Will Brownsberger — State Senator, Democrat, 2d Suffolk and Middlesex District

I took a tough vote last night that many might, at first glance, disagree with. I write to explain my vote.

The day before the final day of the 2011 session the House completed work on a number of good bills:

I’d appreciate input on a Cambridge redistricting issue that has arisen.

It appears that surpluses in FY11 state budget line items have been sufficient to allow for a planned distribution of additional local aid to cities and towns.

The Special Joint Committee on Redistricting Committee has released its draft maps for comment. The legislature’s redistricting webpage now includes the proposed new maps.

In the spirit of transparency which I believe is the foundation of trust in government, I wanted to report to you about a hacking incident affecting my websites (among many others at my web hosting company, InMotion Hosting).

The Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization today approved funding for the reconstruction of the Belmont-Trapelo Corridor in Fiscal 2012.

Last week, I again voted against bringing casinos to Massachusetts. In 2008, when I first voted against gambling, I was voting in the majority.

The plans for the reconstruction of the Craddock Bridge assure considerable reductions in the flood risks posed by the Bridge.

Some have found the conversation about municipal health care reform confusing. Here is a summary perspective.

Builders can do good and make more money through green building. It’s not so hard to get started.

The Governor has signed the budget, making no spending changes and relatively few changes in “outside sections.” He did send back the municipal health care reform provisions with four narrow changes.

Highlights of the final budget include good local aid results, strong municipal health reform, limited spending with no new taxes, moderate reforms of the public counsel system and relatively good funding for a number of high priority human services.

The final budget comes in at the high side of expectations as to local aid.

The state budget approved today includes a new approach to health care negotiation for municipal employees. It streamlines today’s very cumbersome process while setting reasonable boundaries on the choices that municipal managers can make and assuring some sharing of savings with employees.

A meeting was held on Monday, May 27, 2011 in the State House to review the status of key issues in the Mystic/Alewife area with the management of the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

One of the most important subjects in the conversation about municipal health care has been the risk of high out-of-pocket costs. The GIC has just released a study which sheds light on this issue.

On Tuesday, June 21, at 10AM in Room A-2 in the State House, the Education Committee will hear testimony on two pieces of legislation related to the membership of the board of education. Both bills — House 1088 (sponsored by Rep. Walz) and House 1917 (sponsored by Rep. Garballey) — are designed to assure that [...]

Rep. Marty Walz and I have sponsored legislation (House 1090) to create virtual charter schools. This legislation is coming up for a hearing before the legislature’s education committee next Tuesday, June 21. Your thoughts on the legislation would be much appreciated.

Gretchen Morgenson’s new book about FNMA and the mortgage meltdown — Reckless Endangerment — is worth a careful read.