Representative Don Humason



CONGRESSWOMAN TSONGAS By Representative Don Humason, Jr. October 20, 2007 Massachusetts has a new member of its congressional delegation to Washington, D.C. Nikki Tsongas, wife of former Democrat United States Senator Paul Tsongas, was elected Tuesday in a special election by a narrow margin over Republican candidate Jim Ogonowski. She garnered 51% of the vote to Ogonowski’s 45%. By all accounts the race was much closer than expected. She is the first woman congressperson in Massachusetts in 24 years. She takes the 5th Congressional District seat formerly held by Congressman Martin Meehan who left to accept a leadership position at UMass Lowell. She joins the 9 other Democrat U.S. Representatives and Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry representing Massachusetts in our nation’s capitol. Like most special elections, there was a lot of outside interest, influence, and special interests getting into the act. The main issues of the campaign were President Bush, the war on terrorism, illegal immigration, and health care. Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin will swear Congresswoman Tsongas in this week so she may get right to work. For the first time in quite a while the House of Representatives met twice in formal sessions in one week! That’s a pretty big deal for this Speaker. Members of the minority party, the Republicans, wanted to debate a bill filed by Governor Patrick making changes in the free market home loan system. You’ve probably heard about all the foreclosures in the sub prime lending market. We had problems with the bill and proposed amendments to it so I guess the Speaker thought he would punish us by making us come back a second day. Actually, he played right into our designs by giving legislators an extra day to actually read the proposed legislation and try to understand it for a change before taking a vote. Senator Knapik and I were invited to participate this past Tuesday in a political forum/debate at Bentley College sponsored by the college Democrats and college Republicans. West Springfield State Senator Steve Buoniconti also joined in. It was fun. One of the favorite parts of my jobs is speaking to students. Last Friday I had the chance to meet with a group of home-schooled students in Westfield and talk with them about the electoral process and voting. The question and answer period of any such meeting is the best part of every session. I learn as much as I teach…every time. Municipal Election Day is fast approaching. Tuesday, November 6, we will have the chance to vote for mayor, city council, school committee, G&E commission, and library trustee. Put it on your calendar. Plan on making your voice heard. Voting, as I tell the students, it’s that important. By the time this column appears in the Saturday Westfield Evening News it may be all over for the Boston Red Sox. At the time I am writing this the home team has lost 3 straight games to the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. I can tell you that there have been a lot of tired and grumpy people in Boston this week. I guess we get edgy when the Sox aren’t doing as well as we want. Thank God for the 5-0 New England Patriots! Congratulations to Easthampton Savings Bank on the grand opening of their new Westfield office on Broad Street. I think they did a remarkable job renovating the old house on the corner of Broad and East Silver. The building is beautiful and fits right in with the character of the neighborhood. Congratulations also go to the Westfield Kiwanis Club on its 85th year serving the greater Westfield community. Thank you for all your club does. Have a great week! * * * Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
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CONGRESSWOMAN TSONGAS

By Representative Don Humason, Jr.

October 20, 2007

Massachusetts has a new member of its congressional delegation to Washington, D.C. Nikki Tsongas, wife of former Democrat United States Senator Paul Tsongas, was elected Tuesday in a special election by a narrow margin over Republican candidate Jim Ogonowski. She garnered 51% of the vote to Ogonowski’s 45%. By all accounts the race was much closer than expected.

She is the first woman congressperson in Massachusetts in 24 years. She takes the 5th Congressional District seat formerly held by Congressman Martin Meehan who left to accept a leadership position at UMass Lowell. She joins the 9 other Democrat U.S. Representatives and Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry representing Massachusetts in our nation’s capitol.

Like most special elections, there was a lot of outside interest, influence, and special interests getting into the act. The main issues of the campaign were President Bush, the war on terrorism, illegal immigration, and health care. Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin will swear Congresswoman Tsongas in this week so she may get right to work.

For the first time in quite a while the House of Representatives met twice in formal sessions in one week! That’s a pretty big deal for this Speaker. Members of the minority party, the Republicans, wanted to debate a bill filed by Governor Patrick making changes in the free market home loan system. You’ve probably heard about all the foreclosures in the sub prime lending market.

We had problems with the bill and proposed amendments to it so I guess the Speaker thought he would punish us by making us come back a second day. Actually, he played right into our designs by giving legislators an extra day to actually read the proposed legislation and try to understand it for a change before taking a vote.

Senator Knapik and I were invited to participate this past Tuesday in a political forum/debate at Bentley College sponsored by the college Democrats and college Republicans. West Springfield State Senator Steve Buoniconti also joined in. It was fun.

One of the favorite parts of my jobs is speaking to students. Last Friday I had the chance to meet with a group of home-schooled students in Westfield and talk with them about the electoral process and voting. The question and answer period of any such meeting is the best part of every session. I learn as much as I teach…every time.

Municipal Election Day is fast approaching. Tuesday, November 6, we will have the chance to vote for mayor, city council, school committee, G&E commission, and library trustee. Put it on your calendar. Plan on making your voice heard. Voting, as I tell the students, it’s that important.

By the time this column appears in the Saturday Westfield Evening News it may be all over for the Boston Red Sox. At the time I am writing this the home team has lost 3 straight games to the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. I can tell you that there have been a lot of tired and grumpy people in Boston this week. I guess we get edgy when the Sox aren’t doing as well as we want. Thank God for the 5-0 New England Patriots!

Congratulations to Easthampton Savings Bank on the grand opening of their new Westfield office on Broad Street. I think they did a remarkable job renovating the old house on the corner of Broad and East Silver. The building is beautiful and fits right in with the character of the neighborhood.

Congratulations also go to the Westfield Kiwanis Club on its 85th year serving the greater Westfield community. Thank you for all your club does.

Have a great week!

* * *

Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group