Representative Don Humason



SCOUTING Westfield News column By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. Saturday, January 14, 2012 Last Sunday, Boy Scout Troop 821 honored Jimmy Smith, their newest Eagle Scout, at a Court of Honor at the Blessed Sacrament Parish Center. In the Boy Scouts, the Eagle Scout rank is the highest rank that can be achieved by a boy. All his merit badges and scout activities must be accomplished by the age of 18. It is exclusive. Fewer than 2% of all scouts attain the rank of Eagle. Troop 821 has had more than one boy achieve the coveted Eagle rank. In fact, Boy Scouting in Westfield has been very successful. Westfield has many boys who earn the Eagle rank. Mayor Dan Knapik, Senator Mike Knapik, and I were there to present citations from the city and the Commonwealth to honor Jim Smith for his achievement. He also received letters from Senator Scott Brown, President Obama, and other distinguished individuals. As the State Representative for our city, I strive very hard to be present at every Eagle Scout Court of Honor possible. I am constantly impressed by these young men who have worked so hard, eschewed the distractions that so often derail a young scout's journey toward Eagle, and surpassed even his peers and brother scouts. These young men live by a code of honor, service, and love of their country. And it's not just the boys. Girl Scouting is popular in Westfield too. Brownie troops help raise girls to become active, self reliant, patriotic, young citizens. My son Quinn is only five months old, and I have wondered what kinds of things he will become involved in when he gets a little older. Will he like sports, or martial arts, cars, or animals? One thing I know is if he wants to become involved in scouting in Westfield I would be very a happy father. Despite reports that the unemployment problem had been improving in Massachusetts, the number of people applying for unemployment benefits jumped sharply this week. I think that shows that the economy is still soft and any recovery is fragile and tenuous at best. One of the things I get called for the most at my office is to help my constituents navigate their unemployment claims through the state's process. Citing the current economic climate, House and Senate Republicans are seeking to prevent a tax increase of $220 per employee, or 31%, on the Commonwealth's businesses which would have a devastating impact on our job market. Led by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), the entire House and Senate Republican caucus is filing legislation to freeze the anticipated unemployment insurance tax rate. This would mark the fourth straight year that a similar bill has been passed by the legislature protecting Massachusetts employers from this damaging and unnecessary tax hike. "Implementing this rate freeze is the best and most concrete way we can help to move the Massachusetts economy forward in the new year," said Representative Jones. "In these tough fiscal times, we need to remove any impediments to economic growth in the Commonwealth." Although this tax hike triggered on January 1, 2012, employers will not receive the bill from Boston for a few more weeks. In the interim, the Legislature has the opportunity to ease the potential burden on the Commonwealth's businesses. "Raising any additional barriers to hiring would be counterproductive to our economic recovery," commented Representative Hunt, a CPA and small business owner. "We are moving in the right direction, as is reflected in our decreasing unemployment rate, but this recovery is anything but robust." "Unemployment insurance is already a major cost for employers in Massachusetts, and one that relates directly to the number of people they employ," said Senator Tarr. "A substantial rate increase now will not only imperil a struggling economic recovery, it will also put a new obstacle in the way of getting people back to work." In addition to freezing the unemployment insurance tax rate hike in the coming weeks, the House and Senate Republican Caucuses will introduce comprehensive unemployment insurance reform and long-term job creation opportunities for the Bay State. My colleagues and I held a Jobs Forum listening tour last fall to gather input from local businesses. We have used those suggestions to craft our legislative package. I would like to congratulate Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik who is now serving in his second term as our mayor. His inaugural ball is Saturday night at Tekoa Country Club. The bad news is it's up against an NFL playoff game with Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos playing the New England Patriots at Foxboro. I just hope there are plenty of televisions at Tekoa! Here is my personal invitation for all of you to join me in the annual Penguin Plunge to benefit the Amelia Park Children's Museum. This year the Plunge will be held on Saturday, January 28, at 1 PM at the Hampton Ponds State Park. Registration begins at 11 AM. Go to www.AmeliaParkMuseum.org for more information. If you don't want to "Bathe with the Brave" yourself then feel free to sponsor me. All the money goes to the museum. It is a great cause. Have a great week. Stay warm. * * * 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 Legislative Aide Maura Cassin may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 568-1366. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Donald.Humason@MAHouse.gov Website: www.DonHumason.org
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SCOUTING

Westfield News column
By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.
Saturday, January 14, 2012

Last Sunday, Boy Scout Troop 821 honored Jimmy Smith, their newest Eagle Scout, at a Court of Honor at the Blessed Sacrament Parish Center. In the Boy Scouts, the Eagle Scout rank is the highest rank that can be achieved by a boy. All his merit badges and scout activities must be accomplished by the age of 18.

