JANUARY 2001 STATE HOUSE REPORT
 

NEW START:  As required by the Massachusetts Constitution, the newly elected General Court assembled on the first Wednesday of January and elected its officers, i.e. presiding officers, clerks and sergeant-at-arms.  Governor Paul Cellucci swore in the 160 members of the House of Representatives and the 40 members of the Senate.  Presently, we are awaiting assignment to Committees and the printing of over 6000 petitions which will be considered as prospective laws during the next two years.  The twenty-one joint committees of the Legislature will begin holding public hearings the first week of February, continuing until they have completed public testimony and making judgment on disposition of each bill referred to it by the Clerk.

FISCAL STORM CLOUDS:  The Governor has submitted his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year which begins July 1.  The Ways and Means Committees of the House and Senate will hold public hearings and report their recommendations to their respective branches in mid-spring.  The House has scheduled its budget debate the week of May 1.  The slowdown in the overall economy and the revenue reductions caused by several tax cuts, primarily in the income tax stream, are already raising cautionary concerns among budget makers.  I met recently with House Speaker Tom Finneran and Ways and Means budget analysts who sounded ominous warnings predicting that if mid year trends continue there will be $500 million less in revenues to finance what may be an $800 million increase in legal obligations to the existing $22.5 billion budget.  These fiscal facts present harsh realities and corresponding challenges to a state government which enjoyed surpluses in each of the last six years.  The outlook is not dire but the balance of required needs to sustain a prosperous economy and an engaged, appropriately serviced citizenry requires prudent, thoughtful, informed financial circumspection.

SEWER GRANT:  State Environmental officials recently announced their intention to make a no-interest loan available for the construction of Marshfield’s recently approved sewer system expansion.  This almost $9 Million project loan is equivalent to a 50% grant and is part of the State Revolving Fund Program I championed several years ago.  I have been particularly demanding of state officials that Marshfield’s grant request should be honored because it was state officials who several times over the last decade threatened court action if Marshfield did not clean up failed septic systems and cesspools.  Congratulations to Marshfield’s Selectmen and DPW Commissioners who pursued this grant and cogently promoted its need!

CHILD HUNGER:  Despite the thriving economy of the past several years, one in five children under 12 is hungry or at risk of being hungry.  Typically they are children of low income families, most of them working families, who live one paycheck away from a financial emergency.  For those families, an unexpected medical bill or car repair can easily force terrible choices – choices between making rent, paying the heating bill or buying groceries.  Too often the food budget gives way.  We know that hungry kids can’t learn and can’t pay attention in class; we know that hunger can have serious negative effects on children’s psychological, behavioral and cognitive development.  I have joined with many of my colleagues in co-sponsoring legislation which seeks to move toward solutions for child hunger – not by creating new government programs but by making better and more efficient use of a wide range of federal resources that already exist.  By increasing participation in meal programs where kids live, learn and play – and by linking the existing six nutrition programs and other assistance programs, we are hopeful it will be easier for parents to get the resources they need and save on duplication among state agencies.

ELDERLY PROPERTY TAX RELIEF:  A year ago I worked hard in support of the “circuit breaker” tax credit.  This law, passed in the FY 2000 state budget, takes effect this year.  Any person 65 years of age and older whose annual property tax, including 50% of their water and sewer bills, exceed 10% of their total income are eligible for a credit on their state income tax, provided the taxpayer’s total income does not exceed $40,000 for a single filer and $60,000 for taxpayer’s filing jointly and the assessed value of their residence does not exceed $400,000.  The maximum tax credit for the current tax year is $375 and rises to $750 for tax years beginning on or after January 1,2002.  This new law is long overdue and recognizes the difficult burden many older citizens confront when real estate taxes escalate while living on very modest, fixed incomes.

TODAY’S THOUGHT:   “A loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice even if it is a whisper”. 
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