Focus

Senator Mike Moore's Accomplishments

Legislative Pay Raise

·         Senator Moore refused the 5.5% salary increase that was allotted to Senate and House members for 2009. 
Press Release

 

Voting Record

·         In his first month as a State Senator, Senator Moore separated himself from party members in an effort to generate meaningful reforms, save taxpayer dollars and inform his constituency of budgetary cutbacks. His first vote against leadership was to give all municipalities a one week notice to prepare before the governor made 9C cuts.

·         In an ongoing effort to maintain fiscal responsibility and protect additional rainy day funding, Senator Moore also supported a measure that called for a one percent cut to the executive branch budget for the remainder of the fiscal year, a cost saving of about $140 million.
Press Release

 

Senator Mike Moore Takes a Furlough

·         In an attempt to save money in fiscal year 2009, Senator Moore, along with his colleagues, announced that the Senate would take a 3 or 5 day furlough before June 30, saving the Commonwealth approximately $50,000.
Press Release

 

State Holidays

·         In an ongoing effort to save taxpayer money, Senator Mike Moore voted to do away with two Suffolk County Holidays – Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day – An estimated savings of $5 million.

 

Pension Reform

·         This session, the Senate unanimously approved a bill that will tie off loopholes in current pension laws to end abuses and save taxpayer money. The bill contains a number of common-sense reforms and includes language that ensures these changes apply to current employees. The bill also directs the currently-established Blue Ribbon Commission on Pension Reform to review broader issues within the system, such as capping large pension payments, and will make comprehensive reform recommendations to the Legislature by September 1, 2009.

·         Senator Moore believes that this type of reform is a step in the right direction, but that it does not go far enough. In the fall of 2009 the Senate introduced a supplemental pension reform package.
Press Release

 

Transportation Reform

·         Years of neglect and unwillingness to take on broken bureaucracies has led to a $15-20 billion gap between current revenues and what is needed to operate and maintain our current system of roads, bridges, public transportation and other services.

·         The Senate passed a transportation reform bill that called for the development of a new consolidated authority for transportation to improve the delivery of transportation projects. The bill promises to save at least $2 billion, and up to $6.5 billion over the next twenty years.
Press Release

 

Ethics Bill

·         As a newly elected official, Senator Moore understands firsthand that the citizens of this Commonwealth want and deserve greater accountability from their elected representatives. His campaign experience as well as his time serving as a Selectman for the town of Millbury has convinced him that the first step in restoring the public's trust is making sure that those who serve in elected office have a devout commitment to hold themselves to the highest standards possible.

·          The Senate passed unanimously a wide-ranging and ambitious ethics reform package that strengthens the integrity of the political process by closing loopholes to capture all “lobbyists”, wiping out lobbyist campaign contributions, and reducing the maximum annual contribution to political parties. This fall Senator Moore will host three Ethics Seminars throughout the Second Worcester District for both elected officials and the public to comprehend the changes in the law that was enacted this legislative session.
Press Release

 

FY2010 Budget

·         The Senate was forced to build its budget on $1.5 billion less than previous proposals by the House and Governor to meet the Commonwealth’s requirement for a balanced budget. The Senate had zero earmarks for additional spending, eliminated 77 line items, and made other cuts across the board to worthwhile programs and services.

·         Senator Moore voted against proposed tax increases on gasoline, personal income, and the sales tax exemption on alcohol.

·         Senator Moore was also able to secure additional funding for the Worcester County Sherriff’s office in the final Senate FY 10 budget, as well as funding for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership, the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiative, and the Tufts Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine. Press Release

 

State Employee Health Insurance

·         The FY10 budget requires that all state employees pay a larger portion of their health care coverage, saving the commonwealth $116 million in fiscal year 2010.

 

Municipal Relief

·         The local-option municipal relief package passed in the Senate budget gives cities and towns additional, targeted opportunities to restore funding for education, the elderly, public safety and other core services while also encouraging cost-saving strategies for health care coverage and shared community resources.
Press Release

 

The Pacheco Law

·         Senator Moore voted to increase the cap on the Pacheco Law and commissioned a study to look at the law further. Currently, contracts under $200,000 are exempt from the Pacheco Law’s restrictions. The vote raised that minimum to $500,000.

 

40B Audit

·         As a member of the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee, Senator Moore helped put forth a report concerning Chapter 40B: Building Accountability into Massachusetts’ Affordable Housing Program

·         On September 18, 2008, the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight (“Committee”) conducted a hearing to examine issues surrounding Chapter 40B, the state’s affordable housing development law. During the hearing Committee members listened to testimony from various parties, including the Inspector General, Gregory Sullivan, former Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Dan O’Connell and the Undersecretary for Housing and Development, Tina Brooks.  The Committee also solicited written testimony from a number of other entities, including Mass Housing Finance Authority (MHFA), Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), Mass Housing Partnership (MHP), Massachusetts Home Builders Association and the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA). 

