Representative Don Humason



UNEXPECTED VOTE By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. May 27, 2006 Monday is Memorial Day. As a politician, a citizen, an American, I am here because of men and women throughout our history who have put on the military uniform, shouldered a rifle, and fought and died in defense of and service to their country. On Monday, Westfield will say thank you to our veterans, remembering those who have gone before us and those who are serving even now around the world. It is because of them that we are a free and great country. Sadly, veterans were in the news this week due to a theft of information from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. The names, birth dates, and social security numbers of millions of United States veterans were on a computer disk that was stolen from a VA employee. As a member of the Committee on Consumer Protection's Identity Theft subcommittee, I encourage every veteran to contact www.firstgov.gov or call 1-800-FED-INFO to learn what they can do to protect themselves from potential identity theft. Hello to the kids from Highland Elementary School who came to visit me at the State House Thursday. We went into the House chamber and I answered questions about my job, the State House, and the Legislature. I also want to say hello and thank you to Tom Lewis' AP Government classes at Westfield High School for allowing me to come in and speak with them last Monday. These are smart kids who are very knowledgeable about government. Congratulations to the recipients of scholarships from the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Westfield. Regrettably, due to a House formal session Tuesday, I was unable to attend the ceremony. With the cost of higher education increasing every year, our scholars need all the help they can get to pay for college. Thank you to all in the greater Westfield community who contribute to CSF and make this assistance possible. The Legislature was very busy this week. The Senate tackled their budget in a spirited debate that lasted just a couple days as compared to the full week it took the House last month. Now a Conference Committee will work to reach a compromise between the two versions of the budget. The House had a rare two-day back-to-back formal session this week. On Tuesday we met expecting to take up a controversial nurse-patient ratio bill. We caucused for hours before being told we would have to come back Wednesday to vote on a Leadership compromise amendment. Then, out of the blue, the House took up the enactment vote of the primary enforcement of the seatbelt bill that narrowly passed earlier in the year and then passed the Senate. The Legislature had approved the bill in a preliminary vote called engrossment. The final enactment vote is usually done on a voice vote. This time, unexpectedly, certain anti-seatbelt legislators called for a roll call enactment vote. The roll call vote was taken and the bill was defeated by a vote of 76 - 80. Since the House did not enact the final version of the bill it dies for this session, another crazy chapter in the wild story of primary enforcement of the seatbelt law. For the record, I voted as I have consistently done to make the seatbelt law primarily enforceable. But I was in the minority. On Wednesday, after lots of debate, the Patient Safety Act was engrossed on a vote of 133-20 and now goes to the Senate. I am one of the few Legislators who represent a hospital in my district. It is out of my concern for Noble Hospital that I opposed the bill. I am worried that rigid, mandated, “one size fits all” ratios will result in higher health care costs and the possibility of our community hospitals being forced to close. Then where would our nurses work and our patients go for care? Fans of the Dan Kane Singers will want to get their tickets early as "The Shows at Piccolo's" presents young singers Meghann Fahy, Noah Lis, and Traci Mnich with Dan Kane next Friday and Saturday. Call 572-1433 for reservations. Tickets are only $20. I'm a member of the DKS and I know all these kids. They are amazingly talented. Janice and I are going Friday night. See you at Piccolo's! Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA 02133, (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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Monday is Memorial Day. As a politician, a citizen, an American, I am here because of men and women throughout our history who have put on the military uniform, shouldered a rifle, and fought and died in defense of and service to their country.

On Monday, Westfield will say thank you to our veterans, remembering those who have gone before us and those who are serving even now around the world. It is because of them that we are a free and great country.

Sadly, veterans were in the news this week due to a theft of information from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. The names, birth dates, and social security numbers of millions of United States veterans were on a computer disk that was stolen from a VA employee.

As a member of the Committee on Consumer Protection's Identity Theft subcommittee, I encourage every veteran to contact www.firstgov.gov or call 1-800-FED-INFO to learn what they can do to protect themselves from potential identity theft.

Hello to the kids from Highland Elementary School who came to visit me at the State House Thursday.
We went into the House chamber and I answered questions about my job, the State House, and the Legislature. I also want to say hello and thank you to Tom Lewis' AP Government classes at Westfield High School for allowing me to come in and speak with them last Monday. These are smart kids who are very knowledgeable about government.

Congratulations to the recipients of scholarships from the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of Westfield. Regrettably, due to a House formal session Tuesday, I was unable to attend the ceremony. With the cost of higher education increasing every year, our scholars need all the help they can get to pay for college. Thank you to all in the greater Westfield community who contribute to CSF and make this assistance possible.

The Legislature was very busy this week. The Senate tackled their budget in a spirited debate that lasted just a couple days as compared to the full week it took the House last month. Now a Conference Committee will work to reach a compromise between the two versions of the budget.

The House had a rare two-day back-to-back formal session this week. On Tuesday we met expecting to take up a controversial nurse-patient ratio bill. We caucused for hours before being told we would have to come back Wednesday to vote on a Leadership compromise amendment.

Then, out of the blue, the House took up the enactment vote of the primary enforcement of the seatbelt bill that narrowly passed earlier in the year and then passed the Senate. The Legislature had approved the bill in a preliminary vote called engrossment. The final enactment vote is usually done on a voice vote. This time, unexpectedly, certain anti-seatbelt legislators called for a roll call enactment vote.

The roll call vote was taken and the bill was defeated by a vote of 76 - 80. Since the House did not enact the final version of the bill it dies for this session, another crazy chapter in the wild story of primary enforcement of the seatbelt law. For the record, I voted as I have consistently done to make the seatbelt law primarily enforceable. But I was in the minority.

On Wednesday, after lots of debate, the Patient Safety Act was engrossed on a vote of 133-20 and now goes to the Senate. I am one of the few Legislators who represent a hospital in my district. It is out of my concern for Noble Hospital that I opposed the bill. I am worried that rigid, mandated, “one size fits all” ratios will result in higher health care costs and the possibility of our community hospitals being forced to close. Then where would our nurses work and our patients go for care?

Fans of the Dan Kane Singers will want to get their tickets early as "The Shows at Piccolo's" presents young singers Meghann Fahy, Noah Lis, and Traci Mnich with Dan Kane next Friday and Saturday. Call 572-1433 for reservations. Tickets are only $20. I'm a member of the DKS and I know all these kids. They are amazingly talented. Janice and I are going Friday night. See you at Piccolo's!

Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366.

Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA 02133, (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.