Representative Don Humason



SLACTIVISM Westfield Evening News column By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. March 6, 2010 Sometimes it is hard to think of topics for this column. Other times, like this week, I have too many things to talk about. They won’t all fit. That happens, usually depending on the time of the year. During the summer and around the winter holidays it isn’t as busy as it is during the budget times when there is too much going on. First, let me spread the word that there will be a reception to welcome home and congratulate U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team Silver Medal winner, and Westfield’s own, Kacey Bellamy. The party is open to the public and will be held this Sunday March 7 from noon to 2 PM at Amelia Park Ice Arena. I have a citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for Kacey that reads “Be it hereby known to all that: The Massachusetts House of Representatives offers its sincerest congratulations to Kacey Bellamy in recognition of Winning the Silver medal with the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada. The entire membership extends its very best wishes and expresses the hope for future good fortune and continued success in all endeavors. Given March 7, 2010 at the State House, Boston, Massachusetts.” It is signed by Speaker Robert DeLeo and offered by State Representative Don Humason. The House met in formal session on Wednesday and debated two somewhat controversial bills. The first was House Bill 344 An Act Prohibiting Devocalization and it would ban vocal cord surgery performed solely to suppress or remove a dog or cat’s voice. The bill passed 150-1. I voted in favor of the bill. The second was House Bill 4421, An Act Providing for the Financial Stability of the city of Lawrence. If you are a regular reader of my column you are aware of the controversy in Lawrence with their newly elected Mayor who was also serving concurrently as the State Representative for that city. He resigned from the state to focus on his city, but Lawrence is very fiscally troubled. Unlike the situation in Springfield a few years ago involving a Finance Control Board, this legislation would allow Lawrence to borrow $35 million to pay its bills but it didn’t mandate a Control Board to oversee the city. Republicans thought that was a bad idea and tried to amend the bill but the move was blocked on the floor. Debate became heated and contentious with Democrats saying in effect give Lawrence a chance and Republicans saying Lawrence has had its chance and a Finance Control Board is needed to make sure the city doesn’t throw good money after bad. We didn’t want to be back in a year and put the state in the position of having to assume control of the beleaguered community and all its debt. The bailout bill eventually passed the House, 106-51, but I voted against it, as did all the other Republicans and 35 Democrats. The Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development; the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and its regional tourism councils; and the Massachusetts Cultural Council are pleased to announce the Commonwealth of Massachusetts invites residents to nominate their favorite Great Places in Massachusetts. The nominations will be considered for a final list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) has established a website to accept nominations from the public: http://www.massvacation.com/1000/index.php The Great Places initiative will celebrate what is unique about the Commonwealth, its communities, and its people. It also aims to stimulate the economy by boosting visitation to the state’s wide range of exceptional historic sites, cultural venues, and natural landscapes. All Great Places that are nominated must be open and available to the public. Only one nomination per person will be accepted. The nomination period will close April 1, 2010. The Commission will meet later that month to draw up a final list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts, which will be announced in May. I nominated Stanley Park. Last week I wrote about a new term in lobbying called “slactivism.” Wikipedia defines slactivism as a combination “of the words slacker and activism. The word is considered a pejorative term that describes "feel-good" measures in support of an issue or social cause that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction. The acts also tend to require little personal effort from the slactivist.” Signing up for an online petition or email blast or having a group send postcards to legislators on your behalf may make you feel good but is generally poorly regarded at the State House. I’ve called my constituents to talk to them about whatever the issue of the moment was and many of them seemed completely ignorant of the issue or that they had signed up or why I would be calling them about it. Next week I’ll run my column “How to Lobby like a Professional.” It’s timely, useful, and relevant. Have a great week! * * * 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

SLACTIVISM

Westfield Evening News column

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

March 6, 2010

Sometimes it is hard to think of topics for this column. Other times, like this week, I have too many things to talk about. They won’t all fit. That happens, usually depending on the time of the year. During the summer and around the winter holidays it isn’t as busy as it is during the budget times when there is too much going on.

First, let me spread the word that there will be a reception to welcome home and congratulate U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team Silver Medal winner, and Westfield’s own, Kacey Bellamy. The party is open to the public and will be held this Sunday March 7 from noon to 2 PM at Amelia Park Ice Arena.

I have a citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for Kacey that reads “Be it hereby known to all that: The Massachusetts House of Representatives offers its sincerest congratulations to Kacey Bellamy in recognition of Winning the Silver medal with the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada. The entire membership extends its very best wishes and expresses the hope for future good fortune and continued success in all endeavors. Given March 7, 2010 at the State House, Boston, Massachusetts.” It is signed by Speaker Robert DeLeo and offered by State Representative Don Humason.

The House met in formal session on Wednesday and debated two somewhat controversial bills. The first was House Bill 344 An Act Prohibiting Devocalization and it would ban vocal cord surgery performed solely to suppress or remove a dog or cat’s voice. The bill passed 150-1. I voted in favor of the bill.

The second was House Bill 4421, An Act Providing for the Financial Stability of the city of Lawrence. If you are a regular reader of my column you are aware of the controversy in Lawrence with their newly elected Mayor who was also serving concurrently as the State Representative for that city. He resigned from the state to focus on his city, but Lawrence is very fiscally troubled.

Unlike the situation in Springfield a few years ago involving a Finance Control Board, this legislation would allow Lawrence to borrow $35 million to pay its bills but it didn’t mandate a Control Board to oversee the city. Republicans thought that was a bad idea and tried to amend the bill but the move was blocked on the floor.

Debate became heated and contentious with Democrats saying in effect give Lawrence a chance and Republicans saying Lawrence has had its chance and a Finance Control Board is needed to make sure the city doesn’t throw good money after bad. We didn’t want to be back in a year and put the state in the position of having to assume control of the beleaguered community and all its debt.

The bailout bill eventually passed the House, 106-51, but I voted against it, as did all the other Republicans and 35 Democrats.

The Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development; the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and its regional tourism councils; and the Massachusetts Cultural Council are pleased to announce the Commonwealth of Massachusetts invites residents to nominate their favorite Great Places in Massachusetts. The nominations will be considered for a final list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) has established a website to accept nominations from the public: http://www.massvacation.com/1000/index.php

The Great Places initiative will celebrate what is unique about the Commonwealth, its communities, and its people. It also aims to stimulate the economy by boosting visitation to the state’s wide range of exceptional historic sites, cultural venues, and natural landscapes.

All Great Places that are nominated must be open and available to the public. Only one nomination per person will be accepted. The nomination period will close April 1, 2010. The Commission will meet later that month to draw up a final list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts, which will be announced in May. I nominated Stanley Park.

Last week I wrote about a new term in lobbying called “slactivism.” Wikipedia defines slactivism as a combination “of the words slacker and activism. The word is considered a pejorative term that describes "feel-good" measures in support of an issue or social cause that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction. The acts also tend to require little personal effort from the slactivist.”

Signing up for an online petition or email blast or having a group send postcards to legislators on your behalf may make you feel good but is generally poorly regarded at the State House. I’ve called my constituents to talk to them about whatever the issue of the moment was and many of them seemed completely ignorant of the issue or that they had signed up or why I would be calling them about it.

Next week I’ll run my column “How to Lobby like a Professional.” It’s timely, useful, and relevant. Have a great week!

* * *

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