District News Releases
District-wide
Saugus | Wakefield | Lynn | Lynnfield
March 27, 2007
Falzone Announces Dedicated Webmaster for Website
Representative Mark Falzone announced today the appointment of a permanent webmaster for his site, www.Falzone.org, in his effort to provide more information for and connection with his constituents.
Falzone said, "I am pleased that Jenna Wilson will now be able to maintain my website on a continual basis.
Keeping in touch with my constituents is something that is important to me, and with today's tech culture I believe having an up-to-date website is a crucial part of that. I look forward to the ways in which she is going to expand our web capabilities to help give constituents the information they need."
March 27, 2007
Representative Falzone Announces $100 Million Infrastructure Grant Program
Representatives Mark Falzone is pleased to recognize the successful launch of the $100 million Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion (MORE) Jobs Capital Program, which will assist cities and towns to pay for infrastructure needed to spur economic development.
MORE Jobs was included in an economic stimulus bill that was passed by the legislature and signed into law last year. The aim of the program is to provide grants to help finance the public infrastructure associated with business expansion and relocation projects.
In total, $100 million has been authorized for grants to qualifying projects. Grants must be used for infrastructure improvements, such as water and sewer connections, roadway enhancements, and utility upgrades.
Rep. Falzone said, “I am excited that the Commonwealth is able to offer this new tool to not only private developers, but also cities and towns who are working hard to bring good companies and quality jobs to Massachusetts. This is an important step toward the continued enrichment of the economy of our state and all our communities throughout Massachusetts.”
In order to receive a grant, a city or town and a for-profit business entity must jointly submit an application to the Secretary of Economic Development. Applications will be reviewed by an advisory committee, and grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.
Businesses eligible for grants are those that will generate substantial sales from outside the Commonwealth, create at least 100 new permanent full time jobs in Massachusetts within 24 months of the grant, and maintain the newly created jobs for at least five years.
Guidelines and applications are now available online at www.mass.gov/MOREJobs. Applications for 2007 are due May 1.
March 12, 2007
Representative Falzone Announces Statewide Budget Hearings
State Representative Falzone today announced that the Massachusetts Legislature is holding budget hearings across the state throughout the month of March. The hearings, conducted jointly by the House and Senate Committees on Ways & Means, are designed to gather public input to help legislators assemble a spending plan for the new fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2007.
Falzone, who serves on the Ways and Means Committee, said, “The budget is arguably the most important piece of legislation we pass every year and my colleagues and I want to hear from people across Massachusetts about what they think the state’s priorities should be. We put a lot of stock in their insights and we will rely on the information gathered at these hearings to construct an honest, compassionate and balanced spending plan.”
The hearings, which run from March 1 through March 15 in Boston, Watertown, Worcester, Sturbridge, Winthrop, Franklin and Lowell, will also provide officials from the Patrick/Murray Administration an opportunity to detail the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal.
Estimates place the Fiscal Year 2008 budget deficit at roughly $1 billion – a reality that has prompted the Legislature and the Administration to begin considering a number of policies to bridge this gap and to help cities and towns realize cost-savings during tight fiscal times. Legislative leaders have shown early signs of support for proposals to reform municipal pension systems and to allow communities to purchase their insurance plans through the Group Insurance Commission. Plans to give communities the authority to raise taxes on meals and hotels and to close corporate tax loopholes, two of the Governor’s other high profile proposals, have garnered considerable attention – and generated some concerns – across the state.
Falzone said, “I believe this will be an excellent opportunity to develop our budget with community input in order to make sure our needs are met both locally and statewide. I look forward to hearing from the people of the Commonwealth about what direction we need to go in.”
February 5, 2007
Representative Falzone Joins More than 100 Colleagues to Support Bill that Allows Municipalities to Join Group Insurance Commission
Representative Mark Falzone joined a coalition of municipal officials, union leaders, and retiree representatives working together as the Municipal Health Insurance Working Group in calling for a reform to give cities and towns the option to join the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC). This proposed legislation aims to ease the burden of skyrocketing health care insurance cost on taxpayers, employees, and municipalities. Last week Governor Patrick and over 105 legislators endorsed this reform.