It is exclusive. Fewer than 2% of all scouts attain the rank of Eagle. Troop 821 has had more than one boy achieve the coveted Eagle rank. In fact, Boy Scouting in Westfield has been very successful. Westfield has many boys who earn the Eagle rank.

Mayor Dan Knapik, Senator Mike Knapik, and I were there to present citations from the city and the Commonwealth to honor Jim Smith for his achievement. He also received letters from Senator Scott Brown, President Obama, and other distinguished individuals.

As the State Representative for our city, I strive very hard to be present at every Eagle Scout Court of Honor possible. I am constantly impressed by these young men who have worked so hard, eschewed the distractions that so often derail a young scout's journey toward Eagle, and surpassed even his peers and brother scouts. These young men live by a code of honor, service, and love of their country.

And it's not just the boys. Girl Scouting is popular in Westfield too. Brownie troops help raise girls to become active, self reliant, patriotic, young citizens.

My son Quinn is only five months old, and I have wondered what kinds of things he will become involved in when he gets a little older. Will he like sports, or martial arts, cars, or animals? One thing I know is if he wants to become involved in scouting in Westfield I would be very a happy father.

Despite reports that the unemployment problem had been improving in Massachusetts, the number of people applying for unemployment benefits jumped sharply this week. I think that shows that the economy is still soft and any recovery is fragile and tenuous at best. One of the things I get called for the most at my office is to help my constituents navigate their unemployment claims through the state's process.

Citing the current economic climate, House and Senate Republicans are seeking to prevent a tax increase of $220 per employee, or 31%, on the Commonwealth's businesses which would have a devastating impact on our job market. Led by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), the entire House and Senate Republican caucus is filing legislation to freeze the anticipated unemployment insurance tax rate.

This would mark the fourth straight year that a similar bill has been passed by the legislature protecting Massachusetts employers from this damaging and unnecessary tax hike. "Implementing this rate freeze is the best and most concrete way we can help to move the Massachusetts economy forward in the new year," said Representative Jones. "In these tough fiscal times, we need to remove any impediments to economic growth in the Commonwealth."

Although this tax hike triggered on January 1, 2012, employers will not receive the bill from Boston for a few more weeks. In the interim, the Legislature has the opportunity to ease the potential burden on the Commonwealth's businesses.

"Raising any additional barriers to hiring would be counterproductive to our economic recovery," commented Representative Hunt, a CPA and small business owner. "We are moving in the right direction, as is reflected in our decreasing unemployment rate, but this recovery is anything but robust."

"Unemployment insurance is already a major cost for employers in Massachusetts, and one that relates directly to the number of people they employ," said Senator Tarr. "A substantial rate increase now will not only imperil a struggling economic recovery, it will also put a new obstacle in the way of getting people back to work."

In addition to freezing the unemployment insurance tax rate hike in the coming weeks, the House and Senate Republican Caucuses will introduce comprehensive unemployment insurance reform and long-term job creation opportunities for the Bay State. My colleagues and I held a Jobs Forum listening tour last fall to gather input from local businesses. We have used those suggestions to craft our legislative package.

I would like to congratulate Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik who is now serving in his second term as our mayor. His inaugural ball is Saturday night at Tekoa Country Club. The bad news is it's up against an NFL playoff game with Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos playing the New England Patriots at Foxboro. I just hope there are plenty of televisions at Tekoa!

Here is my personal invitation for all of you to join me in the annual Penguin Plunge to benefit the Amelia Park Children's Museum. This year the Plunge will be held on Saturday, January 28, at 1 PM at the Hampton Ponds State Park. Registration begins at 11 AM. Go to www.AmeliaParkMuseum.org for more information. If you don't want to "Bathe with the Brave" yourself then feel free to sponsor me. All the money goes to the museum. It is a great cause.

Have a great week. Stay warm.

* * *

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 Legislative Aide Maura Cassin may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 568-1366. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Donald.Humason@MAHouse.gov Website: www.DonHumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group