Issues
Education
I believe that the greatest investment we can make in our future is providing our children with an excellent education. As a former School Committee member (Wellesley 1993-1999) and the mother of three children, supporting and improving public education has always been one of my top legislative priorities The availability of first rate public education across the Commonwealth not only benefits the students, but also guarantees that we will have a highly prepared work force. This gives the Commonwealth a significant competitive advantage in recruiting knowledge based businesses..
I currently serve as a member of the Joint Committee on Education, and in the 2005-2006 session I served on the Joint Committee on Higher Education. My work on these committees has broadened my understanding of the challenges facing public education in Massachusetts. It has also enabled me to have a real influence on the policies that shape and fund it. My positions and accomplishments relating to education are listed below:
- The Joint Committee on Education worked closely with the Patrick Administration to develop the legislation that created the new position of Education Secretary. This new cabinet level position reflects the importance of education and will create more accountability for future educational initiatives.
- The research is clear that high-quality early education is critically important for long-term academic achievement. I supported the new mandate improving the coordination, quality and accessibility of early education through the Department of Early Education and Care. I also fully support the Early Education bill signed into law this summer.
- Higher education is an essential part of the Massachusetts education system. The colleges and universities play a critical role in providing quality, affordable education to recent high school graduates as well as adults seeking retraining in new career fields. I supported the Higher Education Bond bill passed this session, which will allow the Commonwealth to begin to address the significant infrastructure needs of our institutions of higher learning.
- The June report of the Governor's Readiness Project Reported included sweeping recommendations regarding the educational needs of the public systems, pre-K through higher education. I look forward to working with the Patrick administration to evaluate those recommendations and to develop new initiatives to improve public education throughout the state.
Economic Development
Industry in the Unites States is changingWe must invest in measures that will make Massachusetts attractive to new industries, particularly the biomedical and biotechnology fields. We must also promote relevant workforce training and development.
- I voted to invest $1 billion in the state's growing life science industry. This legislation will help secure the Commonwealth's place as a leader in biotechnology by creating incentives for job growth, research, and new businesses.
- I believe that as a state we also need to foster growth in environmentally responsible businesses of the future. I supported the investment of $68 million to create green jobs during the next five years.
Transportation
A reliable Transportation system is essential to a strong economy and livable communities. The Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure has been long neglected and is in critical need of improvements. This includes not only our bridges and roads, but also our public transit system.
- I organized the metrowest legislative delegation to demand better on-time performance on the MBTA's Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail Line. As a result of our efforts, the Worcester/Framingham line schedule was adjusted for the first time in over ten years to reflect the realities that impact the operation of this line today. Under my leadership, the delegation is also working with the Executive Office of Transportation to acquire from CSX the right of way over which the tracks travel so that dispatch can be controlled by the MBTA.
- The structural integrity of the Commonwealth's bridges must be maintained. I supported the Governor's proposal for a $3 billion bridge repair bond bill to address bridges that need repair today.
Environment and Energy
Preserving the Earth's natural resources while planning for the future is essential. Harmful emissions from cars and manufacturing processes and an increase in greenhouse gases are not only causing our environment to deteriorate, they are also contributing to health problems such as asthma and heart attacks. We must invest in new and cleaner technology and promote research into alternative fuels.
- I voted in favor of the Green Communities Act. This comprehensive legislation addresses energy policies for utilities, transportation and buildings, and provides assistance to our cities and towns as they implement programs to develop renewable energy resources or to reduce consumption of traditional fuels.
- Global climate change is an issue that must be addressed now. I supported the passage of the Global Warming Solutions bill that establishes caps on greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, making Massachusetts a leader in this area.
- I supported the passage of landmark legislation that makes Massachusetts the first state to exempt cellulosic ethanol from the state gasoline excise tax, a financial incentive intended to encourage its future use in transportation and heating fuels.
Senior Citizens
As a legislator, protecting and caring for seniors is one of my top priorities. Assisting the elderly also means supporting their families and caregivers. I continue to support measures that allow seniors to stay in their homes, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and improve access to health and wellness programs.
