Week Ending January 21, 2011
Governor Patrick held a press conference this afternoon to discuss reforms aimed at helping municipalities deal with the rising costs of providing health insurance to their employees. The Governor announced a health insurance plan design proposal that would require cities and towns to join the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) or a program of similar cost. Patrick said that municipalities would also be required to move eligible retirees into Medicare. According to the Patrick administration, this would save cities and towns an estimated $15-30 million annually. Patrick indicated that the budget he releases next week will reduce local aid by $65 million from FY11, but that he anticipates that the cuts will be offset by efficiencies created in his proposal.
According to a Patrick administration jobs report, Massachusetts lost 2,100 jobs in December while the unemployment rate remained at 8.2%. Prior to this month, the unemployment rate had decreased for two consecutive months. The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced that accommodation and food services sector lost 4,100 jobs, while the arts community gained 2,500 jobs. The unemployment rate in Massachusetts is still below the national rate of 9.8% and also represents a drop from the Commonwealth’s peak rate of 9.5%.
Yesterday Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) announced her leadership team and the new Senate Committee chairs for the 2011 session. The most significant appointment was Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre) who was named Chair of the Senate Ways and Means. Sen. Brewer was formerly vice-chair and he will be succeeded by the new vice-chair Senate Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen). Much of Senate President Murray’s leadership team will stay the same: Sen. Fred Berry (D-Peabody) as Majority Leader, Sen. Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) as Senate President Pro Tem; Sen. Steven Tolman (D-Brighton) will serve as the new assistant majority leader and Sen. Jack Hart (D-South Boston) will serve as Majority Whip. House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) has not named the corresponding House Committee chairs but is expected to do so either next week or the following week.
Additional Senate Committee Chairs are listed below:
Chair, Senate Ways and Means: Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre)
Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means: Senate Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen)
Asst Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means: Sen. Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster)
Joint Committee on Steering and Policy: Sen. Jennifer Flanagan (D – Leominster)
Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules: Sen. Fred Berry (D – Peabody)
Joint Committee on Election Laws: Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover)
Joint Committee on Financial Services: Sen. Anthony Petruccelli (D-Boston)
Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development: Sen. Eileen Donoghue (D-Lowell)
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development: Sen. Daniel Wolf (D-Harwich)
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy: Sen. Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield)
Joint Committee on Transportation: Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn)
Joint Committee on Education: Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Boston)
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government: Sen. James Welch (D-West Springfield)
Joint Committee on Health Care Financing: Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge)
Joint Committee on Elder Affairs: Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville)
Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate Committee on Bills in Third Reading: Sen. Cynthia Creem (D-Newton)
Joint Committee on Public Safety: Sen. James Timilty (D – Foxborough)
Joint Committee on Public Health: Sen. Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln)
Joint Committee on Public Service: Sen. Katherine Clark (D-Melrose)
Joint Committee on Higher Education: Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury)
Senate Committee on Redistricting: Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst)
Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs: Sen. Michael Rush (D-West Roxbury)
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities: (Sen. Michael Rodrigues- Westport)
Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business: Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D- Everett)
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets: Sen. Brian Joyce (D-Milton)
Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse: Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy)
Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton)
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure: Sen. Thomas Kennedy (D-Brockton)
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight: Sen. Ken Donnelly (D – Arlington)
Joint Committee on Revenue: Sen. Gale Candaras (D-Wilbraham)
Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight: Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford)
Joint Committee on Housing: Sen. James Eldridge (D-Acton)
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John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)
MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org
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