Senator Spilka, Allyson Perron from the American Heart Association, and Rep. Atkins pose after the event.
LAWMAKERS PROMOTE HEART DISEASE AWARENESS: Calling it the nation’s number one killer, more than 40 lawmakers gathered at the State House Wednesday to raise heart disease awareness and promote choices people can make to stay healthy. Women’s Legislative Caucus co-chair Rep. Cory Atkins (D-Concord) recalled the late Rep. Deborah Blumer of Framingham, who died after suffering a heart attack in 2006, and she she believes men’s heart problems often receive more attention than women. “This movement to call attention to the dangers for women is particularly important,” said Atkins, who joined her colleagues in wearing red clothing as part of “Go Red For Women” awareness activities held with the American Heart Association. Caucus co-chair Sen. Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) urged anyone who believes they may be experiencing heart problems to immediately call for help. “Unfortunately,” Spilka said, “so many families, if not all families, have been touched by heart issues.” According to the heart association, Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than other women and more women die of heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. Also, while eight million women in the United States are living with heart disease only one in six American women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat. Awareness campaign organizers advise women to take steps to understand the history of heart disease in their own families, adopt or continue healthy eating habits and exercise frequently to avoid developing risks for heart disease. 1:44 P.M.
- Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, left, asks Prof. Seongkyu Yoon, right, a question about the Massachusetts BioManufacturing Center on a recent visit to campus. Looking on are, from left, Rep. Stephen DiNatale, Rep. Cory Atkins, Rep. Thomas Sannicandro and Rep. Denise Provost.
On Tuesday, January 31 I joined the Speaker, the House Chairman of the Higher Education Committee and other members of the committee at UMass Lowell to learn about the ways research universities like Lowell are helping drive innovation and economic development. Watch the YouTube video here – UMass Lowell Visit
02/03/2012
By Renae Lias
More than a dozen legislators — mostly members of the Massachusetts Higher Education Committee — recently saw for themselves how UMass Lowell’s research and development helps foster an innovative, growing economy. House Speaker Robert DeLeo joined a group of legislators that the committee’s House chairman, Rep. Thomas Sannicandro, had gathered for the visit.
After an overview from Chancellor Marty Meehan, legislators heard from business representatives — Triton Systems Chief Technology Officer Ken Mahmud and 10 CEOs of start-up medical device companies operating out of the M2D2 incubator — who said UMass Lowell is helping them to develop new products.
In the basement of Ball Hall, plastics engineering student Greg Pigeon explained why he chose UMass Lowell over WPI’s honors program. He said he could learn exactly what he needed to be successful in plastics manufacturing through his co-op job at U.S. Army Natick Research Labs and through his coursework. Nanomanufacturing Center Director Prof. Joey Mead explained how nanomanufacturing research fits hand-in-glove with that classroom and co-op experience.
In the Engineering Building, Prof. Seongkyu Yoon pointed out that small biotech companies access UMass Lowell’s equipment and expertise as they seek to produce new biopharmaceuticals.
A tour of the Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, which is nearing its final phase of construction, showcased the place where so much of UMass Lowell’s laboratory and industry collaboration will take place in the near future, especially in nanomedicine, personalized pharmaceuticals and medical device research.
Watch me on Occupy Boston Live with Suffolk Law Professor Donna Palermino give a teach-in on the implications of corporate personhood, and what we can do about it.
YOUTUBE VIDEO:
Occupy Boston Live Citizens United Jan 14, 2012
Posted in: Uncategorized on 01/27/2012 | No Comments
FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE: Ten public colleges and universities in Massachusetts plan to take part in a national FAFSA campaign, helping students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The initiative is aimed at helping anyone entering college in 2012 and organizers say their goal is to help 2,012 Massachusetts fill out their forms this year. A 2009 study commissioned by the state found 45 percent of degree-seeking undergraduates at the state’s public colleges and universities did not complete a FAFSA in 2006, a rate that fell to 31 percent by the fall of 2010. Families looking to participate are encouraged to bring personal identification numbers for both students and parents, 2011 untaxed income statements, 2011 bank statements, most recent tax returns, 2011 business and investment records, Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and 2011 W-2 forms. Campuses hosting on Sunday include Berkshire Community College Intermodal Education Center, Bristol Community College, Cape Cod Community College, Fitchburg State University, Holyoke Community College, Middlesex Community College, Northern Essex Community College (Lawrence campus), North Shore Community College, and Quinsigamond Community College.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: David Falcone
January 24, 2012 617-722-1500
Senate President Announces Changes in Leadership Team; Welcomes Newest Member to the Senate
BOSTON – Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) today added a second woman to the Senate’s top posts after a full Democratic caucus approved a reconfigured Murray leadership team.
