Representative Don Humason



MORE ON MY COMMITTEES By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. February 17, 2007 Before you start reading this column, wait! There is a fundraiser pancake breakfast Saturday morning from 8:00 to10:00 AM at Applebee’s Restaurant hosted by the Westfield High School Band Orchestra Parents. This great group of parents raises money for the band and orchestra. I’ll see you there! By the way, the annual WHS Pops Concert is coming up on March 9 and 10. A few weeks ago I reported in this column that I had received my legislative committee assignments for the coming two-year session. I was happy to be appointed by my Minority Leader Brad Jones to the following four Joint Committees: Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Higher Education, Public Health, and Transportation. A number of my constituents asked me recently what these committees are tasked with doing. In explanation, the following information comes directly from the official homepage of the Massachusetts Legislature, www.Mass.Gov/legis. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. It shall be the duty of the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to consider all matters concerning consumer credit, consumer protection, the issuance of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages the registration of various trades or professions, and such other matters as may be referred. Higher Education It shall be the duty of the committee on Higher Education to consider all matters concerning higher education in the Commonwealth and such other matters as may be referred. Public Health It shall be the duty of the committee on Public Health to consider all matters concerning the public health of the Commonwealth and such other matters as may be referred. Transportation It shall be the duty of the committee on Transportation to consider all matters concerning the development, operation, regulation and control of all means of transportation in the air, on land or in the water, the imposition of tolls on tunnels or bridges and such other matters as may be referred. The Higher Education committee and the Transportation committee have already held meetings in preparation for the public hearings we will hold as soon as the appropriate bills have been referred to our committees by the House and Senate Clerks. The House was in formal session this past Thursday to vote on the Joint Rules by which the House and Senate operate. The Minority Party offered some proposals as amendments during a debate on the joint House and Senate rules, a discussion that takes place at the beginning of every legislative session. Our goal was to protect the state’s rainy day fund by making it harder to tap into until it’s really raining. We also wanted to make it easier for municipalities to do their own budgets by setting a date certain for them to receive their state revenue estimates. The first amendment would have required the state to tell cities and towns how much local aid they will receive by March 15 every year, to allow for advance planning. Often, local officials must craft their municipal budgets before they know how much state aid to expect. The second amendment would prevent legislators from withdrawing money from the state’s emergency account, also known as the stabilization fund, unless 2/3 of the members in both the House and Senate vote in favor of the withdrawal. Both amendments were rejected by the Democrat-controlled House. Again, I am disappointed with the Majority Party but not surprised. They seem to show little regard for the rules or tax payer’s resources. They know they control the entire game from start to finish. They have the House, Senate, and Corner office. They can do whatever they want and we in the Minority Party can’t stop them. Finally, has anybody noticed that since the groundhog predicted an early spring we’ve had nothing but snow, ice, and cold? Somebody better have a word with that varmint. 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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MORE ON MY COMMITTEES

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

February 17, 2007

Before you start reading this column, wait! There is a fundraiser pancake breakfast Saturday morning from 8:00 to10:00 AM at Applebee’s Restaurant hosted by the Westfield High School Band Orchestra Parents. This great group of parents raises money for the band and orchestra. I’ll see you there! By the way, the annual WHS Pops Concert is coming up on March 9 and 10.

A few weeks ago I reported in this column that I had received my legislative committee assignments for the coming two-year session.

I was happy to be appointed by my Minority Leader Brad Jones to the following four Joint Committees: Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Higher Education, Public Health, and Transportation.

A number of my constituents asked me recently what these committees are tasked with doing. In explanation, the following information comes directly from the official homepage of the Massachusetts Legislature, www.Mass.Gov/legis.

Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

It shall be the duty of the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to consider all matters concerning consumer credit, consumer protection, the issuance of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages the registration of various trades or professions, and such other matters as may be referred.

Higher Education

It shall be the duty of the committee on Higher Education to consider all matters concerning higher education in the Commonwealth and such other matters as may be referred.

Public Health

It shall be the duty of the committee on Public Health to consider all matters concerning the public health of the Commonwealth and such other matters as may be referred.

Transportation

It shall be the duty of the committee on Transportation to consider all matters concerning the development, operation, regulation and control of all means of transportation in the air, on land or in the water, the imposition of tolls on tunnels or bridges and such other matters as may be referred.

The Higher Education committee and the Transportation committee have already held meetings in preparation for the public hearings we will hold as soon as the appropriate bills have been referred to our committees by the House and Senate Clerks.

The House was in formal session this past Thursday to vote on the Joint Rules by which the House and Senate operate. The Minority Party offered some proposals as amendments during a debate on the joint House and Senate rules, a discussion that takes place at the beginning of every legislative session. Our goal was to protect the state’s rainy day fund by making it harder to tap into until it’s really raining. We also wanted to make it easier for municipalities to do their own budgets by setting a date certain for them to receive their state revenue estimates.

The first amendment would have required the state to tell cities and towns how much local aid they will receive by March 15 every year, to allow for advance planning. Often, local officials must craft their municipal budgets before they know how much state aid to expect.

The second amendment would prevent legislators from withdrawing money from the state’s emergency account, also known as the stabilization fund, unless 2/3 of the members in both the House and Senate vote in favor of the withdrawal. Both amendments were rejected by the Democrat-controlled House.

Again, I am disappointed with the Majority Party but not surprised. They seem to show little regard for the rules or tax payer’s resources. They know they control the entire game from start to finish. They have the House, Senate, and Corner office. They can do whatever they want and we in the Minority Party can’t stop them.

Finally, has anybody noticed that since the groundhog predicted an early spring we’ve had nothing but snow, ice, and cold? Somebody better have a word with that varmint.

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