- Rising property taxes increase financial pressures on many households, especially seniors. I filed legislation to expand access to the Senior Circuit Breaker program, which gives income eligible seniors a tax credit for local property taxes paid. As a result, the number of seniors in the 14th Norfolk District eligible for this relief has increased significantly.
- I believe that seniors should be able to remain in their own homes and communities as long as possible. I voted to give seniors greater access to quality in-home care and to allow the state's Medicaid program to pay for home care services. Funding should not be directed to expensive institutions when the appropriate services for the elderly can be provided at equal or less cost in their own homes.
- In the age of the internet, protecting our personal information is critical. This is especially important for older Americans, who are more frequently targeted. I voted in favor of an important new law requiring companies to immediately notify consumers when their personal information has been stolen.
Human Services
Our state's most vulnerable residents, persons with mental and physical disabilities and children, continue to need protection and a voice in the Legislature.
- Providing for our most vulnerable residents means providing adequate day programs, group homes and transportation for those who cannot care for themselves. Since it also means paying their caregivers adequately, I supported a long overdue rate adjustment for human service providers who deliver services to the elderly and disabled. In addition, I have led the fight to maintain and increase the budget supporting developmentally delayed adults in the face of cuts recommended by every administration under which I have served.
- Persons suffering from mental health conditions need access to treatment and care. I supported the expansion of the Mental Health Parity Law to ensure insurance coverage of additional mental health related conditions such as eating disorders.
- I also voted for legislation designed to improve the identification of children with mental illnesses. The Children's Mental Health bill will improve access to screening services and ensure that children are being screened in appropriate settings so that they can receive treatment before tragedy strikes.
- Children under the care of the Commonwealth deserve our protection. I supported legislation creating a new Office of the Child Advocate to examine the quality of all child services provided by various state agencies.
I supported changing the name of the Department of Mental Retardation to the Department of Developmental Services to eliminate the stigma associated with the former name.
Healthcare Reform
I am proud to have voted for The Healthcare Reform Act of 2006 and support its goals of:
- achieving near-universal health insurance coverage;
- improving quality; and
- containing healthcare costs.
First steps. Healthcare reform is a process. I support the decision to begin the process with efforts to improve access and then turning to issues of cost. Already, efforts are underway to tackle issues of cost, most notably the Senate President's cost containment bill which I supported and was just signed into law this week. For more detailed information on this legislation go to: http://www.mass.gov
Positive impact. The many positive results of healthcare reform so far include:
-The newly insured. As of January 1, 2008, more than 340,000 Massachusetts residents had become newly insured since the effective date of the healthcare reform legislation. According to a survey by the Urban Institute, uninsured working age adults declined from 13% to 7% between the fall of 2006 and the fall of 2007, with large declines across all income groups. According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, 95% of tax filers reported that they were insured at the end of 2007. This is an enormous success story.
- Expanded options for young adults. Many of my constituents are benefiting because insurers are now required to extend dependent coverage to persons up to age 26 or for two years after the end of the calendar year in which such persons last qualified as dependents under the Internal Revenue Code. Others are choosing to purchase the young adult policies created as a result of healthcare reform.
Next steps. Healthcare reform has cost more than was budgeted because the number of people enrolling for subsidized coverage has been substantially higher than expected. The actual cost per person enrolling has been just below budget. That said, efforts to contain the growth in the overall cost of healthcare are critical and are now receiving substantial attention from the Massachusetts Healthcare Quality and Cost Council that was created as part of The Healthcare Reform Act of 2006. Additionally, the cost containment bill referenced above has many features that when fully implemented will help to control costs.
For more information, I'd like to encourage you to review a slide show called the Progress of Massachusetts Healthcare Reform. It is available at http://onlinetraining.umassmed.edu/ocpccjune2008.
Mental Health Parity for Adults and Children
I strongly support mental health parity for both children and adults. I am happy to report that the Adult Mental Health Parity bill passed by the legislature last month was signed into law this month, and that the Children's Mental Health bill, which has been enacted by the House, should become law later this month. These bills require health plans to cover mental health and substance abuse disorders to the same extent as all other medical conditions.
