Please tune in to “Broadside” tonight at 6:00 p.m. on NECN,
where Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) will be discussing with
host Jim Braude and Senator Michael Barrett the Child Welfare League of
America’s recently released report regarding the quality of care provided by
the Department of Children and Families. To read the report presented by the
CWLA in its entirety, please click here.
“Broadside” re-airs at 7:30 p.m., 2:30 a.m., and again at
4:00 a.m.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Ross Appointed to Budget Conference Committee
“This is one of the most important pieces of legislation
that we address all year, and its resolution will impact programs and
communities statewide,” said Senator Ross. “I look forward to working with my
colleagues on creating a budget that meets the needs of the Commonwealth, while
maintaining a strong focus on fiscal responsibility.”
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Senator Tarr’s Statement on a Child Welfare League of America Report on DCF
Senate
Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement
today regarding a Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) report on the
Department of Children and Families (DCF):
“The
long awaited report by the Child Welfare League of America offers many needed
recommendations that the Department of Children and Families and the
legislature should swiftly institute. It’s important to have sufficient
funding, but it needs to be accompanied with meaningful reforms that won't allow
one person or a hundred people at DCF to fail to act in the best interests of
the children and families in the care of the agency.
The
legislature and the Governor have little time to react to the report before the
legislative session ends in July, but we need to ensure that the best interest
of the state’s most vulnerable children are met. Too much time has passed
already.”
Friday, May 23, 2014
Senator Tarr’s Statement on the Passage of the Senate’s Version of the FY’15 State Budget
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today regarding the Senate passing a version of the Fiscal Year 2015 state budget by a roll call vote of 39-1:
“The Fiscal Year 2015 state budget passed tonight by the Senate includes many commendable features that are important for fiscal discipline and encouraging economic growth, including a relatively limited draw from the state’s stabilization fund, and the absence of any new broad-based taxes. The budget also provides significant spending on key priorities such as special education, regional school transportation, substance abuse programs, and public safety.
Throughout the budget debate, Senate Republicans have fought to secure needed reforms and critical investments, and to bolster state efforts to grow jobs and the economy, and in many instances the Senate has responded by approving several amendments, some of which include:
• Creating a commission to study the effects of ACA medical device tax on the Massachusetts economy;
• Permitting veterans and surviving spouses to continue to receive a veteran tax abatement if the veteran’s property is placed in a trust and administered by a third party;
• Creating a five-member panel that will have oversight jurisdiction over all facilities engaged in forensic services in criminal investigations;
• Requiring the Governor of the Commonwealth to seek a permanent waiver under the Affordable Care Act to restore the rating factors and calendar requirement; and
• Requiring DCF to conduct CORI checks on all household members of a foster home over the age of 14, and ensuring that DCF takes the appropriate actions in its hiring and placement process by requiring CORI, SORI, and fingerprint-based background checks.
This budget is an important step in many fronts. The work of reform, fiscal discipline, and catalyzing a robust economic recovery is not done, and we still have serious concerns that must be addressed, but this budget moves us forward.”
* Below are several amendments that the Senate Republican Caucus was successful in securing.
OTH 12 Medical Device Tax Credit Commission Creates a commission to study the effects of the ACA medical device tax on the Massachusetts economy
OTH 21 Foundation Budget Review Commission Revives the foundation budget review commission to review foundation budget calculations and make recommendations for reform. An initial report will be due on December 31, 2014 and additional reports every four years thereafter.
OTH 35 Veterans Tax Abatements Permits veterans and surviving spouses to continue to receive a veteran tax abatement if the veteran’s property is placed in a trust and administered by a third party.
OTH 63 Streamlining Municipal Collection Clarifies the law that allows municipalities to designate a Town Collector. Currently, the law requires all funds due to the municipality to be paid to this office, including minor sums as library fines and senior lunch payments. This amendment changes the language from "all" to "any", giving the authority to collect any costs without requiring the collection of all.