 

·         While the initial focus of the hearing was on the cost certification process, it became evident that the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) had taken steps to address many of the oversight issues that had plagued Chapter 40B projects for the past decade.  In the past year and a half, DHCD, under the Patrick administration, has taken a necessary and proactive role in the administration of Chapter 40B projects and has reviewed and rewritten Chapter 40B regulations.  For example, one of the changes DHCD implemented is a requirement that developers must pay a financial surety to ensure that the cost certification requirement is met and that any excess profits are identified and recaptured. 

 

·         Although certain aspects of the cost certification process have been improved, thereby enhancing public oversight, concerns over the overall guidelines and regulations persist.  The Inspector General testified that there were no procedures in place to identify which projects had been cost certified or which projects had reached completion but had not yet submitted cost certification papers to DHCD.  The Committee was especially interested in the Inspector General’s allegation that millions of dollars in excess profits might be owed to cities and towns by developers who had either failed to submit cost certifications or who submitted erroneous or falsified certifications.  In addition to the cost certification process, the Committee heard testimony dealing with the newly implemented guidelines.  The Committee was particularly concerned with the guidelines dealing with profit limitations, project density and the definition of “uneconomic.”

 

·         After reviewing the testimony of the various parties and conducting an independent analysis of the new guidelines, the Committee makes the following findings and recommendations:

 

 

· Findings and Recommendations ·

FINDING ONE:    Over the long history of the Chapter 40B program, there have been considerable gaps in program oversight. A recent investigation by the Massachusetts Inspector General revealed that the cost certification process for completed projects has been spotty at best.  In recent years, MassHousing and DHCD have improved the cost certification process through the issuance of guidelines and regulations that have addressed some of the concerns raised by the Inspector General and others.  While this new guidance has substantially improved the monitoring and oversight of 40B projects, there is a need for better tracking of completed cost certifications.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• DHCD should create and maintain a database of all 40B projects undertaken in Massachusetts.  The agency should use this database to determine which projects are in compliance with cost certification requirements, which are out of compliance, and which projects are not yet ripe for cost certification submission. This database should be used to ensure that projects are cost certified as required and to recapture excess profits, if any, due to municipalities.

• DHCD should review pending legislation on Chapter 40B and incorporate legislative proposals into the Chapter 40B guidelines and regulations as appropriate.   

 

FINDING TWO:   In 2008 DHCD published new guidelines and regulations relating to Chapter 40B. While some of the guidelines are helpful for both communities and developers to understand the permitting process, certain substantive changes were made in guidelines that should have been implemented in a more rigorous and public manner through regulations.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• DHCD should review all guidelines and solicit public comment from all interested parties regarding which guidelines would be better implemented as regulations.  After deciding which guidelines should be rewritten as regulations, DHCD should immediately begin the regulatory process with respect to these guidelines.

• The legislature should enact legislation requiring that all regulations promulgated under Chapter 40B be laid before the legislature prior to adoption by DHCD.

 

FINDING THREE:   When DHCD implemented its new rules, it eliminated the “uneconomic standard” promulgated by Mass Housing Partnership and adopted by Mass Development, MassHousing, Mass Housing Partnership, and DHCD.¹ The Mass Housing Partnership guideline relating to profit states that “A for-sale project should be considered uneconomic if the Return on Total Cost is less than 15% (i.e., if projected sales proceeds exceed development costs by less than 15%).” The current DHCD guideline on profitability sets the minimum profit limit to be not less than the maximum profit limit (which is limited to no more than 20% of total allowable development costs).  Essentially, DHCD is advocating the rule that if a developer makes less than a 20% profit, the project is uneconomic.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

• With regard to profitability, DHCD should implement a clear standard with a 15% floor and 20% ceiling.

 

FINDING FOUR:     In the current guidelines, the section on density, setting out number ranges, can be misleading and used by developers to inappropriately support an increase in units to a proposed development.  By defining an acceptable range for units per acre, municipalities may lose their ability to negotiate with developers, simply due to the fact that a specific number “range” exists. 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

• The density section relating to number ranges in the existing guidelines should be removed to avoid conflicts between developers and towns over appropriate and allowable sizes for proposed developments. In the alternative, DHCD should adopt the standard used by MassHousing (four times the underlying density or eight units per acre, whichever is greater) or develop a method to calculate density which is tied to existing zoning regulations.

 

FINDING FIVE:    In response to Board of Appeals of Woburn v. Housing Appeals Committee,² DHCD implemented a new definition of “reasonable return” that says reducing the size of a proposed project by more than 5% will automatically be deemed “uneconomic” and the burden of proof is on the municipality to show the project is still economically viable.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

• DHCD should remove this language from the guidelines.  The Committee further recommends that DHCD follow the advice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Board of Appeals of Woburn v. Housing Appeals Committee and clarify the definition of “uneconomic” through regulation. Press Release

Auto Insurance Board of Appeals

·         Senator Moore was happy to co-sponsor a bill that was filed in response to a proposed administrative action by the Division of Insurance. This legislation, which was approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, preserved the independent Board of Appeals, rather than allowing insurance companies to administer appeals of their own surcharge decisions.
Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2009 | Press Release

 

Established Joint Committee on Federal Stimulus Oversight

·         The Senate and House established a special 18-member joint standing committee on federal stimulus oversight. This committee, chaired by Senator Pacheco, will oversee federal stimulus spending and make any legislative recommendations necessary to maximize federal funding.

