Statement from Sen. Moore on Sen. Kennedy's passing

August 26, 2009 ... "I was deeply saddened to learn of Senator Kennedy's untimely death.  He was a tremendous advocate for Massachusetts and for all Americans. In particular, he will always have a special place in the history of the Blackstone Valley and the hearts of Valley residents for his leadership in establishing the National Heritage Corridor.   He made a significant difference for all Americans, especially through his leadership in health care and he will be greatly missed in the coming national debate on health insurance reform."

Senator Richard T. Moore

Moore office praises exceptional work ethic of unpaid interns

Summer, past academic year produces standouts in veteran lawmaker’s office

August 19, 2009 ... In amongst the hustle and bustle of Sen. Richard T. Moore’s, D-Uxbridge, State House office, daily operations seem to become better and better as the years go on. Many would cite this solely because of the dedication of his paid staff. However, the Senator will be the first to tell everyone that the commitments of volunteer interns are a valuable supplement. This summer and during the school year, Sen. Moore welcomed legislative interns to his office, as he always has in past years. These volunteers produced invaluable resources to guide public policy, and keep the general operations of his office moving in a positive direction.

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Going Back to School and Staying Healthy!

By Senator Richard T. Moore

In recent days, our newspapers have been so filled with ads for “back to school” supplies, school bus routes and school lunch menus that it’s obvious the time has arrived for kids in our towns to head back to school. About the same time, recent high school graduates will transition to college and a greater degree of independence.

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Sen. Moore supports Sales Tax Advertising Bill aimed at increasing sales

August 14, 2009 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, was one of fifty co-sponsors of legislation filed last week, which would allow vendors to advertise that they would pay or absorb the sales tax on consumers’ purchases. Under current law, it is illegal for vendors to advertise in this manner. Area Representatives Jennifer Callahan, D-Sutton, Paul Kujawski, D-Webster, and Geraldo Alicea, D-Southbridge, joined Sen. Moore in supporting the legislation. 

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Worcester and Norfolk District communities receive Community Development Block Grants

Sen. Moore announces grants for the towns of Milford, Northbridge, Southbridge and Webster

August 13, 2009 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, today announced that a total of $2,928,753 in federal funds will be awarded to the communities of Milford, Northbridge, Southbridge and Webster for a variety of projects to improve the communities’ infrastructure and housing. 

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Smoothing the waters - Aquarion’s billing errors roil customers

Worcester Telegram and Gazette Staff

An 81 percent increase in the water bill — a possibility for some Oxford and Millbury residents who are customers of Aquarion Water Co. — is enough to make any family’s budget spring a few leaks. State Sen. Richard T. Moore is right to call for a state investigation into the billing errors that are affecting the company’s customers, particularly in light of the hard feelings left over from this year’s vote for Oxford to buy Aquarion’s assets. 

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Aquarion bills rise 81 percent

BY ELLIE OLESON, Telegram and Gazette Correspondent 

State Sen. Richard T. Moore has asked Attorney General Martha Coakley to investigate Aquarion Water Co.’s plan to raise some customers’ water bills by 81 percent. 

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National Health Reform Discussions Need More Light, Less Heat!

By Senator Richard T. Moore

This August, while Congress is in recess from the heat of Washington, DC, members of Congress are back in their districts seeking the light that comes from honest discussion and debate with their constituents about national health reform. Unfortunately, special interests and partisanship are preventing people from learning what’s really in the proposed legislation, and opportunities for reasoned exchanges of ideas are being disrupted by shouting and name calling. An example of this un-American tactic was witnessed recently when Congressmen Jim McGovern and Richard Neal held a town meeting on health reform at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and faced insults and misinformation.

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"Expecting Moore"

Local senator cast in national spotlight

BY JOSH FARNSWORTH, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle

The sight of busy workers in Senator Richard T. Moore's (D-Uxbridge) office has been the norm since his arrival in Boston more than a decade ago.  Co-workers say his persistent work ethic is motivation enough to roll up their sleeves and dive into the daily tasks that come with helping Moore in his work. 

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E-health called vital for the future

August 10, 2009 ... Expanding the use of electronic health records and creating connections so the records move securely between physicians, hospitals and other health care providers are critical steps in reforming health care, Massachusetts State Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, stated during a break in sessions of a health information technology conference in Burlington, Vermont on Friday. Moore, one of the principal architects of Massachusetts' three year-old health reform legislation, said that "electronic records, transmitting prescriptions and clinical test results, and other uses of technology are a key factor in improving health care quality while helping to contain rising health care costs." 

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Sen. Moore salutes Smokey Bear on his birthday

August 10, 2009 ... A large crowd of children and adults from the Blackstone Valley joined Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and Rep. Paul Kujawski, D-Webster, and area fire departments in saluting Smokey the Bear on Smokey's 65th Birthday. The birthday party was held at the River Bend Farm Visitor's Center of the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park on Oak Street.

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Sen. Moore announces Statements of Interest applications for school construction/renovation funds

August 7, 2009 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D - Uxbridge, recently announced that all public schools are now eligible to submit Statements of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). SOI’s are the first step in the MSBA’s program for school building construction and renovation grants. 

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State experts issue recommendations for implementing electronic health information exchange

Latest State Alliance for e-Health report offers guidance for states on health IT

August 5, 2009 ... As the national dialogue on health care reform continues, health information technology (IT) and health information exchange (HIE) have emerged as critical means to ensuring a health care system that is affordable, effective, safe and transparent. A new report from the State Alliance for e-Health, Preparing to Implement HITECH: A State Guide for Electronic Health Information Exchange, aims to help states lead the way in using health IT and HIE and guide them as they begin instituting the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.

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Could We Be "On the Verge of Recovery?"

By Senator Richard T. Moore

Most people won't feel it right away, but there could be some light at the end of the New England region's fiscal tunnel. That's the message I heard recently from a noted economist while attending a meeting of the Council of State Government.

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Drowsy-driving tragedies preventable

By Charles A. Czeisler

August 3, 2009 ... Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board announced that drowsy driving was the probable cause of the fatal collision of two MBTA Green Line trains in Newton last year. The safety board concluded that MBTA operator Ter’rese Edmonds, who was killed in the crash, did not respond to a red stop signal, likely because she briefly fell asleep at the wheel.The board concluded that she was at high risk for having an undiagnosed sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea. Urine drug testing also revealed her prior use of a sedating antihistamine commonly used in over-the-counter treatments for insomnia, allergies, and the common cold, although the chemical was no longer detectable in her blood at the time of the crash.

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Sen. Moore joins state officials to celebrate Atlas Box and Crating expansion in Sutton

August 3, 2009 ... Celebrating the expansion of a successful local manufacturer, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently joined with Governor Deval Patrick, and state and Sutton, MA officials, to announce financing for the new Route 146 worldwide headquarters of Atlas Box and Crating.

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