BEACON HILL BIDS TO BOOST BUSINESS

Today’s Globe headline is a good summary of various ideas we are acting upon to improve the business climate in Massachusetts. 

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/08/patrick_murray_offer_new_plans_to_boost_businesses_job_creation/

The proposals summarized in today’s release are the culmination of a great deal of work by numerous business and governmental leaders.  In the past few months I reported on proposals to encourage businesses to hire new employees & to help lower health insurance premiums for small businesses, as well as ideas for streamlining government services that are directed toward helping businesses in Massachusetts.  The photo above is of Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry (Chair, Community Development and Small Business Committee), Greg Bialecki (The Governor’s Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development), me, and John Hurst (President of the Mass Retailer’s Association) following one event focused on the need to tackle health insurance premiums for small businesses.  Last week’s House vote to freeze unemployment insurance rates for business was one step toward improving the Commonwealth’s business climate.  I applaud the Governor, Senate President, and Speaker of the House for working together so we can act on passing these additional legislative proposals.

Help the Scituate Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee raise funds to keep the Parade Tradition!  This Saturday, February 6, from 7 PM - Midnight is The “Mad Hatter’s Ball” at the Scituate Country Club.  Tickets are $40.  The parade is a signature event for the South Shore that will take place on Sunday, March 14, 2010, so long as the Parade Committee can raise the required funds.  They are about $10,000 off the required fundraising needs.  If you cannot attend this Saturday’s event (there are many going on this weekend) but want to help, please call Ed Kelly 617 549 8042. 

Safe Driving Bill to be debated this week.  House Bill 4238, An Act Relative to Safe Driving, is on the docket for our formal session this week.  I expect several amendments for the bill but you can see the original version by clicking this link:  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht04pdf/ht04238.pdf

The bill requires that an applicant for renewal of a driver’s license age seventy-five or older must pass an examination, “to assess cognitive and physical ability and any other condition that might prevent such applicant from operating a motor vehicle safely.” 

Any discussion of driving has to start with the concept that the ability to drive on Mass. roads is a privilege and not a right.  As with many pieces of legislation there is a balance to strike:  in this case between ensuring that those who wish to exercise the privilege of driving can do so safely and in recognizing that folks aged 75 and older have greater driving experience that statistically lessens chances of accidents — and often may see their car as a last form of independence.  The bill as currently drafted will try and strike the balance. 

This bill as filed does not yet address the issue of cell phone while driving.  I will file or co-sponsor an amendment to ban texting while driving and expect other amendments to regulate the use of cell phones while driving (I expect debate about hands free technologies, for one.)

What are your thoughts?

“Of the WalMart, by the Enron, and for the Phillip Morris”  Most folks involved in politics would agree that we need to REDUCE the ability of a select few special interests to influence elections.  Today’s 5-4 ruling by the Supreme Court is a major setback to this goal.  I’ve heard it said that we risk losing what Abraham Lincoln espoused (government of the people, by the people, and for the people).

What do you think??? 

See the attached article:    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100121/ap_on_bi_ge/us_supreme_court_campaign_finance

Here’s a good first step for the fishing industry as a whole:

The Governor is urging the New England Fishery Management Council to reconsider its recent decision limiting scalloping, due to of questions surrounding the science that has been used to claim that seafood stock is greatly depleted.  The issue of an unbiased review of the science behind all decisions relating to our local fishermen is in order, as we prepare for a new regulatory scheme for our fisheries this spring. 

 http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100111/NEWS/1110307/-1/news

Ceremonies for over 650 National Guard Soldiers who are leaving for Iraq and Afghanistan:

Has been a sobering yet inspirational weekend as I attended two separate events to send off local & state National Guard Soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan.  We all owe a great debt to these folks for leaving family and friends to defend our way of life.  Many of the 650 soldiers were to leave on planes today for Iraq, with others leaving within the next two weeks.  In all Massachusetts will be sending over 3,000 soldiers to Iraq or Afghanistan this calendar year.  Say a prayer for the safe return of these folks and for a grand celebration when they complete their missions!

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/national_guard_6.html

E-mail|Link|Comments (0) January 3, 2010 02:30 PM

By Katheleen Conti, Globe Staff

Friends and families of approximately 650 Massachusetts National Guard members gathered at the TD Garden this morning for a send-off ceremony that launched the soldiers’ one-year deployment to missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today’s deployment comes on the heels of President Barack Obama’s announcement last month that 30,000additional American troops would be sent to Afghanistan. It is also the largest single deployment undertaken since September 2001, according to Massachusetts National Guard Major Gen. Joseph C. Carter, the adjutant general.

