Rep. Hynes' State House Report September, 2003 After a few weeks of summer hiatus, the Legislature has returned to a full slate of fall activities. In anticipation of a busy formal session, the Legislative Committees have resumed their hearing schedule. Each Joint Committee membership is composed of seventeen legislators whose responsibilities include holding public hearings and making recommendations to the full Legislature on the matters assigned to them by the House and Senate Clerks. Drunk Driving: I preceded Lt. Governor Kerry Healy in appearing before the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice. She was testifying on the Administration's proposal to tighten the sanctions for repeat drunk drivers - a good measure, which, among other things, would require ignition interlocks in cars and increased time for the suspension of a convicted drunk driver's license. I testified on a bill I authored pursuant to a Scituate resident's experience, who lost the full value of his almost new car, after being totaled by a drunk driver. My bill would require the convicted drunk driver to compensate the victim for the difference between the insurance coverage and full replacement cost of the vehicle. As witnessed by the continuation of tragic, deadly consequences, as a result of someone drinking too much and driving, these measures deserve to pass the Legislature and be signed into law by the Governor. MBTA Increase/Termination of P&B Scituate Bus: The MBTA is concluding 12 public hearings on proposed fare increases, which if approved by the Board of Directors, would go into effect on January 1, 2004. I have protested the proposed increases for commuter boat users. In January the "T" instituted, at the Hingham Boat Yard, a new parking fee of $2 and now proposes a $42 per month fare increase. This represents a 60% increase in twelve months and is way out of line. Its consequences will be fewer riders and more automobile traffic on already clogged roadways. The Plymouth and Brockton Bus Company is terminating the last and only bus serving Scituate, arguing that because of low ridership and the need to send an empty bus from Boston each day, they can no longer afford the $500 per month ( $11,000 per year) they loose on this service. P&B has gradually reduced bus service over the past several years to communities like Scituate, Cohasset, and Hingham and is now proposing termination. I have reached out to Secretary of Transportation, Dan Grabauskas, asking him to intercede. I'm not optimistic about P&B's course but am overturning every stone I can find to see if we can get them to reverse their decision. Greenbush: Governor Romney and his Administration have given the green light to this most controversial project. After six months of extensive review, with the Governor himself involved in learning and listening to opponents and proponents itemizing the pros and cons of this rail restoration project, the Governor believes this is the right thing to do. This new Administration has reviewed the financial, legal, and transportation complexities of restoring Greenbush and have affirmatively concluded that it must go forward. This decision was unanimous among the Governor and his advisors. South Shore residents can look forward to this line beginning to operate in the summer of 2006. Medicaid: At the urging of the Administration, the FY '04 budget contained outside sections which revamp the rules by which residents qualify for Medicaid, health assistance from the Commonwealth. A particularly onerous change involves the treatment of the house of a Medicaid recipient after the patient dies. The state will now be able to place a lien against that house so that it can recoup the money it spent on the long term care bills of the generally elderly person. This is a particularly harsh change for those who have already made legal arrangements to pass on their house to either surviving spouse or children. I am co-sponsoring legislation to repeal this section of the budget. My belief is that this matter deserves full legislative discussion and should not have been tacked onto a budget. Ensuing debate may indeed change the rules and require the state to capture some or all of its health care payments. But should this be permitted a bridge must be built, a transition allowed, so that those who have already made financial plans under existing rules are not cast aside. Today's Reflection: "Never doubt that a group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead Back to t |