2004 Gomes Report     2003    2002    2001    2000    1999

Fall 2004

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CURRENT COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, AND CAUCUSES

       Representative Gomes currently serves on several committees and caucuses:  The Committee  on Health Care, the Committee on Housing and Urban Development, the Committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs, and the newly created Committee on Medicaid.  These Committees hold public hearings regarding proposed bills, and further research the information gathered from those hearings.  Representative Gomes has been named to the Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence, which considers statistics and cases throughout the state and reviews the impact of current and proposed bills.  Representative Gomes also has a seat in the Coastal Caucus, Elder Caucus, Legislative Tobacco Control Caucus, 10th Congressional District Caucus, Women’s Caucus, Rural Caucus and the new Boating Caucus. These assemblies permit legislators to focus on specific topics, generally of interest to their constituents.  Representative Gomes has also been appointed to the Long-Term Care Commission and to the International Tourism Fund Advisory Board.

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$TATE BUDGET FOR FY 2005

The House debated the FY 2005 Budget at the end of April and the Senate followed a few weeks later, sending a completed budget to the Governor on time.  I was the lead sponsor again this year on a number of amendments to the House Budget that benefit various programs on Cape Cod.  Some of the more significant ones were:  a $150,000 earmark for Children’s Cove; $36,947 earmarked for the Cape Cod Dispute Resolution Center; an increase in the line item that benefits the NOAH Shelter; and earmark of $30,000 for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Cape Cod and Islands; and a $100,000 earmark for the O’Neill Center.

I co-sponsored a number of other amendments that were successful in the House Budget:  an increase in the compensation for the attorneys in the Committee for Public Counsel Services; and earmark which provides $50,000 in funding for the Lower / Outer Cape Community Coalition; and earmark of $90,000 for a shellfish propagation program on Cape Cod; several amendments to restore funding for the Department of Conservation and Recreation; an amendment to provide $900,000 for the Massachusetts Service Alliance to operate the youth, senior service and conservation corps programs (Americorps); and an amendment which repealed the estate recovery law.

"It was another difficult year, but when we met with House Ways and Means to consolidate the amendments, it was an opportunity to really advocate for these important Cape programs.”

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After the tragic death of two young women in a kayaking accident in the waters of Harwich Port, Harbormaster Tom Leach asked that I file a bill which would require anyone in a kayak to wear a personal flotation device and carry a compass and a whistle at all times.  That bill, H 4456, was amended by the Public Safety Committee (deleting the compass and whistle) and was engrossed by the House on August 5, 2004, and is awaiting action in the Senate.

Earlier this year, I worked with the Division of Environmental law Enforcement and the National Transportation Safety Board and filed a bill that would require mandatory boating safety education.  The Joint Committee on Public Safety held a public hearing on H 4840 on July 7, 2004.  The Committee is continuing its review of the bill.

Some of the other bills I filed this session were:  H 4126, requiring that interior lights be turned on when a vehicle is stopped by a police officer; H 4414, a bill that would prevent veterinarians from charging a fee to write a prescription to be filled elsewhere; two bills filed on behalf of the Nauset Regional School District.  One would reallocate the funding contributions by member towns (H 4125); and the other would make changes in the agreement establishing the Nauset Regional School District (H 4258).  Both of these bills, approved by town meetings in all four member towns, have been placed in a study order (H 4740).  Another bill, filed at the request of the Chatham School Committee, H 4259 , would increase the tuition payable for school choice students attending classes in other educational jurisdictions.  This bill has also been placed in a study order for further review.

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          A number of Lower Cape highway projects were included in the Transportation Bond Bill---Chapter 291 of the Acts of 2004.  This, however, is just the first step in a sometimes very long process.  After successfully earmarking projects in any bond bill, we must continue to work to have the department or agency include these projects in their priority capital plan. This plan is then submitted to the Governor’s Office of Administration and Finance for approval.  Departments and agencies must operate under a “bond cap”, meaning that they are allowed limited funds for these projects each year.  These projects and funds are subject to the Governor’s discretion and timing.

The road projects in Harwich and Truro that were included in the Transportation Bond Bill, as well as $250,000 for the Cape Cod Rail Trail and funding for the planning and construction of a mini-modal center in Provincetown.

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THE 4^TH BARNSTABLE IS A VERY ACTIVE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT---

It has been a very busy year for local requests for legislation.  Many of these requests are the result of action taken at town meetings and I have been told that the Lower Cape has more of these than any other area!  One would think that a request for legislation from a town meeting would be a “no brainer”---it should just be filed and sail smoothly through the legislative process---not so!  It must be shepherded through the process and we must constantly be advocating for its passage.  Some of the other bills I filed were requests from individuals who saw a need to address a problem with legislation.  These also require constant vigilance and advocacy.

