Representative Don Humason



TRANSPORTATION REFORM HEARING By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. March 7, 2009 The first public hearing of the Joint Committee on Transportation on the Governor’s transportation reform package was held this week at Springfield Technical Community College. Several more hearings are planned around the state. As a member of that committee, I joined with House Chair Joe Wagner of Chicopee and Senate Chair Steven Baddour of Methuen, and other legislators, in listening as Governor Patrick and Transportation Secretary Jim Aloisi laid out their plans to reform and restructure the Commonwealth’s current system. Part of their plan includes the much discussed .19 state gas tax increase. The hearing lasted for over five hours. Everyone who wanted to speak on the bill, either for or against, was given the time to speak. I’d like to commend and thank the half dozen people who attended that were from Westfield. Every single person from the Whip City urged reform before revenue. One person chastised legislators for wasteful state spending. Another warned that increased gasoline taxes were a sure fire way to drive small businesses away. Another cautioned that in its zeal to raise taxes the state was likely to put local gas stations out of business altogether thus ensuring that the state “kills the goose that laid the golden egg.” As I have reported in previous columns, this issue has a long way to go as it winds its way through the legislative process. After the joint public hearings are done the House and Senate will have to debate and vote on the package before it goes back to the Governor. At that point he can sign the bill, veto it, or send it back with changes. I continue to encourage people to contact the Governor and Speaker’s office to give them their opinions on the proposal. According to a press blurb in the State House News Service, “President Barack Obama’s top transportation aide said a 10-cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, nine cents below Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposal, is too high and would not be viable in any state. “With the economy the way it is right now, trying to propose a 10-cent a gallon increase in the gasoline tax is not going to fly anywhere in America,” said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission last week recommended increasing the federal gas tax by a dime.” By the way, Republican legislators are holding a Hardship Listening Tour for the public at several locations around Massachusetts. The purpose of these hearings is to allow members of the public to speak out and share their concerns with the proposals coming out of Beacon Hill and let legislators know how their families would be impacted. Obviously, the Governor’s gas tax increase proposal is well known. But included in the Governor’s House 1 budget for Fiscal Year 2010 are proposals to increase the restaurant meals tax and hotel tax, and create a tax on beer and wine, bottled water, snack food and candy. He also proposes open road tolling (the microchip in your inspection sticker issue), and increasing fees at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. These costs will have a real impact on the people of this state. I believe that at a time when people are facing the prospect of a long and deep recession, declining stock values, and possible unemployment, now is precisely the wrong time to be raising taxes and fees on the backs of Bay Staters. But we want to hear from you. Senator Mike Knapik, Representative Todd Smola from Palmer, and I are hosting a local Hardship Listening Tour public hearing on Tuesday, March 24, from 6 – 7:30 PM, at the Westfield Athenaeum. Please feel free to come and give testimony or submit it in writing. We will take that back to Boston and share it with our colleagues as we go about the process of crafting next year’s budget. * * * 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

TRANSPORTATION REFORM HEARING

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

March 7, 2009

The first public hearing of the Joint Committee on Transportation on the Governor’s transportation reform package was held this week at Springfield Technical Community College. Several more hearings are planned around the state.

As a member of that committee, I joined with House Chair Joe Wagner of Chicopee and Senate Chair Steven Baddour of Methuen, and other legislators, in listening as Governor Patrick and Transportation Secretary Jim Aloisi laid out their plans to reform and restructure the Commonwealth’s current system. Part of their plan includes the much discussed .19 state gas tax increase.

The hearing lasted for over five hours. Everyone who wanted to speak on the bill, either for or against, was given the time to speak. I’d like to commend and thank the half dozen people who attended that were from Westfield.

Every single person from the Whip City urged reform before revenue. One person chastised legislators for wasteful state spending. Another warned that increased gasoline taxes were a sure fire way to drive small businesses away. Another cautioned that in its zeal to raise taxes the state was likely to put local gas stations out of business altogether thus ensuring that the state “kills the goose that laid the golden egg.”

As I have reported in previous columns, this issue has a long way to go as it winds its way through the legislative process. After the joint public hearings are done the House and Senate will have to debate and vote on the package before it goes back to the Governor. At that point he can sign the bill, veto it, or send it back with changes. I continue to encourage people to contact the Governor and Speaker’s office to give them their opinions on the proposal.

According to a press blurb in the State House News Service, “President Barack Obama’s top transportation aide said a 10-cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, nine cents below Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposal, is too high and would not be viable in any state. “With the economy the way it is right now, trying to propose a 10-cent a gallon increase in the gasoline tax is not going to fly anywhere in America,” said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission last week recommended increasing the federal gas tax by a dime.”

By the way, Republican legislators are holding a Hardship Listening Tour for the public at several locations around Massachusetts. The purpose of these hearings is to allow members of the public to speak out and share their concerns with the proposals coming out of Beacon Hill and let legislators know how their families would be impacted.

Obviously, the Governor’s gas tax increase proposal is well known. But included in the Governor’s House 1 budget for Fiscal Year 2010 are proposals to increase the restaurant meals tax and hotel tax, and create a tax on beer and wine, bottled water, snack food and candy. He also proposes open road tolling (the microchip in your inspection sticker issue), and increasing fees at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

These costs will have a real impact on the people of this state. I believe that at a time when people are facing the prospect of a long and deep recession, declining stock values, and possible unemployment, now is precisely the wrong time to be raising taxes and fees on the backs of Bay Staters. But we want to hear from you.

Senator Mike Knapik, Representative Todd Smola from Palmer, and I are hosting a local Hardship Listening Tour public hearing on Tuesday, March 24, from 6 – 7:30 PM, at the Westfield Athenaeum.

Please feel free to come and give testimony or submit it in writing. We will take that back to Boston and share it with our colleagues as we go about the process of crafting next year’s budget.

* * *

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