Representative Don Humason



For Immediate Release Contact: Donald Humason, Jr. Phone: (413) 568-1366 February 16, 2010 HUMASON & KNAPIK ANNOUNCE $10,000 REWARD TO IMPROVE MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNMENT Don Humason, Westfield’s State Representative, is announcing a unique and exciting opportunity for citizens to improve the way government works in Massachusetts. The Pioneer Institute, a non-profit research group, is sponsoring the 19th Better Government Competition, which seeks ideas from individuals about ways to improve the quality of government services and deliver them more efficiently. The theme of the 2010 competition is Governing in Times of Crisis, and its focus is budget management and savings. This competition will provide an opportunity for people across the Baystate to make an impact on public policy issues with which the Legislature is currently dealing. The Better Government Competition asks entrants to draft policy ideas for streamlining state and municipal government. Past winners have tackled such diverse problems as pollution control, Medicaid, child welfare, and the special education system. Since the first Better Government Competition, the implementation of winning ideas has saved Massachusetts taxpayers an estimated $500 million. An independent panel of judges - drawn from academia, business, government, and the media - will reward proposals to streamline administration, consolidate functions, improve procurement, and/or enhance service quality and efficiency. “Making government more efficient should always be our goal and I urge my constituents to participate by sending in an entry,” said Representative Humason. “We have a long way to go before our State Government is as responsive as it should be and I hope this contest will help us in the Legislature with new ideas on how we can achieve this,” said Senator Knapik. The winning entrant will receive a $10,000 prize, and 4 runners-up will receive $1000 prizes. The BGC Awards Dinner, to be held in June of 2010, will announce the winners and celebrate their efforts on behalf of Massachusetts’ taxpayers. “Getting the citizens of the Commonwealth more involved in thinking about the work of government and public service is a core piece of what a place like Pioneer is about,” said Jim Stergios, Executive Director of Pioneer Institute. “We greatly appreciate Rep. Humason working with us to broaden our ability to attract good ideas from across the state.” To learn more about the Better Government Competition, please visit www.pioneerinstitute.org/bgc, or contact Shawni Littlehale at 617-723-2277 or slittlehale@pioneerinstitute.org * * * Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News. 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. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Donald Humason, Jr.
Phone: (413) 568-1366
February 16, 2010

HUMASON & KNAPIK ANNOUNCE $10,000 REWARD TO IMPROVE MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNMENT

Don Humason, Westfield’s State Representative, is announcing a unique and exciting opportunity for citizens to improve the way government works in Massachusetts.

The Pioneer Institute, a non-profit research group, is sponsoring the 19th Better Government Competition, which seeks ideas from individuals about ways to improve the quality of government services and deliver them more efficiently. The theme of the 2010 competition is Governing in Times of Crisis, and its focus is budget management and savings.

This competition will provide an opportunity for people across the Baystate to make an impact on public policy issues with which the Legislature is currently dealing.

The Better Government Competition asks entrants to draft policy ideas for streamlining state and municipal government. Past winners have tackled such diverse problems as pollution control, Medicaid, child welfare, and the special education system. Since the first Better Government Competition, the implementation of winning ideas has saved Massachusetts taxpayers an estimated $500 million.

An independent panel of judges - drawn from academia, business, government, and the media - will reward proposals to streamline administration, consolidate functions, improve procurement, and/or enhance service quality and efficiency.

“Making government more efficient should always be our goal and I urge my constituents to participate by sending in an entry,” said Representative Humason.

“We have a long way to go before our State Government is as responsive as it should be and I hope this contest will help us in the Legislature with new ideas on how we can achieve this,” said Senator Knapik.

The winning entrant will receive a $10,000 prize, and 4 runners-up will receive $1000 prizes. The BGC Awards Dinner, to be held in June of 2010, will announce the winners and celebrate their efforts on behalf of Massachusetts’ taxpayers.

“Getting the citizens of the Commonwealth more involved in thinking about the work of government and public service is a core piece of what a place like Pioneer is about,” said Jim Stergios, Executive Director of Pioneer Institute. “We greatly appreciate Rep. Humason working with us to broaden our ability to attract good ideas from across the state.”

To learn more about the Better Government Competition, please visit www.pioneerinstitute.org/bgc, or contact Shawni Littlehale at 617-723-2277 or slittlehale@pioneerinstitute.org

* * *

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News.

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. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group