| Senator Richard J. Ross, State House Update, March 2015 |
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Dear Friends,
Spring is finally here, and with that the end of weeks of severe winter weather.This past month, my colleagues in the state senate and I have been busy touring the Commonwealth, listening to the concerns of not only our constituents, but those who live outside of our districts as well.
Please read/share my monthly newsletter for information on internship opportunities, critical legislative matters being discussed on Beacon Hill, as well as upcoming office hours during the month of April.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office directly to let me know what your priorities are.
Sincerely, 
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SENATE COMMONWEALTH CONVERSATIONS TOUR
This past month, members of the Massachusetts State Senate participated in a statewide tour of senate districts. This Commonwealth Conversations Tour aimed to reach out to local residents, businesses and organizations to listen to their needs and concerns with the hope that it will foster more civic engagement and help each senator learn more about issues outside of our own districts. On Monday, March 2nd, I joined my colleagues in listening to the concerns of the residents of MetroWest. The tour began at Plainridge Park Casino to discuss issues impacting economic development in the region and concluded with an open public forum at Newton North High School. I attended several of these tours across Massachusetts, which were were an exciting opportunity for the Senate to engage in a meaningful discourse with our constituents, local officials, and business leaders on the issues they care about. We heard about issues pertaining to transportation, education, jobs, the economy, and the environment. It was great to also hear from those outside of our district to gain a better understanding of priorities across the Commonwealth. This is just the beginning of a Senate session with a renewed dedication to listening to the people of the Commonwealth. As budget debates begin, I encourage my constituents to continue reaching out to my office. For a recap on Commonwealth Conversations, visit the MA Senate website here. |
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SOUP FOR HEAT
On Saturday, March 7th, roughly a hundred people gathered at the Larson Senior Center in Attleboro for the 11th annual Soup for H.E.A.T. fundraiser.
Helping With Energy Assistance Together (H.E.A.T.), who sponsored the event, is an organization that assists those in need of a little financial help during the cold winter months. This winter especially has impacted many of my constituents, from rate increases to severe winter storms, many people have not been able to catch a break. Just last year, H.E.A.T. gave out nearly $12,000 in emergency heating funds to Attleboro residents, demonstrating how much of a difference this organization and this great event in the community makes.
This year, the turnout could not have been better and as always, it was a ton of fun. All of the soups were donated, and I was happy serve alongside my colleague Senator Jim Timilty.
If you would like to send a donation, you can mail it to H.E.A.T., P.O. Box 4104, Attleboro, MA, 02703.
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METROWEST HUMAN SERVICES BREAKFAST
I appreciated meeting with human services workers and hearing about their essential life-saving programs at the 13th annual MetroWest Human Services Advocacy Coalition Legislative Breakfast in Natick.
From opiate addiction to homelessness, crucial policy issues impacting the Commonwealth and its' residents remained the focal point, as well as the importance of giving back.
Having recently been appointed to the Senate Special Committee on Opioid Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Options, an extension of the Senate Special Committee on Drug Abuse and Treatment Options, tackling the drug problem in Massachusetts has been a major priority of mine.
In light of serious budget shortfalls impacting the Commonwealth and with pertinent FY16 budget discussions underway, it is vital that these programs are properly funded and considered. Thank you to all who work in human services and for all you provide to our communities across the state.
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FOCUSING ON THE BUDGET
As a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, I applaud Governor Baker's FY16 budget proposal; a common sense, responsible budget that makes significant increases to local aid without raising taxes or dipping into the state's Rainy Day Fund.
The proposal, filed earlier this month, recommends a $34 million increase in unrestricted local aid, $105 million for Chapter 70 school aid, and the restoration of FY15 budget levels for the METCO program. Additionally, Governor Baker filed accompanying legislation that would also double the Earned Income Tax Credit up to 30% of the federal credit over three years, which will go a long way for working families across the Commonwealth.
Given the recent budget deficit and fiscal challenges facing the state, it is crucial that our cities and towns are not negatively impacted and I believe this proposal has the interest of the people at heart.
I agree with the Governor that the Commonwealth must not turn its' back on our cities and towns. We must do all that we can to return funding to the local level and keep our agreement in not short changing municipalities with cuts to local aid and UGGA. This is just the beginning when it comes to the budget process, but I once again praise Governor Baker for his positive and responsible recommendations.
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GETTING THE MBTA BACK ON TRACK
Massachusetts faces serious challenges when it comes to transportation, particularly with the MBTA, but the problems do not stem solely from a lack of funding, and raising taxes is not the answer.
The failures, specifically pertaining to the MBTA, stem from a history of mismanagement as well as a lack of sufficient oversight measures from the Legislature. In February, Senate Republicans put forward legislation to financially stabilize the MBTA by creating a seven-member Finance Control Board that would gain immediate control of the MBTA's finances. The board would first establish a plan to correct historical inefficiencies, and put the transit system back into full service operation as soon as possible.
