Representative Don Humason



DISCLAIMER By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. Westfield Evening News column January 9, 2010 The views expressed in this column are th ose of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News. While that may be obvious to most readers, the reason I offer this disclaimer is so that you won’t blame the newspaper staff because of the things I write each week. I am grateful to the Westfield Evening News for continuing the tradition started by Carol Mazza with my predecessor, Representative Cele Hahn, of giving the local state representative a weekly forum in the paper to share his or her perspectives on the things happening at the State House, across Massachusetts, and in the greater Westfield area. Congratulations to Mayor Daniel Knapik, the Westfield City Council, School Committee, Gas & Electric Light Commissioners, and Athenaeum Trustee Rick Harling, who were sworn in Monday morning by City Clerk Karen Fanion to start the new year and their new terms in office. 2010 will continue to be a very challenging year and it will be incumbent on all of Westfield’s elected officials to work together. I am looking forward to working with them. The newest edition of my cable show, “From the State House to your House” will feature new Mayor Dan Knapik, and should begin running on the Community Programming Channel 15 next week. I invite you to watch. The House of Representatives and Senate reconvened in formal sessions this week after our holiday recess. On Thursday, the State House News Service reported, “The House passed a major education bill on a 119-35 vote in the small hours of Thursday morning, tacking on significant and largely unexplained changes while clinging to a schedule that the Patrick administration s ays must be maintained if the state wants to access $250 million in federal education aid. “The House adopted several “consolidated amendments” – packages of disparate amendments – that went unexplained on the floor and of whose contents House leaders said they had little idea. One change that did receive a floor explanation, passed before a late night blizzard of changes passed and rejected with no public explanation, assisted English language-learners, Education Committee co-chair Rep. Marty Walz said. “Republicans said their efforts to strengthen the bill by requiring an “adequacy study” of the state’s education resources was turned aside by a leadership parliamentary maneuver. Wednesday’s formal session, the House’s first since November, was marked by long periods of little visible activity, starting around 11 a.m. Wednesday and finishing at 12:11 a.m. Thursday. Shortly before midnight, the House adopted an amendment aimed at blunting cuts to regional school transportation payments. A more detailed explanation was not available. “Leaders worked to finish Wednesday, but a midnight cutoff in House rules appeared likely to hold the bill shy of the finish line, until Speaker Robert DeLeo entered the chamber shortly before midnight and reached a compromise that prevented members from objecting to the evident violation of parliamentary rules. “The bill, passed over bipartisan opposition, appears headed for a conference committee. Aides to Gov. Deval Patrick say the governor needs the legislation on his desk by Jan. 14 in order to cobble together a state application for the federal Race to the Top funds, for which the deadline is Jan. 19. In a statement, DeLeo said, “With this bill, the House is taking strong action to eliminate our unacceptable achievement gap and ensure that every child in Massachusetts receives a world class education,” Gov ernor Deval Patrick is set to deliver his annual State of the Commonwealth address from the House Chamber on Thursday, January 21 at 7 PM. Typically, the speech is televised so people from across the Bay State may watch it. The Governor’s recommendations on the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, called House 1, will be released on Wednesday, January 27, marking the start of the lengthy annual Massachusetts budget process. Next, the House and Senate Ways and Means will hold joint public budget hearings around the state as the Legislature dra fts its own version of the FY’11 budget. The week-long House debate on the budget is usually the last week of April. The Senate does their debate in mid-June. By law the budget must be passed in both branches and on the Governor’s desk by July 1. He has 10 days to review it before signing it, vetoing it, or making changes. Formal sessions end at midnight on Saturday, July 31, 2010. I will be holding office hours on Monday, January 11, from 10:30 AM – 12 noon, at Soup’s On! in the Pilgrim Candle Marketplace. My Chief of Staff Sarah Latour and I will be available to meet with constituents to answer their questions or discuss issues of concern. Do you know any college students looking for an internship opportunity? I am currently seeking legislative interns for my Westfield District office and State House office in Boston. Contact me for more information at 568-1366 if you or someone you know is interested. Mark your calendars for the 6th annual Penguin Plunge to benefit the Amelia Park Children’s Museum. It will be held this year at Hampton Ponds in Westfield on Saturday, January 30. Congratulations to Alberta Humason who is retiring from Highland Elementary School this week after 21 years of service as a School Nurse in the Westfield Public School system. *** 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

DISCLAIMER

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

Westfield Evening News column

January 9, 2010

The views expressed in this column are th ose of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News. While that may be obvious to most readers, the reason I offer this disclaimer is so that you won’t blame the newspaper staff because of the things I write each week.