Health insurance premiums have risen in double digits for most of the past decade, threatening the ability of many cities and towns to provide quality public services and leading to lay-offs of police, firefighters, teachers, and other municipal staff. Members of the Municipal Health Insurance Working Group recognized that the time had come to find creative solutions to these skyrocketing costs.
Representative Falzone announced, “Healthcare is a vital need for all in the Commonwealth, but we must face the impact of rising costs. These proposed changes allow our public servants and retirees access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance while cutting costs to taxpayers in communities that take advantage of this opportunity. These reforms would give the municipalities the option of switching to the GIC or keeping their current system.”
The proposal would not force municipalities to purchase health insurance through the GIC. Rather, the decision would be up to municipal leaders, public employee labor representatives, and retiree representatives. All decisions regarding the municipality’s involvement in the GIC would remain up to representatives at the local level. Currently the GIC covers all employees of the Commonwealth, who number more than 265,000 people.
January 31 , 2007
Representative Falzone Appointed Vice-Chairman of Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee and Reappointed to the Powerful House Ways & Means Committee
Representative Mark Falzone was reappointed by Speaker Salvatore DiMasi to the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means, and also appointed to the vice-chairmanship of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. In addition, Representative Falzone received an appointment this week to the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets.
Falzone said, “I am honored to be given these significant responsibilities by Speaker DiMasi and ready to dedicate my time and effort to the financial affairs of Massachusetts which have such an important impact on the communities in my district. Also, my sleeves are rolled up to work hard on behalf of our veterans throughout Massachusetts who have make sacrifices to serve our country in uniform. I want to be sure that they and our Commonwealth receive the support we should expect, financial and otherwise, from the federal government.”
House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said, “Representative Falzone has worked hard for his constituents as a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and I know he will continue to do so in the new session.”
Falzone noted, “I was particularly pleased to receive appointments to these important financial committees, the powerful Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, while also being promoted with my new appointment to a vice-chairmanship.”
Chairman Anthony Verga (D-Gloucester) of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs said, “I am delighted with the appointment of Representative Falzone to be vice-chairman of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, and I am looking forward to working with Mark on the significant issues facing those who have served our country in uniform. I know that veterans throughout Massachusetts are fortunate to have a hard-working and diligent friend in Mark Falzone placed in this important position. Knowing Mark, I anticipate that he will do an outstanding job with his new responsibilities.”
Legislative committee appointments are for the coming two-year session for which members of the House of Representatives were elected this past November.
January 31, 2007
Representative Falzone Announces Landmark Child Labor Reform Law
Representative Mark Falzone announced the legislative passage and signature into law of the first comprehensive reform to the child labor laws of Massachusetts in nearly 70 years.
This law will simplify the work permit process and allow the Attorney General to bring civil charges against employers who violate the statute. In addition, for the safety and protection of young workers, employers will now be required to provide on site supervision of teens working after 8 p.m., and minors will be prohibited from holding jobs which require them to carry a firearm. The new law, allows minors to work until 11:30 p.m. on non-school nights, providing them with the opportunity to gain more work experience.
Representative Falzone said, “I am pleased to support this major new initiative to modernize our youth employment laws and give added protection to young people in their work environments. Many young people hold jobs which provide needed money and experience for future careers. With this new law we are helping to ensure that this work experience does not unnecessarily endanger their health or safety.”
Late in the year, state Sen. Thomas McGee, D-Lynn, also found himself celebrating the passage of a bill near and dear to him, which has been described as the “most extensive overhaul of the state’s child labor laws since the Great Depression.”
McGee, the Senate chairman of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, lauded the bill’s passage, explaining he had become an early supporter of the bill after hearing testimony from teen advocates.
“In today’s economy, 80 percent of teens will have held a job by the time they have graduated from high school,” said McGee. “Each year in Massachusetts, several thousand of these teens under the age of 18 required treatments in emergency departments for on-the-job severe injuries and health problems, were injured on the job at approximately twice the rate of adults, and were killed on the job at the same rate as adults. These numbers indicated that we needed to make places of employment safe for the children of the Commonwealth.”
This new statute represents a landmark change that brings our child labor laws into the 21st Century with reforms that synchronize the law with the current job situation facing young people in our Commonwealth. It accommodates the type of jobs youths now hold, and ensures that both employers and youth employees will benefit from this comprehensive change. Most importantly, it helps to keep all our teenagers safe in the workplace.
