April 29, 2009 ... In an effort to help solve the state’s spending gap, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, today announced his intention to take five unpaid furlough days before July 1, 2009 - the close of the current fiscal year.

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Sen. Moore’s pandemic flu preparedness bill unanimously passes MA Senate

April 28, 2009 ... After nearly six years of leading a sometimes lonely fight to modernize the state’s public health laws in preparedness for a pandemic influenza outbreak, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, was met with resounding support and passage today of his pandemic flu preparedness bill, which was stymied in the House of Representatives last session. As the country has become increasingly cautious about a possible swine flu pandemic, Sen. Moore’s legislation was unanimously passed in an effort to prepare the Commonwealth of any outbreak.

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Only 37% of federal bikeway grants used since 1991

April 28, 2009 ... In response to a current Boston Globe article reporting that $80 million of federal bikeway grants remain unused in Massachusetts, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently co-signed a letter to Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, urging him to accept all bikeway grants and reinvigorate standing projects. The letter, initiated by Sen. James Eldridge, D-Acton, also calls on Aloisi to simplify the bikeway grant application process.

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April 27, 2009 ... Zhou Wenzhong, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States, hosted a reception for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) at the new Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. last week. The reception, the first gathering hosted at the new embassy building, recognized the 30th anniversary of the normalization of relations between the United States and China, initiated by President Richard M. Nixon. 

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Senator alerts Washington area business leaders

April 23, 2009 ... “With most states projecting deficits that collectively amount to over $120 billion in FY '10, state legislatures are struggling to preserve essential public services such as education, health care, and public safety, while seeking ways to balance state budgets," Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, told a meeting of national business leaders in the Nation's capital this week.

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Fairs on May 2nd and 9th to promote affordable homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts

April 22, 2009 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, announced today that free “Opportunity Knocks’’ homebuyer fairs to promote affordable homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts will be held across the state on May 2 and May 9.

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April 21, 2009 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, (pictured left), met in Washington, D.C. recently with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA (pictured center), to discuss federal stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Joining Sen. Moore at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ “Leader to Leader” meeting was Massachusetts Senate Republican Leader Richard R. Tisei, R-Wakefield (pictured right). Sen. Moore is currently Vice President of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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Moore votes against Mass Pike “bailout”

April 17, 2009 ... Yesterday, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, joined in a bi-partisan effort to oppose legislation putting the state's credit backing behind risky interest-rate swap agreements at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. However, despite this effort, the bill passed by a vote of 27 – 11.

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Taxpayers offer ideas for state/local budget savings

Senator’s web site attracts positive suggestions

April 16, 2009 ... Some twenty constituents have proposed ideas for saving money to offset state and local revenue reductions through Sen. Richard T. Moore’s, D-Uxbridge, new “Working Together for Massachusetts” web site. Taxpayers from Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Milford, Millville, Northbridge, Southbridge, Sutton, Uxbridge and Webster have submitted suggestions or questions via www.workingtogetherformass.com.

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Sen. Moore downsizes State House staff

April 10, 2009 ... It’s good news when valued employees are hired by others for jobs with greater responsibility and pay, although they will be missed. That’s how Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, greeted the news that two key staff members were moving on as of April 10th.

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April 9, 2009 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, welcomed Cal Ripken, Jr., retired Major League Baseball star and Hall of Fame Inductee (2007) to the State House recently.  Ripken visited the State House to thank Sen. Moore and other legislators for supporting funds for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Massachusetts.  In recent years, the Legislature has appropriate $500,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs that was matched by Ripken’s Foundation to promote youth sports to provide healthy activities for young people.  Sen. Moore is a strong supporter of youth programs, especially the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Blackstone Valley and Webster-Dudley, as well as local youth centers.

Sen. Moore answers questions from Blackstone Valley business leaders

April 9, 2009 ... This week, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, attended the annual Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast.  At the breakfast, Sen. Moore was asked a series of questions that ranged from the current state of the economy, to gas tax proposals, and the preservation of the Valley.

