Legislators Eye Upcoming Issues for 2006
by Matthew Keough, Medford Transcript
12/22/2005
Health care, funding for education and legalized gambling are just some of the issues that Medford state representatives are ready to tackle in 2006.
As days fall off the 2005 calendar, both Rep. Paul J. Donato, D-Medford, and Carl Sciortino, D-Medford, say they are keeping an eye on some big issues due to be brought before the Legislature very soon. Donato said he, like other representatives, will be gunning to take on the big issues early in the year before regular House sessions end for election season.
At the top of their lists of important items is health care reform, which both Donato and Sciortino believe could become the most controversial issue legislators will tackle in the upcoming year.
"The biggest issue for me is universal health care, and it looks like it is actually going to happen. Everyone is at the table discussing this," Sciortino said.
Sciortino added he was optimistic universal health care could soon become a reality, noting that health care providers are considering their options for providing expanded coverage for low-income households.
Sciortino said requiring the government as well as companies like the Wal-Mart and Dunkin' Donuts - both of which he pointed out are notorious for not providing coverage - will help relieve the burden taxpayers face.
"These companies have employees that go to the emergency room like anyone else, except that every taxpayer pays for the visit and ends up subsidizing these companies," Sciortino said. "We get calls about health care all the time. My district seems to be in high need of health care."
Donato said he was hoping the issue of health care reform would soon end positively, noting that the Senate and the House would soon enter a conference committee to decide upon final terms.
Another law dealing with health issues is the seatbelt priority act, which Donato said he will support. The act will allow police officers to pull over drivers who may be operating without wearing a safety restraint.
Donato said officers are now allowed to issue $25 seatbelt violations, but only when they have pulled over a motorist for an additional offense. Donato said resistance has come from people who feel the police "don't need another reason to pull people over," and from those who fear the act could lead to a rise in racial profiling.
"Seatbelts are a major cost factor for the amount of money paid for injuries due to people not wearing their safety belts, and in Massachusetts, that's a large amount," Donato said. Two past attempts to make seatbelt violations a primary offense tied in the House and were therefore defeated.
Another issue Donato said he was hoping to move forward is the economic stimulus package, which will allow the state to give private businesses and communities up to 50 percent of funding if the project will promote public services. Donato said he has favored supplying the fund with $275 million in additional tax revenue, while the Senate has argued the fund should contain $300 million.
Donato, like other representatives, said he favored keeping the additional $25 million in a rainy day fund for the state.
In other money issues, Sciortino said he was eager to push for restoring much of the education funding, which has dwindled since 2002.
"I think it should be the top priority this year," Sciortino said, adding that he filed a motion to restore $150 million of the cut funds in 2006.
Sciortino said he was hopeful he could refund the cuts, including adjustments for inflation, in two segments over two years.
"Medford, just like any other community, is millions of dollars behind when it comes to education," he said.
Donato added one way to generate more money for schools and communities will be allowing slot machines to operate in the four racetracks in Massachusetts.
"The racetrack owners are adamant that they are on the verge of bankruptcy unless they get those slots," Donato said, adding the state could lose more than $200 million if revenue if the tracks were to close.
Donato said detractors have said allowing slot machines in racetracks could hurt the lottery or create a slippery slope to casino gambling. Donato said he too was concerned by the prospect of casinos in the commonwealth, but he did not think simply allowing slots would create a problem.
Donato said allowing the slots would prove to be a boon for Massachusetts, which would collect additional revenue from the devices.
"Instead of having buses take loads of seniors to Mohegan Sun, they go to Wonderland Park," Donato said, adding Medford would stand to gain a large part of the revenue because of the city's proximity to the race track in Revere.