September 10th, 2006
Representative Mark Falzone Brings Strong Record of Results for Senior Citizens
Representative Mark Falzone has promised to build upon his record of successes in support of senior citizens as he runs for re-election to represent the communities of the 9th Essex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. From his position on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Falzone has fought to deliver programs, funds and services that benefit seniors in enhanced healthcare and that help to lower the property taxes faced by our elderly residents.
Falzone said, “One of the most fundamental solid values I have successfully fought for in the legislature has been to recognize the needs of our seniors. Senior citizens are a very valuable part of our community, and whether it is assistance with their healthcare needs or assistance in the fight against escalating property taxes, I have pledged to do everything I can to help them remain healthy and able to continue to live in their homes in the community they have contributed so much to during their lives.”
Falzone emphasized, “Property taxes place an onerous burden on those on a fixed income such as seniors, and no one should be forced out of their homes because of increasing property taxes. I have been a great supporter of the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit for the elderly population which provides many seniors with a refundable income tax credit to help with their property taxes or rent payments. This year I successfully fought for increased local aid and the uncapping of State Lottery Assistance to help take the pressure off of property taxes and fees. I have also successfully supported more generous and flexible options to help seniors lower their property taxes and meet their property tax payments. In the future I will do everything I can to fight the regressive property tax.”
Falzone noted, “Property taxes are not the only threat to keeping our seniors in their homes. Many seniors need homecare services to enable them to continue living independent lives in our community, and I have successfully fought for a major new state initiative to provide these services to seniors in the Commonwealth. This not only gives seniors valuable choices but also saves the taxpayers money by avoiding more expensive institutional living alternatives such as nursing homes. In the future I want to broaden these programs so they reach more seniors more effectively.”
Falzone continued, “Many seniors also benefit from the programs and services provided by our local Councils on Aging and Senior Centers. I have successfully fought both for increases in state assistance for Councils on Aging and for grants for Senior Centers. I also keep my weekly in-district office hours in our senior centers for the convenience of our older residents. In the future I will fight for expanded funding to increase the excellent services and programs these councils and centers provide such as senior center meals and meals on wheels, healthcare, transportation and recreation programs.”
Falzone noted, “Fighting the outrageous cost of prescription drugs has always been a top priority for me. I have successfully fought for funding the state Prescription Advantage Program and for its re-emergence as a supplemental “wrap-around” program to fill in the holes, gaps and flaws in the federal Medicare Part D program. I encourage seniors to take advantage of the open enrollment period for Prescription Advantage which takes place from September 15th to November 15th and thereby lower their pharmaceutical costs. In the future I will fight for the state to use the power of bulk purchasing to further lower the cost of prescription medicines to our Massachusetts residents. No one should be forced to choose between having the prescription pills they need for their health, and placing food on the table or paying the rent and other bills.”
Falzone emphasized, “We must take better care of our senior population. They have worked hard to give us so much, and we must better meet their needs to live in comfort and dignity. I am running for re-election to redouble my efforts on behalf of our seniors, and use my influence on the Ways and Means Committee to provide our elderly population with a better quality of life.”
September 4th, 2006
Falzone Favors Healthcare Initiatives that Build on Success in Access and Add New Focus on Cost Control and Quality of Care
Representative Mark Falzone announced his positions and priorities on important issues of healthcare facing his constituents in the 9th Essex District. In his campaign for re-election Representative Falzone has emphasized issues of education, healthcare, overdevelopment, and successfully delivering increased resources in state funding for our local community from his position on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.
Representative Falzone said, “Healthcare plays a vital part in our well-being. Healthcare is also an importance part of our expenses both for ourselves and for our government. And, especially here in Massachusetts, healthcare plays an important role in our economy, as healthcare providers, researchers, educators and manufacturers of medical devices all follow careers that add to our economic growth, income, and future prosperity. The quality of our Massachusetts healthcare adds to the quality of our lives locally, while it also serves people from around the world who come here for the best medical services and technology available anywhere.”