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April 8, 2009 ... In an effort to enhance connections between the communities of the Worcester & Norfolk District and Beacon Hill in Boston, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, visited the Towns of Oxford, Dudley and Webster yesterday, continuing his “District Days” tour. Packing his schedule for the day were visits to Oxford’s The Coffee Hop; Oxford High School; Shepherd Hill High School in Dudley; the Webster Veteran’s Home; and the Webster Child Care Collaborative.

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Senator addresses Robert Wood Johnson Fellows

April 6, 2009 ... In a partnership between the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Commonwealth Medicine Division and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, health care policy makers who work for U. S. Senators, Congressional leaders, and their committees, met this week with leaders of the Massachusetts Health Reform Law. In his remarks to the group, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, one of the principal architects of the landmark Massachusetts health reform law, shared his thoughts on the key provisions that are needed in any national health reform as developed by the Obama Administration and Congress. The following are Sen. Moore’s remarks to those in attendance...

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Fallon Health Plan and BCBS helped pave the way to success

April 6, 2009 ... Healthcare services will continue in Webster at the Hubbard campus, thanks to a collaborative effort between Harrington Hospital, Fallon Community Health Plan and Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Massachusetts. As a result, Hubbard Hospital will become part of the Harrington healthcare system, with 24/7 Emergency Care and a broad spectrum of comprehensive outpatient services.

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April 5, 2009 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, was among the featured speakers at HIMSS09 – the 2009 Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Health Care Information Management Systems Society in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, April 5. Sen. Moore is one of the leading state legislators advocating electronic health records, electronic prescribing, and other forms of health information technology designed to improve health quality and patient safety as well as contain costs. Sen. Moore attended at the invitation of HIMSS, and no taxpayer funds were involved in the one-day trip to the Midwest.

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Remarks by Senator Richard T. Moore 

April 3, 2009 ... “In 1961, from this Speaker’s Rostrum, President John F. Kennedy invoked the words of our first Governor John Winthrop, who in 1630, proclaimed that ‘We must always consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill—the eyes of all people are upon us.’ Indeed, the eyes of the Nation have watched Massachusetts as we have so often led the way by establishing many of the democratic principles of our country; promoting equality of religion, race, sex, even sexual preference; and making concepts such as 
public education and access to health care fundamental to our citizenship.

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April 2, 2009 ... Today, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, was visited at the State House by Library Directors Bernadette Rivard (Center) of Bellingham Public Library, and Cyndee Marcoux (Right) of Blackstone Public Library.  Every year, the Massachusetts Library Association and Massachusetts School Library Association holds a "Library Legislative Day," in which legislators and staff are welcome to hear about librarians' legislative concerns in the Commonwealth.  Sen. Moore is a member of the Legislature's Library Caucus, which was initiated by Rep. Mark Falzone, D-Saugus.

April 2, 2009 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently announced news from the Patrick Administration that local transportation aid funding will total $150 million in FY10. Communities throughout Sen. Moore’s district will receive a combined total of approximately $4.2 million in Chapter 90 funds.

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Senator’s Bill Reforms Century-Old Rules

April 2, 2009 ... Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears in humans, causes serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Three major influenza pandemics swept the globe in the 20th century causing millions of deaths, and no one knows for sure when the next pandemic may strike. 

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By Senator Richard T. Moore

Several people have said to me, in recent weeks, “I certainly wouldn’t want your job.” Some said it because of the difficulty in cutting budgets or, possibly, raising revenues when neither course of action is very popular. Others meant that the public attitude toward the Legislature is especially sour, and it must be a difficult time to be a state legislator in the face of growing public anger and criticism.

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Sen. Moore votes with colleagues in unanimous consent

April 1, 2009 ... Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate, a week after passing comprehensive legislation to overhaul the state transportation system, continued to push its reform agenda—this time addressing state pensions. Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, a member of the Public Service Committee, praised the reforms.

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