GOV 168 CORI Checks for ACA Navigators Requires Navigator organizations, established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to obtain background checks prior to hiring an employee as a “navigator,” and to conduct a background check for all current “navigator” employees, within one year of enactment.
ECO 329 40B Cost Certification Calls for a third party audit of all affordable housing projects built through the comprehensive permit process since July 1, 1998 - to determine money owed municipalities.
EPS 622 Oversight Board for Crime Lab Creates a five-member panel that will have oversight jurisdiction over all facilities engaged in forensic services in criminal investigations.
EPS 631 Removal of Pepper Spray from Firearms Identification Removes the requirement of a firearm ID to purchase and possess pepper spray or Chemical Mace.
EHS 674 Hospital Stay Waiver Requires the executive office of health and human services to seek a waiver from the Medicare requirement that admission to a skilled nursing facility be preceded by a 3-day inpatient hospital stay.
EHS 678 Background Check Requirements Department of Children and Families Ensure that DCF is taking the appropriate precautions in its hiring and placement process by requiring CORI, SORI, and fingerprint-based background checks.
EHS 694 Conducting Background Checks on Household Members of Foster Care Home Requires DCF to conduct CORI checks on all household members of a foster home over the age of 14.
EHS 724 Quality Outcomes Requires the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services to establish a public facing dashboard by June 30, 2015, which shall report on, but not be limited to: 1) consumer satisfaction with provided substance abuse services, and 2) key outcomes-based measurers, including step down to next level of care, abstinence measures, and recidivism, with consideration to individual patient acuity as defined in regulation.
EHS 726 Increased Bed Capacity States that DPH shall prepare a report examining overall substance abuse bed capacity across the full continuum of care from both detox and post-detox treatment, in addition to a plan to ensure access to both short and long term care.
EHS 894 Restoring Massachusetts Health Care Requires the Governor of the Commonwealth to seek a permanent waiver under the Affordable Care Act to restore the rating factors and calendar requirement.
“The Fiscal Year 2015 state budget passed tonight by the Senate includes many commendable features that are important for fiscal discipline and encouraging economic growth, including a relatively limited draw from the state’s stabilization fund, and the absence of any new broad-based taxes. The budget also provides significant spending on key priorities such as special education, regional school transportation, substance abuse programs, and public safety.
Throughout the budget debate, Senate Republicans have fought to secure needed reforms and critical investments, and to bolster state efforts to grow jobs and the economy, and in many instances the Senate has responded by approving several amendments, some of which include:
• Creating a commission to study the effects of ACA medical device tax on the Massachusetts economy;
• Permitting veterans and surviving spouses to continue to receive a veteran tax abatement if the veteran’s property is placed in a trust and administered by a third party;
• Creating a five-member panel that will have oversight jurisdiction over all facilities engaged in forensic services in criminal investigations;
• Requiring the Governor of the Commonwealth to seek a permanent waiver under the Affordable Care Act to restore the rating factors and calendar requirement; and
• Requiring DCF to conduct CORI checks on all household members of a foster home over the age of 14, and ensuring that DCF takes the appropriate actions in its hiring and placement process by requiring CORI, SORI, and fingerprint-based background checks.
This budget is an important step in many fronts. The work of reform, fiscal discipline, and catalyzing a robust economic recovery is not done, and we still have serious concerns that must be addressed, but this budget moves us forward.”
* Below are several amendments that the Senate Republican Caucus was successful in securing.
OTH 12 Medical Device Tax Credit Commission Creates a commission to study the effects of the ACA medical device tax on the Massachusetts economy
OTH 21 Foundation Budget Review Commission Revives the foundation budget review commission to review foundation budget calculations and make recommendations for reform. An initial report will be due on December 31, 2014 and additional reports every four years thereafter.
OTH 35 Veterans Tax Abatements Permits veterans and surviving spouses to continue to receive a veteran tax abatement if the veteran’s property is placed in a trust and administered by a third party.
