Representative Don Humason



SUPPLEMENTAL Westfield News column By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. Saturday, January 21, 2012 As I write my column this week, the snow is falling. I just finished watching the Westfield City Council meeting on television on Channel 15. And my infant son Quinn is asleep, thank God, in the next room. The Massachusetts House of Representatives met in formal session on Wednesday to debate and ultimately pass a $130 million supplemental spending bill that contained an important piece of legislation that freezes a scheduled increase in the unemployment insurance assessment paid by all employers. Continuing the Republican Caucus’ ongoing effort to bring long-term job creation and economic opportunities to the Bay State, Republican legislators reached across the aisle, working with their Democratic colleagues to ensure that the anticipated tax rate increase would not take effect. The unemployment system run by the Commonwealth is primarily funded by the state’s employers. By law, as the funds in the unemployment system become depleted, employers’ contributions would increase. Freezing the rate at Schedule E will save the average employer $141 per employee and workers would continue to receive the same benefits under this rate freeze. Implementing this rate freeze is the best and most concrete way we can help to move the Massachusetts economy forward. I am pleased that the Democratic majority in the House chose to side with the Republicans in supporting this legislation. It is important that we do all that we can to stay out of the way of businesses and allow them to rebuild. The supplemental budget bill also provides $35 million to the MassHealth Senior Care Adult Day Health program. Adult Day Health centers are assistance centers that provide care for seniors during the day when other family members or caregivers may have to work or handle other responsibilities. This funding will extend adult day health services until July 1, 2012. Here in Westfield, Mercy Adult Day Health program is directly impacted by this. The legislation also directs $21.2 million to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. During the cold of winter, this funding appropriated to LIHEAP will help heat the homes of low-income elders, working families, and many other households. Next Monday evening Governor Deval Patrick will give his annual State of the State Address in the House Chamber in Boston. I intend to be there to listen to the Governor as he gives his report on the condition of the Commonwealth and lays out his vision for the coming year. The Patrick Administration is due to release their version of the Fiscal Year 2013 state budget next Wednesday or Thursday, kicking off the lengthy annual budget process which will culminate in July with the start of the new Fiscal Year. How often do you get an invitation to watch a recently released movie for free? Consider this your invitation. Just last fall, a movie called COURAGEOUS, was in local movie theatres. This Saturday evening at 7 PM, my church, the Westfield Evangelical Free Church on Southwick Road, is showing the movie for FREE and has opened their doors and extended an invitation to members of the Greater Westfield community to join us and watch. I'll be there. I hope you can join me. It's a terrific movie. It was made by the same people who made the movie Fireproof. I invite you to watch the January installment of my cable show From the State House to Your House. My guests this month are Sherry Elander and John Velis from the Westfield Commission on Disabilities. The show airs Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM on Channel 15, the Community Programming Channel. I am happy to report that I have already lined up my guests for the next installment of my show which we will tape soon. I've asked Patrick Berry and Jim McKeever from the Westfield News to come on the show so we could talk about the venerable Westfield daily newspaper and about news in general. So stay tuned for next month. I mentioned in my column last week that the annual Penguin Plunge to benefit the Amelia Park Children's Museum is next Saturday, January 28, at Hampton Ponds state park. I fully intend to plunge again this year as I have for every year of this fundraiser. I hope you will plunge with me, come up and watch me, or sponsor me. 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 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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SUPPLEMENTAL

Westfield News column
By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.
Saturday, January 21, 2012

As I write my column this week, the snow is falling. I just finished watching the Westfield City Council meeting on television on Channel 15. And my infant son Quinn is asleep, thank God, in the next room.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives met in formal session on Wednesday to debate and ultimately pass a $130 million supplemental spending bill that contained an important piece of legislation that freezes a scheduled increase in the unemployment insurance assessment paid by all employers.

Continuing the Republican Caucus’ ongoing effort to bring long-term job creation and economic opportunities to the Bay State, Republican legislators reached across the aisle, working with their Democratic colleagues to ensure that the anticipated tax rate increase would not take effect.

The unemployment system run by the Commonwealth is primarily funded by the state’s employers. By law, as the funds in the unemployment system become depleted, employers’ contributions would increase. Freezing the rate at Schedule E will save the average employer $141 per employee and workers would continue to receive the same benefits under this rate freeze.

Implementing this rate freeze is the best and most concrete way we can help to move the Massachusetts economy forward. I am pleased that the Democratic majority in the House chose to side with the Republicans in supporting this legislation. It is important that we do all that we can to stay out of the way of businesses and allow them to rebuild.

The supplemental budget bill also provides $35 million to the MassHealth Senior Care Adult Day Health program. Adult Day Health centers are assistance centers that provide care for seniors during the day when other family members or caregivers may have to work or handle other responsibilities. This funding will extend adult day health services until July 1, 2012. Here in Westfield, Mercy Adult Day Health program is directly impacted by this.

The legislation also directs $21.2 million to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. During the cold of winter, this funding appropriated to LIHEAP will help heat the homes of low-income elders, working families, and many other households.

Next Monday evening Governor Deval Patrick will give his annual State of the State Address in the House Chamber in Boston. I intend to be there to listen to the Governor as he gives his report on the condition of the Commonwealth and lays out his vision for the coming year. The Patrick Administration is due to release their version of the Fiscal Year 2013 state budget next Wednesday or Thursday, kicking off the lengthy annual budget process which will culminate in July with the start of the new Fiscal Year.

How often do you get an invitation to watch a recently released movie for free? Consider this your invitation. Just last fall, a movie called COURAGEOUS, was in local movie theatres. This Saturday evening at 7 PM, my church, the Westfield Evangelical Free Church on Southwick Road, is showing the movie for FREE and has opened their doors and extended an invitation to members of the Greater Westfield community to join us and watch. I'll be there. I hope you can join me. It's a terrific movie. It was made by the same people who made the movie Fireproof.

I invite you to watch the January installment of my cable show From the State House to Your House. My guests this month are Sherry Elander and John Velis from the Westfield Commission on Disabilities. The show airs Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM on Channel 15, the Community Programming Channel.

I am happy to report that I have already lined up my guests for the next installment of my show which we will tape soon. I've asked Patrick Berry and Jim McKeever from the Westfield News to come on the show so we could talk about the venerable Westfield daily newspaper and about news in general. So stay tuned for next month.

I mentioned in my column last week that the annual Penguin Plunge to benefit the Amelia Park Children's Museum is next Saturday, January 28, at Hampton Ponds state park. I fully intend to plunge again this year as I have for every year of this fundraiser. I hope you will plunge with me, come up and watch me, or sponsor me.

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 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