Politics
Politics
MA Senate Passes Safe School Package
Senate Passes Safe School Package
Bills Ban Bullying, Promote Healthy Foods in Schools
BOSTON – The Senate on Thursday advanced measures to ban bullying and update nutritional standards in schools with a pair of bills aimed at promoting a safe, healthy and productive learning environment for all students. The anti-bullying legislation was based on a bill originally filed last year by State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), who voted in favor of both the bullying bill and the school nutrition bill today.
Senate anti-bullying legislation prohibits physical, verbal and written acts that threaten or cause harm to another student, including Internet “cyber-bullying,” while a separate school nutrition bill establishes new standards for fresh food options in school cafeterias and vending machines.
“These two bills working together will make a dramatic difference in our school environment,” Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said. “We all know there’s a strong connection between health and safety and learning. By striking out fear and improving nutrition, we’re going to provide students with a more valuable and rewarding educational experience.”
“This is comprehensive, prevention-oriented legislation that will work to end the persistent cycle of bullying we’ve seen in the Commonwealth’s schools for years, leading to tragedies like those in South Hadley, Springfield and too many other communities. Every student deserves to feel safe in their own schools, and this bill is a strong step in that direction,” said Eldridge.
Read more: MA Senate Passes Safe School Package
Rep. Peterson reports House amendment regarding online communications of harmful material to minors
House Unanimously Adopts Amendment to Protect Minors;
Peterson Pleased with Bipartisan Support
Boston – Representative George Peterson is pleased the Massachusetts House of Representatives today unanimously adopted a bipartisan amendment that if signed into law would provide greater protection to minors.
While taking up An Act Punishing Assault and Battery by Means of a Bodily Substance upon Correction Facility Employees, Representative Peterson was one of the dozens of co-sponsors who supported the amendment. It was offered in response to the Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling made on February 5th. The SJC ruled in favor of a child predator that had been sending sexually explicit content through online communications.
The amendment will expand the statute by prohibiting the dissemination of harmful material to a minor via instant messaging or other online communications.
The Grafton lawmaker supported legislation a couple weeks ago because he was concerned that the state’s statute under which the defendant was convicted had not been updated to reflect society’s current electronic age.
After an examination of the statute and its legislative history, the Court stated that the Legislature must take action if it wanted to ensure that our children are protected from predators seeking to electronically disseminate obscene material to minors.
“With the Supreme Court saying that the Legislature needed to be more specific with our protection of minors, it is great to see that we could act so quickly,” stated Representative Peterson. “It is great to know that our minors have an added level of protection now through this amendment.”
The bill now heads to the Senate for approval.
Rep. Peterson Encourages All to Get Onto “National Do Not Call List”
[Note: Reader L.D. comments that the issue of "cell phone numbers being released to telemarketers" may be misinformation, as this article at snopes.com indicates. We suggest you read both articles and decide for yourself. --webmaster]
Boston, MA - Representative George N. Peterson, Jr. (R-Grafton) is urging any citizens throughout the Commonwealth to call the National Do Not Call Registry, to avoid your cell phone number being released to telemarketing companies.
The process is fairly easy, and takes only a few minutes. From your cell phone, you must dial 888-382-1222, which is the National Do Not Call List phone line. From there, it is just a matter of minutes before your number will be blocked from this list for five (5) years.
“Even though this is a limited list, it is great that this is available,” stated Representative Peterson. “I am glad that this has been set up to hopefully avoid the majority of telemarketing calls.”
It is imperative that you call from your cell phone number that you want to have blocked. This takes only a matter of minutes, yet will save the headaches and frustration that come along with telemarketing calls.
Rep. Dykema's School Transportation Bill Receives Favorable Report
REP. DYKEMA’S SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION BILL RECEIVES FAVORABLE REPORT
Boston— Representative Carolyn Dykema is pleased to announce that a bill she filed last January, H.3658, An Act Relative to School Transportation, has been reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Education as part of a consolidated bill that establishes a commission on school transportation concerns.
The assessment of bus fees, which was the subject of Representative Dykema’s bill, is among the issues that will be scrutinized by the new commission. In addition to addressing the question of fees, the commission will investigate regional school and special education transportation and propose ways to manage school transportation more cost-effectively. Specific cost saving measures to be looked at include optimization of bus routing through the use of shared software, collaboration among school districts, and outsourcing transportation administration to a third party.
“As towns struggle to balance their school budgets, the state needs to play an active role in proposing strategies for controlling the high cost of school transportation,” saidDykema. “This commission will be charged with providing actionable solutions and I hope the bill will come up for a vote soon so the commission can start its work. It’s especially good news that the commission will also look into concerns raised by my constituents related to the assessment of fees.”
A report of the Commission’s findings and recommendations would be due by the end of 2010. The bill must be passed by both the House and the Senate before the Commission can be established.
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State Representative Carolyn represents the towns of Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway (pct. 1), Southborough (pct. 2 & 3) and Westborough (pct. 2).