 

Organ & Tissue Donor Week

 

·         Senator Moore sponsored Organ Donor and Tissue Donor Week at the State House, in conjunction with the New England Organ Bank. April is considered Organ Donor Month. The Senator hosted a press conference to kick off the week, with Governor Deval Patrick, Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian, legislators, and activists on the issue also participating. During the week, employees and visitors at the State House had an opportunity to sign up to be organ donors on their driver’s licenses. Approximately 78 organ transplants take place in the United States every day, while at the same time, an average of 18 patients die every day while waiting for an organ transplant.

·         Following the press conference, Sen. Moore signed up to be an organ donor himself. An art exhibit, Making Memories, was also on display, featuring pieces by individuals across New England who have been touched by organ or tissue donation in some way.

 

Restaurant Week 

 

·         Senator Moore was a key supporter and organizer of Worcester Restaurant Week.  Almost 50 restaurants took part in Worcester Restaurant Week in an effort to boost business at local family owned restaurants while giving people real value for their dollar.

 

Fair Share Contribution

 

·         As the Chair of the Committee on Community Development & Small Business, Senator Moore has been asked by many small businesses across the Commonwealth to examine the Fair Share Contribution aspect of the new Massachusetts Health Care Law.  The intent of the Health Care Law was to ensure that every person in Massachusetts have access to health care coverage, however it appears that certain business types such as temporary staffing agencies, restaurants, and industries that hire seasonal employees have similar circumstances whereby their employees may have health coverage through a spouse or parent and as a result the company is fined significantly for being unable to meet the 25% uptake test. While some changes have been made and additional changes are being proposed, there are still some inherent problems in both the Health Care Finance and Policy and the Division of Unemployment Assistance regulations that need to be addressed.  Senator Moore believes that given our current economic situation we cannot afford to waste any time in addressing these issues. It is imperative that we demonstrate to the business community that we acknowledge their role in the success of the health care law and that we are willing to look at ways to improve the regulations so that one type of industry is not unfairly burdened. 

 

·         Responding to the concerns of small business owners from across the Commonwealth, Senator Moore used his capacity as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Community Development & Small Business to hold an oversight hearing on the conduct and practices of the Division of Unemployment Assistance. This intervention has led to changes in DUA’s practices including:

 

·         Companies may now change information on their filing up until they certify. This change allows a business to correct information without having to call the help line or being required to submit affidavits if the changes were made prior to certifying the information. 

 

·         A DUA number is no longer needed to view the on-line filing forms.  Previously these forms were not accessible unless you had a DUA number. In addition to being able to review these forms they are now printable.

 

·         The agency has assured that the Fair Share Contribution Manager will review all notes and communications to ensure that any auditor being assigned to a case has had no prior contact with the company subject to the audit.

 

·         The agency has adopted a 30 day notice for appeal hearings and has begun to dedicate 5 hearing officers to hearing pending FSC appeals. As a result of dedicated hearing officers the appeals process is moving at a much faster rate.

 

CORI Reform

 

·         Senator Moore has continuously supported reforming our CORI system. The current Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) system prevents thousands of people from getting jobs and housing because of old or irrelevant criminal records.  When a person has paid their debt to society it is wrong to deny them the opportunity to make ends meet and provide for their family.  The CORI system harms the civic and economic life of the Commonwealth.  As a former law enforcement official he believes that in order to make Massachusetts stronger and safer, we need a smarter approach to CORI that helps reduce recidivism and end the cycle of crime, homelessness and unemployment.

 

·         When the Senate took up this measure in 2009 he was successful in adding more protections for healthcare professionals as well as provisions for a pre-trial release program utilizing electronic monitoring.

 

Small Business & Community Development Forums

 

·         As part of his duties as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Small Business & Community Development, Senator Moore has embarked on a series of listening tours around the Commonwealth. The purpose of the tours is to allow small business owners from around Massachusetts the opportunity to ask questions of the committee members, we well as providing their experiences and concerns with state policies governing small businesses. So far the committee has visited the Greater Worcester area and the South Coast. Future locations include Cape Cod, the Berkshires and Springfield.

 

Auburn Town Charter

 

·         Senator Moore was pleased to announce that the legislature gave final approval to a home rule petition filed on behalf of the Town of Auburn. The charter was amended to enable the town manager to become the chief executive and administrative officer of the Town of Auburn.  If the Charter is approved by town vote, the town manager would be appointed by the board of selectman and be responsible for the overall policy direction for the town government. 

