Senate President Appoints Senator Spilka to Leadership Position
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.
“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.
“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.”
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.
SENATOR SPILKA ANNOUNCES GREAT ADVANCES TO REDUCE COSTS, HELP RESIDENTS SAVE, AND PROPEL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
(Boston) – Continuing a commitment to provide economic relief for businesses across the Commonwealth, Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) announced Senate passage of a bill that freezes the unemployment insurance premiums paid by businesses. Without the freeze, the rate would increase by approximately $220 per employee, with the average business seeing payments jump from $715 to $935 for each worker.
“By freezing the unemployment insurance rate, we are taking additional steps to help businesses expand and hire additional employees,” said Spilka. “As our economy continues to recover, it is important that we remain dedicated to providing relief to local businesses and foster an environment where they can grow and spur economic vitality throughout the Commonwealth.”
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS
Also making headlines today was the announcement by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development that the total unemployment rate was 6.8 percent, down from the November rate of 7 percent.
This is the lowest monthly unemployment rate the state has seen since December 2008 and is well below the national unemployment average, which was reported at 8.5 percent in December. In 2011 alone, the state added nearly 41,000 jobs.
PERSONAL INCOME TAX RATE DROPS
On January 1, 2012, in a move to provide additional relief to individual residents, the personal income tax rate dropped from 5.3 percent to 5.25. This is the first decrease in ten years.
In 2000, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot initiative to gradually lower the state income tax from 5.95 percent to 5 percent. Two years later, as the state was facing an economic recession, the Legislature froze the rate at 5.3 percent. At the same time the Legislature established benchmarks to measure economic growth with the promise that when revenue grew fast enough to reach those targets the income tax rate would be cut.
Massachusetts is in the beginning of a recovery and state revenue increased enough in 2011 to trigger the tax cut. This reduction is expected to save taxpayers between $111 million and $117 million annually.
CORPORATE TAX RATE CUT
Also on the first of the year, the corporate income tax rate dropped to 8 percent from 8.25 percent. This was the next step in the important corporate tax reform passed by the Legislature in 2008. That reform legislation called for a gradual reduction to the corporate tax rate, which was at 9.5 percent when it was signed into law. The corporate income tax has dropped in three stages: from 9.5 percent to 8.75 percent on January 1, 2010, to 8.5 percent on January 1, 2011, and finally to 8 percent on January 1, 2012 as the final stage in the process. This gradual reduction to the corporate income tax creates a fairer corporate tax system, helps Massachusetts maintain its competitive edge, and provides relief for Massachusetts-based companies.
Massachusetts now has the lowest corporate income tax rate in New England.
The co-chairs of the legislature’s job creation commission are bringing their act to Plymouth next Wednesday.
Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) and Representative Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee) have previously held hearings in Holyoke, Worcester and Lynn. Now, they’ll be joined by Senate President Therese Murray to hear from Plymouth-area businesses at the Plymouth Public Library. Also invited to participate are Plymouth Career Center Director Kevin Parnham and Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Denis Hanks. Local business executives and labor leaders are also expected to take part.
According to a press release, the hearings are intended to give commissioners an overview of the challenges people face looking for work. Three panels, one consisting of job seekers, another of local business owners and a third of human resources professionals will each give their perspectives on the job market. Residents will also have a chance to be heard.
The hearing takes place Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Plymouth Public Library at 132 South St.
For more: http://plymouthdailynews.com/plymouth-next-stop-jobs-commission-tour-15182
BOSTON – The Senate on Thursday passed legislation establishing new employment rights for victims of domestic violence that will help victims keep their jobs and increase long-term economic productivity, Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) announced today. The vote was 34-0. The bill has wide support from advocacy organizations and the business community.
“This important legislation is a step forward so we may better serve and protect victims across the Commonwealth whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence,” said Spilka. “We must continue to do all we can to assist the victims of domestic violence, men and women who often don’t know where to turn, feel they have no voice, or are fearful for their lives.”
“Too many jobs are lost and too many lives are being destroyed because victims don’t have the opportunity to get the help they need and improve their situations without fear of being fired and putting themselves in a more vulnerable position,” Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said. “This bill requires reasonable employer considerations to help victims recover and continue to make a living. It will help alleviate the human costs, and the costs to businesses, that are associated with domestic violence.”
The bill requires employers with 50 or more employees to allow up to 15 days of leave, with or without pay, to any employee who is a victim of domestic violence or lives with a family member who is a victim of domestic violence.
Employees can use the leave to obtain medical attention, counseling, housing, protection orders and other legal assistance.
Employers can require employees to provide restraining orders, police reports, medical notes or other official documentation, such as a conviction record or victim advocate statement, to certify that the employee or employee’s family member is a victim of domestic violence.
The bill requires the employer to keep all information about the employee’s leave confidential. Employees must exhaust all available leave, such as vacation and sick time, before seeking leave established under this bill; however an employer may waive this requirement.
Similar legislation was passed by the Senate in the previous legislative session on May 13, 2010 but did not make it through the entire legislative process. It has the support of Jane Doe Inc., the Associated Industries of Massachusetts and the Retailers’ Association of Massachusetts.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.
Senator Spilka Takes Action Against Financial Abuses at State Education Collaboratives
BOSTON – The Senate on Tuesday took decisive action to end mismanagement and financial abuses at the Commonwealth’s education collaboratives, which help teach children with special needs, Senator Karen Spilka announced. With a unanimous vote, the Senate passed legislation that establishes strict oversight and accountability of the state’s 30 institutions.
“This bill shows the Senate’s commitment to increasing transparency and accountability in all areas of the public sector,” said Spilka. “We must continue to send the signal that this kind of misconduct will not be tolerated and that we are dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable citizens by making sure the programs and services they rely on are being adequately funded and monitored.”
State officials and the public called for immediate action after investigations last year by the state auditor and inspector general uncovered a serious misuse of funding at the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative and other collaboratives around the state.