Falzone noted, “This year the Massachusetts Legislature made major progress in providing access to healthcare with a trail-blazing initiative that has gained national attention as a possible model to assure that every American gets access to healthcare coverage. With universal access here in Massachusetts, we can emphasize more effective and less costly preventive care and take the pressure off of the overuse of emergency rooms so they can be available to all of us when we need them for real emergencies. More access and more participation in insurance will spread healthcare costs along a broader base, lowering costs for each of us. And by bringing in employers who had previously been getting a free ride, we add needed resources for quality care while creating fairer business competition.”
Falzone continued, “We know that what is not affordable is not accessible. Therefore, I call upon the rate setting body, the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector, to reexamine the rates it has just established for health insurance for lower income residents, to be sure these rates sustain the ability of people at various income levels to continue purchasing insurance over the long term.”
Falzone said, “To assure adequate access to healthcare for our children, we need to ensure that every school has access to a school nurse. We cannot neglect the solid value of protecting our children while they are in school. Furthermore, we cannot neglect the innovative ideas that increase access and lower costs, and I have supported bringing to every city and town the option of joining our state GIC (Group Insurance Commission) health insurance system which currently insures state employees. This will improve healthcare for municipal employees while saving significant money for local government and property taxpayers. Similarly, I have successfully supported the innovative idea of making our state Prescription Advantage Program into a wrap-around prescription drug insurance program to fill in the gaps, holes and flaws in federal Medicare Part D and help our senior citizen and disability populations. Fighting the outrageous cost of prescription drugs has always been a top priority of mine, and in the future we need more progress in bulk purchasing in Massachusetts to reduce these unconscionable costs. For now, I encourage every person potentially eligible for Prescription Advantage to look at the benefits of this program by calling 1-800-243-4636 and to take advantage of the open enrollment period which begins September 15th and ends November 15th.”
Falzone continued, “To further control costs and open up solid career opportunities, we need to increase the availability of professional and technical training in healthcare, especially in nursing. I have supported an expansion of programs at our colleges, such as the nursing program at Salem State College, in order to accommodate our increased need for medical practitioners. This will avoid costly labor bottlenecks by reducing the associated costs for our hospitals and other medical providers when there is a shortage of those with needed medical and technical skills.”
Falzone emphasized, “While we need to build upon the progress we have made in improving access to healthcare and in containing costs, I will focus in the next legislative session on initiatives that improve the quality of our healthcare. We all want and deserve the highest quality possible in medical care, and I will fight for those advances and programs that assure this goal is reached.”
Falzone explained, “I support the medical research, technology and resources that have brought us so many medical miracles and make Massachusetts a magnet for those seeking the highest quality medical services. I support the expansion of electronic medical records technology with an eye to significantly reducing medical errors while protecting privacy. I support the current initiative of our local hospitals and other medical providers to systematically reconsider how we can deliver medical care more effectively, often rebuilding our processes of quality assurance from the ground up. For example, by creating new, improved indices of care, we are enabled to better define and measure healthcare quality. This will help us improve upon certain medical practices that have been supported only by inertia and decades-old tradition such as outdated methods of communicating between shifts and archaic systems of re-ordering and re-supply. I will continue to support initiatives that assure we will be cared for by an adequate medical staff when illness or injuries require our hospitalization. And surely quality of care must also include a reduction of waiting time when our health concerns require professional attention.”
August 27th, 2006
Falzone Highlights Education Priorities as New School Year Begins
With the opening of school Representative Mark Falzone laid out his priorities for education in the coming year. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Representative Falzone plans to influence funding decisions and fight for the interests of his constituents in every community he represents in the 9th Essex District – Lynn, Lynnfield, Saugus and Wakefield.
Falzone said, “The opening of the school year is the perfect time to reflect on the importance of education, not only for what it means for our individual children and their opportunities for success in life, but also for what education means for the prosperity of our knowledge-based economy in Massachusetts. Making progress in education has always been a central priority of mine. I know my own personal success in public service, and before that as an information technology professional, was greatly influenced by my personal commitment to a lifetime of learning.”
Falzone noted, “A major reason I am running for re-election this year is to build upon our past legislative successes in improving education in Massachusetts and improving state funding of education for our local communities. I was a leader in putting the School Building Assistance Program on a sound financial footing, and this year alone over $40.9 million in state School Building Assistance funds has been distributed in my district. I now want to continue to work to ensure that every municipality I represent has a fair opportunity to gain access to these important funds, so that we can build and maintain the educational infrastructure so vital to the success of our local schools, without overburdening local property taxes and fees.”
