Representative Don Humason



WESTFIELDERS IN BOSTON Westfield Evening News column By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. March 27, 2010 A friendly reminder to all that Thursday, April 15, is quickly approaching. April 15 is Tax Day and taxpayers must have their state and federal taxes filed by the end of that day or risk penalties. Speaking of taxes, the House version of the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget will likely be released by the House Committee on Ways and Means the week of April 12th with legislators’ amendments due by Friday April 16. Debate is scheduled for the week of April 26 through April 30. I attended a reception for a colleague this week, Representative Joe Wagner from Chicopee. Joe is the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and I am the Ranking Republican member on the Committee. Speaker Robert DeLeo was the special guest and before he introduced Representative Wagner he spoke of how the Massachusetts economy has been very fiscally troubling. He said the upcoming budget would focus on jobs and would not contain any new taxes. This is good news to me. The House debated a supplemental budget bill this week, House Bill 4572. Several members tried to ad an amendment that would severely limit film tax credits that were created a couple years ago to bring the movie making industry, and all the revenue that goes along with it, to Massachusetts. After good and lengthy debate the amendment failed. I believe the film tax credit is a worthwhile incentive that ha s already proven it works. More and more films are being produced and filmed in the Bay State. Studios are being built in Eastern Massachusetts and jobs are being created. Many of us agreed during debate Wednesday that the publicity our state receives when a movie is made here or a Hollywood star goes on the air to talk about being in Massachusetts is well worth the cost and is generating many spin-off businesses in the Commonwealth. One amendment to the supp budget that did pass was a Republican-sponsored amendment to reimburse Massachusetts cities and towns for the costs incurred in the special election for United States Senate January 19, 2010. The prop osal, which passed 156 to 1 in the House, would appropriate $7.2 million to reimburse the cost and the expense that Westfield and the other 350 cities and towns in the Commonwealth incurred during the January 19 special election to fill the Massachusetts Senate seat vacated with the passing of Edward Kennedy. The election was won by Senator Scott Brown. I am happy that the members of the House voted in a bipartisan fashion to cover the costs for the January special election. From the beginning, Republican legislators have been saying the election was an unfunded mandate on our cash-strapped cities and towns. I was delighted to be able to call Westfield City Clerk Ka ren Fanion to let her know this amendment was approved and the supplemental budget passed the House. The bill now goes to the Senate. If the amendment is included in their version of the appropriations bill it will only need the signature of the Governor to make it law and our municipalities will receive their reimbursement for the costs they incurred on special Election Day. It’s rare and infrequent that I get the opportunity to see Westfield constituents at the State House. But this week was a treat. Westfield Bank received an employer award from the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition for hiring people recovering from mental illness. Senator Knapik and I were joined by staff and clients of the Forum House to honor Westfield Bank. Sherry Elander, a Special Education teacher from Westfield High School came to the State House for a legislative information session on the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment program for students who have intellectual disabilities. Members of the Scuderi family from Westfield and the West Springfield-based Scuderi Group came to Beacon Hill for a very exciting demonstration of their new Scuderi Engine. The “newly-proven thermodynamic cycle is expected to take automotive engines to new levels in efficiency and emissions” and is “the most significant advancement in internal combustion engines in over 130 years.” It is exciting to see the future of automobile engines that provide more power, efficiency, and performance while using less gasoline and having fewer emissions. My Chief of Staff, Sarah Latour, and I will hold public office hours at Zuber’s Ice Cream & Deli on Monday, April 5, from 10:30 – 12:00PM. We will be available to meet with Westfield constituents to discuss state matters of concern to them. I want to provide the people of Westfield with as many opportunities to meet with me as possible and office hours at different locations around the city are a great chance for me to listen to the concerns of those I represent. Zuber’s Ice Cream & Deli is located at 98 Southwick Road in Westfield. Sarah and I are also available to meet with constituents at my District Office located at 64 Noble Street in Westfield, (413) 568-1366. No appointment is necessary, but calling ahead is recommended in case we are at the State House. * * * 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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WESTFIELDERS IN BOSTON

Westfield Evening News column

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

March 27, 2010

A friendly reminder to all that Thursday, April 15, is quickly approaching. April 15 is Tax Day and taxpayers must have their state and federal taxes filed by the end of that day or risk penalties.

