Representative Don Humason



FOIE GRAS By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. March 4, 2006 At the risk of being redundant I have to report that the Legislature is still waiting for a break in the stalemate of the Health Care Access bill being negotiated in Conference Committee. The Senate did propose an interim health care bill to attempt to satisfy the federal government and stave off the loss of $385 million in federal funding. The House leadership is taking a different view of the issue and has not yet acted. This week the House took up the issue of LNG facility siting by passing a bill to create a siting commission. LNG is Liquefied Natural Gas. It comes into Massachusetts by huge tanker ships. Some of my colleagues are concerned those ships may be targets of terrorists. There is also concern over the proposed siting of these LNG facilities near densely populated areas like Chelsea, Fall River, and East Boston. With energy costs so high and demand for energy so great there have to be many issues considered in this debate. Presumably, the further away an LNG facility is sited, the more expensive that LNG will be to transport it to the homes and businesses that need it. But security and threat of terrorism is well founded. This very controversial issue will likely be around for a long time. As a member of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Committee, I got a bunch of calls last week from concerned citizens in Westfield. The Humane Society in Washington, DC had alerted them the House was going to take up a bill banning the production of Foie Gras (duck liver pate) in Massachusetts. They asked me to support the bill. I told them that I was at the public hearings when the Foie Gras bill was brought up and heard hours of testimony on both sides of the issue. I told them that I intended to vote to allow the bill to come out of the Committee and go to the floor for debate. But I also indicated that I would most likely oppose the bill in the House. Why? Because there is no Foie Gras production in Massachusetts! To my knowledge there never has been nor will there be. Don't get me wrong, I love animals as much as the next guy, but I think it is silly to waste so much time debating a bill to ban on an activity that doesn't even occur in this state. We have much more important things to be working on before the session ends in July. In statewide politics last week a new candidate has entered the race for Governor. Christy Mihos, a Republican businessperson from Cape Cod, has decided to run for the Corner Office, but as an Independent candidate so he won't have to face Lt. Governor Kerry Healey in a primary. Personally, I think he took the cowardly way out. He says he's a Republican so he should run as a Republican. I don't like it that he may end up being like Ross Perot when he ran for President as an Independent. He stole just enough votes away from President George H. W. Bush that Bill Clinton was elected with less than 50% of the votes. I would like to thank the members of the Westfield Women's Club for their hospitality Wednesday. I attended their club luncheon and then spoke to their group about what's happening in Boston and around Westfield. I also want to say hi to the boys and girls at Franklin Avenue School. On Thursday I read a book by Dr. Seuss to them, "Hop on Pop," in honor of Dr. Seuss' 102nd birthday. The kids were great! Finally, if you're looking for some good places in Westfield to get breakfast this weekend may I recommend the Marine Corps League on Saturday, Harlow Pomeroy's Sugarhouse on Saturday or Sunday, and the Mount Moriah Lodge of Masons on Sunday. Good people, good food! Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their NEW Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA02133, (617) 722-2460. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us * * * Please feel free to forward this column to your family, friends, and associates. If you do not wish to receive an email copy of my column from the Saturday Westfield Evening News, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience.
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FOIE GRAS

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

March 4, 2006

At the risk of being redundant I have to report that the Legislature is still waiting for a break in the stalemate of the Health Care Access bill being negotiated in Conference Committee. The Senate did propose an interim health care bill to attempt to satisfy the federal government and stave off the loss of $385 million in federal funding. The House leadership is taking a different view of the issue and has not yet acted.

This week the House took up the issue of LNG facility siting by passing a bill to create a siting commission. LNG is Liquefied Natural Gas. It comes into Massachusetts by huge tanker ships. Some of my colleagues are concerned those ships may be targets of terrorists. There is also concern over the proposed siting of these LNG facilities near densely populated areas like Chelsea, Fall River, and East Boston.

With energy costs so high and demand for energy so great there have to be many issues considered in this debate. Presumably, the further away an LNG facility is sited, the more expensive that LNG will be to transport it to the homes and businesses that need it. But security and threat of terrorism is well founded. This very controversial issue will likely be around for a long time.

As a member of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Committee, I got a bunch of calls last week from concerned citizens in Westfield. The Humane Society in Washington, DC had alerted them the House was going to take up a bill banning the production of Foie Gras (duck liver pate) in Massachusetts. They asked me to support the bill. I told them that I was at the public hearings when the Foie Gras bill was brought up and heard hours of testimony on both sides of the issue.

I told them that I intended to vote to allow the bill to come out of the Committee and go to the floor for debate. But I also indicated that I would most likely oppose the bill in the House.

Why? Because there is no Foie Gras production in Massachusetts! To my knowledge there never has been nor will there be. Don't get me wrong, I love animals as much as the next guy, but I think it is silly to waste so much time debating a bill to ban on an activity that doesn't even occur in this state. We have much more important things to be working on before the session ends in July.

In statewide politics last week a new candidate has entered the race for Governor. Christy Mihos, a Republican businessperson from Cape Cod, has decided to run for the Corner Office, but as an Independent candidate so he won't have to face Lt. Governor Kerry Healey in a primary.

Personally, I think he took the cowardly way out. He says he's a Republican so he should run as a Republican. I don't like it that he may end up being like Ross Perot when he ran for President as an Independent. He stole just enough votes away from President George H. W. Bush that Bill Clinton was elected with less than 50% of the votes.

I would like to thank the members of the Westfield Women's Club for their hospitality Wednesday. I attended their club luncheon and then spoke to their group about what's happening in Boston and around Westfield.

I also want to say hi to the boys and girls at Franklin Avenue School. On Thursday I read a book by Dr. Seuss to them, "Hop on Pop," in honor of Dr. Seuss' 102nd birthday. The kids were great!

Finally, if you're looking for some good places in Westfield to get breakfast this weekend may I recommend the Marine Corps League on Saturday, Harlow Pomeroy's Sugarhouse on Saturday or Sunday, and the Mount Moriah Lodge of Masons on Sunday. Good people, good food!

Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their NEW Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA01085, 568-1366.

Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA02133, (617) 722-2460.
Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

* * * Please feel free to forward this column to your family, friends, and associates. If you do not wish to receive an email copy of my column from the Saturday Westfield Evening News, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience.

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group