Spofford Pond Elementary Perform at the State House

What a treat it was today to have the Spofford Pond Elementary School Band of #Boxford visit the State House. Representative Lenny Mirra and I enjoyed showing them around the chamber and listening to them perform at the Grand Staircase.

Groveland Police Heroes

Today, I introduced to the Senate to two distinguished members of the Groveland Police Department - Detective Steven Petrone and Officer Daniel Richmond.

On Saturday, December 16th, Detective Steven Petrone and Officer Daniel Richmond engaged in a lifesaving act of heroism which involved extracting an unresponsive driver from her vehicle. The car had submerged into and through the frozen waters of Johnsons Pond. Upon arrival, and without hesitation, Detective Petrone jumped into the frozen waters to remove the female driver from the car. Officer Richmond then helped pull the driver across the ice to shore and safety.

They were accompanied in the Senate Chamber by Chief Jeff Gillen and Lieutenant Dwight McDonald. Also in attendance was Detective Petrone’s wife Kendra Petrone, his father Len, his mother Sandra.

Cape Ann Reads

Fantastic Cape Ann Reads event at Gloucester City Hall this weekend. Cape Ann’s public libraries promote literacy and arts throughout the year. The program featured books from Cape Ann authors and artists. Thanks to our librarians, Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Catherine Ryan and all who made this wonderfully event happen.

Re-Grouping on The State's Group Insurance Plan

The state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) voted at its last meeting to alter options offered to public employees and retirees who utilize health insurance plans procured by the GIC. The Commission, by an eight to five vote, adopted a motion to eliminate three of the six health plans offered - Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan and Fallon Community Health. More than half of the nearly 450,000 retirees and public employees receive coverage from these three providers.

I have expressed several concerns about the manner in which this vote occurred; including the lack of information shared in advance with the public and those who would be impacted. In short, the consequences and implications of such a vote should be better understood before the implementation of any more similar procurement adjustments. To that end, the GIC now anticipates voting to reconsider their decision at their next meeting on Thursday February 1st.

While there are no members of the Legislature that serve on the GIC, the Senate will conduct an oversight hearing at the State House on Wednesday, January 31 at 11 AM. I have shared my concerns with the Governor, Senate President, Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and the Senate Chairs of Health Care Financing and Public Service committees. If you are unable to attend the hearing but would like to offer your comments please contact my office at Bruce.Tarr@masenate.gov. You may also contact the GIC directly by using this link: https://www.mass.gov/forms/contact-the-gic

Governor Baker Files Budget Plan

Today Governor Baker filed his spending plan for the coming fiscal year, FY 2019, which begins on July 1. This document appropriates $40.9 billion, a 2.6% increase, or $1.047 billion increase over the current fiscal year, which ends on June 31^st.

You can view the budget proposal, known as H.2 at https://malegislature.gov/Budget/GovernorsBudget.

On Charlie Baker’s Third State of the State Address to the Commonwealth

Following Governor Charlie Baker’s third State of the State address to the Commonwealth I released this statement to the press.

Tonight, Governor Baker provided us with a narrative of the steady progress being made in our Commonwealth through his leadership and bipartisan collaboration with the legislature. Without resorting to increased tax burdens on the budgets of households and employers, strong gains have been made to:
• Confront the crisis of opiate addiction with meaningful regulatory changes and increased resource for treatment,
• Reform the operations of the MBTA to reduce costs, invest in infrastructure and improve performance,
• Increase investments in education and employment training,
• Dramatically reduce the number of homeless families living in hotels and motels,
• Build economic strengths and capitalize on the skills and the talents of people in our state,
• Invest in our infrastructure including public transportation, and rails, roads and bridges,
• Increase our supplies of renewable energy and develop resilience to climate change.

The accomplishments highlighted tonight by the Governor prove the power we have to cause positive change by respecting each other’s ideas and weaving them into sound public policy. With that in mind, we need to bring that power to bear on some very challenging issues.

They include continuing to combat the scourge of addiction, increasing the supply of housing, responding effectively to climate change and making sure our cities and towns and school districts have the resources they need to deliver critical services such as public safety and education.

We can make great progress in the year ahead if we continue to have fiscal discipline and focused partnerships. Governor Baker has set a course for that progress tonight.

Governor Baker's State of the Commonwealth Tonight

Tonight, from the State House at 7 PM, Governor Charlie Baker will make his third address on the state of our Commonwealth.

You can watch it live on line at www.mass.gov