Representative Don Humason



QUIET WEEK By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. February 24, 2007 This probably won’t be a very long column. It was a quiet week for me for a couple of reasons. First, school vacation weeks are traditionally slow times at the State House. The Speaker doesn’t schedule any formal sessions of the House. No Legislative Committees hold public hearings. In fact, I didn’t have to go to Beacon Hill at all this week. When you normally have to drive over 200 miles to work and back each day, not having to drive the 4 hour round trip is a real treat. So I was able to schedule a few meetings that I’ve had to put off due to my Boston schedule lately. I had the opportunity to speak with the Westfield State College Student Government Association (SGA) on Tuesday night. When I was a student at Westfield State back in the late 1980’s I too was a member of the SGA. It was a pleasure to go back and address these student leaders in the same Student Senate chamber where I got my political start. On Wednesday I went to the Westfield Head Start to read to a group of children. I read “Do Frogs Have Fur?” and the kids seemed to enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed reading it to these energetic little ones. The other reason it was kind of slow for me was that I was stricken with an inconvenient stomach bug that kept me close to home. I was supposed to take a tour of the American Inn on Thursday but they called to cancel because of an outbreak of the stomach virus. Ironically, I already had it myself so I wasn’t going to be able to go anyway. Things should begin to pick up next week as Governor Deval Patrick is supposed unveil his budget proposal for the Fiscal Year 2008, which begins July 1. The Governor’s budget traditionally receives the moniker House 1. The budget is a living, changing document that goes through a months-long writing and re-writing process before it is ultimately passed by both houses and signed into law. The House and Senate Ways and Means Committees, charged with drafting each branches own version of the spending bill, will hold joint hearings as the bodies prepare to come up with their versions. As I said, the pace will really pick up at the State House and in our district offices, as lobbyists, both professional and amateur, meet with lawmakers to advocate for increased spending or enhanced programs in the budget. Although the economy in the Bay State is good, there may be some challenges in meeting increased expectations in the budget for the next year. You may have heard our new Governor complaining about a “one billion dollar deficit.” That’s not actually correct. Most experts agree we will close FY ’07 with a small surplus. But the Governor has made so many promises, from reducing property taxes to increasing the number of police officers to giving cities and towns more money, that there is not enough money to do all those things he promised. That is where the deficit talk comes in. My own feeling continues to be that as a Commonwealth we spend around $26 billion a year and if we can’t pay for all our priorities by keeping within that considerable limit then we need to reprioritize. I continue to be opposed to increases in either your taxes or the fees you pay to government and I promise you I will vote against any such measures that would increase your cost of living here in Massachusetts. 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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QUIET WEEK
By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

February 24, 2007

This probably won’t be a very long column. It was a quiet week for me for a couple of reasons.
First, school vacation weeks are traditionally slow times at the State House. The Speaker doesn’t schedule any formal sessions of the House. No Legislative Committees hold public hearings.

In fact, I didn’t have to go to Beacon Hill at all this week. When you normally have to drive over 200 miles to work and back each day, not having to drive the 4 hour round trip is a real treat. So I was able to schedule a few meetings that I’ve had to put off due to my Boston schedule lately.

I had the opportunity to speak with the Westfield State College Student Government Association (SGA) on Tuesday night. When I was a student at Westfield State back in the late 1980’s I too was a member of the SGA. It was a pleasure to go back and address these student leaders in the same Student Senate chamber where I got my political start.

On Wednesday I went to the Westfield Head Start to read to a group of children. I read “Do Frogs Have Fur?” and the kids seemed to enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed reading it to these energetic little ones.

The other reason it was kind of slow for me was that I was stricken with an inconvenient stomach bug that kept me close to home. I was supposed to take a tour of the American Inn on Thursday but they called to cancel because of an outbreak of the stomach virus. Ironically, I already had it myself so I wasn’t going to be able to go anyway.

Things should begin to pick up next week as Governor Deval Patrick is supposed unveil his budget proposal for the Fiscal Year 2008, which begins July 1. The Governor’s budget traditionally receives the moniker House 1.

The budget is a living, changing document that goes through a months-long writing and re-writing process before it is ultimately passed by both houses and signed into law.

The House and Senate Ways and Means Committees, charged with drafting each branches own version of the spending bill, will hold joint hearings as the bodies prepare to come up with their versions. As I said, the pace will really pick up at the State House and in our district offices, as lobbyists, both professional and amateur, meet with lawmakers to advocate for increased spending or enhanced programs in the budget.

Although the economy in the Bay State is good, there may be some challenges in meeting increased expectations in the budget for the next year. You may have heard our new Governor complaining about a “one billion dollar deficit.” That’s not actually correct.
Most experts agree we will close FY ’07 with a small surplus. But the Governor has made so many promises, from reducing property taxes to increasing the number of police officers to giving cities and towns more money, that there is not enough money to do all those things he promised. That is where the deficit talk comes in.

My own feeling continues to be that as a Commonwealth we spend around $26 billion a year and if we can’t pay for all our priorities by keeping within that considerable limit then we need to reprioritize.

I continue to be opposed to increases in either your taxes or the fees you pay to government and I promise you I will vote against any such measures that would increase your cost of living here in Massachusetts.

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