An Oxford constituent recently wrote to Senator Moore in response to some legislative rumblings of imposing local aid cuts on municipalities.  Senator Moore responds to the constituent and shares with him his concern that any future cuts to local aid would seriously hurt families within the communities he represents.  Furthering their discussion, Senator Moore also talks about the distribution of local aid from property and income taxes, and offers his thoughts on how we can best sustain our essential services like education, safety, and public service.  Read the full conversation below:

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A Dudley constituent recently wrote to Senator Moore about receiving a speeding citation, and their view on the unfair nature of paying for an appeal trial, as well as the possibility of a second appeal trial.  The constituent raised the point with Senator Moore that a person who is having difficulty making ends meet may not have any recourse in disputing a citation that may have been erroneously issued.  Agreeing with the constituent, Senator Moore offered some helpful suggestions as to where he could further his complaint.    Read the exchange between Senator Moore and the Dudley constituent below:

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Engaging in a healthy dialogue with a Webster constituent, Senator Moore was recently sent an e mail regarding one of the Senator's press releases, calling for the passage of the Main Street Fairness Act.  The bill, which has been filed by Massachusetts Congressman William Delahunt, would allow states that are in full compliance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement to collect sales tax on remote purchases (the most common examples being Internet sales and catalogue sales).  While sales tax is rightfully owed on such purchases, consumers are able to escape the charge due to loopholes in existing tax codes.  While the Webster constituent shared his point of view that the collection of online sales tax would be an additional tax, Senator Moore illustrated that it would be an enforcement of exisiting tax policies.  Read more about the Main Street Fairness Act, and the Webster constituent and Senator Moore's thoughts below:

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In this Boston Herald Editorial, recent cuts to public library funds are discussed as having a major impact on the general populace.  Specifically, the author highlights the cuts as hidering libraries' ability to provide Internet services, after school programs, and simple refuge for those that may be out of work.  Read the article in its entirety below:

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Recently, Senator Moore received an essay from Tara Ross, the author of a book defending the Electoral College--the current system that elects our nation's President to the White House.  Currently, Massachusetts is debating legislation that would bring the Commonwealth in compliance with the National Popular Vote movement that has gained traction in other states.

Under the Electoral College, each state is comprised of Electorates and electoral votes, the number of votes totaling the number of Senators and Congressman representing each respective state (Massachusetts has 12 electoral votes; 10 Congressman and 2 Senators).  The President is officially elected upon receiving at least 270 electoral votes--the simple majority of 538 total votes across the nation.  While most states have a "winner take all" electorate, meaning that whoever wins the popular vote within each state will receive all the electoral votes, some have adopted the National Popular Vote Movement's proposal, which under a state's compliance, has the state throw its electoral votes to the candidate that wins the national popular vote, as opposed to the state's.

To read more about Miss Ross' take on the need to retain the Electoral College and for Massachusetts not to adopt the National Popular Vote movement's proposal, read below:

Read Tara Ross' Essay on the implications of adopting the national popular vote

In this release issued by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts, the organization's annual report on the 2006 health reform's effect in the Commonwealth is analyzed for the year 2009.  Referencing meaningful statistics like 67% approval for Massachusetts' reform, which was principally created by Senator Moore, the information offers important details on the current and future directions of health reform in the Commonwealth.  View the release below:

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A Northbridge constituent recently wrote to Senator Moore, applauding the Senator for his efforts in streamlining government services, but pointing out two areas of duplicative services: one with the Vendor Compliance Office, and the other with the state QUEST system for wage reporting and payment of the employer state unemployment tax.  After receiving the e mail, Senator Moore followed up with the State Purchasing Agent, to find out how these particular services may be streamlined.  Stay posted for a response in the near future.  In the meantime, view the constituent's comments below:

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A Dudley constituent recently contacted Senator Moore on behalf of their family member who was inexplicably dropped from receiving food stamps.  Explaining that their family member had no change in income or social security collection status, Senator Moore contacted the Department of Transitional Assistance immediately, and brought a positive change for the constituent and their family member.  Read the conversation below:

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In this recent Op-Ed from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, H 2972, a bill that would direct the department of Administration and Finance to create a public web site that reports the budgeting process, is described as a "net gain for taxpayers and residents."  Senator Moore is a co-sponsor of the legislation, and has pushed for its passage, citing the need for greater government transparency and accessibility.  Read the Op-Ed below:

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Meeting with local officials from the Worcester & Norfolk District on Friday, April 17, Senator Moore welcomed Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos, D-Lowell, to his annual Local Aid Summit, which details the state of local aid and the forecast for the next fiscal year.  Engaging in healthy conversation, Senator Moore heard from over thirty local officials in attendance, and invited Chairman Panagiotakos to discuss the outlook for the Senate budget, which is currently being composed by Senate Ways and Means.  Read a story on the local aid meeting from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette below:

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The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center' recently released an overview of the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, and what changes are being proposed.  Citing an expansion of transparency and reform in the budgeting process, MassBudget outlines its "preview" of what the House and Senate will be considering in the upcoming budget debates.  Read their overview below:

READ MASS BUDGET FY 2011 OVERVIEW  

As the Legislature gears up for budgeting season, many remain concerned about the general climate of our economy, and what the forecast is for Fiscal Year 2011.  Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos of Lowell, recently released the following presentation on the state of our economy.  While the forecast is grim, there is some light at the end of the tunnel in seeing recovery.  View the presentation below:

SENATE WAYS AND MEANS PRESENTATION: STATE OF THE ECONOMY 

Marking the third time in a row that Massachusetts' students have outscored students across the country, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently announced that 4th and 8th grade students ranked first in the nation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading exam, administered in 2009.  NAEP, also known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in core subjects. NAEP assesses a representative sample of students in all 50 states and reports state-level results at grades 4 and 8. Read a detailed summary of the findings below:

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In light of the historic passage of national health care reform on Sunday, March 21, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, along with Senator Moore and his Health Care Financing Committee House counterpart, Rep. Harriet Stanley, are taking initiative in briefing Massachusetts residents on what national health reform means for Massachusetts.  While the Commonwealth was partly responsible in paving the way for national reform efforts through it's own health reforms in 2006 and 2008, respectively, the national measure will undoubtedly have an impact on Massachusetts residents.  Read a short brief on the initial findings of what national health reform means for Massachusetts:

READ BRIEF ON NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM IN MASSACHUSETTS

Taking notice of Senator Moore's dedication to increasing government efficiency and curbing unnecessary costs across the Commonwealth, the WBZ I Team recently interviewed the Senator about his legislation that would require paper-filed state agency annual reports to be submitted electronically.  As part of a government efficiency package that includes a sunset provision for state agencies, a required review for state-leased parking lots (prompted by another I Team report), a proposal to have state programs assessed by an independent organization using national standards of quality, and a public forum that administers a process for receiving suggestions from state employees and retirees for improving state programs and services, the mandatory electronic filing of agency reports would not only reduce the costs of printing, but would allow the reports to be commented on by the public through the online postings.  As the I Team reports, passage of Senator Moore's provision could potentially save the state in the tens of millions of dollars.  To learn more about how much the state is spending on these annual reports and to see Senator Moore's thoughts, please view the story below:

VIEW WBZ I TEAM REPORT