Representative Don Humason



AS IT STANDS NOW May 9, 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. I had to email my “Budget Week Diary” column to the paper last week before I could report what happened with the final spending bill. As you most likely know by now the House worked until 11 PM Thursday night before recessing to return last Friday. We completed the budget debate and took the final vote on the House version around 10 PM last Friday. The vote was 137 to 19. All 16 Republicans and 3 Democrats voted against the budget. It was a difficult vote because legislators were faced with severe cuts to programs and local aid due to avalanching state revenues. A floor has yet to be found. The bottom of the fall is not yet in sight. House Republican Leader Brad Jones had this to say when he took the podium before the final vote came, “This is my 19th budget in one form or fashion. We have a budget that expanded the bottom line. I am not going to vote to move this budget forward. We started the week off with a huge tax increase on the citizens, the impacts of which we have no analysis and data and no understanding of what it would mean. We (Republicans) think it was reasonable to ask. We are told it will raise $900 million. Look at unemployment since September. I fear for what that tax increase is going to do to an already weakening economy and people living on the edge. “The revenues for April are cause for great speculation. I have read they are about $900 million lower than the revenues of last year. So for any of us whether you voted for the tax increase or against it, as difficult as the votes were you know in your heart of hearts that this budget isn't balanced, that it is going to need to be revisited many many times. I think that to do that with a level of intellectual honesty, I can't do. I respect the will of the majority to move it on. I know this budget isn't balanced. “I know that some of the ideas my side of the aisle offered are good and valid and we will be back revisiting those. They were missed opportunities and missed necessities to do. We restored some money to local aid and that is a good thing. We pointed to a better practice for when capital gains return. Some good things were restored. Some say we were not willing to take tough votes. “There are votes members of the caucus took on consolidated amendments that were difficult. We did 22 consolidated amendments. I can't in good faith ask my caucus to vote on this based on a tax increase and missed opportunities for reform or set aside. I am happy we did the medical waste reform. I want to bring it back to thanking the speaker and the chairman for the opportunity to talk and I appreciate them coming to me and helping us understand where things stand. I don't envy the task of the gentleman from Burlington. “It is going to be a tough tough process. Every single day the numbers are changing. I know we all hope we have bottomed out. The concern is we don't know how long we will be at the trough before the upswing. The bottom line is about $25 million from last year and I do not think that is sustainable.” As it stands now, the budget goes over to the state Senate for their deliberation. Rumors abound in the State House but we're hearing the Senate intends to cut more deeply even than the House in light of the recession. Senator Mike Knapik is my guest this month on my cable show “From the State House to Your House” on Channel 15. We’re going to talk about the budget and the state’s economic situation. Please tune in and watch the show starting next week. Legislative Committees continue to meet and hold public hearings on the thousands of bills filed by members. I was in Boston Thursday for a hearing of the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. The Conference Committees on Transportation and Pension Reform have begun meeting to try to compromise the House and Senate versions passed earlier this year. May is a special month for two reasons: Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Both groups, moms and veterans, deserve our love and respect, and a big Thank You! Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and all moms. * * * 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

AS IT STANDS NOW

May 9, 2009

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

I had to email my “Budget Week Diary” column to the paper last week before I could report what happened with the final spending bill. As you most likely know by now the House worked until 11 PM Thursday night before recessing to return last Friday.

We completed the budget debate and took the final vote on the House version around 10 PM last Friday. The vote was 137 to 19. All 16 Republicans and 3 Democrats voted against the budget. It was a difficult vote because legislators were faced with severe cuts to programs and local aid due to avalanching state revenues. A floor has yet to be found. The bottom of the fall is not yet in sight.

House Republican Leader Brad Jones had this to say when he took the podium before the final vote came, “This is my 19th budget in one form or fashion. We have a budget that expanded the bottom line. I am not going to vote to move this budget forward. We started the week off with a huge tax increase on the citizens, the impacts of which we have no analysis and data and no understanding of what it would mean. We (Republicans) think it was reasonable to ask. We are told it will raise $900 million. Look at unemployment since September. I fear for what that tax increase is going to do to an already weakening economy and people living on the edge.

“The revenues for April are cause for great speculation. I have read they are about $900 million lower than the revenues of last year. So for any of us whether you voted for the tax increase or against it, as difficult as the votes were you know in your heart of hearts that this budget isn't balanced, that it is going to need to be revisited many many times. I think that to do that with a level of intellectual honesty, I can't do. I respect the will of the majority to move it on. I know this budget isn't balanced.

“I know that some of the ideas my side of the aisle offered are good and valid and we will be back revisiting those. They were missed opportunities and missed necessities to do. We restored some money to local aid and that is a good thing. We pointed to a better practice for when capital gains return. Some good things were restored. Some say we were not willing to take tough votes.

“There are votes members of the caucus took on consolidated amendments that were difficult. We did 22 consolidated amendments. I can't in good faith ask my caucus to vote on this based on a tax increase and missed opportunities for reform or set aside. I am happy we did the medical waste reform. I want to bring it back to thanking the speaker and the chairman for the opportunity to talk and I appreciate them coming to me and helping us understand where things stand. I don't envy the task of the gentleman from Burlington.

“It is going to be a tough tough process. Every single day the numbers are changing. I know we all hope we have bottomed out. The concern is we don't know how long we will be at the trough before the upswing. The bottom line is about $25 million from last year and I do not think that is sustainable.”

As it stands now, the budget goes over to the state Senate for their deliberation. Rumors abound in the State House but we're hearing the Senate intends to cut more deeply even than the House in light of the recession.

Senator Mike Knapik is my guest this month on my cable show “From the State House to Your House” on Channel 15. We’re going to talk about the budget and the state’s economic situation. Please tune in and watch the show starting next week.

Legislative Committees continue to meet and hold public hearings on the thousands of bills filed by members. I was in Boston Thursday for a hearing of the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. The Conference Committees on Transportation and Pension Reform have begun meeting to try to compromise the House and Senate versions passed earlier this year.

May is a special month for two reasons: Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Both groups, moms and veterans, deserve our love and respect, and a big Thank You!

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and all moms.

* * *

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