Representative Don Humason



BROKEN PROMISES? By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. September 15, 2007 Is our state headed for a recession? I don’t know the answer to that question, and I definitely don’t want to be a pessimist. I don’t think so, and I certainly hope not. That was a prediction posed this week by a member of the Transportation Committee at an oversight hearing we held at the State House Tuesday, September 11. This legislator, a Democrat Senator, gave his opinion that fiscal hard times may possibly descend upon the Commonwealth. He raised the point that state government needed to be careful as it considered ways to pay for its aging, outdated, and in some cases decrepit infrastructure. He, and others, suggested that motorists and taxpayers distrusted government and government officials’ promises about raising taxes, tolls, or fees and dedicating that revenue toward road and bridge repair. I think he is right, at least about the public skepticism. Too many times we in state government have failed to keep our promises to the public. We have the Massachusetts Turnpike that was constructed with bonds that were supposed to be paid off and then the Pike was going to be free. But right before they were set to expire the Pike Board reauthorized millions of dollars in new bonds. So the tolls remained and are due to increase, again. We have a state tax on each gallon of gasoline sold in the Bay State (on top of a federal gas tax). That money is supposed to go toward infrastructure building and maintenance. Too often it gets siphoned off for other projects. The dreaded excise tax, the tax gift that keeps on giving year after year, no matter how old your automobile is, was supposed to go to cities and towns for their roads and bridges. But municipalities spend it however they want. The electorate voted several years ago that they wanted a charitable deduction on their state taxes as they have on their federal taxes. After only a few years the legislature did away with it because they felt like they were losing too much money. Money that they claimed, as they always do, they needed for “essential state services.” So the killed the deduction the people had voted for, and in the process eliminated a possible incentive for people to donate to charities across Massachusetts. There are many examples of where the public is mislead, some would say lied to, by their public leaders. Many examples of where the will of the people is clearly known, but for some inexplicable reason their elected representatives in Boston chose to do something contrary to their wishes. The income tax roll-back, for one. The vote on the definition of marriage is another recent example. Illegal immigration and publicly-funded benefits for illegals is yet another. My question is why do the voters allow us to get away with it? Why don’t they vote out their politicians who lie to them, say one thing, and do another? Why do politicians who ignore the will of their voters or worse, vote against the best interest of their own districts, consistently get returned to their seats? I’ll admit it is very frustrating to watch so many of my colleagues do this and yet be returned, every election, to their seats, unchallenged and undefeated. I can rest easy when I lay my head on my pillow at night. I have never taken a vote that goes against the wishes of the majority of people in my district. And I never take a vote that hurts Westfield, even when there may be pressure by Legislative leaders to do so. The power of incumbency is indeed powerful. Voter ignorance or apathy may be another reason. You’ve probably heard it said that people like to hate the Legislature while still liking their legislator. Ultimately it is up to the voters to be vigilant for broken promises by politicians. Finally, a note of sadness at the passing of former Westfield Mayor and current G&E Commissioner John Palczynski. He was a friend and mentor, of sorts, to me. His advice and words of encouragement were always welcome. My condolences to his family. John will be missed. * * * 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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BROKEN PROMISES?

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

September 15, 2007

Is our state headed for a recession? I don’t know the answer to that question, and I definitely don’t want to be a pessimist. I don’t think so, and I certainly hope not.

That was a prediction posed this week by a member of the Transportation Committee at an oversight hearing we held at the State House Tuesday, September 11. This legislator, a Democrat Senator, gave his opinion that fiscal hard times may possibly descend upon the Commonwealth.

He raised the point that state government needed to be careful as it considered ways to pay for its aging, outdated, and in some cases decrepit infrastructure. He, and others, suggested that motorists and taxpayers distrusted government and government officials’ promises about raising taxes, tolls, or fees and dedicating that revenue toward road and bridge repair.

I think he is right, at least about the public skepticism. Too many times we in state government have failed to keep our promises to the public.

We have the Massachusetts Turnpike that was constructed with bonds that were supposed to be paid off and then the Pike was going to be free. But right before they were set to expire the Pike Board reauthorized millions of dollars in new bonds. So the tolls remained and are due to increase, again.

We have a state tax on each gallon of gasoline sold in the Bay State (on top of a federal gas tax). That money is supposed to go toward infrastructure building and maintenance. Too often it gets siphoned off for other projects. The dreaded excise tax, the tax gift that keeps on giving year after year, no matter how old your automobile is, was supposed to go to cities and towns for their roads and bridges. But municipalities spend it however they want.

The electorate voted several years ago that they wanted a charitable deduction on their state taxes as they have on their federal taxes. After only a few years the legislature did away with it because they felt like they were losing too much money. Money that they claimed, as they always do, they needed for “essential state services.” So the killed the deduction the people had voted for, and in the process eliminated a possible incentive for people to donate to charities across Massachusetts.

There are many examples of where the public is mislead, some would say lied to, by their public leaders. Many examples of where the will of the people is clearly known, but for some inexplicable reason their elected representatives in Boston chose to do something contrary to their wishes.

The income tax roll-back, for one. The vote on the definition of marriage is another recent example. Illegal immigration and publicly-funded benefits for illegals is yet another.

My question is why do the voters allow us to get away with it? Why don’t they vote out their politicians who lie to them, say one thing, and do another? Why do politicians who ignore the will of their voters or worse, vote against the best interest of their own districts, consistently get returned to their seats?

I’ll admit it is very frustrating to watch so many of my colleagues do this and yet be returned, every election, to their seats, unchallenged and undefeated. I can rest easy when I lay my head on my pillow at night. I have never taken a vote that goes against the wishes of the majority of people in my district. And I never take a vote that hurts Westfield, even when there may be pressure by Legislative leaders to do so.

The power of incumbency is indeed powerful. Voter ignorance or apathy may be another reason. You’ve probably heard it said that people like to hate the Legislature while still liking their legislator. Ultimately it is up to the voters to be vigilant for broken promises by politicians.

Finally, a note of sadness at the passing of former Westfield Mayor and current G&E Commissioner John Palczynski. He was a friend and mentor, of sorts, to me. His advice and words of encouragement were always welcome. My condolences to his family. John will be missed.

* * *

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