“While approximately 7,500 Massachusetts National Guard members have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere since September 2001, in the coming year the Massachusetts National Guard will deploy 3,700members in support of operations Iraqi [Freedom] and Enduring Freedom,” Carter said in a speech to the crowd. “This dramatic increase symbolizes not only the nature of overseas war operations but also the importance of the National Guard in defending the safety and security of our nation and the world.”

Governor Deval Patrick thanked the soldiers for “answering your country’s call.”

“We pause with you and your families at the dawn of a new decade and a new mission to honor your service to our nation and to our Commonwealth,” Patrick said. “As you leave Massachusetts, know that there are 6 million people in this Commonwealth who have got your back.”

This will be the second overseas tour for Staff Sergeant Dan Bertrand, 28, stationed at the 101 Field Artillery out of Brockton. In 2004 he was deployed to Iraq and now he said he will be going to Afghanistan.

“I can’t wait to go. It’s a purpose, you know?” said Bertrand, of Lynn. “When you go and you do some of the things that we’ve done, in certain situations that we’ve been in, and come back home you kind of feel that purpose. A lot of the decisions that you make over there are life or death, so you feel like you have a higher purpose.”

Members of the National Guard’s 164th Transportation Battalion will provide heavy equipment transport services in Iraq, while the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery and the Regional Corps Assistance Group will be provide support, mentoring, and advice on operations and training to the Afghan police and army.

The deploying unit armories are based out of Brockton, Danvers, Quincy, Fall River, Dorchester, Hingham, Framingham, Worcester, and Milford.

         CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS WEEK’S DEADLINE?

Hello!

I hope that this facebook posting finds you well after an enjoyable Christmas holiday with family and friends.

I am writing as a quick “thank you” and to ask for your help.

I am pleased to relate to you that, after a first year of hard work, I absolutely love the State Rep. job to which you helped elect me. To capture a flavor of what we have accomplished together this year please log on to my web site (jim@jimcantwell.com).

This has been the greatest professional honor of my life — but it has also been the greatest professional challenge. 

One challenge about politics is the requirement that we raise money to campaign. It’s a sad reality that many folks judge the effectiveness and strength of a legislator based solely upon the balance of his/her campaign war chest. Many will thus be looking at the first reporting period in January to assess my support.

With this in mind I am writing to ask for your help. We have just days left until the critical deadline for campaign reporting, with the deadline of December 31. Your campaign contribution in any amount will help to pay for the many expenses involved in a campaign.

Please use this link to make your contribution today:  http://www.jimcantwell.com/index.php?option=com_dtdonate&task=pre_paypal&Itemid=60

I am grateful for your support as we tackle new challenges in the New Year, and continue to welcome your feedback. Please email me at jim@jimcantwell.com with your ideas and suggestions.

Best wishes for health and happiness in 2010!

Jim

Recognizing that present economic challenges are causing more families with children to become homeless, and that temperatures may fall to near zero degrees tonight, I am pleased that the legislature was able to pass legislation today that can assist families who would be otherwise homeless with emergency shelter. 

Passage of this supplemental budget had to be unanimous and have bi-partisan support during an informal session. 

As a member of the legislature’s Financial Services Committee I am pleased to have joined with Treasurer Joe Connolly, Congressman Steven Lynch and four fellow State Representatives in advocating for greater transparency and disclosure in the financial markets, specifically with the derivatives market.  Considering the tremendous damage that has been done to our economy in the recent past by poorly regulated and risky trading, this legislation is a step in the right direction.

See Norfolk County Treasurer Joe Connolly’s comments in the attached article:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/walpole/town_info/government/x1355826339/Norfolk-County-Treasurer-Joe-Connolly-says-Lynch-Amendment-critical-as-Congress-debates-Derivatives-Market-Legislation

To read the letter by me and fellow Representatives Joe Driscoll, Allan McCarthy, James Murphy, and Bob Nyman to members of Congress click on this link or email me directly at james.cantwell@state.ma.us

“Fed more bullish on recovery Central bank raises economic growth forecast, trims unemployment rate estimate.”

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/24/news/economy/fed_minutes/index.htm

“Economic Rebound Might Be Here to Stay”

WASHINGTON—A flurry of good news this week — including falling jobless claims, stronger consumer spending and higher new-home sales — suggests the economic rebound, modest though it is, might just be here to stay.

While analysts caution that the recovery will be too sluggish to stop the unemployment rate from rising, the reports are at least encouraging enough to calm fears of a dreaded “double-dip” recession.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/11/25/weekly_jobless_claims_drop_below_500000/