Falzone continued, “Chapter 70 Education Assistance is the major program of annual state aid for K-12 education, and this past year we in the Legislature not only significantly increased these funds going to towns and cities, but we also greatly improved the Chapter 70 formula so that communities in my district will continue to do far better every single year. Now we need to build on these improvements so we can reduce the class size student-to-teacher ratio, help communities more with the expenses of school transportation, provide cutting-edge technology for the best learning environment possible, and enhance the Special Education Circuit Breaker to ensure that valuable Special Education expenditures do not overburden local communities.”
Falzone said, “Early childhood education has been a priority in the Legislature this year with a significant new initiative toward universal access. Unfortunately, this initiative was vetoed by the governor. I will now fight to override this veto, improve the training available to teachers and other providers, and assure the quality of accessible early childhood education that study after study shows is a high-yielding investment in the future educational and economic success of our children. For every successful child, our prosperity will increase and our public expenditure burdens will decrease.”
Falzone noted, “This year, with my strong backing, we in the Legislature greatly increased our support for community and state colleges and university campuses. With the escalation of college costs, state support will be even more important in the future to assure financial aid for our students, a sound infrastructure of buildings, facilities and new technology for our campuses, and resources that can attract the best teachers and professors for our classrooms. Next I want to support initiatives to create the centers of research and excellence that will make our campuses strong engines of economic prosperity as our knowledge-based Massachusetts economy continues to recover and accelerates into the future. Especially in a shrinking world with a competitive world-wide economy, we owe it to our children to provide the best education possible. After all, education is the future for our children, and our children are the future for all of us.”
Falzone emphasized, “As I watch our kids’ optimism while they begin a new school year, I want to support their eagerness to learn with the state resources that translate into educational excellence at every level. This will enhance our prospects for future prosperity and take the pressure off of local property taxes and fees without sacrificing the quality of education. These are priorities I will fight for every day.”August 2nd, 2006
Representative Falzone Announces Legislative Override for Higher Minimum Wage
Representative Mark Falzone announced the enactment of a state minimum wage increase for Massachusetts over the veto of the governor. By unanimous vote of both the House of Representatives and of the Senate, the Massachusetts minimum wage will increase to $7.50 an hour on January 1, 2007 and to $8.00 an hour on January 1, 2008.
Falzone said, “This is a victory for working men and women and their families. The increase helps those hard working people at the lower end of the wage scale keep up with the cost of living, and it provides some income fairness and additional spending power as our economy shifts gears. The unanimous vote from each chamber demonstrated the broad base of support for this increase and showed the widespread recognition that the time had come to help workers who have been struggling in this economy to catch up after too many years of neglect.”
Falzone noted, “A recent study indicated that 75% of the 315,000 Massachusetts workers directly affected by this increase are age 20 or older, 60% are women, and half hold down full-time jobs. We are not only providing a better foundation upon which they can support themselves and their families and rise above poverty, but the impact of raising the minimum wage should assist other workers to realize an improvement in compensation as well. Together with our ambitious healthcare reform, this higher minimum wage is an additional legislative success and step forward in our efforts to assist hard working families in their aspirations to live in prosperity in Massachusetts.”
July 31th, 2006
Representative Falzone Announces Legislative Passage of Sales Tax Holiday Weekend August 12th and 13th
Representative Mark Falzone announced the overwhelming approval of a sales tax holiday by the Massachusetts Legislature. The legislation designates August 12th and 13th as a sales tax holiday weekend, exempting single item purchases of $2,500 or less from the state’s 5% sales tax. The bill currently awaits the governor’s signature to become law.
Representative Falzone said, “I am pleased that, with the governor’s signature, we can give shoppers a sales tax break in August for the third year in a row. This will be a boost to store sales at a time of year when that is helpful and a much needed thank you to Massachusetts residents, consumers and taxpayers in the form of dollar savings. I hope everyone will plan to take advantage of the savings that this tax break makes available.”
Similar measures in the last two years aimed at stimulating the state’s economy saved consumers $25 million and netted retailers $900. Revenue loss incurred by the Commonwealth was offset by spikes in meals and gas tax collections.