Senator Jack Hart (D-Boston) moves up into the role of Assistant Majority Leader. Senator Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) also moves up, taking the position of Majority Whip. And the newest member of the leadership team, Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), takes over as Assistant Majority Whip.
“All three senators have demonstrated the commitment and ability to lead in this body and deliver on important issues for the Commonwealth,” Murray said. “They each have the respect and support of their colleagues, and I am proud to have them on my leadership team.”
The changes were made possible by the departure last year of the former senator from the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District, Steven Tolman, who served as Assistant Majority Leader under Murray.
“I am honored to be afforded this opportunity by Senate President Murray, a woman and a leader whom I admire greatly,” Hart said. “In this position, I hope to work with the leadership and the members to continue to do good things for the people of the Commonwealth.”
“It is truly an honor to serve as the new Majority Whip of the Senate,” Chandler said. “I am grateful for this opportunity, and I will continue to carry out my duties in the Senate as an advocate for my constituents and the rest of Massachusetts.”
“It is an honor to be appointed by Senate President Murray to serve as Assistant Majority Whip,” Spilka said. “I look forward to taking on this new role in supporting the Senate’s agenda and remain steadfast in my commitment to being a responsible steward of the taxpayers and an advocate for working families across the Commonwealth. I am eager to work with my colleagues on continuing our efforts to bring about necessary reform, promote job growth and economic development, and support the important services and programs our most vulnerable citizens depend on.”
—more—
The Senate President’s entire leadership team is now set as follows:
Senator Fred Berry (D-Peabody) remains as Majority Leader;
Senator Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) remains as President Pro Tempore;
Senator Hart moves up from Majority Whip to Assistant Majority Leader;
Senator Chandler moves up from Assistant Majority Whip to Majority Whip; and
Senator Spilka moves into the role of Assistant Majority Whip after three years as Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development.
The moves result in several changes in committee chairmanships. With Spilka going into leadership, Senator Gale Candaras (D-Wilbraham) takes over as Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development.
Senator Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) moves from Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Public Service to take the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue, formerly held by Candaras. And the newly sworn-in Senator William Brownsberger (D-Belmont) becomes the new Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Public Service, formerly held by Clark.
“I welcome Senator Brownsberger,” Murray said. “He brings a commitment to responsible public policy that we all share here in the Senate, and I look forward to working with him.”
Brownsberger won the seat vacated by Tolman in an uncontested general election January 10 and was sworn in today by Governor Deval Patrick during a formal session in the Senate Chamber.
“I am very grateful to the Senate President and her staff, and all of my new colleagues, for all the support and encouragement they have given me,” Browsnberger said.
In two other moves, Senator James Timilty (D-Walpole) joins the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, replacing Spilka; and Senator Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) becomes a member of the Joint Committee on Revenue, also replacing Spilka.
Bill boosts oversight of special education
Lawmakers work to prevent abuses alleged in Billerica
By Michael Rezendes | Globe Staff January 25, 2012
Save Against the backdrop of federal and state corruption investigations, the Massachusetts House unanimously approved legislation yesterday designed to increase oversight of the state’s troubled network of 30 educational collaboratives, which serve more than 8,000 special needs students.
The bill, which follows Senate approval of a similar measure, stems from last year’s scandal surrounding the Billerica-based Merrimack Special Education Collaborative, in which John B. Barranco, its former executive director, stands accused of transferring $11.5 million to a related nonprofit and using the funds to cover lavish salaries for himself, a former girlfriend, and a close circle of associates.
“This puts in place a new governance structure, new reporting requirements, and new requirements for transparency that are designed to prevent the kind of abuses that took place with Merrimack,’’ said state Representative Alice Hanlon Peisch, a Wellesley Democrat and the House chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Education.
The bill approved yesterday, a version of which legislators expect Governor Deval Patrick to sign, would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to name a voting member to each of the collaborative’s board of directors. It would also require all collaboratives to undergo an annual financial audit.
In a move aimed directly at abuses allegedly uncovered at the Merrimack collaborative, the legislation would bar any employee of an educational collaborative from working at a related nonprofit or for-profit organization. It would also prohibit collaborative board members and their executive directors from simultaneously serving as board members, executive directors, or employees of related nonprofit or for-profit groups.