OTH 63 Streamlining Municipal Collection Clarifies the law that allows municipalities to designate a Town Collector. Currently, the law requires all funds due to the municipality to be paid to this office, including minor sums as library fines and senior lunch payments. This amendment changes the language from "all" to "any", giving the authority to collect any costs without requiring the collection of all.
GOV 168 CORI Checks for ACA Navigators Requires Navigator organizations, established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to obtain background checks prior to hiring an employee as a “navigator,” and to conduct a background check for all current “navigator” employees, within one year of enactment.
ECO 329 40B Cost Certification Calls for a third party audit of all affordable housing projects built through the comprehensive permit process since July 1, 1998 - to determine money owed municipalities.
EPS 622 Oversight Board for Crime Lab Creates a five-member panel that will have oversight jurisdiction over all facilities engaged in forensic services in criminal investigations.
EPS 631 Removal of Pepper Spray from Firearms Identification Removes the requirement of a firearm ID to purchase and possess pepper spray or Chemical Mace.
EHS 674 Hospital Stay Waiver Requires the executive office of health and human services to seek a waiver from the Medicare requirement that admission to a skilled nursing facility be preceded by a 3-day inpatient hospital stay.
EHS 678 Background Check Requirements Department of Children and Families Ensure that DCF is taking the appropriate precautions in its hiring and placement process by requiring CORI, SORI, and fingerprint-based background checks.
EHS 694 Conducting Background Checks on Household Members of Foster Care Home Requires DCF to conduct CORI checks on all household members of a foster home over the age of 14.
EHS 724 Quality Outcomes Requires the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services to establish a public facing dashboard by June 30, 2015, which shall report on, but not be limited to: 1) consumer satisfaction with provided substance abuse services, and 2) key outcomes-based measurers, including step down to next level of care, abstinence measures, and recidivism, with consideration to individual patient acuity as defined in regulation.
EHS 726 Increased Bed Capacity States that DPH shall prepare a report examining overall substance abuse bed capacity across the full continuum of care from both detox and post-detox treatment, in addition to a plan to ensure access to both short and long term care.
EHS 894 Restoring Massachusetts Health Care Requires the Governor of the Commonwealth to seek a permanent waiver under the Affordable Care Act to restore the rating factors and calendar requirement.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Senate Republicans Pursue Major Budget Changes; Amendments would Reform, Reinvigorate and Reinvest
Calling the Fiscal Year 2015
budget proposal filed by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means a good place to
start, the Senate Republican Caucus has filed a number of amendments seeking
major positive change to capture efficiencies and savings in state government,
to strengthen cities and towns and schools, and support working families all
across the Commonwealth.
· respond directly to problems at the beleaguered Department of Children and Families (DCF) (amendments 40, 65, 76 and 80);
· make key changes to the state’s Sex Offender Registry system, to cause better communication with law enforcement agencies, and more properly classify offenders with a greater risk of re-offense (amendment 612);
· change the state’s interaction with the federal Affordable Care Act by restoring important elements of Massachusetts’ existing law, including rating factors, choice of plans and a website that works (amendments 885, 890 and 894);
· increase accountability through amendments dealing with state-issued credit cards (amendment 192), the granting of medical marijuana licenses (amendment 911), crime lab oversight (amendment 622) and other problematic areas;
· implement needed reforms to the state’s system of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that remain trapped in a stalled conference committee (amendment 836)
· eliminate barriers to job creation and economic growth such as corporate excise taxes for new business ventures (amendment 43), excessive sales and income taxes (amendments 16 and 25), energy costs (amendment 204) and other anti-competitive costs;
· provide incentives such as tax credits for newly-created jobs (amendments 18 and 45) and the long-delayed FAS 109 tax deduction promised to employers since 2008 (amendment 46);
· cuse the creation of a real state economic development plan with measurable goals and benchmarks (amendment 460)
· begin to restore unrestricted local aid to its levels in 2008 (amendment 87), and direct a portion of budget surpluses to cities and towns (amendment 86);
· improve school performance and student achievement by reinstating the Innovation Schools line item (amendment 464), restore the Foundation Budget Review Commission to address deficiencies in Chapter 70 education funding (amendment 21), and expand the Education Pothole line item to assist communities facing unanticipated fiscal challenges (amendments 82 and 504); and
· support the statutory promises of regional school transportation funding (amendment 545)
“This budget debate provides us with a great opportunity to start keeping the promises we’ve made to taxpayers for more reform, lower taxes and a better economy with more and better jobs,” said Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert L. Hedlund (R-Weymouth). “It’s also a great opportunity to re-commit to our cities and towns, who have taken it on the chin in recent years with inadequate local aid and more and more unfunded mandates. My colleagues and I in the Republican Caucus are ready to fight for these promises and principles and I hope after all the debate we have a budget I can proudly support.”