The exemption does not apply to automobile, motor boat, meals and tobacco product sales as well as telecommunication services and gas, steam and electricity. The bill has reached the governor’s desk and awaits his signature.
July 24th, 2006
House Passes Equal Choice Bill
Falzone Supports Home Care
Representative Mark Falzone is pleased to announce the unanimous passage of the Equal Choice billby the House of Representatives. Seniors citizens and the disabled who qualify for long term care services under the MassHealth program will have an “equal choice” of care at home, or care in a nursing home. This legislation was sponsored by Representative Festa and co-sponsored by Representative Falzone.
House Bill 5203, the “Equal Choice” bill, modernizes the MassHealth program from one which has historically been institutionally oriented to one which focuses on care “in the least restrictive setting appropriate” to an individual’s needs.
Representative Festa said, “This legislation has been one of my top priorities since I was first elected. The elderly and the disabled want to be cared for at home as a first resort. This legislation gives them the choice to live independently in the community.”
The equal choice bill will save state taxpayers $134 million in the first five years after implementation. Several recent studies of the state’s long term care system have noted the Commonwealth’s over-reliance on institutional care. Today, approximately 75% of the MassHealth funding for long term care goes to nursing homes. Massachusetts ranks 25th in the nation for the percentage of MassHealth funding spent in the community.
Representative Falzone said, “This bill is a win-win. It keeps elders living in the community and it saves tax dollars as well. It honors what we know elders and their families want most – care at home.”
Al Norman, Executive Director of Mass Home Care, noted, “The bill is an important civil rights bill that allows consumers to seek care in the most integrated setting. Its passage is the culmination of years of hard work on the part of home care advocates, the Chairman of the Elder Affairs Committee Robert Correia, the bill’s main sponsors, Representatives Festa and L’Italien, as well as the House leadership.”
The equal choice bill establishes a more focused “pre-admission counseling” program for people who are being referred to a nursing home, to ensure that they are aware of community alternatives. Everyone about to enter a nursing home regardless of whether they are privately paying, or seeking MassHealth support will have the opportunity to explore options in the community first.
The equal choice bill calls for the state to submit a “waiver” to the federal government which will raise the income and asset levels for the MassHealth long term care program, thus allowing the Commonwealth to win a 50% federal funding match for some elders who are not fully supported with state funding.
July 24th, 2006
Representative Mark Falzone Meets with Senator John Kerry at the State House
Representative Mark Falzone on Monday met with Senator John Kerry at the Massachusetts State House to discuss issues important to Falzone’s constituents and district. Among the topics discussed with Senator Kerry and a small group of state legislators were federal assistance and relief, security issues, jobs and economic stimulus, and the outrageous cost of prescription drugs.
Falzone said, “I was pleased to have this opportunity to share with Senator Kerry the concerns of those who live in my district and to review the latest information regarding these important topics. The federal government can be and should be more supportive of our local efforts in Massachusetts, and I emphasized to Senator Kerry how important it is to have a strong partnership with Washington so we can build on our progress here in Massachusetts.”
Falzone noted, “In particular, I pointed out to Senator Kerry our concerns with the holes in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and how Massachusetts is trying to fill in for federal failings. I also pointed out risks we face in Massachusetts to natural and man-made disasters, diseases and terrorism, and how much we need federal resources to help us meet these public health and safety challenges and potential threats. Massachusetts is still lagging in job growth from the recent recession, and I explained the Legislature’s program of economic stimulus and why federal policy on the economy matters so much to the growth of quality jobs and careers in our Commonwealth.”
Falzone continued, “Senator Kerry listened very carefully and took note of our concerns. I believe he is a good ally on these significant issues, though he is clearly frustrated with the direction policy is taking in Washington. Senator Kerry expressed the hope for a return to basic competence at the federal level and a seriously enhanced federal partnership with the Commonwealth at the state level.”
On a lighter note, Senator Kerry shared some memories of his visit to Representative Falzone’s fundraising event at the Peter Rossetti home in Falzone’s first campaign for State Representative. Kerry appreciated his repartee and humorous one-ups-manship with Dick Barry of Saugus and the gift of an autographed book of local history.