 

Worcester Airport

 

·         Working with representatives from MassPort and the City of Worcester, Senator Moore helped facilitate a long sought transfer of the Worcester regional airport from the city to MassPort.

 

US Senate Succession

 

·         Senator Moore voted against a change in election laws that would have allowed the Governor to appoint a temporary U.S. Senator in the event of a vacancy caused by the death or resignation of the incumbent.

 

·         The measure passed both the House and the Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Patrick. Sen. Moore was one of 16 Senators to vote “no” on the measure.

 

·         The bill allows the Governor to appoint an interim U.S. Senator for Massachusetts, in the event of the sitting Senator's death or resignation. The interim Senator would serve until a special election could be held to select a permanent replacement, which under current law must take place within 145 to 160 days after the vacancy occurs.

 

·         The law was changed in 2004 to create a special election to fill a vacant Senate seat. Previously, the Governor had the power to appoint a Senator to fill the remainder of the term. At the time, U.S. Senator John F. Kerry was the Democratic nominee for President, and Republican Mitt Romney was serving as Governor.

 

Unemployment Insurance Rate Freeze

 

·         Working with his colleagues Senator Moore supported legislation that froze the unemployment insurance rate at the current level. This legislation was adopted in an attempt to assist small business struggling with realities of the recession.

 

Education Reform

 

·         The Senate passed an innovative education reform bill that establishes a new category of public schools, Innovation Schools, which are district public schools with increased autonomy and flexibility to operate. Any school, in any district, may take advantage of this new model, and the funding of these schools is the same as for any other school in the district.

 

·         This bill also provides options to improve existing school districts that are underperforming by authorizing the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to intervene and work with school superintendents to develop turnaround plans for those schools.

 

·         Finally, by increasing the cap on charter schools in the most underperforming school districts, this bill puts the Commonwealth in a better position to secure federal funds to help all public schools in Massachusetts.

 

·         Senator Moore successfully added amendments to the Senate version of this bill. The first sought to prevent students from multiple communities from being penalized from new restrictions on charter school attendance. The next amendment would have required school committee approval before the Superintendant in any given district re-opens contract negotiations with collective bargaining units.

 

FY11 Senate Budget

 

·         Senator Moore managed to achieve many legislative accomplishments in the FY11 Senate budget including:

 

·         Successfully fighting to increase the trained revenue amount for the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner from $1.7 million to $2.1 million, as well increasing the operating account of the office to of $605,000. This increase enabled the Worcester branch of the Mass Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to remain open.

 

·         Supported a key amendment designed to ensure illegal immigrants residing in Massachusetts are not capable of utilizing state services.

 

·         Kept the Glavin Residential Center open.

 

·         Added the NEPBA to the Commonwealth’s Joint Labor Management Committee.

 

·         Addition of a commission to the study the possibility of fees for inmates and a change to managed care organizations.

 

·         Senator Moore worked with his colleagues to ensure that this budget also included foundation level funding for Chapter 70 education funds for the second year in a row.

 

·         The Senator was very proud to secure funding to keep the doors of the Tufts University Cummings School open. This facility is the largest veterinary care center in New England and is of great importance to the town of Grafton and the 2^nd Worcester district as a whole. In addition to begin a topnotch school and research center, the Cummings School provides emergency care to pet owners throughout the region. Senator Moore worked with Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven C. Panagiotakos to appropriate the necessary funding in the FY10 budget and keep this vital institution open. 

 

·         Senator Moore worked with his colleagues in the House and Senate to appropriate funding to keep the Massachusetts Academy of Arts & Sciences at WPI open for another school year.  This center of learning attracts the best and brightest from across the Commonwealth and is a jewel in the educational system of the state. 

 

·         Senator Moore also fought for funding the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiative, the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a Lyme Disease Study, funding for early education initiatives and You Inc.

 

Senate Economic Development

 

·         Senator Michael O. Moore assisted in the effort to pass a major overhaul of the state’s network of agencies charged with developing business interests and economic activity in Massachusetts. The legislation creates a streamlined, cohesive model with built-in oversight and transparency measures to reduce redundancy and waste, and promote a more business-friendly environment that will ultimately help stimulate job growth in the Commonwealth.

 

·         The legislation creates a “one-stop shop” for businesses seeking to expand or locate in Massachusetts by requiring the existing Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) to contract with regionally-based economic development organizations. These private organizations would act as the primary contact for businesses seeking assistance from the state and perform business prospect management services on behalf of the Commonwealth. MOBD would oversee the efforts of these organizations, provide leads, and share information about state programs and services.

 

·         Senator Moore successfully amended the bill to include agricultural operations in the definition of a small business, for the purposes of this legislation. The purpose of this amendment is to prevent overregulation of local farming and agricultural operations.

 

·         Another successfully added amendment included an extension of permits issued by cities and towns designed to enable small business time to complete these projects, given the current recession.

