Rep. Hynes State House Report January, 2003 New Beginnings: This New Year ushers in a new Legislature and new Executive Government for Massachusetts. The 183rd Biennium of the General Court began, as prescribed in the Massachusetts Constitution, and convened on January 1 itself. 200 Legislators were sworn in as members of the State Senate and House of Representatives amid traditional pomp and ceremony. The following day the new Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey, were sworn in to their four year term, eager and ready to serve the people of Massachusetts. Fiscal Storm: The New Year brings no end to the economic clouds hovering in the state and nation. The storm of the state's fiscal crisis will create harsh difficulties for many and the newly elected officials will be challenged to meet the core, basic needs of a just society with declining monies. The challenge is daunting but is embraced with determination and truthful resolve to be fair and honest and to work on behalf of the best interests of all. Unfinished Business: Several measures failed to make it into law despite heightened interest in the last few weeks. The so-called "safe haven" bill, allowing parents to drop off unwanted newborn babies at a hospital, fire or police station, without being held liable to child abandonment charges, failed to be passed, as did the measure addressing the wrongful conviction and incarceration of innocent people and a bill restricting light pollution. 2003 Major Issues: The state's fiscal crisis will command primary attention. Genuine structural balance is of paramount importance, which will require significant reductions in most accounts to resolve what appears to be a larger than $2 billion deficit! I am advocating a minimum two year budget adoption so that honest sustained accounting can be achieved. Two other measures will receive widespread attention in the coming year. Chapter 40B, the state's 34-year-old statute overriding local zoning regulations in order to achieve more housing affordable to some people, will receive significant attention and hopefully a major makeover. I have authored several bills ranging from radical changes to a moratorium, but the bottom line is to provide opportunities to local cities and towns to achieve desirable affordable housing goals, consistent with their own local character and interests, without the state stripping them of the necessary local controls to achieve sustainable communities. The other major matter receiving attention this year will be health care. Reasonable costs, universal accessibility, and secure quality of service remain the primary goals of the American Health Care system. Yet today, as never before in the last 35 years, dissatisfaction and frustration from all quarters runs rampant. Insurance premium costs are out of control, hospitals are weakened by insufficient staff, physicians face insurmountable financial and administrative demands and no comprehensive solutions seem available. Many other bills will also be addressed in the coming year but these three issues: fiscal crisis, Chapter 40B, and health care will be the matters commanding the closest attention. Say No to Telemarketers: The new state law which allows citizens to register their unwillingness to accept telephone calls from telemarketers is now being implemented. If you wish to be included among those who after April 1st will no longer be receiving telemarketing calls, call this toll-free number: 1-866-231-CALL (2255). You may also sign up online at http://www.mass.gov/donotcall. May you and your family enjoy a New Year filled with happiness and good health. Back to top of page |