July 28, 2009
NORTHAMPTON – Governor Deval Patrick today announced a new partnership between the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) and the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) to bring broadband to unserved and underserved communities in Western Massachusetts.
Advocates seek more coverage for disabilities
Boston Globe
Kay Lazar
July 27, 2009
Massachusetts legislators this year have filed a flurry of bills – more than 70 in all – that, if passed, would substantially expand the medical services insurers are required to cover for patients but also potentially raise healthcare costs.
Word on the Street
MetroWest Daily News
Elizabeth Banks
July 26, 2009
State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, has complained for years that MetroWest is shortchanged in the state’s long-term transportation blueprint.
So last week she intervened to keep a major project from disappearing from the priority list.
(BOSTON) – The Senate on Tuesday passed legislation to preserve the stock of publicly-assisted affordable housing units across the state and protect the rights of tenants by implementing earlier notification standards for property owners and establishing a non-partisan advisory board representing tenants, property owners, municipalities and preservation experts to work with the state in developing future regulations.
“This is an important and timely bill that is both fiscally and morally responsible,” stated Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “It is much cheaper to preserve existing affordable housing units than build new ones. In these tough economic times, it is imperative that the Commonwealth find a way to continue to provide housing for our most vulnerable populations, including seniors and persons with disabilities, while not taking on unnecessary expenses.”
Seeking to provide some pocketbook relief during hard times, state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, will testify this morning about her bill allowing homeowners to deduct water, sewer and trash payments from state income taxes.
The proposal, under consideration by the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Revenue, would only apply to primary residences, but could potentially save many residents several hundreds of dollars a year.