 

ATV/OHV

 

·         Responding to alarming rates of injury and death, the Senate on Thursday passed legislation improving safety regulations for operators of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Massachusetts. The bill requires ATVs, off-road motorcycles and snowmobiles to be registered and all operators to wear helmets. It also establishes a minimum age of use for ATVs.

 

·         The bill prohibits anyone under 14 from operating an ATV, unless it is for a sanctioned race supervised by adults over 18. It also establishes penalties and fines for reckless and negligent use, leaving the scene of an accident, and unauthorized use and false registration.

 

·         In order to cross a public way, public safety provisions in the bill require that crossings are marked and approved as part of an authorized recreation vehicle trail system. The bill also prohibits ATV use that does millions of dollars of damage every year to public and private property, wildlife and crops.

 

·         Senator Moore was successful in adding two amendments to the bill which sought to expedite new additions to municipally approved trail systems and adding the environmental police to the provisions of Section 1 of Chapter 90C.

 

Safe Driving

 

• Senator Moore worked with his colleagues in supporting the final passage a bill that bans texting while driving, making it a primary offense, and takes additional steps to improve safety for all drivers and public transportation passengers while also cracking down on historically bad motor vehicle operators.

 

• The bill prohibits all drivers from texting while driving and punishes violators with increasing fines of $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second, and $500 for third and subsequent offenses.

 

• Senator Moore successfully amended this bill to mandate that a junior operator whose license is suspended shall not be eligible for license reinstatement until he also completes a program selected by the registrar that encourages attitudinal changes in young drivers who have committed a violation of the motor vehicle laws.
• While texting would not be considered a moving violation subject to an insurance surcharge, the bill does make it a primary offense which means law enforcement has the authority to pull someone over specifically for the act of texting while driving. Additionally, a penalty up to $200 or two years in jail, or both, would apply to anyone who causes an accident while texting and driving.

 

• The bill further enhances public safety by prohibiting junior operators – anyone under 18 – from using any cell phone or mobile device for any reason, hand-held or hands-free, while driving. Violators would have their licenses or permits suspended for 60 days and pay a $100 fine for the first offense. Suspensions and fines would increase to 180 days and $250 for the second offense, and one year and $500 for the third and subsequent offenses.

 

Bullying

 

• Senator Moore supported legislation which passed the Senate seeking to prohibit physical, verbal and written acts that threaten or cause harm to another student, including Internet “cyber-bullying,” while a separate school nutrition bill establishes new standards for fresh food options in school cafeterias and vending machines.

 

• The anti-bullying bill requires all school districts, charter schools and non-public schools to develop prevention and intervention plans by December 31, 2010 that include procedures for investigating bullying incidents, notifying parents and determining appropriate disciplinary actions.

School Nutrition

 

• Senator Moore worked with his colleagues to pass a bill establishing new nutritional standards in schools to address the problem of childhood obesity in the Commonwealth. Food and beverages in school cafeterias, vending machines and other locations in public schools separate from federal meal programs must be in compliance.
• The standards, to be implemented by the 2012-13 school year, will be developed by the Department of Public Health and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and include requirements for the availability of free drinking water, fresh fruits and vegetables, and nutritional information for non-packaged foods. The use of deep fryers is banned.
• The regulations do not apply to bake sales, concession stands and other school-sponsored events.
• The nutrition bill also requires issues of nutrition and exercise to be included in the educational curriculum, and it establishes a commission to make recommendations related the management of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes and eating disorders.

Small Business Health Insurance

• Senator Moore supported the passage of legislation to help spur economic growth by providing small businesses the immediate health care cost relief they need to retain and create jobs and start hiring again. The comprehensive bill requires insurers to offer affordable health plans, reduces premium fluctuations and promotes wellness programs for small businesses.
• The legislation delivers an estimated premium relief of 10-to-15 percent with the possibility of more for small businesses to save and reinvest in themselves and their workforce. It also establishes standardized transparency measures for comparing provider prices and requiring annual public reporting to shine a light on the marketplace and collect important financial information for ongoing policy discussions about long-term system reform.
• The bill requires insurance carriers to file premium rates with the Division of Insurance (DOI) prior to their effective date for review and gives insurers the option of filing rates under an Efficiency Guarantee.
• The Guarantee ensures that at least 90 percent of their premium dollars will be spent on actual care and not administrative costs, such as marketing, salaries or profit margins. If carriers choose not to file rates with the Guarantee, they would be subject to a DOI review to determine if premium increases exceed medical inflation, which would not be allowed.
• Senator Moore offered two amendments designed to further reduce the cost to consumers. The first sought to prevent discrimination against the providers of lowest cost services. The second would have required consumer notification of the existence of low cost providers.

Expanded Gaming

 

• Senator supported the passage of gaming legislation authorizing three resort casinos in separate geographic locations of the state that could generate more than $350 million annually for the Commonwealth, 15,000 full-time permanent jobs and up to 9,000 immediate construction jobs.

