From: Debby Blumer, State Representative
Subject: News and Notes
Date: November 15, 2002
Hi,
Topics for this issue:
Women in Government
House passes Unemployment Insurance legislation
Health Care: Uninsured Care Pool
Education Policy
The Arts in Framingham
Hats Off to Tercentennial Park and Dunning School!
Women in Government
Only 30% of cabinet, agency head and selected authority and commission appointments are women. Massachusetts Government Appointments Project, MassGAP, is working to increase the number of women by providing the new Governor with resumes of women qualified for these positions. If you would like to apply for a MassGAP recommendation, visit www.mapc.org
House passes Unemployment Insurance Legislation, H. 5386
The State House of Representatives yesterday passed legislation to expand eligibility for federal extended unemployment benefits. The federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 specified that individuals must have 20 weeks of full-time employment or the equivalent in wages to qualify for federal extended unemployment benefits. Federal law established two tests for “equivalence in wages”: (1) 1 � x the individual’s highest quarter wages; (2) 40 x the individual’s most recent weekly benefit amount. Massachusetts chose the first test because it was considered more generous. Unfortunately, the first test excluded 2,200 individuals eligible under the second definition. The House of Representatives passed legislation yesterday that ensures that either test can be used to establish eligibility. It awaits approval by the Senate and Governor.
EDUCATION POLICY:
The state Joint Committee on Educational Policy meets this week. (Tuesday, 1 pm to 3 pm, Board of Higher Education Conference Room, One Ashburton Place, 14th floor, Boston)
HEALTH CARE
Deficits in Uninsured Care Pool
An increase in the number of uninsured residents has caused deficits at the Uncompensated Care pool, which funds treatment for the uninsured at hospitals and community health clinics. Surcharges on hospital bills and insurance premiums as well as state monies fund the pool. The Uncompensated Care Pool will end this fiscal year with a deficit of $152 million. The pool deficit is expected to rise to $265 million in FY04.
In response to these alarming changes, the Uncompensated Care Pool Commission met this week to review, analyze and potentially propose changes. I will attend upcoming full and committee meetings of the Uncompensated Care Pool Commission and keep you posted on the discussion.
ARTS IN FRAMINGHAM
Wallace Nutting: The Framingham public library is seeking to auction 2,000 slides of Framingham-resident Wallace Nutting’s photographs, his magic lantern projector lens and stereopticon curtain for projecting his slides. Framingham residents are trying to help the Framingham Historical Society buy the Nutting collection. If you would like to help the Framingham Historical Society keep these slides in Framingham, please call the Framingham Historical Society at (508)872-3780, leave your name and telephone number & the amount of your pledge.�
More about Nutting: If you would like to look at Nutting’s photographs, check out: http://www.wallacenuttinglibrary.com/
Danforth wine-tasting
Danforth Museum is holding a celebration “An Evening of Fine Wines from Around the World” on November 16, 2002 at 7pm at the Danforth Museum of Art on 123 Union Avenue, Framingham. For more information, please call the Museum's Development Office, 508-620-0050. Also, information on the web: http://www.danforthmuseum.org/dma_live/dma_se_dyn.html?FID=43
Arts Grants
The Massachusetts Cultural Council program is now accepting applications for $5,000-grants in the following disciplines: crafts, film & video, music composition, photography, playwriting and sculpture/installation. To get an application, please visit: www.massculturalcounsil.org/
HATS OFF!
Tercentennial Park
Congratulations to the Framingham recreation department which won a $150,000 grant to spruce up Tercentennial Park!
Dunning Elementary School
Congratulations to Dunning Elementary School, which won the Education Foundation’s Spelling Bee. The Framingham High English department was a close second.
OFFICE HOURS
If you missed my last office hours, come on by to the Callahan Senior Center and meet with me at drop-in hours on Thursday, November 21st at 9AM. As always, if you are ever in the State House, stop by Room 134 to chat.
I hope to talk with you soon. Feel free to call me at anytime at (617) 722-2400 or (508) 879-0658.
Debby
