Representative Don Humason



EXTENDED VACATION By Representative Don Humason, Jr. September 1, 2007 I’d like to give a written “shout out” to a couple friends, Rick and Linda Buzzee, who are loyal readers of this weekly column in the Westfield Evening News. Rick didn’t believe I would do it. Labor Day weekend is upon us. For school teachers, staff, and administrators in the Westfield Public Schools, not to mention all the students, that means summer is over and school is back in session. Same thing goes for the folks at Westfield State College. Welcome back everybody. Have a safe and productive school year. If you are a member of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts, or the Governor of the Commonwealth, you’re still on summer recess. Governor Deval Patrick announced he was going to extend his vacation at his $8 million summer home in Richmond, here in Western Massachusetts. He’s been out of the State House for over a month. Now, I don’t mean to be picky, but I remember that the media went nuts if Governor Mitt Romney had a lengthy vacation. I recall the press complaining that Governor Jane Swift was too far away from Boston because she lived in Williamstown, again, here in Western Massachusetts. I bring this up because I believe in fairness. What criticism is good for the Republicans should be good for the Democrats. But this being Massachusetts, the bluest of the blue states, we don’t hear a peep out of the media about Deval’s extended vacation. Let me be clear, I know that when you are the head of a business or leader of a state or even the President of the United States you don’t get a real vacation. Your vacations are never completely devoid of government business. I understand that. That’s why I never liked it when the press piled on about our leaders taking long vacations. But when nobody made a big stink about Deval’s month long vacation after they raised holy hell about Romney, Swift, and other Republicans I just had to speak up and call a spade a spade. Come on people in the media, be fair and honest! Now, since I seem to be in a feisty mood, let me tell you about the Legislature’s extended summer vacation. We took our annual summer break at the beginning of August. The Speaker and Senate President recessed their respective branches for the month. Remember, we broke without taking up any overrides of Governor Patrick’s vetoes of the FY’08 state budget, or acting on the supplemental budget. Now it looks like members aren’t going to be called back until the middle of September! Senate President Murray is going on her annual trip to Russia next week and doesn’t expect the Senate to reconvene until September 13. Speaker DiMasi hasn’t given representatives any indication of when he intends to gavel us back into session. Philosophically, I often believe that my constituents, as well as the other taxpayers, toll payers, and ratepayers of the Bay State, are better off when the Legislature isn’t in session. But I also realize there is important work left to be done this year. Many bills remain in committee that should at least have the chance to be debated. And there are issues like auto insurance reform, proposed toll hikes on the MassPike and other state highways, infrastructure problems, welfare reform debate in the House, and the hot topic of casinos that need to be addressed and dealt with. On a happier note, I would like to congratulate Suzy and Gerry Tracy on the grand opening of the Tea Pot Gallery on Park Square in downtown Westfield. They’ve been working very hard for a couple years now to get their restaurant open. They’ve also taken on the task of coordinating Westfield’s Arts on the Green festival happening this weekend in the downtown. There’s going to be food, music, entertainment, and, of course, art for everyone’s taste. Come join us this weekend. Finally, Westfield lost a native son this week. Daniel J. Regan passed away at the age of 84. Dan had a huge family and a big impact on this town. He was active at Blessed Sacrament Church and the Sons of Erin, had served his country in the U.S. Navy, and had been a Westfield firefighter and charter member of the Firefighters Union Local 1111. I used to live across the street from Mr. Regan and know many of his children. He will be sadly 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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EXTENDED VACATION

By Representative Don Humason, Jr.

September 1, 2007

I’d like to give a written “shout out” to a couple friends, Rick and Linda Buzzee, who are loyal readers of this weekly column in the Westfield Evening News. Rick didn’t believe I would do it.

Labor Day weekend is upon us. For school teachers, staff, and administrators in the Westfield Public Schools, not to mention all the students, that means summer is over and school is back in session. Same thing goes for the folks at Westfield State College. Welcome back everybody. Have a safe and productive school year.

If you are a member of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts, or the Governor of the Commonwealth, you’re still on summer recess. Governor Deval Patrick announced he was going to extend his vacation at his $8 million summer home in Richmond, here in Western Massachusetts. He’s been out of the State House for over a month.

Now, I don’t mean to be picky, but I remember that the media went nuts if Governor Mitt Romney had a lengthy vacation. I recall the press complaining that Governor Jane Swift was too far away from Boston because she lived in Williamstown, again, here in Western Massachusetts.

I bring this up because I believe in fairness. What criticism is good for the Republicans should be good for the Democrats. But this being Massachusetts, the bluest of the blue states, we don’t hear a peep out of the media about Deval’s extended vacation.

Let me be clear, I know that when you are the head of a business or leader of a state or even the President of the United States you don’t get a real vacation. Your vacations are never completely devoid of government business. I understand that. That’s why I never liked it when the press piled on about our leaders taking long vacations. But when nobody made a big stink about Deval’s month long vacation after they raised holy hell about Romney, Swift, and other Republicans I just had to speak up and call a spade a spade. Come on people in the media, be fair and honest!

Now, since I seem to be in a feisty mood, let me tell you about the Legislature’s extended summer vacation. We took our annual summer break at the beginning of August. The Speaker and Senate President recessed their respective branches for the month. Remember, we broke without taking up any overrides of Governor Patrick’s vetoes of the FY’08 state budget, or acting on the supplemental budget.

Now it looks like members aren’t going to be called back until the middle of September! Senate President Murray is going on her annual trip to Russia next week and doesn’t expect the Senate to reconvene until September 13. Speaker DiMasi hasn’t given representatives any indication of when he intends to gavel us back into session.

Philosophically, I often believe that my constituents, as well as the other taxpayers, toll payers, and ratepayers of the Bay State, are better off when the Legislature isn’t in session. But I also realize there is important work left to be done this year.

Many bills remain in committee that should at least have the chance to be debated. And there are issues like auto insurance reform, proposed toll hikes on the MassPike and other state highways, infrastructure problems, welfare reform debate in the House, and the hot topic of casinos that need to be addressed and dealt with.

On a happier note, I would like to congratulate Suzy and Gerry Tracy on the grand opening of the Tea Pot Gallery on Park Square in downtown Westfield. They’ve been working very hard for a couple years now to get their restaurant open.

They’ve also taken on the task of coordinating Westfield’s Arts on the Green festival happening this weekend in the downtown. There’s going to be food, music, entertainment, and, of course, art for everyone’s taste. Come join us this weekend.

Finally, Westfield lost a native son this week. Daniel J. Regan passed away at the age of 84. Dan had a huge family and a big impact on this town. He was active at Blessed Sacrament Church and the Sons of Erin, had served his country in the U.S. Navy, and had been a Westfield firefighter and charter member of the Firefighters Union Local 1111. I used to live across the street from Mr. Regan and know many of his children. He will be sadly 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