Week Ending January 7, 2011
Governor Patrick gave his Inaugural Address on Thursday this week, after he took the oath of office administered by Senate President Murray earlier in the afternoon. In outlining his priorities, the Governor emphasized his commitment to creating new jobs, strengthening schools and reducing health care costs. He said that his first priority will be to file legislation in the coming weeks that seeks to lower health care costs in the state. He also alluded to the need to address pension reform, sentencing laws and tax code simplification.
The 46 new members of the House and Senate and their returning colleagues were sworn in on Wednesday for the 187th session of the General Court. Democrats nominated Speaker Robert DeLeo (D – Winthrop) for House Speaker and he was re-elected along party lines by a vote of 128-31. In his speech, Speaker DeLeo said that he would focus on passing expanded gaming legislation and moving municipal employees into the state’s health insurance pool. DeLeo also stated that the House would not raise any taxes this year. Following DeLeo’s speech, Governor Patrick said he hadn’t spoken to DeLeo about gaming legislation in months and didn’t expect any quick movement on the issue this year.
Senator Therese Murray (D – Plymouth) was also re-elected as Senate President on Wednesday. During her address, Murray said that health care cost control, small business growth and efficient government would be her priorities during the upcoming legislative session. Although Murray did not mention it in her speech, she later made clear her commitment to not raising taxes.
On Tuesday, Governor Patrick signed a $330 million midyear spending bill. The legislature passed the bill last week in response to unexpected budget issues including the rapid expansion of the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth). Included in the bill that Governor Patrick signed is $194 million for MassHealth, $50 million for children’s behavioral health services and $8.5 million for operations at the State Legislature.
On Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue released the tax collection figures for the second half of December. The state collected over $2 billion during the month of December, a 9.8% increase from the same period one year earlier. Navjeet Bal, the state revenue commissioner, said that the numbers represented clear signs of an economic recovery in Massachusetts.
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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