FY17 Budget Priorities Letter to Senate Ways and Means

Today, Senator Brownsberger submitted this letter to the Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means outlining his budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2017 (beginning on July 1, 2016). Education, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and addressing excessive fees on people on probation and parole are among his top priorities.

Upcoming vote on tax proposal

This spring, the legislature will consider a voter initiative to raise the income tax on people earning over one million dollars. A hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, 1/19, from 10:30 AM-1:00 PM in room B-1 in the State House. I am fully committed to vote to put the proposal on the ballot and ultimately, you the voters will decide its fate. I’m very interested in your thoughts.

Report on the Consensus Revenue Hearing

Today the financial leadership of the House, the Senate and the Governor’s office held their annual “consensus revenue hearing”. In short, the outlook is fair — a continuing moderate budget squeeze with some warning flags about long-term issues. But those long-term issues — health care, pensions, and financial reserves — mean that the budgetary choices over the next few months won’t be easy.

Time to reform MA Records Access and stop Government Extortion (Support MA H.2772 and S.1676)

Will — Please support H.2772 and S.1676 Background http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/03/19/how-massachusetts-keeps-secrets-from-you/NatKrY9ISxepNBOLDSfzYK/story.html When the watchdog group the State Integrity Investigation graded states on how well they make public information available, Massachusetts failed. State Sen. Jason Lewis and Rep. Peter Kocot aim to improve the state’s reputation with a new bill that would increase public access to records. But …