After reminiscing, Senator Kerry said, “Mark Falzone is one of the truly great leaders we have on Beacon Hill. Because what the State Legislature does is central to every single person living in the Commonwealth, it is ever more important that we have outstanding Representatives in the State House like Mark.”
June 26th , 2006
Representative Falzone and Senator McGee Sponsor Legislation to Combat Invasive Aquatic Species
Representative Mark Falzone and Senator Thomas McGee recently sponsored legislation that will establish a grant program known as the Invasive Aquatic Plants Prevention Fund. This bill will set aside $2 million in state money to establish a grant program that will assist our cities and towns with grants to control the harmful effects of invasive plant species such as weeds that fill up our lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetlands.
Representative Falzone said, “These weeds that invade our natural bodies of water harm our local ecology, economy, and health. They are a serious problem in my district and throughout Massachusetts. If we want to protect our lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands, as I do, we need to provide the state assistance and funding that this bill makes available. I am pleased to be a sponsor of this legislation and to see it endorsed by so many of my colleagues. ”
Senator McGee added, “This bill is a direct result of the legislature's request that the Department of Conservation and Recreation conduct a study of the conditions of invasive weeds in the waters of the Commonwealth. Clearly the study identified significant amounts of harmful invasive aquatic species, which cause many problems for our cities and towns. This grant program is a step forward and will help ease the financial burden for cities and towns that struggle to combat these invasive weeds."
This legislation is aimed to abate the detrimental ecological, economic, and public health impacts that result from the existence of invasive aquatic species in the land areas, wetlands, and waters of the state. The financial resources would help our communities combat the presence and spreading of these noxious aquatic species in our bodies of water, and would aid in protecting and restoring the populations and habitats of native species. Through this grant program, administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, communities could receive up to 70% grant-funding to remedy the problem.
This grant program is needed to address both the current situation and to thwart future damage. Infestations of Aquatic Invasive Species have taken over many of our state's bodies of water, and over time these non-native plants, animals, or other biological organisms could potentially deprive our waters of much needed oxygen and resources. Additionally, our drinking water supply could be negatively impacted in the future. This grant program will establish programs of prevention and education, and also coordinate eradication methods for the natural bodies of water throughout Massachusetts suffering from AIS.
June 19th , 2006
Representatives Falzone, Fennell, Petersen, and Walsh and Senator McGee Announce Passage of Economic Stimulus Package
State Representatives Mark Falzone, Robert Fennell, Douglas Petersen, and Steven Walsh and Senator Thomas McGee announced today that the Legislature has approved a $458 million economic stimulus package designed to jump-start the state economy by bolstering jobs, supporting investment, and fostering construction for local government and state higher education projects. The measures have been sent to Governor Romney for approval.
Representative Falzone said, “The innovative and creative proposals in this legislation will enhance the Massachusetts economy well into the future. Our need to stimulate investment and create quality jobs will get a big boost from this bill and enhance our economic prosperity both in the nearterm and well into the future.”
Representative Fennell added, "This legislation will go a long way to ensuring the future economic success of the Commonwealth and its residents."
"This legislation will promote job creation as well as infrastructure investments statewide and will provide assistance to a number of local programs that will keep our economy strong for years to come, said Representative Walsh,” said Representative Walsh.
"The Workforce Development programs included in this bill will increase the ability of low-income, low skill workers to obtain the skills that they require to reach self sufficiency and increase the competitiveness of Massachusetts companies," stated Senator Thomas M. McGee, Chair of the Committee on Workforce and Labor. "In addition, because of the training programs included in this bill, we will be able to fill approximately 10,000 critical vacancies and provide flexible training funds that will enable businesses to better respond to market dynamics by training a skilled workforce," concluded Senator McGee.
The legislation directs resources to small businesses, community development and workforce training and education. Among a myriad of other initiatives, it authorizes $2 million for small business technical assistance grants for companies with fewer than 20 employees and creates an $11 million Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to enhance worker skills, incomes, productivity and retention.
“These programs will give employers and employees alike the critical tools they need to compete in today’s knowledge-based, global economy,” noted Representative Falzone.