I am grateful to the Westfield Evening News for continuing the tradition started by Carol Mazza with my predecessor, Representative Cele Hahn, of giving the local state representative a weekly forum in the paper to share his or her perspectives on the things happening at the State House, across Massachusetts, and in the greater Westfield area.

Congratulations to Mayor Daniel Knapik, the Westfield City Council, School Committee, Gas & Electric Light Commissioners, and Athenaeum Trustee Rick Harling, who were sworn in Monday morning by City Clerk Karen Fanion to start the new year and their new terms in office. 2010 will continue to be a very challenging year and it will be incumbent on all of Westfield’s elected officials to work together. I am looking forward to working with them.

The newest edition of my cable show, “From the State House to your House” will feature new Mayor Dan Knapik, and should begin running on the Community Programming Channel 15 next week. I invite you to watch.

The House of Representatives and Senate reconvened in formal sessions this week after our holiday recess.

On Thursday, the State House News Service reported, “The House passed a major education bill on a 119-35 vote in the small hours of Thursday morning, tacking on significant and largely unexplained changes while clinging to a schedule that the Patrick administration s ays must be maintained if the state wants to access $250 million in federal education aid.

“The House adopted several “consolidated amendments” – packages of disparate amendments – that went unexplained on the floor and of whose contents House leaders said they had little idea. One change that did receive a floor explanation, passed before a late night blizzard of changes passed and rejected with no public explanation, assisted English language-learners, Education Committee co-chair Rep. Marty Walz said.

“Republicans said their efforts to strengthen the bill by requiring an “adequacy study” of the state’s education resources was turned aside by a leadership parliamentary maneuver. Wednesday’s formal session, the House’s first since November, was marked by long periods of little visible activity, starting around 11 a.m. Wednesday and finishing at 12:11 a.m. Thursday. Shortly before midnight, the House adopted an amendment aimed at blunting cuts to regional school transportation payments. A more detailed explanation was not available.

“Leaders worked to finish Wednesday, but a midnight cutoff in House rules appeared likely to hold the bill shy of the finish line, until Speaker Robert DeLeo entered the chamber shortly before midnight and reached a compromise that prevented members from objecting to the evident violation of parliamentary rules.

“The bill, passed over bipartisan opposition, appears headed for a conference committee. Aides to Gov. Deval Patrick say the governor needs the legislation on his desk by Jan. 14 in order to cobble together a state application for the federal Race to the Top funds, for which the deadline is Jan. 19. In a statement, DeLeo said, “With this bill, the House is taking strong action to eliminate our unacceptable achievement gap and ensure that every child in Massachusetts receives a world class education,”

Gov ernor Deval Patrick is set to deliver his annual State of the Commonwealth address from the House Chamber on Thursday, January 21 at 7 PM. Typically, the speech is televised so people from across the Bay State may watch it.

The Governor’s recommendations on the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, called House 1, will be released on Wednesday, January 27, marking the start of the lengthy annual Massachusetts budget process. Next, the House and Senate Ways and Means will hold joint public budget hearings around the state as the Legislature dra fts its own version of the FY’11 budget.

The week-long House debate on the budget is usually the last week of April. The Senate does their debate in mid-June. By law the budget must be passed in both branches and on the Governor’s desk by July 1. He has 10 days to review it before signing it, vetoing it, or making changes. Formal sessions end at midnight on Saturday, July 31, 2010.

I will be holding office hours on Monday, January 11, from 10:30 AM – 12 noon, at Soup’s On! in the Pilgrim Candle Marketplace. My Chief of Staff Sarah Latour and I will be available to meet with constituents to answer their questions or discuss issues of concern.

Do you know any college students looking for an internship opportunity? I am currently seeking legislative interns for my Westfield District office and State House office in Boston. Contact me for more information at 568-1366 if you or someone you know is interested.

Mark your calendars for the 6th annual Penguin Plunge to benefit the Amelia Park Children’s Museum. It will be held this year at Hampton Ponds in Westfield on Saturday, January 30.

Congratulations to Alberta Humason who is retiring from Highland Elementary School this week after 21 years of service as a School Nurse in the Westfield Public School system.

***

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