Representative Don Humason



TOP 10 OF 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. January 2, 2010 Happy New Year! Welcome to 2010! It’s hard to believe we’re already a decade into the new millennium. I can still remember the hysteria surrounding 1999 becoming 2000 ten years ago. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year’s Eve. The Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate reconvene on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. The Speaker has indicated that the House will quickly take up an updated Education Reform bill that has already passed the Senate. Dealing with a stagnated economy, decreased budget, and high unemployment in the Bay State will continue in the new year. Casino gaming of some sort is sure to be debated. This week is my annual Top 10 list of the stories and events that pertain to my district of Westfield and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2009. 10. The Economy. Still. Just as the national and statewide recession was a big issue in 2008 it continued in 2009 and is not likely to abate in 2010. Despite (or more likely because of) the Democrat majority’s multiple tax increases in 2009 (sales tax, meals, hotel, liquor tax) business growth is stagnant and unemployment remains around 10%. 9. Sal DiMasi. The re-election by House Democrats of the embattled Salvatore DiMasi as House Speaker early in January, followed almost immediately by DiMasi’s resignation as Speaker and the subsequent election of Robert DeLeo, then the announcement of Federal indictments against DiMasi, and the ethical cloud still hanging over the office of Speaker. Three Democrat Speakers in a row have been indicted. 8. The death of United States Senator Edward Kennedy after more than four decades representing Massachusetts in our nation’s capitol. A special election is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19. Republican state Senator Scott Brown, Democrat Attorney General Martha Coakley, and Independent Joe Kennedy (no relation to the late Senator) are the three candidates vying for your vote. The winner will join John Kerry as the Commonwealth’s U.S. Senate delegation. 7. Governor Deval Patrick’s declining popularity, even among members of his own party. Patrick’s support for an increase in the hated state gasoline tax, his hiring of 1200 new state employees while hundreds more face layoffs and thousands face furloughs, and his decision to close Outpatient Services at the Holyoke Soldiers Home have demonstrated how out of touch he is with the average voter in the Bay State and has only increased his unpopularity. He has three announced challengers for the November election: Republicans Christy Mihos and Charlie Baker, and Independent Tim Cahill have begun campaigning to replace Patrick. 6. New Bridge. The new bridge over the Westfield River opened in August. After decades of local discussion and years of pre-planning, the new Great River Bridge has opened while work continues on the old bridge, the railroad overpasses, the new park, and the surrounding intersections. Unfortunately, the traffic and construction have seriously impacted local businesses like Pilgrim Candle, North Elm Butcher Block, Elm Pizza, the Westwood, and Whip City Candle. 5. More scandal among Democrat legislators. Again, the Democratic Majority in the House and Senate was marred by multiple ethics scandals and allegations of wrongdoing from former House Speaker Sal DiMasi to current Cambridge State Senator Anthony Galluccio (for leaving the scene of an accident and alleged drunk driving). 4. Numerous reforms. In an effort to burnish its tarnished image with the public and the press, the Massachusetts Legislature undertook and passed many reforms including Ethics, Transportation, and Pension reform. Are the reforms working? Only time will tell. 3. Roll calls and pay raises. I decided not to take my legislative pay raise in 2009 and instead donated it to many local charities: Cancer House of Hope, YMCA, WOW, Boys & Girls Club, Marine Corps League, Westfield River Watershed Association, Arts on the Green, Stanley Park, Noble Hospital, Kamp for Kids, Westfield Athenaeum, Council on Aging, and Amelia Park Children’s Museum. I have already signed up to take a voluntary week-long furlough in 2010. 2009 marked my seventh year as Westfield’s State Representative, and I am proud to say I earned another 100% voting record for the session by not missing a single one of the 262 roll call votes held in the House of Representatives in 2009. 2. The Westfield municipal elections. This past November saw the voters of Westfield elect a new mayor, Dan Knapik, over incumbent mayor Mike Boulanger after only one two-year term. The City Council lost a number of veteran councilors and will have five first-time members when it convenes this month. One unfortunate footnote in this election is that voter apathy appeared high as voter turnout was particularly low. 1. The H1N1 virus. Swine flu mania dominated the news throughout 2009. May you all have a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year 2010! *** 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

TOP 10 OF 2009

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

January 2, 2010

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2010! It’s hard to believe we’re already a decade into the new millennium. I can still remember the hysteria surrounding 1999 becoming 2000 ten years ago. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year’s Eve.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate reconvene on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. The Speaker has indicated that the House will quickly take up an updated Education Reform bill that has already passed the Senate. Dealing with a stagnated economy, decreased budget, and high unemployment in the Bay State will continue in the new year. Casino gaming of some sort is sure to be debated.

