It is with deep sadness that I begin this article today as a result of the news of the four Marines killed and the other victims who were wounded in an act of terror this past Thursday in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the victims of this attack and to the entire community of Chattanooga as they recover from this loss.
This past Tuesday I was in Boston for two important hearings for committees that I sit on. The first was for Crime legislation in front of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The hearing encompassed most of the legislation strictly related to crime, and there were quite a number of bills that fit that criteria. Some of the bigger ticket items that came before the committee Tuesday were variations of trespassing legislation, legalization of suppressors, and providing a false address during a police intake.
Included in this hearing was H.1641, Stolen Valor legislation I filed. I was honored to testify in front of my colleagues and the chairs of the Judiciary committee for this bill to further protect the valor of veterans and service members. The act would punish those who falsely represent themselves as veterans or members of the armed forces for any type of financial gain.
One of the other Committees I sit on, Joint Committee on Public Health, also had a hearing this past Tuesday. The topic being heard before Public Health was tobacco legislation. Some of the bills that were on the agenda included regulation and further studies for tobacco products.
After more than a month of deliberation, the six member conference committee released a budget last week that was a compromise between the different versions created by the House in April and the Senate in May. Though the amount the budget would cost was very close, there were disparities in which programs would be funded and how. The six member conference committee, led by the Chairs of the Ways and Means committees, worked hard to hammer out those disparities to come up with a final budget. It was released from conference committee last Tuesday, and voted on by the House the following day. It passed nearly unanimously, with only one member voting against it. The budget then went to the Senate, where it passed 35-5. The Governor had ten days to act on the $38.1 billion budget, and signed his amended version yesterday.
In a very difficult fiscal environment, this budget will still increase local aid by $34 million and increase education funding, chapter 70, by $111.2 million. It’s a step in the right direction, but we still need to work to increase local aid to municipalities. Other significant measures include increased funding for addiction treatment such as the expansion of treatment beds and funding for the bulk purchase of Narcan, a drug that has saved countless lives from opiate overdose.
Another important measure included in the budget is the creation of a Fiscal and Management Control Board. This board will operate within MassDOT and will have the power to implement measures to ensure financial, operational and managerial stability at the MBTA. The five member board was sworn in yesterday, and has its first meeting this coming Tuesday.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend. As always, feel free to contact me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns!
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
