Representative Don Humason



INFRASTRUCTURE By Representative Don Humason, Jr. September 8, 2007 News flash: The House of Representatives will be returning to full formal sessions starting on Tuesday, September 18, according to an email from Speaker Sal DiMasi’s staff. The Senate is expected to reconvene as well. Thus ends the Legislature’s August summer recess. You will recall that last week I was somewhat critical of the extended vacation being taken by the Governor and General Court. More than that, however, I was pointing out the liberal bias in the media that would criticize a Republican leader’s vacation but remain silent about a Democrat leader’s vacation. To speak in clichés, “What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander.” Thank you to those of you who responded with comments about my column. It’s always nice to know it’s being read. The Joint Committee on Transportation, of which I am a member, will be holding an oversight hearing next Tuesday at the State House on the issue of bridge safety in the Bay State. This committee is chaired on the House side by fellow Western Massachusetts representative Joseph Wagner of Chicopee. In light of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis there has been a heightened public concern of the condition of our own bridges in Massachusetts. Mass Highway has stepped up the schedule of inspections on our bridges and inspections continue on our roads, tunnels, and other public infrastructure. We expect to hear from officials at the Executive Office of Transportation, Mass Port, Mass Pike, Mass Highway, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. In Westfield we have been fortunate that several of our bridges have recently been replaced and brought up to date. Horton’s Bridge, the bridge on Northwest Road, and the Route 20 bridge, called National Guard Way, have all been completed in the recent past. We are building a brand new bridge to cross the Westfield River, although there has been a recent halt to construction while additional permits are ironed out. The remaining bridge that spans the river is slated for a major overhaul when the new structure is completed. And there are other bridges in this city that have raised concern among local officials and motorists alike. It takes a lot of time, some would argue too much time, as well as work, planning, and money to build new bridges. Infrastructure is expensive. Yet it is used by everyone and benefits all citizens. Infrastructure is a core responsibility of government at every level. The Republican caucus of the House and Senate is proposing a Commuter’s Bill of Rights. It is certain to gain a lot of momentum as legislators learn of it and begin to focus on the proposals. You, the public, have a right to demand that we in government assure the safety and usability of the public infrastructure. It needs to be a priority. As such, other areas of government spending should be reassessed to free up the appropriate resources for our infrastructure. I got a call from my colleague on Cape Cod this morning. Representative Jeffrey Perry was reporting that 2 of the F-15 fighter jets from the Cape were leaving to come to Westfield. He said he was sad to see them go, but pleased to know we in Westfield were getting them. We should expect to begin to see and hear those planes in the skies over our city and the Air National Guard base at Barnes. Why do I mention the F-15’s? Next week marks the 6 year observance of September 11. That date and the attacks that occurred on America that day must always be remembered. Westfield will become a bigger part of America’s air defenses with the arrival of the F-15’s and the new mission up at Barnes. I welcome them. * * * 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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INFRASTRUCTURE

By Representative Don Humason, Jr.

September 8, 2007

News flash: The House of Representatives will be returning to full formal sessions starting on Tuesday, September 18, according to an email from Speaker Sal DiMasi’s staff. The Senate is expected to reconvene as well. Thus ends the Legislature’s August summer recess.

You will recall that last week I was somewhat critical of the extended vacation being taken by the Governor and General Court. More than that, however, I was pointing out the liberal bias in the media that would criticize a Republican leader’s vacation but remain silent about a Democrat leader’s vacation. To speak in clichés, “What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander.”

Thank you to those of you who responded with comments about my column. It’s always nice to know it’s being read.

The Joint Committee on Transportation, of which I am a member, will be holding an oversight hearing next Tuesday at the State House on the issue of bridge safety in the Bay State. This committee is chaired on the House side by fellow Western Massachusetts representative Joseph Wagner of Chicopee.

In light of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis there has been a heightened public concern of the condition of our own bridges in Massachusetts. Mass Highway has stepped up the schedule of inspections on our bridges and inspections continue on our roads, tunnels, and other public infrastructure. We expect to hear from officials at the Executive Office of Transportation, Mass Port, Mass Pike, Mass Highway, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

In Westfield we have been fortunate that several of our bridges have recently been replaced and brought up to date. Horton’s Bridge, the bridge on Northwest Road, and the Route 20 bridge, called National Guard Way, have all been completed in the recent past.

We are building a brand new bridge to cross the Westfield River, although there has been a recent halt to construction while additional permits are ironed out. The remaining bridge that spans the river is slated for a major overhaul when the new structure is completed. And there are other bridges in this city that have raised concern among local officials and motorists alike.

It takes a lot of time, some would argue too much time, as well as work, planning, and money to build new bridges. Infrastructure is expensive. Yet it is used by everyone and benefits all citizens. Infrastructure is a core responsibility of government at every level.

The Republican caucus of the House and Senate is proposing a Commuter’s Bill of Rights. It is certain to gain a lot of momentum as legislators learn of it and begin to focus on the proposals.

You, the public, have a right to demand that we in government assure the safety and usability of the public infrastructure. It needs to be a priority. As such, other areas of government spending should be reassessed to free up the appropriate resources for our infrastructure.

I got a call from my colleague on Cape Cod this morning. Representative Jeffrey Perry was reporting that 2 of the F-15 fighter jets from the Cape were leaving to come to Westfield. He said he was sad to see them go, but pleased to know we in Westfield were getting them. We should expect to begin to see and hear those planes in the skies over our city and the Air National Guard base at Barnes.

Why do I mention the F-15’s? Next week marks the 6 year observance of September 11. That date and the attacks that occurred on America that day must always be remembered.
Westfield will become a bigger part of America’s air defenses with the arrival of the F-15’s and the new mission up at Barnes. I welcome them.

* * *

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