 

• An independent study commissioned by the Senate also indicates the Senate plan would bring additional revenues for the Commonwealth, more than $250 million annually, from onsite hotels and the full-spectrum of attractions associated with destination resort-style casinos. The bill sets casino-funded requirements for community mitigation, addiction services and local aid stabilization, and establishes a law enforcement and regulatory structure to ensure thorough and vigorous oversight of the gaming industry.

 

• Senator Moore was instrumental in securing protections for local entertainment venues from the excesses of resort casinos as well as ensuring these venues are supported through local mitigation efforts.

 

Nurses Assault Ban

 

·         Working with Massachusetts Nursing Association, Senator Moore sponsored legislation aimed at further protecting nurses and other healthcare professionals from assault and battery in the course of their duties. Working closely with colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives to see this long needed legislation passed, the Governor signed this bill into law on July 2, 1010.

 

Further Protecting Children

 

·         Following the passage of legislation last year to crack down on sex offenders, the law enforcement community determined that technical corrections to the law were needed to ensure compliance and public protection safeguards.

·         Working with those law enforcement officials, the Senate passed legislation, to update relevant statutes to include the new offenses established in last year’s “An Act Further Protecting Children”: Aggravated Forcible Rape of a Child, Aggravated Rape and Abuse of a Child and Aggravated Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14. 

·         Further, the bill amends the statutes related to said crimes as they pertain to the Sex Offender Registry, Department of Youth Services, Department of Corrections, and the rights of victims of said crimes with respect to police and court records.”

 

Right to Repair

 

·         Without debate or opposition, the Senate on Tuesday approved a bill forcing auto manufacturers to provide repair shops information and diagnostic tools currently provided to franchised dealer service centers. The legislation has drawn massive lobbying efforts on both sides. The Right to Repair Coalition, an advocate for the bill, said after it cleared the Senate that the bill “protects consumer choice and saves drivers money by requiring big automobile manufacturers like Toyota, GM, Ford and others to share relevant repair and safety information with local neighborhood car mechanics and repair shops.” Large auto manufacturers have raised concerns that providing repair information to local mechanics would jeopardize enable those businesses to develop generic versions of parts created by larger companies. Art Kinsman, spokesman for the Right to Repair Coalition, said Rep. Garrett Bradley (D-Hingham) is the House’s lead sponsor of the proposal.

Auto Labor Rates

 

·         Bills creating a commission on auto body labor rates. The auto body labor rates bill (S 122), sponsored by Sen. Stephen Buoniconti, calls for an advisory commission to develop and implement procedures to establish an average national auto repairer hourly compensation rate for all categories of labor performed by repairers.  The bill would require repair shops to pay an annual fee of $100 and auto insurers to pay an annual fee of $1,000 to cover the commission's staffing and administrative costs.

 

National Popular Vote

 

·         The Senate on Thursday voted 28-10 to approve legislation that would automatically send the Commonwealth’s 12 electoral votes to the presidential candidate with the most popular votes nationwide.

 

• The bill is part of an interstate compact that would take effect only if enough states join to make the electoral votes of the states in the compact combine for at least 270, which is the number needed to decide who wins the presidential election.
• With enough states in the compact, the electoral votes from each member state would automatically go to the candidate with the most popular votes nationwide, therefore making that candidate the winner.

·         Senator Moore supported an amendment that would have put the decision of accepting the national popular vote into the hands of the Massachusetts voters, but this amendment was not adopted.

 

State Universities

 

• The Senate approved legislation that will permit nine state colleges in the Commonwealth to be called state universities. According to the State Colleges of Massachusetts, the “university” tag more accurately describes institutional offerings and brings “added prestige,” providing students a “competitive advantage.”
• Under the legislation, six colleges would adopt the following name changes, becoming: Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University, and Worcester State University.
• Three additional colleges will retain their current names but would be referred to as universities and become part of the Massachusetts state university system: Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
• Forty-five other states have adopted state university name changes. Institutions that have assumed these name changes are schools that offer bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees but are not research universities.

Senator Mike Moore's Priorities

The Glavin Center

• In December of 2008, the Department of Developmental Disabilities announced their intention to close four of the Commonwealth’s six developmental centers, including the Irving A. Glavin Regional Center in Shrewsbury. This plan calls for the transfer of developmentally disabled residents to group homes, or to one of two facilities that will remain open. Senator Moore opposes the closure of the Glavin Center, and has fought hard to keep its doors open. While Senator Moore agrees that the vast majority of developmentally disabled individuals can thrive in group homes, there is a small segment of this population for whom a more intense level of care is necessary. Senator Moore believes that the best interests of these individuals, as well as the wishes of their families, should be prioritized over ideological beliefs. The Senator guided the Secretary of Health and Human Services on a tour of Glavin, hosted the Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Disabilities at a question and answer forum for families, invited other legislators to visit the facility and hear from family members, and met with Governor Patrick to express these various concerns. Senator Moore was also successful in fighting to include language in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, requiring a study of the closure plan to be conducted before any of the facilities can be closed.
  Press Release | Letter to the Editor

