Representative Don Humason



QUESTIONABLE REFORM April 11, 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. Mark your calendars. Saturday, April 18 at 1PM is the annual Patriot’s Day ceremony at Parker Park, across from South Middle School. The Westfield Veterans Council and our local historians put on a great program. All are welcome. Over the past few months, many of my constituents, as well as other people from Western Massachusetts, were kind enough to contact me to let me know their feelings on the Governor's proposed gasoline tax increase, or the microchip in the inspection sticker, or other parts of the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure in need of repair. As a member of the Transportation Committee I participated in 3 public hearings held in Springfield, Methuen, and Boston and heard over 12 hours of testimony from members of the public, motorists, and business owners. The one thing I heard consistently was the need to reform our transportation system before seeking new revenue via toll hikes or gasoline tax increases. On Tuesday the House held a marathon 11 hour session and debated and passed the Transportation Reform bill. The good news is that this bill, much like the Senate's version of the Transportation Reform bill passed previously, contains no new taxes or toll increases and nothing about "open road tolling" and microchips. The bill combines the Mass Turnpike Authority and the Massachusetts Highway Department. And it does not allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses. There are many good pieces to the massive reform bill. I had wanted to vote for it. However, 6 Republican representatives and I chose to vote against the bill which otherwise passed the House unanimously. While I am pleased that the bill begins important reforms that have been long discussed in Massachusetts, I am worried that many of the amendments adopted over the long day and night of debate may weaken the success of some of those reforms and may pave the way, so to speak, for the need to raise revenues sooner than necessary. At one point during the debate, around 11PM, I took the floor to debate against a further amendment that seemed to eliminate the tunnel tolls for motorists who lived in South Boston and East Boston. This provision was contained (some might say hidden) among other provisions pertaining to toll discounts for certain Boston motorists, emergency vehicles, and the like. I argued that creating these discounts or free passes would deprive the tunnels of necessary operating revenue and may cause the new Authority to drive up tolls on the Western Pike, or raise gasoline taxes, to pay for them. I was also disappointed by the process. The bill was released by House Ways and Means last Friday at 5:15PM with amendments due by Monday at 3PM and debate scheduled for Tuesday at 1PM. There were over 175 amendments filed and many legislators didn't seem to know what the amendments did and what they were voting on. Even with a new Speaker, problems with the process continue. Not the least of which was that much of this bill was debated late into the night long after the press and the public had stopped paying attention to what lawmakers were doing. I feel this issue was too important to be rushed and done under cover of darkness. Additionally, as the hour grew late and the midnight deadline got closer, the House Leadership began passing amendments and further amendments without first letting members see the language or even allowing the House Clerk to read the language out loud for everyone to hear and try to understand. These amendments were being passed on voice votes with no roll calls and, therefore, no accountability. Without knowing for sure what was contained in some of these amendments, I was reluctant to vote to engross the final bill. The next step is for a 6 member Conference Committee (3 House members and 3 Senate members) to be named to hammer out a compromise between the 2 versions of the Transportation Reform bill. This may be a lengthy process. When the Committee is finished the bill goes back to the Legislature for an up or down vote with debate but no amendments before going to Governor Patrick for his review and signature. In the meantime, be on the lookout for the Governor to begin to call for raising revenues before the bill is even signed into law and whatever reforms and efficiencies are contained in it have a chance to begin to work. I will oppose this too. To read more of what I've written about the gas tax, transportation reform, and other issues, go to www.donhumason.org and read my past columns. Happy Passover and Happy Easter. * * * 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

QUESTIONABLE REFORM

April 11, 2009

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

Mark your calendars. Saturday, April 18 at 1PM is the annual Patriot’s Day ceremony at Parker Park, across from South Middle School. The Westfield Veterans Council and our local historians put on a great program. All are welcome.

Over the past few months, many of my constituents, as well as other people from Western Massachusetts, were kind enough to contact me to let me know their feelings on the Governor's proposed gasoline tax increase, or the microchip in the inspection sticker, or other parts of the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure in need of repair.

As a member of the Transportation Committee I participated in 3 public hearings held in Springfield, Methuen, and Boston and heard over 12 hours of testimony from members of the public, motorists, and business owners.

The one thing I heard consistently was the need to reform our transportation system before seeking new revenue via toll hikes or gasoline tax increases.

On Tuesday the House held a marathon 11 hour session and debated and passed the Transportation Reform bill.

The good news is that this bill, much like the Senate's version of the Transportation Reform bill passed previously, contains no new taxes or toll increases and nothing about "open road tolling" and microchips. The bill combines the Mass Turnpike Authority and the Massachusetts Highway Department. And it does not allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.

There are many good pieces to the massive reform bill. I had wanted to vote for it. However, 6 Republican representatives and I chose to vote against the bill which otherwise passed the House unanimously.

While I am pleased that the bill begins important reforms that have been long discussed in Massachusetts, I am worried that many of the amendments adopted over the long day and night of debate may weaken the success of some of those reforms and may pave the way, so to speak, for the need to raise revenues sooner than necessary.

At one point during the debate, around 11PM, I took the floor to debate against a further amendment that seemed to eliminate the tunnel tolls for motorists who lived in South Boston and East Boston. This provision was contained (some might say hidden) among other provisions pertaining to toll discounts for certain Boston motorists, emergency vehicles, and the like.

I argued that creating these discounts or free passes would deprive the tunnels of necessary operating revenue and may cause the new Authority to drive up tolls on the Western Pike, or raise gasoline taxes, to pay for them.

I was also disappointed by the process. The bill was released by House Ways and Means last Friday at 5:15PM with amendments due by Monday at 3PM and debate scheduled for Tuesday at 1PM. There were over 175 amendments filed and many legislators didn't seem to know what the amendments did and what they were voting on.

Even with a new Speaker, problems with the process continue. Not the least of which was that much of this bill was debated late into the night long after the press and the public had stopped paying attention to what lawmakers were doing. I feel this issue was too important to be rushed and done under cover of darkness.

Additionally, as the hour grew late and the midnight deadline got closer, the House Leadership began passing amendments and further amendments without first letting members see the language or even allowing the House Clerk to read the language out loud for everyone to hear and try to understand.

These amendments were being passed on voice votes with no roll calls and, therefore, no accountability. Without knowing for sure what was contained in some of these amendments, I was reluctant to vote to engross the final bill.

The next step is for a 6 member Conference Committee (3 House members and 3 Senate members) to be named to hammer out a compromise between the 2 versions of the Transportation Reform bill. This may be a lengthy process. When the Committee is finished the bill goes back to the Legislature for an up or down vote with debate but no amendments before going to Governor Patrick for his review and signature.

In the meantime, be on the lookout for the Governor to begin to call for raising revenues before the bill is even signed into law and whatever reforms and efficiencies are contained in it have a chance to begin to work. I will oppose this too.

To read more of what I've written about the gas tax, transportation reform, and other issues, go to www.donhumason.org and read my past columns.

Happy Passover and Happy Easter.

* * *

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