Last June, Inspector General Gregory W. Sullivan accused Barranco of transferring $11.5 million from the Merrimack collaborative to a nonprofit that he controlled, the Chelmsford-based Merrimack Education Center, and using the money for excessive salaries and perks, including $50,000 in personal expenses and Kentucky Derby tickets.
In addition, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump found evidence that the Merrimack collaborative misspent more than $30 million in public funds. And she found a pattern of lax accounting practices and questionable compensation at other collaboratives.
The collaboratives are consortiums of local school districts that band together to reduce the cost of educating students with mental, physical, medical, and behavioral disabilities.
In August, the Globe reported that federal prosecutors are conducting a wide-ranging inquiry into spending and accounting practices at the Merrimack collaborative.
The Globe also reported that the collaborative has been the subject of several additional investigations by state agencies and officials, including state Attorney General Martha Coakley and state Treasurer Steven Grossman, who are investigating possible abuses of the state pension system.
Sullivan discovered last year that Barranco hired some individuals to work for the nonprofit education center but listed them on the payroll of the collaborative, a public agency, allowing those individuals to enhance the value of their public pensions.
Yesterday, Senate President Therese Murray, Democrat of Plymouth, said legislators moved swiftly to prevent additional abuses like those at the Merrimack collaborative, in part because of longstanding concern about the high cost of educating special needs students.
“One thing we get cautioned about all the time by school superintendents and mayors is the high cost of special education,’’ Murray said. “With Merrimack, you had more than $10 million diverted from students with special needs to people who lined their pockets. It’s pretty outrageous.’’
Murray said the House bill approved yesterday is so similar to a Senate bill approved earlier this month that legislators could do away with naming a conference committee and instead sort out minor differences informally before sending a final version to Patrick. Murray expects the governor to sign the measure.
Yesterday, Bump lauded the Legislature for taking swift action. “It’s terrific to have such a determined response by the Legislature in such short order,’’ she said.
Stephen J. Theall, executive director of the Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives, an umbrella group of collaboratives, also praised the bills approved by the House and Senate.
“These reforms will greatly enhance collaboratives’ ability to achieve their core mission of bringing quality education to special needs students throughout Massachusetts, all while saving taxpayers millions of dollars by pooling school district resources,’’ he said.
Michael Rezendes can be reached at rezendes@globe.com.
Representatives Ellen Story, Denise Provost, Denise Andrews, Cory Atkins, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Kay Khan, Alice Wolf, Carolyn Dykema, Carl Sciortino, Jonathan Hecht, Gailanne Cariddi, Jason Lewis - led by Representative Ruth Balser testified today in support of H. 1173, An Act Providing Equitable Coverage in Disability
To: Members of the Joint Committee on Financial Services
From: Representative Cory Atkins
Date: January 24, 2012
Re: H. 1173, An Act Providing Equitable Coverage in Disability Insurance
I write today in support of H. 1173, An Act Providing Equitable Coverage in Disability Insurance.
Since our Commonwealth adopted the 1976 Equal Right Amendment, legislators have worked to ensure all insurance policies are gender neutral including health insurance, automobile insurance, homeowners’ insurance, and annuity policies. In addition, Workers Compensation Insurance is gender neutral.
Today, private disability insurance is still able to use gender as an underwriting criterion which allows these state-regulated disability policies to assign different premiums for men and women with the same job classification.
Furthermore, disability policies that have been filed with the Division of Insurance show women paying up to 75 percent more than men regardless of the insurance company, whether long-term or short-term insurance, the duration of benefits, the occupation class, or the age of the policy holder.
I thank the committee for its time and consideration of these matters, and I ask the members to report this bill favorably out of committee in a timely and efficient manner.
Posted in: Cory's Blog, Updates on 01/24/2012 | No Comments
WATCH MASSVOTE”S YOUTUBE VIDEO:
Cory Atkins challenges corporate money in politics
On January 18, a dozen state representatives and state senators came together with citizens to say it is time to end corporate money in politics through a constitutional amendment.
We’ve accomplished a lot, and we have serious momentum going into 2012. Here’s a preview of upcoming Women’s Caucus events between January and May: STEM Update; Go Red for Women; Domestic Violence Prevention Info Session; Women’s Health; Jane Doe White Ribbon Day & Advocacy Day; Equal Pay Day; and Unsung Heroines.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/77789660/Winter-Newsletter-January-2012#source:facebook
RSS Feed
Facebook