“The budget is not only the most important spending document of the year, it
also charts a course for the future of our state,” said Senate Minority Leader
Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), who added that “Now is the time to begin building a
post-recession Massachusetts featuring critical elements like efficiency and
prosperity. These amendments set a course toward those goals.”
Toward that end, the caucus has carefully examined the budget with an eye
toward amendments targeting the three major themes of Reform, Reinvestment and
Reinvigoration. They include amendments to:
REFORM:
· respond directly to problems at the beleaguered Department of Children and Families (DCF) (amendments 40, 65, 76 and 80);
· make key changes to the state’s Sex Offender Registry system, to cause better communication with law enforcement agencies, and more properly classify offenders with a greater risk of re-offense (amendment 612);
· change the state’s interaction with the federal Affordable Care Act by restoring important elements of Massachusetts’ existing law, including rating factors, choice of plans and a website that works (amendments 885, 890 and 894);
· increase accountability through amendments dealing with state-issued credit cards (amendment 192), the granting of medical marijuana licenses (amendment 911), crime lab oversight (amendment 622) and other problematic areas;
· implement needed reforms to the state’s system of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that remain trapped in a stalled conference committee (amendment 836)
REINVIGORATE:
· eliminate barriers to job creation and economic growth such as corporate excise taxes for new business ventures (amendment 43), excessive sales and income taxes (amendments 16 and 25), energy costs (amendment 204) and other anti-competitive costs;
· provide incentives such as tax credits for newly-created jobs (amendments 18 and 45) and the long-delayed FAS 109 tax deduction promised to employers since 2008 (amendment 46);
· cuse the creation of a real state economic development plan with measurable goals and benchmarks (amendment 460)
REINVEST:
· begin to restore unrestricted local aid to its levels in 2008 (amendment 87), and direct a portion of budget surpluses to cities and towns (amendment 86);
· improve school performance and student achievement by reinstating the Innovation Schools line item (amendment 464), restore the Foundation Budget Review Commission to address deficiencies in Chapter 70 education funding (amendment 21), and expand the Education Pothole line item to assist communities facing unanticipated fiscal challenges (amendments 82 and 504); and
· support the statutory promises of regional school transportation funding (amendment 545)
“This budget debate provides us with a great opportunity to start keeping the promises we’ve made to taxpayers for more reform, lower taxes and a better economy with more and better jobs,” said Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert L. Hedlund (R-Weymouth). “It’s also a great opportunity to re-commit to our cities and towns, who have taken it on the chin in recent years with inadequate local aid and more and more unfunded mandates. My colleagues and I in the Republican Caucus are ready to fight for these promises and principles and I hope after all the debate we have a budget I can proudly support.”
“This budget presents a myriad of opportunities to offer significant changes
that will benefit taxpayers and municipalities across the Commonwealth,” said
Senator Richard J. Ross (R-Wrentham), the Ranking Republican on the Senate Ways
and Means Committee. “My colleagues in the Republican Caucus and I will
continue to advocate for meaningful government reform to enhance efficiency and
transparency, while alleviating the financial burdens felt by taxpayers and
businesses statewide.”