Speaking of taxes, the House version of the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget will likely be released by the House Committee on Ways and Means the week of April 12th with legislators’ amendments due by Friday April 16. Debate is scheduled for the week of April 26 through April 30.

I attended a reception for a colleague this week, Representative Joe Wagner from Chicopee. Joe is the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and I am the Ranking Republican member on the Committee. Speaker Robert DeLeo was the special guest and before he introduced Representative Wagner he spoke of how the Massachusetts economy has been very fiscally troubling. He said the upcoming budget would focus on jobs and would not contain any new taxes. This is good news to me.

The House debated a supplemental budget bill this week, House Bill 4572. Several members tried to ad an amendment that would severely limit film tax credits that were created a couple years ago to bring the movie making industry, and all the revenue that goes along with it, to Massachusetts. After good and lengthy debate the amendment failed.

I believe the film tax credit is a worthwhile incentive that ha s already proven it works. More and more films are being produced and filmed in the Bay State. Studios are being built in Eastern Massachusetts and jobs are being created. Many of us agreed during debate Wednesday that the publicity our state receives when a movie is made here or a Hollywood star goes on the air to talk about being in Massachusetts is well worth the cost and is generating many spin-off businesses in the Commonwealth.

One amendment to the supp budget that did pass was a Republican-sponsored amendment to reimburse Massachusetts cities and towns for the costs incurred in the special election for United States Senate January 19, 2010. The prop osal, which passed 156 to 1 in the House, would appropriate $7.2 million to reimburse the cost and the expense that Westfield and the other 350 cities and towns in the Commonwealth incurred during the January 19 special election to fill the Massachusetts Senate seat vacated with the passing of Edward Kennedy. The election was won by Senator Scott Brown.

I am happy that the members of the House voted in a bipartisan fashion to cover the costs for the January special election. From the beginning, Republican legislators have been saying the election was an unfunded mandate on our cash-strapped cities and towns. I was delighted to be able to call Westfield City Clerk Ka ren Fanion to let her know this amendment was approved and the supplemental budget passed the House.

The bill now goes to the Senate. If the amendment is included in their version of the appropriations bill it will only need the signature of the Governor to make it law and our municipalities will receive their reimbursement for the costs they incurred on special Election Day.

It’s rare and infrequent that I get the opportunity to see Westfield constituents at the State House. But this week was a treat. Westfield Bank received an employer award from the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition for hiring people recovering from mental illness. Senator Knapik and I were joined by staff and clients of the Forum House to honor Westfield Bank.

Sherry Elander, a Special Education teacher from Westfield High School came to the State House for a legislative information session on the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment program for students who have intellectual disabilities.

Members of the Scuderi family from Westfield and the West Springfield-based Scuderi Group came to Beacon Hill for a very exciting demonstration of their new Scuderi Engine. The “newly-proven thermodynamic cycle is expected to take automotive engines to new levels in efficiency and emissions” and is “the most significant advancement in internal combustion engines in over 130 years.” It is exciting to see the future of automobile engines that provide more power, efficiency, and performance while using less gasoline and having fewer emissions.

My Chief of Staff, Sarah Latour, and I will hold public office hours at Zuber’s Ice Cream & Deli on Monday, April 5, from 10:30 – 12:00PM. We will be available to meet with Westfield constituents to discuss state matters of concern to them. I want to provide the people of Westfield with as many opportunities to meet with me as possible and office hours at different locations around the city are a great chance for me to listen to the concerns of those I represent.

Zuber’s Ice Cream & Deli is located at 98 Southwick Road in Westfield.

Sarah and I are also available to meet with constituents at my District Office located at 64 Noble Street in Westfield, (413) 568-1366. No appointment is necessary, but calling ahead is recommended in case we are at the State House.

* * *

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