Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Defending the Shellfish Industry

A misguided element of Governor Patrick’s proposed FY’2012 state budget is the closure of the state’s only shellfish purification plant in Newburyport. Such an action would have extremely negative consequences for those who depend on shellfishing directly, and the many who derive indirect benefits from it such as the travel and tourism sector.

Given these facts, it’s imperative that we explore every avenue to not only keep the plant open, but to expand its operations to generate increased economic activity.

Stories today in the Gloucester Daily Times and the Newburyport Daily News detail the importance of addressing this issue productively. You can read the version printed in the Gloucester Times below.

Lawmakers fighting shellfish plant closure


Read more...

Friday, February 18, 2011

Office Hours

on Tuesday, February 22nd a member of my staff will be conducting office hours at Gloucester City Hall from 6:00-7:00pm in the city council conference room on the 1st floor. If you cannot make it, office hours are also conducted every Wednesday from 9:30-2:30pm at the Rowley Town Hall Annex located at 39 Central Street in Rowley and at the Rose Baker Senior Center in Gloucester from 12:30-2:00pm on the last Friday of every month. Constituents can also call my office at any time to discuss with a member of my staff any comments or concerns that they might have. My office number is 617-722-1600.


Read more...

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

U.S. Senator Brown Comes to Gloucester

On Saturday, February 12th, U.S. Senator Scott Brown came to Gloucester to meet with local leaders, seaside business owners and fishermen regarding his recently filed FISH (Fishery Impact Statement Honesty) Act of 2011. If passed, the bill would create an independent oversight process to review fishery regulations created by NOAA and the United States Commerce Department. New regulations have been particularly harmful to the livelihood of the industry and this process would require NOAA to implement a plan for corrective measures to ensure the success and viability of the industry while rebuilding stocks.

An independent review process would not only provide an honest analysis of the impacts of management measures on the fishing industry, but would also generate the much needed transparency and integrity that federal regulators have lost.

Below are a few photos from Saturday’s event.


State Senator Bruce Tarr (far left) and Scott Memhard (far right) provide U.S. Senator Scott Brown (center) a tour of Cape Pond Ice.

U.S. Senator Scott Brown (left) talks with fisherman Joe Orlando (center) and State Senator Bruce Tarr (far right) while receiving a tour of Gloucester's inner harbour.

U.S. Senator Scott Brown (far left) discusses with fisherman Joe Orlando (far right) and State Senator Bruce Tarr (center) about the struggles of the fishing industry aboard the fishing vessel Pablo Pia.

Mayor Kirk of Gloucester (far left) discusses with U.S. Senator Scott Brown (center) and State Senator Bruce Tarr (far right) the effects fishery regulations have had on the city aboard the fishing vessel Pablo Pia.

U.S. Senator Scott Brown (center) tours the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction with owner Larry Ciulla (far right), Mayor Kirk, State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, andState Senator Bruce Tarr.

U.S. Senator Scott Brown discusses with State Senator Bruce Tarr, fishermen, fishing advocates and stakeholders about his recently filed FISH Act of 2011.



Read more...

Monday, February 14, 2011

Votes to Note: UI Rates and Joint Redistricting Committee

On Thursday the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously engrossed a bill that would freeze the unemployment insurance rate for this calendar year. The bill, “An Act Relative to Unemployment Insurance Rates”, was drafted to help provide economic relief for businesses by freezing a scheduled unemployment insurance rate increase and marks the second year in a row that the Senate has taken this course of action. Freezing the unemployment insurance rate will prevent additional financial strains from contributing to the overhead costs to businesses and will provide the flexibility needed for some businesses to expand or retain jobs. The bill is now awaiting action in the House of Representatives. Following the vote I released a statement that can be viewed by clicking “Read more” below.

Also during last week’s formal session, the Senate acted to reauthorize and modify the committee charged with developing new state legislative and congressional districts. Our caucus opposed this action because we persist in our belief that the redistricting process should include the benefit of an independent redistricting committee. Senate Republicans moved for a roll call vote on this issue, and the bill, “An Act Relative to Establishing a Special Joint Committee on Redistricting”, was engrossed by a vote of 34-4.

To view the actual votes taken by the members of the Senate please click the “Read more” link below.




