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Priorities |
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During the 2009-2010 Legislative Session I will focus on Reform and Recovery:
REFORM:Transportation Reform: Years of neglect and unwillingness to take on broken bureaucracies has led to a $15-20 billion gap between current revenues and what is needed to operate and maintain our system of roads, bridges, public transportation and other services. This must end this session. While the revenue needed to invest in our roads and bridges might grab the headlines, the priority in any transportation debate should be on reform. In other words, reform must come before revenue. However, when revenues are debated, the citizens of western Massachusetts should not be asked, yet again, to bear an undue share of the burden for fixing the system.
Ethics Reform: Last session I served as Chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics & Rules and as a member of Governor Patrick's Public Integrity Task Force. In both of these positions, I became convinced that the first step in restoring the public's trust in its Legislature and state government is a commitment by those who serve to hold themselves to the highest standards possible. As such, I believe the great majority of the recommendations in the Public Integrity Task Force's Report should be enacted.
Pension Reform: Prior to serving as Ethics & Rules Chair, I served as Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service. During my time on the Committee, we passed a significant reform of underperforming local pension boards. However, there is much more to do. This session, the Legislature should pass and I will work to bring about significant pension reform. Loop holes, including those abused in the past by lawmakers, should be closed. A cap should be placed on the amount any retiree can receive in a yearly pension. And pension laws should clearly state what is meant by the term "regular compensation." Certainly, these are not the only steps we should take, but they should be a part of any larger pension reform and I will push for their enactment.
RECOVERY:
Energy: Our current economic woes show us how shaky the foundation of our previous economy was. If we are to be in a better position coming out of this crisis then we were entering into it, we need a new economic foundation. I believe that foundation should be the clean energy economy. This past legislative session I joined with my colleagues to pass the Green Communities Act, the Green Jobs Act, the Advanced Biofuels Act, and other energy related legislation. Once fully implemented these efforts will produce jobs across western Massachusetts: jobs installing solar panels, building wind turbines, refining renewable fuels for heating oil and in other ventures. Still, there is more to do, which is why I will work to ensure the successful implementation of these landmark efforts and to improve on them by providing tax credits to individuals and groups supplying sustainably harvested biomass to refineries, clarifying the process of hydroelectric facilities to receive renewable energy credits, and creating a tax incentive for renewable energy jobs creation, among other steps.
Gateway Cities: Many reports (see MassINC and the Pioneer Institute) have noted the struggles of cities outside of the Greater Boston region. Pittsfield, the population center of my district, is one of these Gateway Cities. As a member of the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus, I have listened to the challenges these cities faced and have seen the innovative solutions they have developed to address them. This session, I will join with my colleagues in the Caucus to support legislation that helps these cities thrive and prosper, through targeted assistance and state support. Two specific proposals I have authored would create a Gateway Cities Historic Residential Rehab Tax Credit and Residential Tax Abatement Zones in Gateway Cities, to encourage development in these once thriving urban centers. As a resident of such a center, I know firsthand how a single development can change the feel of a neighborhood and leverage additional positive economic activity.
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