August 1, 2014 Dear Friend: Formal sessions are now over, so its a good time to reflect on the work the Legislature accomplished over the past 18 months. This session, my colleagues and I acted on a number of key reforms that will help grow our economy, strengthen our communities, and promote good government. For starters, in response to the substance abuse crisis in Massachusetts, we passed bold legislation that breaks down the barriers to care, makes prudent investments in recovery, and provides tools and treatment options to help all of those affected by this problem. No community is immune to this, especially the towns of our own region. The cost of the crisis to individuals, families, and society in general is very significant. Thats why when Sheriff Lew Evangelidis asked me to seek funding for a treatment center in South Central Massachusetts, for example, I successfully advocated not only for his initiative, but for all of those who will be helped through the facility. We also took action to promote government efficiency and accountability, namely through meaningful welfare reform. In addition to comprehensive measures that target the root causes of waste, fraud and abuse in our state assistance programs, we also passed a provision requiring photos on EBT cards as part of a supplemental budget last year. I actively supported both initiatives because I believe that we can have an effective welfare system that helps people get back on their feet, while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent appropriately. We again passed two balanced budgets, both of which restore local aid for our communities and school districts. In addition to increasing education aid across the board, we will finally revitalize a commission to review the Chapter 70 formula something for which I have long advocated with a particular focus on how we define an adequate education, who pays for it, and how we can award sufficient funding to cities and towns. We also passed a series of bond bills making authorizations to borrow for a host of transportation projects, environmental initiatives, and improvements to capital facilities. Our economy will grow and communities will benefit as a result of these efforts. Both the budget and the bond bills included provisions for important local projects and initiatives. Legislation I proposed relative to quarry safety, for example, was included in the final environmental bond bill. Funding I sought to expand Quinsigamond Community College to the Blackstone Valley, and create an advanced manufacturing center in Southbridge was also approved. Both of these appropriations will help to attract jobs to our region and make sure that residents are prepared to fill them. Other important initiatives that we tackled this session include reforms to our animal abuse, domestic violence, public housing management, water infrastructure, and campaign finance laws. Language from a number of my own bills was included in these reforms. Legislation promoting veteran-owned small businesses and certifying local veteran agents, for example, were included in the VALOR Act II. We also took necessary action to strengthen our transportation system, ensuring that potholes get filled, roads resurfaced, and bridges reinforced so that residents and taxpayers can safely transport their kids to school, drive to work, and get to doctors appointments. I also again led in the area of health care. Worcester will be the home to a new Down Syndrome clinic, funded by an appropriation I garnered in the FY15 budget. We will now have sustainable funding for the Child Vaccine Trust an important tool to help keep kids immunized and healthy. We passed a bill to improve services for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. We also reached an unlikely but narrow compromise with regard to nurse ratios in intensive care units. This session I also took a number of difficult votes, sometimes voting against legislation because it would not have benefited our region, or because it did not reflect the views of the residents and taxpayers I am honored to represent. For example, the Legislature passed a gun violence bill that includes a number of very good provisions that tackle school safety, mental health and gun violence some of which I actually proposed and supported, as a matter of fact. I voted against the bill, however, namely because it contained a provision changing the process for obtaining an FID card that goes too far to take away our Second Amendment rights and ultimately burden the taxpayers. Needless to say, we accomplished a lot and I am proud to have worked together with my colleagues to achieve these meaningful results. Frankly, they reflect the needs you have brought to my attention. Of course many issues remain that must be acted on and discussed as we head into the fall. Overall, I am pleased with the work we have accomplished because it also reflects a number of my priorities: growing our economy; creating jobs; increasing local aid for our cities and towns; delivering a high quality education; strengthening public safety; and helping individuals and families make ends meet and get ahead. I look forward to continuing my work as your state senator, and representing the priorities of the Worcester and Norfolk district at the State House. Have an enjoyable and relaxing summer weekend, OFFICE OF SENATOR RICHARD T. MOORE
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 14:05:31 +0000