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By Senator Richard T. Moore

As the Legislature concludes its formal sessions for yet another calendar year, there is certainly a lot for which the people of the Worcester and Norfolk Senatorial District may be thankful. My colleagues and I in the Senate have been quite busy passing various beneficial pieces of legislation ranging from health care reform and identity theft protection to heating assistance for low income families and veterans. 

Though it is still early in the legislative session, some of the bills I have sponsored or co-sponsored have already passed through the Legislature and been signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick. In fact, the Governor’s first bill signed into law was one of which I was the primary sponsor - Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2007, which revised the membership of the Public Health Council making this key agency more likely to make sound public health policies. The annual state budget also brought assistance to the towns and property taxpayers in my district through increased local aid and funding for specific projects. 

After July’s devastating Bernat Mill Complex fire in Uxbridge, Representatives Paul Kujawski, D-Webster, and Jennifer Callahan, D-Sutton, and I, with Gov. Patrick, were able to obtain a $577,000 appropriation to help alleviate costs associated with the local response. Also, Chapter 171 of the Acts of 2007 allowed Uxbridge to abate the property taxes associated with the mill so that neither affected businesses nor local taxpayers were unduly burdened. The money to offset the loss of that abatement was included in the earlier appropriation ensuring that no expense would be incurred by the taxpayers of Uxbridge, a community already fiscally strained. 

In that same supplemental appropriation bill, Representative Geraldo Alicea, D-Charlton, and I were also able to secure $737,000 to reimburse the Town of Southbridge for the cost of the former National Guard Armory, now the Southbridge Community Center. This long-awaited refund was without a doubt due to the combined efforts in both the House and Senate, and the effective advocacy by local officials. This funding is consistent with how other towns have received obsolete state facilities and relieves the Town of Southbridge of that initial expenditure, and now allows them to fund crucial community programs.

In an effort to ease the burdensome health care costs placed on municipalities throughout the Commonwealth, I sponsored a bill, working with Governor Patrick, to allow towns and regional school districts to join the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC). This law will enable many communities to save local tax dollars, and spend them much more effectively on public safety and educational expenses while maintaining quality affordable public employee health care. 

While on the topic of health care, my colleagues and I have spent a considerable amount of time ensuring that the landmark heath care reform is implemented effectively and entirely. Just one year into this dramatic reform, we have made several changes to the law during this session. Although over 200,000 previously uninsured Massachusetts residents now have health insurance, the true effects of this ambitious reform cannot realistically be expected to be seen immediately. This comprehensive plan will take time to fully implement, and will absolutely result in a healthier Commonwealth down the road for us and our children. We will continue to monitor this implementation closely to ensure that all residents have access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance. 

In addition to the many statewide initiatives of which I have been a part, there were also many local bills that passed through the Legislature and were subsequently signed by the Governor. I have had the pleasure of pushing for several constituents to be able to become firefighters and police officers and allowing the Blackstone-Millville school district to use surplus money from the construction of the Hartnett Middle School for other district-related capital expenses, among others. 

I look forward to continue working on issues of concern to our district through the rest of the year as the Legislature continues to work by unanimous consent in informal sessions. When we return to formal sessions in early 2008, the Senate expects to address several outstanding issues, which include promotion of the life sciences, legalization of casinos, homeowners insurance reform, housing, higher education facility, and transportation infrastructure funding. I have also advocated for many of my initiatives to be moved out of their committees and placed on the agenda for the second half of what has already been another successful legislative session. 

Every bill that was filed at the beginning of this 185th session has a two-year life and hearings on each and every bill are spread throughout the entire legislative session. Therefore, it should not be surprising that only about 25% of the bills which become law during each two year session are enacted within the first year. In fact, there have already been 170 bills signed into law since my colleagues and I took office in January, whether involving the GIC or a local police officer. In addition, many of the initiatives proposed, including many of mine, are complex, and sometimes controversial. Therefore, they require the Legislature to work thoughtfully on each and every measure for full vetting with all interested parties. 

As can be seen from this brief overview, a good deal has been accomplished so far in this term. My staff and I continue to be hard at work on my various initiatives along with helping constituents navigate through the “red tape” of state government. We are privileged to live in such a beautiful and historic area of the Commonwealth and fortunate to have so many dedicated and knowledgeable local leaders working every day for us. For more information on any of my legislative initiatives, to request help with a state agency, or to sign up for my monthly e-mail newsletters, I encourage you to visit my website, www.senatormoore.com.  I look forward to continue working for you and with you, and Joanne, my State House staff and I wish you and your family and safe and healthy holiday season.

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