“The Republican Senators are mindful that the citizens of our Commonwealth
continue to struggle with the high costs of living and working in Massachusetts,”
said Senate Minority Whip Donald F. Humason, Jr. (R-Westfield). “We
intend to promote a state budget that is responsible and respectful to the
taxpayers of the Bay State while continuing to push for efficiency and
accountability in our state government. It is the least we can do for the
people who send us to be their voice on Beacon Hill.”
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Senate Republicans Seek Federal Waiver from Obamacare; Public Dollars Continue to be Wasted because of IT Failures
In an effort to advance fiscal responsibility within state government,
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Assistant Minority Leader
Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Senate Minority Whip Donald Humason (R-Westfield),
and Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), the Ranking Republican on the Senate
Committee on Ways and Means filed an amendment to a $144 million supplemental budget
that would have required the Governor of the Commonwealth to formally request a
federal waiver to allow Massachusetts to return to the state’s original health
care website exchange, which was built in 2006, rather than paying for another
costly website to comply with the Federal Affordable Care Act. The text of the
supplemental budget included a $65 million item to fund the operations of the
Connector, compelling the Senate Republican Caucus to file the amendment, which
would have frozen any additional connector funding from being used to create a
new website until after a formal waiver request was made.
Recently, the federal government has demonstrated flexibility regarding the Massachusetts Health Care Exchange by consenting to extensions such as rating factors and the grace-period for calendar year plans.
Unfortunately, the Senate Republican Caucus was unable to secure the needed votes for the amendment, which failed by a roll call vote of 4-33 along party lines. Despite the rejection of today’s amendment, Tarr and the caucus remain steadfast in their commitment to returning to a system that works rather than endlessly pursuing one that may not.
“Month after month, the Connector has spent millions of
dollars trying to create the Taj Mahal of insurance websites while many
consumers’ coverage is at risk,” said Senator Tarr. “Now the agency wants to
continue on a two-track path that will cost millions more and jeopardize the
health insurance policies of even more people, even though we had a system that
worked to begin with.”
Senator Tarr went on to say “If the federal government is
sincere in its claims that Massachusetts has been a model that should be
recognized and accommodated, then it should be more than willing to grant a
waiver to allow us to return to a system that previously worked to secure
coverage for 98% of our residents and cost only $10 million to build. We should
be rewarded for that accomplishment, not punished.”
Regarded as the model for the nation’s federal health care
plan, the Massachusetts Health Care Connector led to over 98% of the
Commonwealth’s residents having health care insurance coverage. To transition
the citizens of the Commonwealth to the then newly created plan, the state
built a website that cost less than $10 million to design; however, in an effort
to comply with the federal act, Massachusetts has now spent nearly a half
billion dollars in public funds. Expenditures to comply with the federal health
care law include:
• $270 million in federal grants to implement the Affordable
Care Act;
• $120 million for the continued usage of Commonwealth Care
plans; and
• $50 million to pay Optum, a health care technology company
base in Minnesota, for assisting with an application backlog.
The massive website boondoggle has led many Massachusetts’
citizens to submit paper applications and/or have been placed on temporary
Medicaid until the state is able to determine the appropriate coverage, causing
a spike in health care costs. Now there are plans to completely scrap the first
federal care exchange attempt, which cost over $100 million in public funds,
and to spend an additional $100-$145 million on a new website exchange.
Recently, the federal government has demonstrated flexibility regarding the Massachusetts Health Care Exchange by consenting to extensions such as rating factors and the grace-period for calendar year plans.
Unfortunately, the Senate Republican Caucus was unable to secure the needed votes for the amendment, which failed by a roll call vote of 4-33 along party lines. Despite the rejection of today’s amendment, Tarr and the caucus remain steadfast in their commitment to returning to a system that works rather than endlessly pursuing one that may not.
