Recently, a Mendon constituent asked the Senator what he thought of making individuals receiving unemployment benefits volunteer for at least 8 hours per week for their respective municipality.  While agreeing that it was indeed a novel concept, the Senator suggested that it would likely require federal legislation to be implemented.  Additionally, he thought there may be constitutional implications with forcing individuals to volunteer. 

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The State House News Service (subscription required) recently posted the story below on July's employment figures.  You will notice that while the Commonwealth added jobs during the month, the unemployment rate remained the same, with 312,300 residents seeking employment.  Those jobs lost in government were largely census workers, temporary positions used to ensure an accurate count.  

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Governor Deval Patrick, who has signed more than 500 bills in the last two years, calls this 2009 – 2010 legislative session "one of the most productive … in decades."  Of course, the session still has four more months to go.  While under legislative rules, the Legislature is no longer meeting in full, formal session, dozens of additional bills are expected to be approved during so-called “informal sessions.”  Such sessions consider a variety of measures, but only with unanimous consent of both political parties and of members present during these sessions.

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On Thursday August 26, 2010, from 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm, the Patrick-Murray Administration and Mayor Menino and the City of Boston will host a Homeowner Foreclosure Prevention Workshop, open to homeowners living in and around the Boston area.  The Workshop will bring together mortgage lenders and homeowners in order to help determine if homeowners qualify for a more affordable loan, and will be held at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.  Below is the text of the letter from the Patrick Administration about the program, as well as a link to the invitation.

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During a recent caucus, Senator Moore and his colleagues in the Senate met with Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Margaret H. Marshall, and Chief Justice for Administration and Management of the Trial Court, Robert A. Mulligan, and expressed an interest and concern about the administration of their budget cuts.  Senators asked to updated about the status of their voluntary furlough program and its effectiveness.  Below is the Trial Court's response to those inquiries, which shows an impressive participation by judges and appointed officials.  Also listed below is a joint statement from Chief Justice Marshall and Chief Justice Mulligan about recent issues surrounding the probation department.  

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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