Representative Don Humason



PENSION REFORM June 13, 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. Let me begin my column this week by congratulating the graduates of the Class of 2009 from St. Mary’s High School, Westfield High, and Westfield Vocational Technical High School. Although I’m not in the position of giving a graduation address to these high school students, I did have the opportunity to offer a few words of greetings and encouragement to the senior class at Westfield State College’s commencement exercises a few weeks ago. Here, in abridged version, is my message to all graduates: Today, we all face challenging, unprecedented times: Swine flu, North Korean missile tests, illegal immigration, bailouts, record high Federal deficits, high unemployment, staggering costs of living, increasing gas prices, and a statewide recession, to name a few. While the news sounds discouraging, I have faith in America and the American people. As an amateur student of history, I read a great deal and take comfort from the past. Winston Churchill said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” Churchill also said, “I have no fear of the future. Let us go forward into its mysteries, let us tear aside the veils which hide it from our eyes and let us move onward with confidence and courage.” Let me conclude with another quote I am fond of using attributed to many American Presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan to Clinton: “There is nothing wrong with America that what’s right with America can’t fix.” Congratulations, again, to all graduates. Now go, and strive to be what’s right with America! Sunday, June 14, is Flag Day. The Westfield River Valley Detachment #141 Marine Corps League, along with members of the Westfield Veterans Council, is hosting a Flag Day ceremony and is inviting the public to attend. It commences at 12:55 PM Sunday at Parker Memorial Park, across from South Middle School. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside South Middle School auditorium. If you have an American flag that is no longer serviceable and in need of retiring honorably, please bring your flag to the ceremony. The Marines will have a fire to cremate the retired flags. It is a moving ceremony and appropriate for the entire family to observe. I hope to see you there. The State House News Service reported this week that “State retirement officials have suspended former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi’s pension while DiMasi awaits trial on federal corruption charges. The State Retirement Board sent DiMasi a letter Tuesday notifying him that it had suspended his gross monthly allowance of $4,952. “Under a state law authorizing the board to launch administrative proceedings against pensioners charged with misappropriation of public funds, DiMasi could lose the pension benefits he accrued based on 33 years of creditable service.” On Thursday, the House and Senate voted in favor of a state Pension Bill that will begin to put an end to some of the many abuses inherent in the state employee pension system. The legislation aims to reform various aspects of the Commonwealth’s pension system for public employees, which has been under review due to the many media reports of abuse and overly generous pensions for certain public employees. I think the bill is a positive first step towards meaningful reform. But it is not the full reform that is needed and demanded by the people. We can and must do more soon in order to get our fiscal house in order and restore the public’s confidence in state government. I am hopeful that legislation will be filed and debated soon and that the public and the Legislature continues to scrutinize the state pension system while awaiting the pending release of a report by the Commission on Pension Reform. My colleagues and I in the House Republican Caucus have been staunch advocates for pension reform for the past several years, and I look forward to revisiting this important issue later in the legislative session to complete the positive steps taken today. I invite you to watch the newest installment of my cable show, "From the State House to Your House." My guest this month is Jim Wiggs, Director of the Westfield Emergency Management Agency. The show focuses on the mission of the Westfield Emergency Management Agency and how residents can be prepared in the event of an emergency. The half hour program airs on Westfield's Community Programming Channel, Channel 15, on Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM & 10:30 PM. * * * 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

PENSION REFORM

June 13, 2009
By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

Let me begin my column this week by congratulating the graduates of the Class of 2009 from St. Mary’s High School, Westfield High, and Westfield Vocational Technical High School.

Although I’m not in the position of giving a graduation address to these high school students, I did have the opportunity to offer a few words of greetings and encouragement to the senior class at Westfield State College’s commencement exercises a few weeks ago. Here, in abridged version, is my message to all graduates:

Today, we all face challenging, unprecedented times: Swine flu, North Korean missile tests, illegal immigration, bailouts, record high Federal deficits, high unemployment, staggering costs of living, increasing gas prices, and a statewide recession, to name a few.

While the news sounds discouraging, I have faith in America and the American people. As an amateur student of history, I read a great deal and take comfort from the past.

Winston Churchill said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.”

Churchill also said, “I have no fear of the future. Let us go forward into its mysteries, let us tear aside the veils which hide it from our eyes and let us move onward with confidence and courage.”

Let me conclude with another quote I am fond of using attributed to many American Presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan to Clinton: “There is nothing wrong with America that what’s right with America can’t fix.”

Congratulations, again, to all graduates. Now go, and strive to be what’s right with America!

Sunday, June 14, is Flag Day. The Westfield River Valley Detachment #141 Marine Corps League, along with members of the Westfield Veterans Council, is hosting a Flag Day ceremony and is inviting the public to attend. It commences at 12:55 PM Sunday at Parker Memorial Park, across from South Middle School. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside South Middle School auditorium.

If you have an American flag that is no longer serviceable and in need of retiring honorably, please bring your flag to the ceremony. The Marines will have a fire to cremate the retired flags. It is a moving ceremony and appropriate for the entire family to observe. I hope to see you there.

The State House News Service reported this week that “State retirement officials have suspended former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi’s pension while DiMasi awaits trial on federal corruption charges. The State Retirement Board sent DiMasi a letter Tuesday notifying him that it had suspended his gross monthly allowance of $4,952.

“Under a state law authorizing the board to launch administrative proceedings against pensioners charged with misappropriation of public funds, DiMasi could lose the pension benefits he accrued based on 33 years of creditable service.”

On Thursday, the House and Senate voted in favor of a state Pension Bill that will begin to put an end to some of the many abuses inherent in the state employee pension system. The legislation aims to reform various aspects of the Commonwealth’s pension system for public employees, which has been under review due to the many media reports of abuse and overly generous pensions for certain public employees.

I think the bill is a positive first step towards meaningful reform. But it is not the full reform that is needed and demanded by the people. We can and must do more soon in order to get our fiscal house in order and restore the public’s confidence in state government.

I am hopeful that legislation will be filed and debated soon and that the public and the Legislature continues to scrutinize the state pension system while awaiting the pending release of a report by the Commission on Pension Reform.

My colleagues and I in the House Republican Caucus have been staunch advocates for pension reform for the past several years, and I look forward to revisiting this important issue later in the legislative session to complete the positive steps taken today.

I invite you to watch the newest installment of my cable show, "From the State House to Your House." My guest this month is Jim Wiggs, Director of the Westfield Emergency Management Agency. The show focuses on the mission of the Westfield Emergency Management Agency and how residents can be prepared in the event of an emergency.

The half hour program airs on Westfield's Community Programming Channel, Channel 15, on Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM & 10:30 PM.

* * *

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