From: Debby Blumer, State Representative Subject: News and Notes Date: February 21, 2003
Hi there, I hope that you have all managed to dig your way out of the snow. Topics for this weeks newsletter: State and municipal finances Governor's proposed FY '04 budget Prescription Advantage Public hearing Treasurer's plan to generate revenue for local aid Scholarships, awards & internships Office Hours STATE AND MUNICIPAL FINANCES Tax revenues continue to decline. It will be a long time before state government again collects $16.7 billion in taxes as it did in fiscal 2001. The Department of Revenue predicts total tax receipts of between $14.7 billion and $14.9 billion in fiscal 2003, and between $15.1 billion and $15.4 billion in fiscal 2004. While tax revenues have fallen, costs have risen, exacerbating the effects of the shortfall. For more information about state and municipal finances, two nonpartisan organizations are extraordinary resources - Mass. Taxpayers Association and the Mass. Budget and Policy Center. To read their reports, please visit: http://www.masstaxpayers.org/ http://www.massbudget.org/ GOVERNOR'S FY '04 BUDGET The Governor's budget will be released on Wednesday, February 26th. It will not be available in paper form. It should be posted on the Legislature's home page: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/ PRESCRIPTION ADVANTAGE PUBLIC HEARING The Executive Office of Elder Affairs held a Prescription Advantage Public Hearing today, Friday, February 20, 2003, at 9:30 AM, at the Boston Public Library. I apologize for the late notice. There is still a chance to testify. Written testimony will be accepted through Monday, February 24th, and should be addressed to: Joel Semuels, General Counsel, Executive Office of Elder Affairs 1 Ashburton Place, 5th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Proposed changes to the program are posted at: http://www.800ageinfo.com/info/fdocument.asp?what=Prescription%20&%20Drug%20A ssistance I will join a letter to Mr. Semuels emphasizing the importance of keeping Prescription Advantage enrollment open to our senior citizens as well as the importance of keeping co-pays and cost-sharing at reasonable levels, so that Prescription Advantage remains a viable option. In addition, MW caucus members and I continue to push the Elder Affairs Office to open Prescription Advantage to First Seniority members whose doctors were cut off of the First Seniority program in January. TREASURER SAYS THAT MORE FREQUENT KENO DRAWINGS WILL GENERATE $35 MILLION Treasurer Timothy Cahill announced that the state Lottery will generate $35 million in new revenue by holding Keno drawings every four minutes instead of every five minutes. Keno is a lotto-style computer game played in bars and restaurants. It is the second most popular lottery game. Much of the money that Keno generates is sent to cities and towns in the form of local aid. SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS AND INTERNSHIPS Massachusetts Democratic Party Scholarships and Internships Scholarships: John F. Kennedy Scholarship ($1500) John Joseph Moakley Democratic Internship ($2000/ 8-week internship) Guidelines: Entering junior or senior year of college, Age 18-23, Massachusetts resident, GPA - B or better, financial need, community service, Political science, government or history major. Applications: Available at DSC office, 4th Floor, 10 Granite Street, Quincy, MA 02169. Intern in my State House Office I am happy to welcome new interns in my office. Interns perform research, administrative duties and attend State House events. Drop me an email if you would like to apply. Framingham Violence Prevention Annual Bookmark Contest The Framingham Violence Prevention Roundtable is holding a bookmark contest. Guidelines: 1) Bookmarks must be free of hate and violent symbols. 2) Please print name, grade and school on the back of bookmarks. 3) Submit bookmarks to health or art teachers or school nurses. 4) Artwork must be 2 x 6 = inches and in color. 4) Deadline is March 31st. Winners will be notified and given awards during a ceremony on April 30th at the Town Hall. OFFICE HOURS If you would like to chat, feel free to stop by on Thursday, February 27th from 9AM to 10AM at the Callahan Senior Center. If that's not convenient, please give me a call to set up an appointment. Take care, Debby