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PROVINCETOWN

Each year the Town of Provincetown is, by far, the town with the most requests for legislation—and this session is no different. H 3840, to relocate and alter High Pole Hill Road; H 3841, increase parking fines; H 3842, affordable housing; H 3843, relative to open space; H 4780, relative to the Historic Commission and H 4781, relative to the Board of Assessors.

HARWICH

As a result of town meeting action, the Town of Harwich requested legislation to make changes in the Town Charter.  That bill was a “late file” bill in August 2004.  Along with several other towns on the Lower Cape, the Town of Harwich requested legislation allowing them to raise the fines for parking violations.  That bill, H 4079, was signed by the Governor and is now Chapter 78 of the Acts of 2004.

CHATHAM

Action in Chatham Town Meeting resulted in two bills being passed and signed by the Governor.  Chapter 113 of the Acts of 2003 made changes in the Town Charter relative to the Historical Business District in Chatham.  Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2004 allows the town to increase fines for parking violations.

WELLFLEET

At the spring Town Meeting, the Town of Wellfleet approved two articles requesting legislation.  H 4776, authorizes the Town to establish an affordable housing trust fund; and H 4792, is relative to property tax exemptions for affordable rental properties in Wellfleet.  Both of these bills were “late files” and await passage.  Wellfleet had also requested legislation which would allow the town to raise the fines for parking violations—Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2004 was signed by the Governor in February.

ORLEANS

H 4427, legislation validating certain health insurance payments made by the Town of Orleans was approved by Town Meeting and is awaiting passage.  S 2021, which I cosponsored, will allow the town to issue bonds for the purpose of creating and / or preserving affordable housing.

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Rep. Gomes, Aide, Jennifer Souza Cancellera, Governor Romney, Rep. Tom George

Representative Gomes joins Governor Romney to wish a fond farewell to her aide Jennifer Souza-Cancellara, who left the State House position to become a Special Agent in the U.S. Air Force,  Office of Special Investigations.  Jennifer’s parents, Robert and Mona Souza have a long family history in Wellfleet.

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A supplemental budget enacted by the Legislature in September contained considerable funding for projects in the 4th Barnstable District.  $5 million was earmarked for the Cape Cod Rail Trail; $430,000 for the repair of the east parking lot and installation of storm drainage vaults and the replacement of the public access boat ramp at Saquatucket Harbor; and $400,000 for the replacement of the boat ramp in Wellfleet.  

Another important item in the supplemental budget was $150,000 for the Oral Rabies Vaccine Program.

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With the November 2, 2004 Election Day fast approaching, I want to share this information with you—and ask that you share it with others.

In June, 2004, the President of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Secretary of State William Galvin and Governor Romney signed the Massachusetts Voters’ Bill of Rights.  This document specifies and clarifies the rights of all qualified registered voters, for example:  you have the right to bring papers such as a sample ballot or voter guide into the voting booth with you; you have the right to receive up to two replacement ballots if you make a mistake and spoil your ballot; you have the right to request assistance when voting from a poll worker or anyone of your choice, except your employer or an officer of your union or their representatives; and you have the right to bring your children into the voting booth with you.

These are just a few of the fifteen specific rights listed in the Massachusetts Voters’ Bill of Rights.  The entire document is available on-line at http://lwvma.org, or you may call my office at 508-240-2731 and I will be happy to see that a copy is sent to you.

Don’t forget to vote on November 2^nd!

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On August 9, 2004, the Governor signed a bill that will create a trust fund for the purpose of medical research services for spinal cord injured persons.  Funds will be realized from a $50 surcharge assessed against any person who applies to have his or her drivers’ license reinstated after suspension as a result of 3 speeding convictions in a one-year period or 5 or more moving violations within a three-year period.  The first $25 of each surcharge will be deposited into the Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund and the balance will be deposited into the General Fund.

At the request of Representative Gomes and Representative James Fagan, the sponsor of the bill, Governor Romney signed a proclamation declaring September to be Spinal Cord Awareness Month. 

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In Boston:

State House, Room 548
Boston, MA 02133-1054
Telephone: (617) 722-2803
Fax: (617) 722-2590

2 Oracle Square, Route 6A, Orleans, MA 02653
Telephone: (508) 240-2731
Telephone: (800) 715-8480
Fax: (508) 430-5071