If you read my column from last week, “Theft Equals Delays,” you know that the bridge contractor working on the Pochassic Road/Drugstore Hill bridge reported to me problems with the theft over Easter weekend of some steel rebar needed for the concrete work they hoped to do last week. Theft delays the projects and costs time and money.
I wanted to give you an update. I got another email from Joe Spinelli of R. Bates & Sons. He informed me that using their security cameras and other sources they were able to identify the thief as 29 year old Jesse Maclenahan of Ethan Ave. The Westfield police arrested him. Joe says they were able to recover some but not all of the rebar at the scrap yard.
I want to send a shout out to Mr. Kevin King’s 5th grade class at Highland Elementary School. On Tuesday I volunteered to participate in the Reach Out and Read program of the Volunteers in Public Schools and read to his class a great book called “Henry and the Cannons.” It was a great story about Henry Knox and his noble train of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights in Boston that helped General George Washington drive the British from Boston during the Revolutionary War. History shows his path took him through Westfield.
I would like to congratulate Lina Borges who was named 2013 Youth of the Year by the Westfield Boys and Girls Club at their annual banquet Monday night. I had House citations for her and the other finalists but was unable to be there due to a formal session in Boston.
Let me also congratulate Creative Machining and Molding Corporation of Westfield which was awarded a Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition 2012 Employer of the Year Award by the Forum House at a ceremony I attended in the Great Hall at the State House Wednesday. I am always pleased when a local person or business is honored in Boston.
The House deliberated and passed its version of the Transportation Financing plan during a 12 hour long debate Monday. Although the House version contained less than the $1.9 billion in tax increases that Governor Patrick wanted it was still $500 million in new taxes. The bill raises the gasoline tax by $.03 per gallon, increase taxes on cigarettes, and taxes certain business services.
I rose to speak on the floor of the House of Representatives twice during the marathon session; one time in support of an alternative transportation funding proposed by my Republican caucus that would not have raised taxes and a second time in opposition to increasing the gasoline tax.
I voted against the bill. The vote was 97 – 55. It passed. The state Senate will debate its own version next. Governor Patrick has already rattled his saber and threatened to veto the bill.
On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee released its proposed Fiscal Year 2014 state budget. Legislators are given about 48 hours to read the budget, investigate its impact on their districts and state agencies, and file or co-sponsor amendments to make changes to the spending document. As I’ve stated in previous years, it’s a terrible way to run a railroad.
I posted on Facebook that the budget had been released and I was reviewing it in my office at the State House when David Sutton replied, “Don, the House has to find new WAYS ‘cause I’m running out of MEANS!” It cracked me up but I think he speaks for a lot of people in Massachusetts who are feeling the pinch of this economy and pressure from his government.
Next week is school vacation week and the House and Senate are typically in informal sessions only. The House Clerk’s office and the Ways and Means staff will organize all the amendments in preparation for the week of budget debate slated to start on Monday, April 22.
I intend to be in Boston the entire week of the budget debate and will likely spend most of my time in the House chamber. Feel free to contact my office if you have items in the budget you wish me to consider. Please understand that you will probably speak with my Chief of Staff Maura Cassin or my Legislative Intern Drew Renfro because I will be in the chamber during the debate. I guarantee they will pass any messages on to me.
Next Monday is Patriot’s Day. Celebrated and observed in Maine and Massachusetts it commemorates the start of the War for Independence with Great Britain at the Battle of Lexington and Concord with “the shot heard ‘round the world.” God bless America’s patriots yesterday, today, and tomorrow!
Have a great week.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Maura Cassin may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 568-1366.
Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803.
Email address: [email protected]
Website: www.DonHumason.org