Next week the Senate will debate a $36 billion state budget
proposal for Fiscal Year 2015, where the caucus plans to file many amendments
that highlight fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Senator Tarr’s Statement on the Release of Senate Ways and Means’ FY’15 State Budget
Senate
Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement
today regarding the release of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means’ Fiscal
Year 2015 state budget:
“The
Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal released today by the Senate Committee on Ways
and Means invests in important priorities such as special education, substance
abuse, child welfare, and public safety. In addition the committee has
made laudable strides in the proposal to reduce its dependence on the
stabilization fund and increasing taxes.
Today’s
action by the committee is an important starting point, and in the days ahead
we must work vigorously to secure initiatives to grow jobs, reform state
government, and find savings and efficiencies to complete the effort.
Our
caucus will be offering many ways to do so, and we look forward to working with
our colleagues to build a post-recession Massachusetts that has efficiency and
fiscal discipline in state government, and an economic climate that promotes
prosperity for years to come.”
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Senator Tarr’s Statement on a Proposed Substance Abuse Recovery Bill
Senate
Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement
today regarding a substance abuse treatment and recovery bill released today
from the Senate Committee on Ways and Means:
“We
have all seen the destructive nature of what opioids and other drugs can have
on the life of someone caught in the vicious cycle of addiction, and the harm
it can have on a family and their community. It is vital that
Massachusetts does not stand idly by as families deteriorate and continue to
suffer, and it is time that the legislature puts in place the tools necessary
to seriously combat this issue in an effective and responsible fashion.
The
measure offered by Senate President Therese Murray and Senator John Keenan is a
great starting point and a wonderful opportunity to begin the process of
exchanging ideas to best combat this major issue troubling our society. I
applaud their efforts for creating the vehicle for that to happen, and I look
forward to having a spirited debate on the matter where Senate Republicans will
be active participants.”
Monday, May 5, 2014
Letter from Senate Republican Caucus to DCF Commissioner Deveney Regarding Justina Pelletier
Today, the Massachusetts Senate Republican
Caucus sent the following letter to Interim DCF Commissioner Erin Deveney
regarding Justina Pelletier:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/222151456/2014-05-05-SIGNED-CAUCUS-Letter-to-DCF-Commissioner-Deveney-Re-Justina-Pelletier"
style="text-decoration: underline;" >2014.05.05 SIGNED CAUCUS
Letter to DCF Commissioner Deveney Re Justina Pelletier
Friday, May 2, 2014
Senator Humason to Hold Public Office Hours at Easthampton Senior Center May 12th at 11 a.m.
Senator Don Humason of the 2nd Hampden & Hampshire District and his staff will
hold public office hours at the Easthampton Senior Center between the hours of 11 a.m.
and 12:30 p.m. on Monday, May 12th.
The Easthampton Senior Center is located at 19 Union Street in
Easthampton. There is ample parking around the building and plenty of room
for any who wish to meet with the Senator.
All are welcome to come, visit, and share their thoughts or concerns on state matters with Senator Humason.
Senator Humason and his staff are also available to meet with constituents at their district office located at 64 Noble Street in Westfield. No appointment is necessary, but calling ahead to (413) 561-1366 is recommended in case they are at the State House. Senator Humason's Boston office can be reached at 617-722-1415 for legislative matters.
Senator Humason's email is Donald.Humason@MASenate.gov and his website is www.DonHumason.org
All are welcome to come, visit, and share their thoughts or concerns on state matters with Senator Humason.
Senator Humason and his staff are also available to meet with constituents at their district office located at 64 Noble Street in Westfield. No appointment is necessary, but calling ahead to (413) 561-1366 is recommended in case they are at the State House. Senator Humason's Boston office can be reached at 617-722-1415 for legislative matters.
Senator Humason's email is Donald.Humason@MASenate.gov and his website is www.DonHumason.org
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