GOP pitches jobs legislation, ideas: wwlp.com
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Senator Knapik Discusses Jobs Package
Senator Michael R. Knapik (R-Westfield)recently spoke with 22News State House Correspondent Christine Lee about the comprehensive jobs package released by the House and Senate Republican Caucuses last week. Be sure to check out his comments by playing the video link posted below.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Senate Passes GOP Emergency Response Staffing Measure for Utility Companies
Utility companies would now be required to notify the state about the number of employees it has available to respond to storm-related power outages and other emergencies within a 24-hour time period, thanks to an amendment offered by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) that passed the Senate yesterday.
Tarr’s amendment seeks to ensure that utility companies have appropriate manpower levels in place at all times so that power can be restored quickly to customers in the event of an emergency. The amendment was adopted as part of an emergency service response bill that was crafted in response to widespread power outages that occurred throughout the state during Tropical Storm Irene in August of 2011 and a major snowstorm in western Massachusetts last October.
“The storms that occurred last year left hundreds of thousands of residents without power, many of them for weeks at a time, which is simply unacceptable,” said Tarr. “Utility companies must be held accountable, and my hope is that this new reporting requirement will compel them to maintain staffing at levels that are sufficient to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies and restore service in a timely manner.”
Under current state law, all electric distribution, transmission and natural gas distribution companies must annually file an emergency response plan for approval by the state Department of Public Utilities by May 15. Among other things, this plan must include: details on how the utility will communicate with customers during an emergency that extends beyond normal business hours; the names of staff designated to communicate with local officials and state regulatory agencies; and procedures for deploying crews to work assignment areas.
Tarr’s amendment requires utility companies to identify in their emergency response plans “the number of service workers available to respond to an emergency within 24 hours; and the locations where said workers are employed when not responding to an emergency.”
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for further action.
Tarr’s amendment seeks to ensure that utility companies have appropriate manpower levels in place at all times so that power can be restored quickly to customers in the event of an emergency. The amendment was adopted as part of an emergency service response bill that was crafted in response to widespread power outages that occurred throughout the state during Tropical Storm Irene in August of 2011 and a major snowstorm in western Massachusetts last October.
“The storms that occurred last year left hundreds of thousands of residents without power, many of them for weeks at a time, which is simply unacceptable,” said Tarr. “Utility companies must be held accountable, and my hope is that this new reporting requirement will compel them to maintain staffing at levels that are sufficient to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies and restore service in a timely manner.”
Under current state law, all electric distribution, transmission and natural gas distribution companies must annually file an emergency response plan for approval by the state Department of Public Utilities by May 15. Among other things, this plan must include: details on how the utility will communicate with customers during an emergency that extends beyond normal business hours; the names of staff designated to communicate with local officials and state regulatory agencies; and procedures for deploying crews to work assignment areas.
Tarr’s amendment requires utility companies to identify in their emergency response plans “the number of service workers available to respond to an emergency within 24 hours; and the locations where said workers are employed when not responding to an emergency.”
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for further action.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Senate Republican Caucus Calls For Moratorium on All Utility Mergers
In response to the rapidly paced approval by the Patrick Administration of the NSTAR/Cape Wind merger, the Senate Republican Caucus filed an amendment today to S.2140, "An Act relative to the emergency service response of public utility companies" that would install a three month moratorium on all approvals of utility mergers. The moratorium would provide the Department of Public Utilities three months to complete any outstanding regulatory investigations, procedures and reviews involving storm response by the department.
Last year, several regions of the state were hit particularly hard after an October 2011 snowstorm where wind gusts of 69 mph and 32 inches of snowfall was reported in some areas of the state, leaving more than 600,000 Massachusetts utility customers without power. The amendment would place a higher priority to complete storm response reviews such as the October storm, which has yet to be completed, and other long overdue investigations with utility providers.
