Central MA Legislators Answer Questions at Chamber Breakfast

Yesterday, seven Senators and Representatives from Central MA attended the annual Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast at the Doubletree Hotel in Westboro.

Among the attendees were:

Rep. Matthew Beaton (11th Worcester Dist.), Sen. Harriette Chandler (1st Worcester Dist.), Rep Carolyn Dykema (8th Middlesex Dist.), Sen. James Eldridge (MIddlesex and Worcester District), Rep. Steven Levy (4th Middlesex Dist.), Sen. Michael Moore (2nd Worcester Dist.) and Rep. George Peterson (9th Worcester Dist.)

This hour long meeting answered the Senators and Representatives views on the following pieces of legislation:

•  Casino Bill and the impact that 2 of the proposed casino sites would have on surrounding communities.  The impact of creating new jobs and revenue streams for the commonwealth (taxes/fees from slots would be dedicated to local aid)
• Unemployment rates - reforms that would look at moving Massachusetts to mirror the federal standards, revamping the community college system to provide job training in areas of need in the Commonwealth, amending the definition of independent contractors, and, Rep. Peterson announced 5 pieces of pending legislation that would help improve the environment for employers (more to come on this!)
• Transportation Issues - All Senators and Representatives agreed that changing the current gas tax to cover shortfalls in the MBTA is a very one-sided approach to their deficits and it penalizes people outside of the Rt. 128 bubble.  Other concerns were poor service and reduction of service.  Lack of tolls on North/South routes into Boston, missing fare collection and too little investment in infrastructure by the Commonweath (about 4% currently).
• Healthcare reform - Currently looking at reforming cost and reimbursement systems and also the current rules on uptake rates and the "FTE" (full time equivalent) calculations and moving the current rule from 10 FTEs to 50 FTE's.  More reform needed on administration and enforcement as well.

As these pieces of legislation unfold, MAPS will continue to make you aware of them.