Auburn K9 Initiative

• Senator Moore successfully pursued approval for a grant of over $58,000 to enhance the Auburn Police Department’s School Safety K9 initiative. The grant is meant to address four main safety goals:

• Enhance regional ability to assess risk and prevent future terrorist attacks
• Improve regional ability to collect, analyze, disseminate and manage key information
• Improve the region’s preparedness by enhancing coordination among all public safety officials
• Improve the region’s ability to recover from a terrorist attack or other critical incident

Senator Moore worked with the Central Region Homeland Security Council and with the Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety to secure approval of this much needed funding. The Auburn Police Department is the only local agency with a team that is trained specifically for school safety. This unit is an asset to the region as it responds not only to incidents in Auburn schools but to thirty-two communities served by the Central Region Homeland Security Advisory Council. By securing this grant the Auburn Police Department will be able to continue to provide this critical service to the region.
Press Release

Shrewsbury Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Senator Moore was pleased to announce $64 million in financing and subsidies to the Towns of Shrewsbury and Westborough for the Westborough/Shrewsbury Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project, listed under the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, will be eligible for assistance through the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
  Press Release

Upton Poles

• Senator Moore received numerous phone calls, emails and visits from concerned Upton citizens regarding a strong odor being emitted from utility poles stored on Maple Avenue property in Upton and a perceived lack of action. Due to the perception of a lack of transparency, Senator Moore held a meeting in an attempt to get each party involved at the table to better understand what had transpired and to further discuss possible resolutions. As a result of several meetings, Cox Industries had agreed to move the poles off-site. This has been a long process which, to date, has yet to be completely resolved. Senator Moore continues to monitor the situation and maintains a dialogue with both the DEP and the Board of Health. Senator Moore worked towards total resolution of this issue for the citizens of Upton.
  Letter to the Editor

Pleasant Street Bridge

• While campaigning in Grafton, Senator Moore learned firsthand from Grafton residents about the importance of re-opening the Pleasant Street Bridge. As part of the Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, MassHighway announced that the Pleasant Street Bridge would receive funding from the historic $3 billion, eight-year Accelerated Bridge Program. In June, the Senator was thrilled to announce that the Pleasant Street Bridge was once again open to public traffic.
  Press Release

Fisherville Mill Brownfield Cleanup

• On August 26, 2009 Senator Moore announced a commitment of more than $1.2 million in state and federal funding from the Patrick-Murray Administration for the environmental cleanup and development of the former Fisherville Mill site in South Grafton.
  Press Release

Leicester Fire Station

• Senator Michael O. Moore was pleased to work with Representative John Binienda in obtaining funding for a feasibility study to determine the cost of constructing a new handicapped-accessible fire station in the Town of Leicester. The Executive Office of Public Safety will spend from its remaining FY09 bond cap $50,000 allocated in the General Bond Bill for this needed study. Senator Moore actively requested that this funding be expended on behalf of the Town of Leicester for its main fire station, Fire Station 1, which is over 80 years old and is insufficient to support current fire department operations. Senator Moore continues to work closely with the town of Leicester to find additional funding streams to finance the construction of a new fire station.
  Press Release

Millbury ADA Compliance Project

• Senator Moore has been working to obtain ARRA funding for the R.E. Shaw Elementary School Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Project in Millbury. This project will bring an elementary school into compliance with federal law mandating that facilities be made accessible to persons with physical limitations. Senator Moore feels that it especially important that our public schools meet these standards as soon as possible, to enable all children – regardless of limitations – to have school buildings that are accessible and up-to-date.

Wayfinding Initiative

• Senator Moore, along with Senator Chandler, continues to work closely with the City of Worcester on obtaining funding for the Wayfinding Program. This program was designed to establish a comprehensive identification and wayfinding system that creates a strong identity for the City, for its districts, and for destinations, while utilizing signature landmarks and gateways and providing consistent sign design.

Blackstone Valley Visitor’s Center

• The Worcester Blackstone Visitor Center is a critical component of the Quinsigamond Village revitalization and the economic development potential generated by the Route 146 project. This project is a partnership between the City, the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), the Worcester Historical Museum (WHM), and the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission. The Visitor Center calls for the renovation of the Washburn & Moen factory on McKeon Road and the relocation of the both the CVB and WHM. The facility will include a gift shop, gallery, theater and spaces for special events. The 6-acre site will offer other amenities including ample parking, access to the Blackstone River Bikeway, and passive green space around the scenic Blackstone River.

Canal District Streetscape Initiative

• Senator Moore has been working with local, state, and federal officials in an effort to obtain funding for the Canal District Streetscape Project in Worcester, which has been submitted by the City for consideration of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The intent of this project is to make functional and aesthetic improvements to streets in this promising business district. This is the first phase in a long-term project to reconstruct the Canal in the area and revitalize the neighborhood. The streetscape improvement will constitute the first step in a grander plan to improve the business climate in the neighborhood and promote development.