“The amendment was on behalf of the thousands of ratepayers who will be affected by this merger, many of whom are likely unaware of this rapidly evolving story,” Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield) said. “The intention was not to squash the progress of the negotiating parties, it was to simply provide a more appropriate time frame for the Department of Public Utilities, the legislature, and residents of the Commonwealth to review the details and ensure they are being conducted in the best interest of all parties,” Knapik continued.
Additionally, the moratorium would allow constituents of the Commonwealth with the opportunity to fully understand the benefits and ramifications of such mergers before an agreement would go into effect.
“Today we are acting on a bill to improve emergency responses when power goes out. In addition to reacting to past emergencies, we should take action now to ensure that a merger on the fast track to approval doesn’t pose a risk to electrical service for ratepayers all across the state in the future. Before we allow this major merger to be finalized, we should ensure that we have the answers that will come from current and ongoing investigations by the Department of Public Utilities,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).
Unfortunately, the amendment failed in a roll call vote of 7-29. The Senate Republican Caucus will continue to fight for full transparency regarding public utility mergers such as these.
Last year, several regions of the state were hit particularly hard after an October 2011 snowstorm where wind gusts of 69 mph and 32 inches of snowfall was reported in some areas of the state, leaving more than 600,000 Massachusetts utility customers without power. The amendment would place a higher priority to complete storm response reviews such as the October storm, which has yet to be completed, and other long overdue investigations with utility providers.
“The amendment was on behalf of the thousands of ratepayers who will be affected by this merger, many of whom are likely unaware of this rapidly evolving story,” Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield) said. “The intention was not to squash the progress of the negotiating parties, it was to simply provide a more appropriate time frame for the Department of Public Utilities, the legislature, and residents of the Commonwealth to review the details and ensure they are being conducted in the best interest of all parties,” Knapik continued.
Additionally, the moratorium would allow constituents of the Commonwealth with the opportunity to fully understand the benefits and ramifications of such mergers before an agreement would go into effect.
“Today we are acting on a bill to improve emergency responses when power goes out. In addition to reacting to past emergencies, we should take action now to ensure that a merger on the fast track to approval doesn’t pose a risk to electrical service for ratepayers all across the state in the future. Before we allow this major merger to be finalized, we should ensure that we have the answers that will come from current and ongoing investigations by the Department of Public Utilities,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).
Unfortunately, the amendment failed in a roll call vote of 7-29. The Senate Republican Caucus will continue to fight for full transparency regarding public utility mergers such as these.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
GOP Caucus Unveils Comprehensive Jobs Plan
Today the Senate and House GOP Caucuses announced a job creation plan at the State House that aims to reduce the cost of doing business in the Commonwealth. The Republican package targets five key areas that employers have identified that would substantially help in the retention and the creation of jobs. Those areas are: business regulations, education, energy, healthcare and taxes.
All five areas focus on a different, but costly element of conducting business in Massachusetts. It is the hope of the GOP Caucus to get the 240,000 still unemployed Massachusetts residents back into the workforce. Posted below is a press release issued today by the caucus that highlights some of the key elements of the package. Also posted below is today's press packet that summarizes the jobs creation plan.
House and Senate Republicans Propose Innovative Jobs Package
Focuses on Five Targeted Areas Aimed at Job Creation and Retention
BOSTON – Led by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R- North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), the Republican Legislative Caucus has proposed an innovative jobs package aimed at cultivating economic growth in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The jobs package, which comes on the heels of the Republican Caucus’ statewide 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour, offers policies that are key to facilitating economic growth in Massachusetts and supporting individuals and businesses statewide.
In speaking with constituents and business owners, House and Senate Republicans have identified five targeted areas aimed at creating and maintaining jobs: business regulations, education, energy, healthcare, and taxes.
“This legislative session, we have done very little relative to the creation of jobs in Massachusetts,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones. “We, as a legislative body, have a great opportunity to reform the way we create and maintain employment opportunities, while at the same time making government run more efficiently.”
"We can and should take action now to spur economic growth, and incent job creation. This concrete plan contains specific steps we can take to propel our state's recovery from one of the worst recessions in our nation's history," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. "Armed with this plan, Legislative Republicans will begin visiting businesses to chart a course toward economic growth by doing things that really matter for the employers we're counting on to grow our economy."
