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

Hi Will – just a note to let you know that I support the bill, filed by Rep. John Binienda, of Worcester,  that would exempt small brewers from the laws protecting wholesalers in MA. The law was written at a time when there were only two or three brewers in the market. Since that time, [...]

The matter of alimony is almost invariably a highly emotional and contentious issue for all parties involved, however the current state of Massachusetts alimony laws is rather antiquated and leaves much to be desired. A new bill currently making its way through the Massachusetts legislature with a large amount of momentum would radically reform these [...]

  The Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2012 Budget is currently in conference committee; the House and Senate working on negotiations over its final draft. Recently, the Senate passed its own version of the Fair Employment and Security amendment, Section 122.   Much of this amendment, particularly sections 1-7, regards the implementation of the Homeland Security created [...]

Analysis of the Attorney General’s report: Examination of Health Care Cost Trends and Cost Drivers Pursuant to G.L. c. 118G, § 61?2(b) Report for Annual Public Hearing June 22, 2011   Wide disparities in healthcare payments exist that are not due to variations in quality Simply changing to global payments does not reduce costs More [...]

  Press Release For Immediate Release   Jim Scott Benefit Concert, Belmont, July 2   “Singing For the Tree Tops,” a benefit concert July 2nd to preserve the Uplands Silver Maple Forest, will feature renowned folksinger and composer, Jim Scott.  This Fourth of July holiday weekend event will celebrate our unique forest on the Belmont/Cambridge [...]

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1841754107/Cambridge-City-Council-wants-cities-to-purchase-Belmont-Uplands#axzz1Ot7Kd0RA ‘Flood Plain Forest and Floodway Development Forum VIDEO TO SHOW IN CAMBRIDGE IN JUNE. Your program is scheduled to run on our channels according to the times below.  Please note that these times are subject to change: Wed, 6/15/2011 8:00 AM, Channel 10 Sun, 6/19/2011 3:00 PM, Channel 10 Mon, 6/20/2011 7:00 AM, Channel [...]

Hearing was the first of several Bill would change healthcare payments and organizations Everyone “pro” cost control, but some details at issue Providers concerned with over-regulation, lack of flexibility Others want public-option, public wellness provisions Committee concerned with cost estimates and funding     The joint committee on healthcare finance held its first hearing regarding [...]

Join your North Cambridge neighbors for an ice cream social at Sleeper Park (corner of Cedar and Dudley Streets) on Saturday June 11th at 3 pm (rain date: Sunday June 12th at 3 pm) for free ice cream and a chance to meet with your neighbors and talk about what great things you would like [...]

Dear Will – it was nice getting to meet you at Town Day – also great to get a chance to discuss the library. Unfortunately, I’m writing on another topic — like many Belmonters, I commute out to 128 on a daily basis. In my case I head North in the morning and south in [...]

Will, Do you know anything about the wooden walkway on the footpath next to the Alewife Brook? It is next to Cross St near the Parkway. It has been sitting there unfinished for a while. It only needs about 6 feet; does someone need to light a fire under someone to get it done? It [...]

This is a set of thoughts for builders seeking to become more green oriented. The thoughts may also be helpful for homeowners thinking about green projects.

Will, Interesting article here, partly on recents trends in union-busting, but also on public employee pensions.  Proposes, in the final paragraphs, that perhaps pensions should be put to a vote, just like bonds. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/mayjune_2011/features/the_fallacy_of_union_busting029139.php I’m not certain this would work well, because the public tends to have anti-Keynesian impulses (“I’m cutting back, so should the [...]

Interesting study – see the original document (quick read, 8 pages, simple-to-understand, good graphics) at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Fact_Sheets/Economic_Policy/drivers_federal_debt_since_2001.pdf How’d the national debt get so huge? In 2001, the Congressional Budget Office forecast that the nation’s publicly-held debt would be eliminated by 2006, and a surplus of $2.3 trillion would have accumulated by now. Instead, the federal government is now [...]

[from the NMA newsletter] This is a tale of two cities and how they approach their traffic safety responsibilities. As the newsletter title intimates, Roseville (California) and Chevy Chase Village (Maryland) represent a contrast of law enforcement philosophies. Let’s start with Roseville. Former Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge moved into that same role with Roseville [...]

We send our elected representatives to the State House to make hard decisions.  They are usually not popular with everyone.  Representative Brownsberger has listened to all sides of this issue and made the best choice possible.  Saying no is the hardest thing any of us has to do.  Will, your experience in town government shows [...]

Rep. Brownsberger, You said in the posting the Unions played by the rules but you have chosen to change them and that is not good faith bargaining.  I read your posting that because you are a legislator, you can change the rules.  As a union member who has negotiated contracts for my local, I played [...]

From today’s Boston Globe – ““It’s pretty stunning,’’ said Robert J. Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “These are the same Democrats that all these labor unions elected. The same Democrats who we contributed to in their campaigns.”  Congratulations to you, Will, and the others who voted FOR the people of MA who get handed [...]

I believe it is incredibly insensitive and reprehensible to remove collective bargaining rights from the union when planning health care options for their employees.   As a lifetime Democrat, I believe it is time for me and others to reconsider our political affiliation.     Why are you so afraid of our right to bargain [...]

The pay scales of public employees might be decided by an impartial referee committee that has no vested interest but the public interest (as much as is humanly possible). Politicians should not be directly involved in negotiating with unions. I believe in the very high value of unions.  However,  it is true that most people [...]

Will -I support your stand with the speaker on removing bargaining rights for municipalities on health care. Budgets are being cut to the bone and everything should be on the table in setting town budgets. Health care is also the prime area of expense growth and we all have to share the pain of controlling [...]