This is by no means the only solution, but we cannot continue to throw money at a problem and expect it go away. The Legislature's answer to addressing the state's transportation needs cannot be to simply burden our constituents with more taxes and fare increases. The Legislature's answer should be a holistic, all-of-the-above approach. Complex problems require complex solutions.
To read the entire op-ed, please click here. |
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| Congratulations to Real Living Realty Group for the opening of their new office in Franklin (left) and to all of the winners of the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce's annual Business Recognition Awards (right). |
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SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
I am currently seeking interns in my State House office for the summer, all interested college students are encouraged to apply. The summer is exciting time to intern on Beacon Hill. From speaker seminars to legislative debates, interning in my office presents an excellent opportunity to experience the workings of state government and I am looking for driven, professional individuals who are capable of taking on real challenges daily. Intern duties include drafting correspondence with constituents, gathering news clips, legislative research, general administrative tasks, as well as attending formal Senate sessions and public hearings. Internships are unpaid, but present an opportunity to learn about the legislative process. My staff and I will work with students to gain credit where applicable. If a college student is interested, they are encouraged to send their resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to Richard.Ross@masenate.gov.
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| The Needham Legislative Delegation sat down with the League of Women Voters to chat about our legislative priorities. (left) White Ribbon Day 2015 at the State House, working together to end violence against women with Rep Jeff Roy. (right) |
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HOSPICE VOLUNTEER TRAINING
The Community VNA Hospice and Palliative Care in Attleboro is seeking volunteers to assist terminally ill patients and their families. Volunteers can provide support in a variety of ways, including visiting clients, offering transportation to medical appointments, running errands, and providing respite for caregivers. The Administrative Offices also needs volunteers to help with medical record filing and assist with mailings. No experience is required. This program is a great opportunity to give back to those in our community and help provide some extra help to a fantastic organization. The 20 hour training program will be held May 5th through May 26th. Sessions will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00am-12:00pm at Community VNA, 10 Emory Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. Pre-registration is required by April 15, 2015, so be sure to call (508)222-0118 or (800)220-0110 to secure a spot. For more information, you can also visit www.communityvna.com. |
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| Congratulations to Cori Farrow of North Attleboro who received first place for the 2015 Massachusetts Safe Jobs for Youth Poster Contest. (left) "Reach Out For Youth & Families" Breakfast celebrating the great work the YMCA has and continues to do for children and families across the Commonwealth with Attleboro's Mayor Kevin Dumas. (right) |
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THE JOINT RULES: WHY THE DEBATE IS SO IMPORTANT
Currently, the Massachusetts House and Senate are in the midst of a conversation about the joint rules that govern the flow of bills in the legislature. To increase government efficiency and responsiveness, the Senate is hoping to get bills moved through joint committees and back to the chamber they were proposed in more quickly. Often bills that are filed in January of the first year of a legislative session will not move out of a joint committee until the following year. Because there are more House members than Senators, the House effectively controls how and when a bill will move through each committee. To remedy this, the Senate is proposing a simple change, to allow House or Senate members to send bills, with a majority vote of their members, to the chamber of origin. House members vote on House bills, Senate members vote on Senate bills. The simple change could allow for more bills to be considered and voted on. For more information on the Joint Rules and a simple breakdown, visit Senate President Stan Rosenberg's website here. |
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| Pleased to be the guest Quiz Master for the Battle of the Books at Hill-Roberts Elementary School in Attleboro. (left) Congratulations to Andrew Bejian, Brendan Chambers, and William Gallagher, the newest Eagle Scouts of Troop 10 in Needham. (right) |
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SENIOR CIRCUIT BREAKER SEMINARS
Over the past few months, I have joined other area legislators in hosting informational seminars on the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit across the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District with Brian Lynch of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The Senior Circuit Breaker is a tax credit for senior citizens whose property payments account for more than 10% of their annual income. Eligible seniors will receive a dollar credit on their Massachusetts tax return for every dollar that their total property tax, water, and sewer bills exceed 10% of their income. A maximum of $1050 credit is available. Additionally, if the taxpayer has not claimed the tax credit in the past, (s)he may claim it for the previous three years. To be eligible, taxpayers, aged 65 years or older, must own or rent their residence in Massachusetts, and have an annual income of: $56,000 or less for a single filer; $70,000 or less for a head of household; and $84,000 or less for joint filers. If a taxpayer's property is assessed at $691,000, (s) he is not eligible for the tax credit. In 2013 the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit provided $83 million in credits to nearly 69,000 taxpayers. If you have any questions about the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit before April 15th, please call my office at (617)722-1555 or visit the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website at http://www.mass.gov/dor/. |
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| Happy to meet with students and families of the Wayland public schools to discuss the impact the METCO program has had on their daily lives. (left) MetroWest Libraries Legislative Breakfast at the Franklin Public Library. Thank you to all MetroWest libraries for all you offer and provide to our communities.(right) |
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