The package also provides upwards of $80 million to boost life science research in Massachusetts. To further stimulate this cutting-edge sector of our economy and meet competition from other states, the legislation establishes a new Life Sciences Center to coordinate all of the Commonwealth’s life sciences activities and oversee the creation of a new nano-bio-manufacturing facility at the University of Massachusetts. University researchers and private companies at this new facility will develop the advanced technology and products that will in turn lead to high-quality job opportunities for Massachusetts residents.
In addition, the legislation establishes a first-in-the-nation state sponsored Cultural Facilities Fund in recognition of the important role culture and tourism play in our state’s overall economy. The fund will award grants to non-profit cultural organizations and require recipients to raise private matching funds. Over the next ten years, the state will invest $170 million to leverage private investments of upwards of $300 million and help create and maintain numerous Massachusetts jobs, support programming, and enhance local communities across the Commonwealth.
The Massachusetts House made job creation and economic development a top priority last spring when legislators conducted a statewide job growth listening tour to learn more about ways to improve the state’s business climate. The approved package reflects a number of ideas and concerns raised by the business leaders, economists, local government officials, spokespersons of the science and technology industry, and representatives of working men and women. For example, one component of the legislative package is the $100 million “Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion Jobs Capital Program” will provide grants to local municipalities and private entities for economic development-related infrastructure improvements. Eligible projects must either document a “sufficiently exceptional” economic benefit to the Commonwealth or create and maintain 100 new, full time jobs for a minimum of five years.
May 23rd, 2006
Representative Falzone Honored as Champion for Oral Health Care
State Representative Mark Falzone was honored this week for his leadership in supporting legislation that will provide comprehensive dental benefits to more than 500,000 adults enrolled in MassHealth.
“This is an important step forward for the Commonwealth, and we applaud Representative Falzone and the entire Legislature for their steadfast commitment to true health reform that takes care of all of our health from head to toe,” said Dr. Raul Garcia, Chair of the Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce, a state-wide coalition. “We are happy to see adult MassHealth dental benefits finally restored.”
Representative Falzone said, “Together, my colleagues and I overrode the Governor’s short-sighted veto. We know that the elimination of dental benefits in 2002 was truly detrimental to the health of our residents. That’s why I worked hard to ensure that health reform has included access to preventive and restorative oral health care. I’m very pleased with our success because it is the right thing to do, and preventive rather than emergency care will save the taxpayers money.”
The Oral Health Advocacy Task honored Representative Falzone at its appreciation breakfast held at the State House along with other legislators likewise committed to improving the oral health of Massachusetts residents. The goal of the Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce is to improve oral health in the Commonwealth by expanding access to oral health care education, prevention and treatment services for all Massachusetts residents.
March 22nd , 2006
Representatives Falzone, Fennell, Petersen, and Walsh Announce House Passage of Bill on Early Education & Care
Representatives Mark Falzone, Robert Fennell, Douglas Petersen, and Steven Walsh are pleased to announce that the Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed legislation that reinforces our Commonwealth’s commitment to early education and care.
In 2004 the legislature created The Department of Early Education and Care with the goal of consolidating existing early education and care services. The current bill puts them closer to another one of their goals which is to implement a high-quality, universal pre-kindergarten program. The bill further defines the role of the new department of early education and care as it moves forward with its mission to lead the way in helping all Massachusetts children and families reach their full potential.
Representative Falzone emphasized, “Early education has been found to greatly enhance the future educational outcomes of our students. But it is essential that quality be built into these programs in order to get this beneficial result. I am very pleased that we have such a good start down the road to accessible and high quality early education programs throughout Massachusetts.”
Representative Robert Fennell said, "With this bill, the Legislature has reinforced its commitment to provide superior early education programs for children throughout the Commonwealth. Giving children the best possible education early in life will help ensure their future educational success."
Representative Petersen said, “As a member of the Joint Committee on Education, I have been a long-time advocate for early education. Pre-kindergarten programs are an effective means of laying a solid educational foundation for future academic success and this legislation brings Massachusetts significantly closer to that goal."
Representative Walsh said, “We know what a positive impact early childhood education can have on the future development and growth of a child. The Legislature is committed to providing quality education for all children in the Commonwealth and this legislation brings us one step closer to that goal.”
When the legislature was drafting this bill, they incorporated a variety of stakeholders in the field of early education and care. The bill that has been passed reflects a broad consensus and has been sent to the Senate for approval.