Update from Rep. Jen Benson
The last month brought strong signs of improvement in the Massachusetts economy. CNBC ranked Massachusetts as the fifth best state in the country in which to do business. Second quarter growth for 2010 was more than twice that of the nation and more than 3,000 private sector jobs were added in the month of June alone. But we cannot be complacent. Many Massachusetts workers are still unemployed. I have continued to work on legislation to improve the economy, helping to pass a slate of bills that will help benefit businesses and provide relief to both employers and working families.
New laws on the horizon: economic relief, school nutrition, and more
July marked the last month of formal sessions for this legislative cycle. My colleagues in the House and I worked closely with our partners in the Senate to send Governor Patrick legislation to help our businesses and communities. In the coming weeks, bills that we passed providing health insurance relief to small businesses, offering mortgage counseling and foreclosure assistance for struggling families, and creating stricter oversight for prescription drugs, will become law. We also finalized work on a school nutrition bill to provide healthier meals to our students and encourage farm-to-school partnerships to teach students about the benefits of local produce. The economic development reform bill we passed last month will also become law, streamlining our economic development agencies, making Massachusetts more attractive to businesses, and establishing a sales tax holiday Aug. 14 and 15. In addition, a bill mandating health insurance coverage for autism treatments will soon be signed into law.
Compromise reached on gaming, but no further action this year
The House and Senate also sent the governor legislation expanding gaming in Massachusetts. After much deliberation, we reached a reasonable compromise, allowing a commission of experts to offer a maximum of three casino licenses and two licenses for slot machines at existing race tracks. The bill also included the strictest oversight and regulatory language in the country and offered mitigation for communities and businesses impacted by expanded gambling. The governor returned the bill after we ended our formal sessions, so we will take no further action on introducing this new industry this year.
Meeting local heroes
This month I had the distinct pleasure of recognizing two heroes among us. Kathy Farnsworth of Shirley has dedicated her life to helping children, opening her home to more than 500 children in the foster care system. She has been a mom to hundreds of children and deserves our thanks for her tireless efforts. Every day our police officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities. Officer Omar Connor of Lunenburg almost lost his life apprehending a suspect, but he has persevered and continues on the long road to recovery.
Keeping in touch in the district
July has been another busy month in the district. I toured the new 220 kilowatt solar photovoltaic installation at Carlson Orchards in Harvard, met with leaders at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, toured Burroughs Farm in Boxborough, congratulated Chief Massak at his swearing in as the new Shirley police chief, met with Executive Director of Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce Melissa Fetterhoff, and attended the Minuteman Airfield Open House in Stow/Boxborough, to name just a few.
The 37th Middlesex District is full of great businesses, people and organizations. I plan to highlight some of the outstanding district businesses in upcoming newsletters. Anyone who has ideas on places for me to visit or highlight is invited to e-mail me at Jennifer.Benson@state.ma.us or contact my Boston office at 617-722-2130.
Farmers’ markets in season now
This month I want to celebrate local flavor and encourage everyone to attend one or more of the farmers’ markets in the area, listed below. Supporting our local farms is supporting our local economy. They are small businesses and an important part of our overall economic health and diversity.
- Acton-Boxborough Farmers’ Market: Sundays, July to October, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in West Acton Village
- Harvard Farmers’ Market: Saturdays, August to October; 9 a.m.- to noon at Hildreth Elementary School
- Lancaster Farmers’ Market: Thursdays, July to September, 3 to 6 p.m. at the Bolton Fairgrounds in Lancaster
- Lunenburg Farmers’ Market: Mondays, July to October, 3 to 7 p.m. in the Ritter Building
Eldridge supports bill to elect president by popular vote
Last month the Senate voted 28-10 to approve legislation that would automatically send the commonwealth’s 12 electoral votes to the presidential candidate with the most popular votes nationwide. State Senator Jamie Eldridge supported the measure.
“This system will ensure that all votes count equally in a presidential election—which means that voters in Massachusetts would know that their votes mean just as much as votes from Ohio, New Hampshire or Florida, and that presidential candidates will focus on our state just as much as they do on battleground states,” Eldridge said following the vote. “In passing this bill, we are helping strengthen the foundation of our democracy—the principle of one person, one vote.”
The bill is part of an interstate compact that would take effect only if enough states join to make the electoral votes of the states in the compact combine for at least 270, which is the number needed to decide who wins the presidential election.
With enough states in the compact, the electoral votes from each member state would automatically go to the candidate with the most popular votes nationwide, therefore making that candidate the winner.
Currently, five other states (Illinois, New Jersey, Hawaii, Maryland and Washington) have enacted the compact legislation.
Any state can withdraw from the compact up until six months before the end of the current president’s term.
In the case of a tie, the votes will return to a state-by-state Electoral College method.
The bill now goes back to the House for further action.
