Vol. 2 – budget transparency, Citizens United, and municipal relief, and other news from the House

Dear Constituent,

As a State Representative, one of my longstanding priorities has been reforming our government to make it more transparent and more accountable. I am pleased to report that the House of Representatives passed amendments to the annual state budget that will increase the openness and accessibility of the budget process. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent. This represents a monumental change in government. This amendment creates a website that will list all state expenditures and the names of all vendors who receive state funds. This website will be free and accessible by anyone. Citizens will be able to view and compile data on state expenditures from their own computers. Massachusetts will join 32 other states that provide an online database with in-depth detail on government expenditures.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 617-722-2692 or Rep.CoryAtkins@state.ma.us. And if you know anyone who would like to receive my newsletter, please forward it to them and ask them to subscribe on my website.

Sincerely,

Cory Atkins

Citizens United Supreme Court Case

Event at First Parish in Concord

On January 21 the United States Supreme Court handed down a decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission giving corporations the right to spend unlimited funds on political ads. The decision threatens both the bi-partisan, federal McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance law and the laws of 24 states limiting corporate involvement in state and national elections. Many are concerned about the implications of this decision for the role of corporations in the political process. On May 19 at the Democracy in the Balance Part II forum, I spoke about current efforts in the state legislature to respond to the Supreme Court decision. I will send out more information as we solidify our multi-faceted approach. To get involved locally, contact Launa Zimmaro of the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle at 978-287-4270 or lzimmaro@alum.bu.edu.

Municipal Relief Act

On April 26 the House passed a Municipal Relief Act. This bill gives cities and towns additional flexibility in managing their finances. The bill makes it easier for cities and towns to share emergency services, and it allows them to extend pension funding schedules without reducing benefits. Additionally, the bill lets school districts reimburse parents of disabled children who drive their children to private day programs outside the municipality in which they live. To read more about the House legislation, click here.

In the picture (L to R) are Rep. Will Brownsberger of Belmont, Rep. Katherine Clark of Melrose, Speaker Robert DeLeo of Winthrop, myself, and Rep. Peter Koutoujian of Waltham

Harassment Prevention Orders

My proudest achievement this session has been the passage of An Act Relative to Harassment Prevention Orders. Earlier this year both the House and the Senate passed this bill unanimously, and Governor Patrick signed it into law on February 3. The new law affords victims of abuse or harassment the right to petition for a protection order with criminal consequences regardless of the perpetrator’s relationship to the victim. I felt humbled on April 11 when the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center presented me with their Beacon Award “for outstanding leadership in advancing the rights of sexual violence survivors.”

Bullying prevention

Bullying in schools is nothing new, but the manner in which bullying is conducted has changed dramatically in recent years. Children harass each other through facebook, text messages, and other electronic forums. Harassment has a devastating effect on a child’s ability to learn. On April 29 I joined my colleagues in the House and Senate by voting unanimously in favor of a bill to ban bullying in schools and require teachers and principals to report potentially criminal acts of bullying to the police. Governor Patrick signed the bill into law on May 3. Hopefully this law will create a safer environment for all children.

League of Women Voters Day on the Hill

In the picture are myself and Launa Zimmaro of the Concord-Carlisle League of Women Voters.

The Massachusetts League of Women Voters’ Day on the Hill took place on Wednesday, April 28. While the larger group presentation focused on transportation, league members from my district delivered support letters from Concord Academy students regarding H.3515, An Act to Improve the Recycling Rates in the Commonwealth, also known as the Bottle Bill. This bill would expand the bottle deposit to include a wider range of drink containers, including sports drinks, energy drinks, and bottled water. The bottle bill is currently before the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy. The lead sponsor of the bill, Rep. Alice Wolf of Cambridge, filed an amendment to the annual budget that would have enacted the revised Bottle Bill, but this amendment failed. As a co-sponsor of the bill, I encourage you to get involved by contacting my office so that I can illustrate the level of support to both the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications Utilities, and Energy and the Speaker of the House.

Gaming in the Commonwealth

On April 14 the House of Representatives passed legislation to expand gambling in Massachusetts by a vote of 120-37. I am pleased to report that two amendments I filed were adopted. The first requires casino security personnel to constantly monitor the parking lots to check for children who may have been left in cars. Security personnel must immediately report abandoned children to the police who are required by law to report to the Department of Social Services. The second amendment relates to gaming facilities’ access to and use of lists of self-excluded persons. People who are concerned about their gambling habits would be able to voluntarily place themselves on a self-exclusion list, and my amendment would prohibit any gaming establishment from marketing in any form to people on the self-excluded list. The Senate has indicated they intend to hold another public hearing before they write their version of the gaming bill. They hope to debate their bill in the upcoming weeks. I urge you to attend the public hearing and voice your concerns. In this newsletter I will notify you when the hearing is scheduled.

In the picture are myself and members of the Concord Water Department.

Concord Water Department wins Water Conservation Award

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded a Water Conservation award to the Concord Water Department. The DEP gives these awards to towns with very well run drinking water systems. Concord is one of four towns statewide to win an award in the Water Conservation category. I attended a ceremony on the Grand Stairs at the State House in Boston on May 4 to recognize Concord and the other award winners.

Raw Milk Regulation Changes

After hearing from residents in my district regarding the legality of raw milk buying clubs, I wrote to the Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources to express my concerns and the concerns of my constituents. On May 7 the department withdrew the language that would have restricted raw milk sales. The department plans to conduct a further review of their policy in the coming months.

Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts

On behalf of our communities, thank you Denise for all your time and energy. In the picture are Denise and myself.

On May 19, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women hosted its 7th Annual Unsung Heroine Celebration to recognize 100 women who make their communities a better place to live and work without fanfare or compensation. Denise Haartz of Concord was nominated for her extraordinary efforts. She is a Director of the Board at the Louisa May Alcott Orchard House and a member of the Household Goods of Massachusetts “Fun” Committee. Denise also serves on the Executive Board of the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary, the Emerson Hospital Health Care Foundation, and the Emerson Hospital Corporation. In addition, she is the president of a private family foundation that helps nonprofits in Concord and Acton.