Gomes’ E-Gram

Dear Friends,

As we begin a new legislative session, I have developed this electronic newsletter to keep you up to date on the issues that will be affecting both our district and the Commonwealth.  I am expecting a busy session as I work with Governor Romney and Speaker DiMasi to further the needs of the Lower Cape.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns, and let me know your comments and suggestions about our new newsletter.

I encourage anyone who would like to receive this E-newsletter every few months to sign-up using the form above or you can send your email address to my aide Brian at Brian.Powers@state.ma.us.

Warmest Regards,

Key Legislation for 2005

I am proud to have introduced new legislation that will have a positive impact throughout our district.  In particular, the Mandatory Boating Safety Education Act and the Asperger’s Syndrome Act are vital pieces of legislation for our community as well as all of Massachusetts.

Mandatory Boating Safety Education will set a minimum standard of boating education competency, develop a boating education course, and create a boating certificate showing boating competency.  I have put forward this bill because I strongly believe that improved boating safety is vital to our Cape community, as well as throughout the state.

Asperger’s Syndrome in Adults is an issue our state has not paid enough attention too.  Because of its effects on citizens in the Lower Cape, I have seen that much more needs to be done to assist those who are affected by AS.  My legislation will instruct the Department of Public Health to develop a public education program about Asperger’s Syndrome in Adults, as well as assist families and caregivers, develop training programs for professionals and establish greater monitoring and research capabilities.  This bill addresses a vital health care need, and I will be pushing its passage during this legislative session.

Amongst other legislation I will have filed will be Home Rule Bills submitted by the Town Meetings in our district.

I have also joined other members of Cape Cod’s delegation of legislators by signing onto a number of significant bills.  These include; Senator Robert O’Leary’s bill on Homeowners Insurance, Representative Matthew Patrick’s bills on establishing a minimum energy efficiency standard for certain products, and Representative Patrick’s bill on Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to see that these important pieces of legislation pass into law.

As has been highlighted in local news coverage, I have co-sponsored a bill with Representative Alice Peisch that will change the term used for voter’s that do not wish to be identified with a particular party from “unenrolled” to “independent”.  It is important that we give citizens who desire to proclaim their independence from the political parties the means to do so by using a more acceptable voting designation.

Budget Update
Local Aid Estimates from the Governor’s budget

Governor Romney recently released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2006.  In the budget was a total of $12,421,912 for local aid and lottery funding for our district.  This total divided by town and regional school system is as follows:

With the exception of regional schools, these numbers reflect a 7.5% to 16.5% increase in lottery distribution funds over Fiscal Year 2005 for each municipality.

Please remember all numbers are preliminary estimates, pending final budget action by the Legislature.  House Ways and Means will soon propose a House budget on which I will be voting and offering amendments.

The local aid estimates based on the Governor’s budget proposal have been posted to the Division of Local Services’ web site at http://www.dls.state.ma.us/cherry/index.htm

These estimates will change as the legislative process unfolds and proposed appropriation levels change. There are other factors, such as the monthly revenues received by the Commonwealth that may cause these numbers to change throughout the legislative session, so please keep an eye on announcements coming from my office.

New Staff and Office Contact Information

My longtime Aide, Patricia Johnson, retired in January and will be sorely missed.  Our office now has two new full time aides, Administrative Aide Cynthia Stead and Legislative Aide Brian Powers.  To contact my staff directly via email, you can write Brian at Brian.Powers@state.ma.us and Cynthia at Cynthia.Stead@state.ma.us.  As always, you can write me directly at rep.shirleygomes@hou.state.ma.us . Our phone number in Boston is (617)722-2803 and the district office phone number is (508)240-2731. The office fax numbers are (617)722-2590 in Boston and (508)430-5071 in the district office.  The mailing address to my office in the State House is:  Room 548, State House,  Boston, MA 02133.

New Committee Assignments

• Community Development and Small Business
• Public Health
• Elder Affairs
• Housing

As you may know the House of Representatives has a new Speaker, Representative Sal DiMasi of Boston.  Speaker DiMasi, along with Senate President Robert Travaglini, has created a new committee structure, done to confront the challenges Massachusetts faces in the 21^st century.  I am now serving on several new committees which reflect the needs of our community.   My committees include several of which I will be the ranking Republican member.  These are Community Development and Small Business, Elder Affairs, and Public Health.  I will also be serving on the Housing Committee.

Issue Update
H2B Visas

A vital part of Cape Cod’s small business growth is the seasonal workers who come to the Cape during our busy summer season.  Many of these workers arrive on Cape Cod through H2B Visas, which can be requested from the federal government by local employers. 

Typically Cape businesses bring in nearly 6,000 H2B workers to fill various jobs that, if not filled, would severely impact whether a business can remain open throughout the season.  Recently, the federal government capped the amount of H2B visas available nationwide at 66,000 workers per year and made the application process much more strenuous for small businesses.  Because small businesses are the life blood of Cape Cod’s economy, when the federal government capped the H2B visas last March, I worked with the Governor’s office, local business men and women, and the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce to bring about a solution to this problem that would alleviate the pressure on our local economy.  Several telephone calls were exchanged with Congressman Delahunt’s office as well as with Senator Kennedy’s office.  A letter was sent to President Bush and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, seeking area allocations based on the timing of our season.  I will continue to work to see this problem resolved in the most satisfactory manner possible, allowing our local economy to remain vibrant and grow stronger.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

-3/28/05  Women in Politics, Cape Cod Community College, 5-8:30
-3/1/05    Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless Legislative Day
-3/10/05  Cape Cod League of Women’s Voters Legislative Breakfast  8:30am-10
-3/4/05    Health Care for All Policy Conference, Wyndham Westboro off Rt. 495
-3/18/05  American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast, Sheraton, 7:30-9 am