Confronting Youth Tobacco use in Massachusetts

Last week during Kick “Butts” Day, an event designed to expose the impact tobacco has on our teenagers, the Gloucester Youth Council stopped by my office at the State House.  The high school group shared some pertinent information on the subject, and I very much enjoyed our conversation.  The students were engaging, and provided me with some thought provoking information.

After our discussion I accompanied the Gloucester Youth Council down to the Senate Chamber, where we took the above posted picture at the rostrum and I provided a brief history of the State House and the Massachusetts State Senate.

To learn more about the Gloucester Youth Council please click here to visit their website.

Today I released the following statement regarding an Auditor’s Report Revealing 119 Cases of Sex Offender Addresses Matching Addresses of Child Care Providers

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) issued the following statement today regarding the release of a report by State Auditor Susanne Bump concerning the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), which reveals 119 cases where Level 2 and Level 3 sex offender addresses matched addresses of EEC child care providers:

“Today’s report by Auditor Bump emphasizes the need to strengthen our sex offender registry system, and to compel the availability and sharing of critical information.  Providers, parents, and all of us need information to keep kids out of harm’s way, and the legislation filed by Senate Republicans and others will make systemic changes to ensure that it’s available, and that sex offender classifications accurately portray the risk posed by known offenders.

There is no excuse and no justification for allowing sex offender information to be inaccurate, outdated, or inaccessible, and it’s time for comprehensive reform and legislative action.”

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Click here to read the Auditor's report in its entirety.

Happy Passover

With Passover beginning tonight, I would like to wish all my Jewish friends, constituents and the community a happy and joyous holiday that is shared with loved ones, and that your time together is filled with peace and happiness. Chag Sameach!

Media Alert: On the Air with Emily Rooney

Tonight I will be appearing on WGBH-TV’s “Greater Boston” with host Emily Rooney to discuss coastal erosion and its effects on Plum Island.

Please tune in to Channel 2 tonight at 7:00pm to watch what will surely be a lively discussion. Greater Boston also re-airs at midnight.

Celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day

Last week, State Representative Brad Hill and I hosted a Saint Patrick’s Day luncheon for seniors organized by the Ipswich Council on Aging.  It was a fun time where we enjoyed traditional Irish fare, wonderful music, and great conversations.

Also joining us was Ipswich Town Manager Robin Crosbie, District Director Terrance Hart and Assistant to the Director Georgia Gadbois of the Eastern Essex District Department of Veterans Services, volunteers, and friends.  It was a festive occasion that brought out the Irish in all of us!

Posted below are a few photos taken during last week’s luncheon.

 

Today I released the following statement regarding the resignation of Commissioner Killins:

Senator Tarr’s Statement on the Resignation of Early Education and Care Commissioner Sherri Killins

 

Boston- Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today regarding the resignation of Early Education and Care Commissioner Sherri Killins:

“While the Governor continues to tout his costly transportation and education initiatives to the citizens of the Commonwealth, Commissioner Dr. Sherri Killins was receiving a six-figure salary for a job that apparently didn’t require her full attention while the taxpayers continued to pay her full salary.  Unfortunately, the administration believes it prudent to continue to pay Commissioner Killins for several more months as an outside consultant to “ease” the transition of leadership.

The economy is still in a fragile state of uncertainty, and it is inappropriate to ask the taxpayers to pick up the tab of this Commissioner’s salary when the Commonwealth is set to lose $6.3 million dedicated for Head Start from the Federal Government due to the blanket cuts caused by sequestration earlier this month.

Government needs to strive to eliminate the loss of public dollars, and we can’t afford to pay more than full-time salaries for part-time employees.  It is unacceptable to ask taxpayers to pay almost $2 billion more in raised revenue when the Commonwealth’s fiscal house is far from being in order.

I hope the Governor will at the very least take a strong look at his hiring practices.  The citizens of the Commonwealth deserve so much more than a part-time education chief making more than three times the median household income, a DTA Commissioner who failed to properly manage our welfare system, and a road menace State Highway Safety Director.

So while the resignation of Commissioner Dr. Killins comes as welcome news, the recent string of employment failures of high ranking government officials is most disturbing.  I hope the Governor recognizes these failures, and takes action to prevent them in the future.”

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Today I released the following press release regarding the passage of the Legislature’s Joint Rules:

New Rules Move Forward, Fall Short of Needed Change

Senate Republicans Vow to Continue to Seek Transparency in State Government

Boston- While the rules adopted today by the House and Senate to govern the legislative session contain some important changes, the legislature has missed some major opportunities to increase transparency and accountability according to Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).

A debate that began in the House of Representatives on January 23 and continued in the Senate on January 31, culminated today with acceptance of Joint Rules by each legislative branch.  Among many possible changes to open the legislative process to greater exposure and scrutiny, only two were ultimately adopted.  They include:

• Limiting all committee hearings to hear no more than 50 bills sponsored by Senator Timilty and supported by the members of the Senate Republican Caucus; and,
• Providing all local petitions before the General Court to be valid for a two-year period sponsored by the members of the Senate Republican Caucus.

Yet other significant changes have been lost in the legislative process.  Key republican initiatives adopted in the Senate’s debate on the Joint Rules were:

• Requiring the House and Senate Clerks to post online all roll call votes within 48 hours after being made; and,
• Posting of all roll call votes taken in joint committees. 

“Putting committee and legislative votes on the internet for people to view them should be a routine exercise, and yet today we failed to approve giving people the information they deserve about our legislative process and decisions,” said Tarr.  He added that “the strong gains made by Senate Republicans and the Senate as a body have been eroded by the process that followed.  While an opportunity has been lost today, the Senate Republican Caucus will continue to seek transparency in state government.”

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