The new Great River bridges and parks have been officially dedicated. The fireworks have been shot off over Stanley Park. Summer has come to Massachusetts with a hot and humid vengeance and Great White sharks have even been spotted hunting for seals off the beaches of crowded Cape Cod. Ahhh, July!
I hope you had a very happy Independence Day and celebrated the 236th birthday of America in a proper fashion. I wasn’t able to attend the Wyben parade this year because of baby-issues, but my wife Janice and I did bring our son Quinn with us to Hampton Ponds in the morning for their annual celebration ceremony after their parade in the Hampton Ponds Association building.
Due to the 4th of July and the Independence Day holiday falling in the middle of the week this year, neither the House nor Senate met in full formal session at all this week. We have already been notified by Speaker Bob DeLeo’s office by email, as we are every week, to expect to be in session on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
Over a week ago the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate voted on the Conference Committee report on the Fiscal Year 2013 state budget. At the time I am writing this column, legislators are waiting for Governor Deval Patrick to sign the budget into law and send back his vetoes and proposed changes to the legislature. The state is currently operating under a temporary budget that we put in place to continue paying the Commonwealth’s bills at the FY 2012 level while waiting for the FY 2013 budget to become law.
Any changes or vetoes from Governor Patrick and his administration must first be addressed in the House before the Senate may act on them. Overrides must be voted on first by the House. If the House doesn’t act on them, the Senate cannot, and the veto remains in place. The legislature has until July 31 at midnight to do any overrides or pass any controversial bills or supplemental budgets. Then, according to rules put in place to protect the citizens of the Bay State from a lame duck General Court, we adjourn from formal sessions until the first Wednesday of the new year.
Both the House and Senate will continue to meet in informal session every few days to pass non-controversial legislation and see to the routine running of state government.
Calling all artists: The Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office has announced the 16th Annual Senior Citizens State House Art Exhibit. This year’s theme is “December Holidays at the State House.” The contest is open to all Massachusetts citizens 62 years of age and older. Entries are due August 1, 2012. They must be mailed or delivered to Dolores McCray, Commonwealth Museum, 200 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125.
I may be able to be of assistance in delivering your artwork to Boston. If you intend to participate in the contest this year, and would like me to hand-deliver your artwork entry to the Secretary of State’s office, please contact me or my Chief of Staff, Maura Cassin, at my District Office at 568-1366. We will need to make arrangements to get your artwork by the last week of July to guarantee that I will have the time to deliver it by deadline.
Art entries will be accepted from both amateur and professional artists and will be displayed at the Commonwealth Museum. All medium of art is acceptable (oils, watercolor, ink, pastels, etc.). The State House must be the focal point of the artwork. The size requirements are a minimum of 5×7″ and a maximum of 18×24″. If an artist is unable to mat and frame the entry the Secretary of State’s office will provide matting using basic materials.
Finally, please print your name, address, phone number, and medium used on the back of the artwork and enclose signed authorization form in order for the artwork to be displayed. An awards ceremony on a date to be announced will be held at the Museum. Good luck!
I am looking forward to being on base next Tuesday when deployed members of the MA Air National Guard 104th Fighter Wing return to Barnes after being overseas serving their country. I will be the first to admit that I don’t like the heat and humidity of summer, but I try not to complain much about it because I know members of our Armed Services are deployed around the world in hot spots that would make Westfield in August feel like a cool dip in a Hampton Ponds. Welcome back, Barnestormers! Thank you for making us proud.
I hope to see you at the annual Westfield Chamber of Commerce Pancake Breakfast next Thursday, July 12, at the South Middle School. I am proud to be one of the sponsors of this great event. I may have to eat my pancakes and run a little early to make it to Boston in time for roll call. The session ends July 31 and so far I am proud to say I have a perfect attendance record again for the past two years. I haven’t yet missed a single roll call this session and I don’t plan to!
Stay cool. Look out for one another. 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