AP Reports Karyn Polito Running for Treasurer
GOP state representative Karyn Polito running for treasurer
By The Associated Press
March 01, 2010, 12:12PM
BOSTON – State Rep. Karyn Polito is running for Massachusetts state treasurer.
The Shrewsbury Republican scheduled a Monday morning news conference to make the announcement, but her decision was confirmed by spokeswoman Meredith Warren.
Treasurer Timothy Cahill is not seeking re-election and instead running as an independent candidate for governor. Two Democrats, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Steve Grossman and Boston City Councilor Steve Murphy, also are planning to run for treasurer.
...
Polito is proposing the elimination of public pensions for state elected officials. To drive home her point, she is planning to withdraw her own pension money immediately and invest it privately.
...
Read the full article here on MassLive.com.
Matt Beaton Jumps In (from the ShrewsBuried blog)
by Mark Adler
For the first time in a decade, someone other than Karyn Polito is running for State Representative.
Local businessman, Matt Beaton, is preparing a run for the Republican nomination. He owns Beaton Construction, LLC.
He's a lifelong Shrewsbury resident. a town meeting member and member of the Shrewsbury Development Corporation. He says that, "being a small business owner here in town, I know the struggles small businesses face dealing with taxes, insurance and general obstructions to running a healthy business."
He also says he's an active advocate of environmental preservation. He owns a construction company that focuses on green building and energy efficiency. He is also an avid outdoorsman and says he has "developed a passionate desire to do my part to preserve our natural environment."
Beaton has an undergraduate degree from WPI in Biotechnology with a concentration in Environmental Engineering. He later attended BU for a Masters Degree in Energy and Environmental policy. He worked in a law firm while training for the United Stated National Rowing Team. He trained at the Donohue Rowing Center and represented the club and Shrewsbury at the World Rowing Championships. Beaton practiced as an environmental engineer for two years before starting his own construction company.
For community service, he has been a Big Brother for over 14 years and his "little brother" is now a crew chief for his company. Some of his charitable organizations in which he's been involved has included St. Mary's parish, Why Me, OutdoorExplorations and Habitat for Humanity.
His website is still under construction, but you'll be hearing more about him here on ShrewsBuried!
Rep. Polito is running for State Treasurer, but hasn't made a formal announcement yet. That's likely to come Monday morning at the Omni Parker House in Boston.
Will other Republicans challenge Polito for the Republican nomination for Treasurer? Two Democrats are already vying for their party's nomination. Will other Republicans challenge Beaton for the Representative nomination? And will Democrats have a decent candidate in the Representative's race? Time will tell.
[Please comment at the original article, thanks! -- webmaster]
Rep. Dykema Office Hours for March 2010
Boston— Representative Carolyn C. Dykema will hold office hours in all towns of the 8th Middlesex District in March. Any resident who would like to speak with Representative Dykema and is unable to attend office hours should contact her office at (617) 722-2210 or email her aide at leah.robins@state.ma.us to set up a personal appointment.
Holliston: Friday, March 26th, 10:30-11:30 amCoffee Haven76 Railroad StreetHolliston, MA 01746
Hopkinton: Friday, March 26th, 9:00-10:00 amHopkinton Gourmet 43 Main StreetHopkinton, MA 01748
Medway: Friday, March 19h, 8:00-9:00 amCoffee Sensations 116 Main StreetMedway, MA 02053
Southborough: Friday, March 5th, 11:30-12:30 amMauro’s Village Cafe2 Main StreetSouthborough, MA 01772
Westborough: Friday, March 5th, 10:00-11:00 amHarry’s Restaurant149 Turnpike RoadWestborough, MA 01581
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State Representative Carolyn Dykema represents the towns of Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway (pct. 1), Southborough (pct. 2 & 3) and Westborough (pct. 2).
- Rep. Dykema Announces New Health Plan Option for Small Business
- Statement from State Rep. Karyn Polito on Governor Patrick's FY-2011 Budget
- Rep. Polito Office Hours for Feb 2010
- Toxic chemicals & safer alternatives in MA - State Sen. Eldrige
- Representative Dykema Comments on Recently Passed Education Reform Bill
- Karyn Polito press release regarding passage of the education reform bill
- Statement from State Rep. Karyn Polito on Proposed Amendment to Reformulate Charter School Funding Formula
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11 March 2010
Senate Passes Safe School Package Bills Ban Bullying, Promote Healthy Foods in Schools BOSTON – The Senate on Thursday advanced measures to ban bullying and update nutritional standards in...
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08 Mar
Rep. Peterson reports House amendment regarding online communications of harmful material to minors
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07 Mar
Rep. Peterson Encourages All to Get Onto “National Do Not Call List”
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02 Mar
Rep. Dykema's School Transportation Bill Receives Favorable Report
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01 Mar
AP Reports Karyn Polito Running for Treasurer