Representative Don Humason



MORE MONEY By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. May 13, 2006 I want to start my column this week by giving huge kudos to the Westfield High School Drama Society. Last Friday I went to the high school to see Les Miserables. I've seen the show on Broadway many times but this was the first time I've ever seen a school group do it. I was so impressed! The show was fantastic! Amy Watson, who directed the musical, Pat Kennedy and the pit orchestra, the set designer, the stage crew, the sound and lights people, and especially the actors and actresses deserve a standing ovation (and got one the night I was there) for doing such an amazing job with such a musically and technically difficult show. Wow! I can't say enough about how good it was. I am so glad I got to see Les Mis. It is clear to me there are so many incredibly talented people at Westfield High School! Thank you to everyone for the calls, cards, and well wishes I received when I was down with pneumonia. I am feeling way better now and I'm looking forward to full recuperation in a couple more weeks. I appreciate everybody's concern. With the price of gas going up and Congress too bogged down to act, Lt. Governor Kerry Healey and Republican legislators at the State House announced this week a proposal to suspend the state's tax on gasoline for three months over the summer driving period from Memorial Day through Labor Day. I am a cosponsor of this legislation. The suspension of the state gas tax, although only a temporary measure, will save drivers 21 cents-per-gallon each time they fill up at a gas station. The state will use excess revenue from unexpectedly optimistic tax receipts to make up for the loss in the gas tax money. Additionally, motorists are encouraged to conserve fuel and cut down on driving as much as possible. For many of us who must commute to work there isn't much choice. We need to drive. So much of our economy is impacted by higher fuel and gasoline prices. Officials worry our tourism industry in the Bay State will be hurt by the high prices too. The Senate President and Speaker of the House postponed the Constitutional Convention that had been scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, until July. That is potentially bad news for many citizens who were awaiting legislative action on a number of high profile issues including allowing citizens to vote on the definition of marriage and universal health care. As I've written previously, formal legislative sessions are due to conclude on Monday, July 31 so we don't have much time remaining. There was some good news coming out of Boston this week. The Massachusetts State Senate, which is preparing its version of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2007, let it be known that they intended to make local aid and education aid a priority in their soon to be released budget. The Senate said it would go along with the Governor and the House and uncap lottery aid, sending more money back to cities and towns more quickly. They also indicated they will fund Chapter 70 education aid to municipalities at a higher level than we were able to do in the House. This is good news for all cities and towns. It will be a windfall for Westfield. It will also do a lot to help cash-strapped cities like Springfield, which already receives an incredible amount of state education aid but will receive even more when the budget is finally passed and signed by Governor Romney. Westfield also got some good news from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. All environmental permits are now in place for the start of the Great River Bridge construction project over the Westfield River. This will be the largest and most expensive public works project in the history of the city of Westfield. The bids will be awarded soon and construction is expected to begin later this year. I'd like to wish my mom and dad, Don and Alberta Humason, a very Happy 40th Anniversary! And Happy Mother's Day to my mom, and to all the moms out there. Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their 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 Saturday Westfield Evening News column, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience.
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MORE MONEY

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

May 13, 2006

I want to start my column this week by giving huge kudos to the Westfield High School Drama Society. Last Friday I went to the high school to see Les Miserables. I've seen the show on Broadway many times but this was the first time I've ever seen a school group do it. I was so impressed! The show was fantastic!

Amy Watson, who directed the musical, Pat Kennedy and the pit orchestra, the set designer, the stage crew, the sound and lights people, and especially the actors and actresses deserve a standing ovation (and got one the night I was there) for doing such an amazing job with such a musically and technically difficult show.

Wow! I can't say enough about how good it was. I am so glad I got to see Les Mis. It is clear to me there are so many incredibly talented people at Westfield High School!

Thank you to everyone for the calls, cards, and well wishes I received when I was down with pneumonia. I am feeling way better now and I'm looking forward to full recuperation in a couple more weeks. I appreciate everybody's concern.

With the price of gas going up and Congress too bogged down to act, Lt. Governor Kerry Healey and Republican legislators at the State House announced this week a proposal to suspend the state's tax on gasoline for three months over the summer driving period from Memorial Day through Labor Day. I am a cosponsor of this legislation.

The suspension of the state gas tax, although only a temporary measure, will save drivers 21 cents-per-gallon each time they fill up at a gas station. The state will use excess revenue from unexpectedly optimistic tax receipts to make up for the loss in the gas tax money.

Additionally, motorists are encouraged to conserve fuel and cut down on driving as much as possible. For many of us who must commute to work there isn't much choice. We need to drive. So much of our economy is impacted by higher fuel and gasoline prices. Officials worry our tourism industry in the Bay State will be hurt by the high prices too.

The Senate President and Speaker of the House postponed the Constitutional Convention that had been scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, until July. That is potentially bad news for many citizens who were awaiting legislative action on a number of high profile issues including allowing citizens to vote on the definition of marriage and universal health care. As I've written previously, formal legislative sessions are due to conclude on Monday, July 31 so we don't have much time remaining.

There was some good news coming out of Boston this week. The Massachusetts State Senate, which is preparing its version of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2007, let it be known that they intended to make local aid and education aid a priority in their soon to be released budget.

The Senate said it would go along with the Governor and the House and uncap lottery aid, sending more money back to cities and towns more quickly. They also indicated they will fund Chapter 70 education aid to municipalities at a higher level than we were able to do in the House.

This is good news for all cities and towns. It will be a windfall for Westfield. It will also do a lot to help cash-strapped cities like Springfield, which already receives an incredible amount of state education aid but will receive even more when the budget is finally passed and signed by Governor Romney.

Westfield also got some good news from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. All environmental permits are now in place for the start of the Great River Bridge construction project over the Westfield River. This will be the largest and most expensive public works project in the history of the city of Westfield. The bids will be awarded soon and construction is expected to begin later this year.

I'd like to wish my mom and dad, Don and Alberta Humason, a very Happy 40th Anniversary! And Happy Mother's Day to my mom, and to all the moms out there.

Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their 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 Saturday Westfield Evening News column, 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