This week is my annual Top 10 list of the stories and events that pertain to my district of Westfield and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2009.

10. The Economy. Still. Just as the national and statewide recession was a big issue in 2008 it continued in 2009 and is not likely to abate in 2010. Despite (or more likely because of) the Democrat majority’s multiple tax increases in 2009 (sales tax, meals, hotel, liquor tax) business growth is stagnant and unemployment remains around 10%.

9. Sal DiMasi. The re-election by House Democrats of the embattled Salvatore DiMasi as House Speaker early in January, followed almost immediately by DiMasi’s resignation as Speaker and the subsequent election of Robert DeLeo, then the announcement of Federal indictments against DiMasi, and the ethical cloud still hanging over the office of Speaker. Three Democrat Speakers in a row have been indicted.

8. The death of United States Senator Edward Kennedy after more than four decades representing Massachusetts in our nation’s capitol. A special election is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19. Republican state Senator Scott Brown, Democrat Attorney General Martha Coakley, and Independent Joe Kennedy (no relation to the late Senator) are the three candidates vying for your vote. The winner will join John Kerry as the Commonwealth’s U.S. Senate delegation.

7. Governor Deval Patrick’s declining popularity, even among members of his own party. Patrick’s support for an increase in the hated state gasoline tax, his hiring of 1200 new state employees while hundreds more face layoffs and thousands face furloughs, and his decision to close Outpatient Services at the Holyoke Soldiers Home have demonstrated how out of touch he is with the average voter in the Bay State and has only increased his unpopularity. He has three announced challengers for the November election: Republicans Christy Mihos and Charlie Baker, and Independent Tim Cahill have begun campaigning to replace Patrick.

6. New Bridge. The new bridge over the Westfield River opened in August. After decades of local discussion and years of pre-planning, the new Great River Bridge has opened while work continues on the old bridge, the railroad overpasses, the new park, and the surrounding intersections. Unfortunately, the traffic and construction have seriously impacted local businesses like Pilgrim Candle, North Elm Butcher Block, Elm Pizza, the Westwood, and Whip City Candle.

5. More scandal among Democrat legislators. Again, the Democratic Majority in the House and Senate was marred by multiple ethics scandals and allegations of wrongdoing from former House Speaker Sal DiMasi to current Cambridge State Senator Anthony Galluccio (for leaving the scene of an accident and alleged drunk driving).

4. Numerous reforms. In an effort to burnish its tarnished image with the public and the press, the Massachusetts Legislature undertook and passed many reforms including Ethics, Transportation, and Pension reform. Are the reforms working? Only time will tell.

3. Roll calls and pay raises. I decided not to take my legislative pay raise in 2009 and instead donated it to many local charities: Cancer House of Hope, YMCA, WOW, Boys & Girls Club, Marine Corps League, Westfield River Watershed Association, Arts on the Green, Stanley Park, Noble Hospital, Kamp for Kids, Westfield Athenaeum, Council on Aging, and Amelia Park Children’s Museum. I have already signed up to take a voluntary week-long furlough in 2010.

2009 marked my seventh year as Westfield’s State Representative, and I am proud to say I earned another 100% voting record for the session by not missing a single one of the 262 roll call votes held in the House of Representatives in 2009.

2. The Westfield municipal elections. This past November saw the voters of Westfield elect a new mayor, Dan Knapik, over incumbent mayor Mike Boulanger after only one two-year term. The City Council lost a number of veteran councilors and will have five first-time members when it convenes this month. One unfortunate footnote in this election is that voter apathy appeared high as voter turnout was particularly low.

1. The H1N1 virus. Swine flu mania dominated the news throughout 2009.

May you all have a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year 2010!

***

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