Upton Water, Sewer, & Wastewater Project

• The Town of Upton submitted two projects for consideration of federal stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Route 140/ Main Street Water Main Replacements, as well as the upgrade to the Station Street Pump Station, were both submitted. Senator Moore has been working closely with the town of Upton as well as with the state office of Infrastructure and Investment to find ways to obtain funding for both of these projects.

CenTech Park East Project

• Senator Moore has been a staunch advocate for the CenTech Park East development project in Shrewsbury. The proposed 85-acre business park will involve the construction of new roads, the placement of new infrastructure, and the construction of new facilities. The development of the site will provide much-needed construction jobs in the immediate future. Once completed, the development will have the capacity to accommodate a number of growing industries that are increasingly important to the economic vitality of the region, including biotechnology and high technology. This project will result in the creation of 600 jobs in these emerging fields. The importance of this project to Shrewsbury, as well as Grafton and Westborough, cannot be overstated. This project promises to attract businesses and jobs into the region at a time when people across the Commonwealth are struggling with layoffs and a weak job market.

Millbury LAND Grant

• Working with the Town of Millbury, Senator Moore has helped advocate for the purchase of a 15-acre parcel on Old Common Road, known as Mount Ararat. Preserving this piece of land is essential to maintain open space for recreational use and to sustain the character of the area. This parcel contains several streams and wetlands, which feed Brierly Pond. Shielding this land from development is necessary to protect water quality in the pond, as well as local wildlife. The space links two pieces of Conservation Commission property, and preserving the land would create an unbroken 70-acre zone of open space. This larger zone would contain frontage along both Brierly Pond and Old Common Road, preventing development in an area identified as a protection priority in the town’s Master Plan. This land sits at a critical location in the heart of several important mill districts in town, and its preservation is essential to fulfilling the town’s development goals. As a Millbury resident, Senator Moore feels that protecting the character of Mount Ararat is of utmost concern, and as such, is happy to advocate for this proposal.

Millbury SRF Funding

• On Friday, May 1, 2009 Senator Michael Moore announced $182,000 in financing and subsidies to fund an Inflow & Infiltration Analysis to determine the capacity of the Millbury sewer system. This project, listed under the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, will be eligible for assistance through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
  Read More | Press Release

Senator Mike Moore's Initiatives

Refusal of Toll Increases

• Senator Moore believes that Central and Western Massachusetts has paid more than their fair share of the costly Big Dig overruns, and refuses to support any toll increases that will again unfairly target and burden his constituency. The Senate intends to honor its agreement with the Administration, reached in March, to pass significant transportation reform and dedicate revenue for the Turnpike Authority and other transportation agencies to avoid toll increases.

Towing Reform

• This session Senator Moore is proud to be working with Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts in crafting new regulations designed to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth. Although non-voluntary towing is currently regulated, voluntary towing remains largely ignored. Senator Moore has worked with his colleagues in legislature to include these new provisions in the Municipal Relief Bill. Currently anyone with a truck can call themselves a tower. The new regulations put forth will require that towers be licensed insured and have a background check.

Regional Transit Authorities

• In the last few months, the legislature has made tremendous strides in an effort to craft meaningful reforms for the Commonwealth’s transportation system. As an additional means of reaching this goal, Senator Moore has filed legislation that deals specifically with our Regional Transit Authorities. This bill calls for the creation of a commission to study the potential benefits of moving employees of the RTA’s into the Group Insurance Commission. Additionally, the commission will also examine the current laws governing the management requirements of the RTA’s in order to determine whether further savings are possible.
  RTA Press Release

Affordable Health Plan

• As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Small Business & Community Development, Senator Moore put forth a legislative package that would create the Affordable Health Plan that could reduce the cost of premiums for the small group market. The Affordable Health Plan would establish in statute a new product for businesses with 50 or fewer employees and individuals, and would contain the following elements:

• Individuals and small businesses would be able to purchase it just as they purchase any other product.
• It would be available through the Connector, through a broker or intermediary, or directly through a health plan.
• The proposal would be limited to 1 product in the small group/non-group market.
• Establishes a statutory rate cap on reimbursements to all providers at no more than 110 percent of Medicare (or a rate actuarially equivalent to 110 percent of Medicare) for all covered services other than outpatient pharmacy benefits. Setting reimbursement at a rate of 110 percent of Medicare would provide immediate and substantial relief to those who really need it.

This legislation is still being actively pursued by Senator Moore and his colleagues.

Sales Tax Advertising

• Senator Moore has signed on as a co-sponsor to a bill entitled "An Act Allowing Vendors to Advertise the Paying or Absorption of Sales Tax." Under the current law any establishment, or any vendor, is not allowed to advertise that the "sales tax is on the house or we will pay your sales tax." This bill would allow vendors to advertise this way by repealing Section 23 of Chapter 64H.