Highlights of the proposed G.O.P. Jobs Package include:
• Business Regulations: Reduce costs for employers, reform the current Unemployment Insurance paradigm and streamline and consolidate processes for businesses;
• Education: Empower vocational schools by strengthening collaborations with community colleges and employers, improve overall access to higher education, and qualify veterans for licensure and/or academic credit at public institutions of higher learning;
• Energy: Decrease the cost of electricity for businesses and ratepayers, increase the efficiency of Green Initiatives and promote cost-effective renewable energy;
• Healthcare: Shift focus to the consumer, increase options for employers and employees and make healthcare affordable for all;
• Taxes: Reduce commercial vehicle registration fees, simplify and eliminate corporate fees and taxes, incentivize first-time home buyer savings accounts, and establish a job creation tax credit.
Announced by House and Senate Republicans today, the formal proposal will be filed as five major pieces of legislation. In subsequent weeks, members of the Republican Legislative Caucus will travel to local businesses throughout the Bay State to discuss the proposed legislation.
Final Jobs Package Media Handout
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
GOP Caucus to Unveil Comprehensive Jobs Package Wednesday Morning at State House
Tomorrow morning, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, House Minority Leader Brad Jones, and Senate and House Republican legislators will be unveiling a comprehensive jobs package. A press conference is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday outside Room 124 of the State House.
The jobs package offers policies which will support individuals and businesses and are key to facilitating economic growth within Massachusetts. Please check Scaling Beacon Hill tomorrow for more information about the jobs package.
The jobs package offers policies which will support individuals and businesses and are key to facilitating economic growth within Massachusetts. Please check Scaling Beacon Hill tomorrow for more information about the jobs package.
Monday, February 13, 2012
GOP Senators Hit the Airwaves
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert Hedlund were guests on host Emily Rooney's TV and radio shows, respectively, last week.
Senator Tarr joined Representative Shaunna O'Connell (R-Taunton) as a guest on the February 9th edition of WGBH-TV's "Greater Boston" to discuss the ongoing efforts to reform the state's Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card system. Be sure to check out their interview by playing the video link attached below.
On February 10th, Senator Hedlund appeared live on WGBH radio as part of Emily Rooney's "Week in Review" segment. Hedlund, along with Boston Globe columnist Joanna Weiss and Commonwealth Magazine Senior Investigative Reporter Jack Sullivan, debated the latest state and national political news, including the GOP Presidential Primary, the federal debate on birth control, and former House Speaker Sal DiMasi's testimony before a grand jury regarding the ongoing investigation into the Probation Department hiring scandals. You can listen to the segment in its entirety by playing the audio link attached below.
Senator Tarr joined Representative Shaunna O'Connell (R-Taunton) as a guest on the February 9th edition of WGBH-TV's "Greater Boston" to discuss the ongoing efforts to reform the state's Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card system. Be sure to check out their interview by playing the video link attached below.
On February 10th, Senator Hedlund appeared live on WGBH radio as part of Emily Rooney's "Week in Review" segment. Hedlund, along with Boston Globe columnist Joanna Weiss and Commonwealth Magazine Senior Investigative Reporter Jack Sullivan, debated the latest state and national political news, including the GOP Presidential Primary, the federal debate on birth control, and former House Speaker Sal DiMasi's testimony before a grand jury regarding the ongoing investigation into the Probation Department hiring scandals. You can listen to the segment in its entirety by playing the audio link attached below.
Friday, February 10, 2012
MEDIA ALERT: Senator Hedlund Appearing on WGBH's 'Week in Review' Today at Noon
Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert L. Hedlund will be on Emily Rooney’s Week In Review this afternoon between noon and 1 p.m. discussing the week's most important stories including the 2012 Presidential Election, Santorum’s resurgence, and the recent foreclosure settlement, among others. Tune in to 89.7 FM to follow the discussion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
