed by the 4th amendment of the United States Constitution. I am much more comfortable with the bill now and voted yes. It passed the House on a vote of 113-36. A Conference Committee will now be appointed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bills. Once a compromise is reached by the Committee, that bill will go back to the full House and Senate for members to have their final say on the language. If any of the positive changes we made in our version of the bill are taken out, I reserve my rights to vote against the final bill before it goes to the Governor for his review. This week the Registry of Motor Vehicles notified legislators that it had reversed its prior decision not to send notices to motorists when their drivers license was about to expire. I applaud the Registrar for changing her mind. Despite my belief in individual responsibility, I felt it was unfair that the state was not going to give courtesy notices to motorists especially because the state stood to benefit financially by fining motorists for driving with an expired license. The RMV has partnered with a company that will make use of technology to give electronic notice to drivers. Until it’s up and running, though, I caution my constituents to be aware; check your licenses, registrations, and inspection stickers to make sure you are current and up to date. In my weekly column in the Westfield Evening News on September 12, I conducted another survey where I asked 10 questions and sought input from my constituents. There were 82 people who responded by mail, email, and in person. The results are unscientific, but give a nice snapshot of what people in Westfield are thinking. My thanks to Sarah Latour, my Chief of Staff, for compiling all the data. Humason September 2009 Constituent Survey Results 1) In your opinion, is the state of the economy getting better, getting worse, or staying the same? 82 Respondents. BETTER 7/9% WORSE 43/52% SAME 29/35% UNDECIDED 3/4% 2) Has the July 1 increase in Massachusetts sales tax or liquor tax from 5% to 6.25% caused you to go out of state or to the internet to purchase items and avoid paying the higher tax? 82 Respondents. YES 22/27% NO 57/69% UNDECIDED 3/4% 3) Has the July 1 increase in meals tax from 5% to 6.25% caused you to cut down on the number of times you and your family dine out? 82 Respondents. YES 32/39% NO 50/61% 4) Do you support a total ban on “texting” while driving for all Massachusetts motorists? 82 Respondents. YES 75/91% NO 6/8% UNDECIDED 1/1% Do you support a total ban on using cell phones while driving for all Massachusetts motorists? 82 Respondents. YES 43/52% NO 39/48% 5) Do you favor legislation allowing Massachusetts motorists to use “hands free” cell phones while driving, instead of an outright ban on all cell phones? 82 Respondents. YES 57/69% NO 24/30% UNDECIDED 1/1% 6) Should the Legislature change the law to require the Registry of Motor Vehicles to begin re-testing elderly drivers? 82 Respondents. YES 48/58% NO 30/47% UNDECIDED 4/5% At what age should that re-testing begin? Results were mixed, but over 75% said test drivers 65 and over. Only 2% felt the RMV should test drivers 64 and younger. 15% were undecided. 7) In 2004, the Legislature changed the law allowing the Governor to appoint a replacement to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate until the next Senate election. Now, the current governor wants the Legislature to change the law again this time to allow him to appoint an interim U.S. Senator until a special election can be held January 19, 2010. Do you support or oppose the change? 82 Respondents. SUPPORT 15/18% OPPOSE 64/78% UNDECIDED 3/4% 8) Despite recent tax increases in the Bay State, some legislative leaders are floating the idea of increasing state revenues by raising additional taxes. Do you support or oppose an increase in the Massachusetts Income Tax rate of 5.3%? 82 Respondents. SUPPORT 0/0% OPPOSE 76/92% UNDECIDED 6/8% 9) Do you support or oppose an increase in the Massachusetts Gasoline Tax? 82 Respondents. SUPPORT 10/12% OPPOSE 70/86% UNDECIDED 2/2% 10) Do you support or oppose resort-style casinos in Massachusetts? 82 Respondents. SUPPORT 30/37% OPPOSE 45/54% UNDECIDED 7/9% Do you support or oppose slot parlors at the current Massachusetts race tracks? 82 Respondents. SUPPORT 32/39% OPPOSE 40/49% UNDECIDED 10/12% *** Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

CONSTITUENT SURVEY RESULTS

October 10, 2009

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

The House of Representatives this week took up the bill pertaining to disaster preparedness with respect to a pandemic in the Commonwealth. As I have written in previous columns this has been a contentious and controversial issue since the bill first passed in the Massachusetts State Senate several months ago.