Senate Bill 8, “An Act Relative to Unemployment Insurance Rates”

Roll Call Votes: Yea/Nay

Frederick E. Berry Yea
Stephen M. Brewer Yea
Gale D. Candaras Yea
Harriette L. Chandler
Yea
Sonia Chang-Diaz Yea
Katherine Clark Yea
Cynthia Stone Creem
Yea
Sal N. DiDomenico Yea
Kenneth J. Donnelly Yea
Eileen Donoghue Yea
Benjamin B. Downing
Yea
James B. Eldridge Yea
Susan C. Fargo
Did not vote
Barry Finegold Yea
Jennifer L. Flanagan Yea
John Hart
Yea
Robert L. Hedlund
Yea
Patricia D. Jehlen Yea
Brian A. Joyce
Yea
John Keenan Yea
Thomas P. Kennedy
Yea
Michael R. Knapik
Yea
Thomas M. McGee
Yea
Mark C. Montigny
Yea
Michael O. Moore Yea
Richard T. Moore
Yea
Senate President Therese Murray Yea
Marc Pacheco Did not vote
Anthony Petruccelli Yea
Michael Rodrigues Yea
Stanley C. Rosenberg
Did not vote
Richard J. Ross Yea
Michael Rush Did not vote
Karen E. Spilka Yea
Bruce E. Tarr
Yea
James E. Timilty Yea
Steven A. Tolman
Yea
James Welch
Yea
Daniel Wolf
Yea

36-0

Senate Bill 9, “An Act Relative to Establishing a Special Joint Committee on Redistricting”

Roll Call Votes: Yea/Nay


Steven A. Baddour Yea
Frederick E. Berry Yea
Stephen M. Brewer Yea
Gale D. Candaras Yea
Harriette L. Chandler
Yea
Sonia Chang-Diaz Yea
Katherine Clark Yea
Cynthia Stone Creem
Yea
Sal N. DiDomenico Yea
Kenneth J. Donnelly Yea
Eileen Donoghue Yea
Benjamin B. Downing
Yea
James B. Eldridge Yea
Susan C. Fargo
Did not vote
Barry Finegold Yea
Jennifer L. Flanagan Yea
John Hart
Yea
Robert L. Hedlund
Nay
Patricia D. Jehlen Yea
Brian A. Joyce
Yea
John Keenan Yea
Thomas P. Kennedy
Yea
Michael R. Knapik
Nay
Thomas M. McGee
Yea
Mark C. Montigny
Yea
Michael O. Moore Yea
Richard T. Moore
Yea
Senate President Therese Murray Did not vote
Marc Pacheco Did not vote
Anthony Petruccelli Yea
Michael Rodrigues Yea
Stanley C. Rosenberg
Yea
Richard J. Ross Nay
Michael Rush Did not vote
Karen E. Spilka Yea
Bruce E. Tarr
Nay
James E. Timilty Yea
Steven A. Tolman
Yea
James Welch
Yea
Daniel Wolf
Yea

32-4




Read more...

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Celebrating Father Gariboldi

Saturday, February 5th was a significant day for Father Ronald Gariboldi of Cape Ann’s Holy Family Parish. Father Gariboldi celebrated his Jubilee Mass and 50 years of being ordained as a priest in the afternoon, and in the evening a tremendous crowd of parishioners and other members of the community gathered at the Gloucester House restaurant to celebrate this remarkable man and his spiritual leadership for five decades.

I was pleased to recognize Father Gariboldi with a Senate Citation, and to express my appreciation for his service and commitment to others.

Below are some pictures from Saturday’s event including one where I am with Father Gariboldi and Vito Piscitello, who served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.



Read more...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Legislative Committee Assignments

During the past few days every senator and representative has been assigned to several different committees. I will be serving on the Senate Committee on Bills in Third Reading and the Senate Committee on Steering & Policy, as well as the Joint Committees on Health Care Financing; Redistricting; State Administration & Regulatory Oversight; and Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development. To view all of the assignments please click “here” to go to the legislature’s committee page.




Read more...

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

An Important Perspective

Yesterday I had the honor of a visit to my office by Charles Maguire, who lost his brother, Officer John Maguire, in a tragic shooting death that resulted from John responding to an attempted robbery in Woburn by parolee Dominic Cinelli.

Following this loss, Charles has become an articulate and passionate advocate for meaningful reform in our parole system. He brings to the discussion about reform an important perspective, and one which is informed and expressed respectfully. I appreciate his advice and counsel, and will continue to seek it in the future.







Read more...