There has been uneasiness and a distrust about what was perceived as an expansion of government power and intrusion into the lives of individuals. Philosophically, I believe that the powers of government at any level must be balanced and tempered in favor of the rights of the people.

The good news is that the legislation, Senate Bill 2028, has been reworked substantially to address those concerns and to protect the rights of the people as guaranteed by the 4th amendment of the United States Constitution.

I am much more comfortable with the bill now and voted yes. It passed the House on a vote of 113-36.

A Conference Committee will now be appointed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bills. Once a compromise is reached by the Committee, that bill will go back to the full House and Senate for members to have their final say on the language.

If any of the positive changes we made in our version of the bill are taken out, I reserve my rights to vote against the final bill before it goes to the Governor for his review.

This week the Registry of Motor Vehicles notified legislators that it had reversed its prior decision not to send notices to motorists when their drivers license was about to expire. I applaud the Registrar for changing her mind.

Despite my belief in individual responsibility, I felt it was unfair that the state was not going to give courtesy notices to motorists especially because the state stood to benefit financially by fining motorists for driving with an expired license.

The RMV has partnered with a company that will make use of technology to give electronic notice to drivers. Until it’s up and running, though, I caution my constituents to be aware; check your licenses, registrations, and inspection stickers to make sure you are current and up to date.

In my weekly column in the Westfield Evening News on September 12, I conducted another survey where I asked 10 questions and sought input from my constituents. There were 82 people who responded by mail, email, and in person. The results are unscientific, but give a nice snapshot of what people in Westfield are thinking.

My thanks to Sarah Latour, my Chief of Staff, for compiling all the data.

Humason September 2009 Constituent Survey Results

1) In your opinion, is the state of the economy getting better, getting worse, or staying the same?

82 Respondents. BETTER 7/9% WORSE 43/52% SAME 29/35% UNDECIDED 3/4%

2) Has the July 1 increase in Massachusetts sales tax or liquor tax from 5% to 6.25% caused you to go out of state or to the internet to purchase items and avoid paying the higher tax?

82 Respondents. YES 22/27% NO 57/69% UNDECIDED 3/4%

3) Has the July 1 increase in meals tax from 5% to 6.25% caused you to cut down on the number of times you and your family dine out?

82 Respondents. YES 32/39% NO 50/61%

4) Do you support a total ban on “texting” while driving for all Massachusetts motorists?

82 Respondents. YES 75/91% NO 6/8% UNDECIDED 1/1%

Do you support a total ban on using cell phones while driving for all Massachusetts motorists?

82 Respondents. YES 43/52% NO 39/48%

5) Do you favor legislation allowing Massachusetts motorists to use “hands free” cell phones while driving, instead of an outright ban on all cell phones?

82 Respondents. YES 57/69% NO 24/30% UNDECIDED 1/1%

6) Should the Legislature change the law to require the Registry of Motor Vehicles to begin re-testing elderly drivers?

82 Respondents. YES 48/58% NO 30/47% UNDECIDED 4/5%

At what age should that re-testing begin? Results were mixed, but over 75% said test drivers 65 and over. Only 2% felt the RMV should test drivers 64 and younger. 15% were undecided.

7) In 2004, the Legislature changed the law allowing the Governor to appoint a replacement to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate until the next Senate election. Now, the current governor wants the Legislature to change the law again this time to allow him to appoint an interim U.S. Senator until a special election can be held January 19, 2010. Do you support or oppose the change?

82 Respondents. SUPPORT 15/18% OPPOSE 64/78% UNDECIDED 3/4%

8) Despite recent tax increases in the Bay State, some legislative leaders are floating the idea of increasing state revenues by raising additional taxes. Do you support or oppose an increase in the Massachusetts Income Tax rate of 5.3%?

82 Respondents. SUPPORT 0/0% OPPOSE 76/92% UNDECIDED 6/8%

9) Do you support or oppose an increase in the Massachusetts Gasoline Tax?

82 Respondents. SUPPORT 10/12% OPPOSE 70/86% UNDECIDED 2/2%

10) Do you support or oppose resort-style casinos in Massachusetts?

82 Respondents. SUPPORT 30/37% OPPOSE 45/54% UNDECIDED 7/9%

Do you support or oppose slot parlors at the current Massachusetts race tracks?

82 Respondents. SUPPORT 32/39% OPPOSE 40/49% UNDECIDED 10/12%

***

Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group