Legislature's Partnership with cities and towns still holds strong
by State Representative Christine E. Canavan

April 10, 2008 – Each year during this time, members of the legislature and our colleagues in municipal government face tough decisions as we plan our budgets for the next fiscal year.  This year, we all face even greater challenges as the Commonwealth and its communities confront stagnant revenues amid skyrocketing fixed costs.  At the State House, this issue has without a doubt put a strain on funding vital services and programs that will allow Massachusetts to continue as a leader within the national and international economy.  And more locally, these challenges have made it difficult for municipal officials to continue funding the most basic of services – like education, public safety, the libraries, road maintenance, and Councils on Aging, to name a few – without even being able to think of improving them.

For quite some time, but particularly over the past few weeks, I have heard the argument that “the state doesn’t get it” or that the legislature has “abandoned” local cities and towns.  Although I can understand the frustration behind these arguments, I should tell you that nothing can be further from the truth.  In fact, the partnership between the legislature and the communities that we represent is stronger now than ever.

Most members of the legislature, including myself, have served as local elected officials and often call on these experiences to advocate on behalf of the communities within their district.  Many of us each year prioritize Chapter 70 funding and local aid assistance as one of our highest priorities because we understand that each of the Commonwealth’s 351 communities depends on it – it is their lifeblood. 

Continuing our partnership with cities and towns this year, the legislature once again passed a local aid resolution nearly four months before the start of the next fiscal year to give municipalities a clearer picture of what their state aid would be as they proceed with budget and town meetings.  Included in the resolution is funding for the Commonwealth’s five year plan to move individual school districts toward their target Chapter 70 assistance level; and this year Brockton, Easton, and West Bridgewater – the three communities within my district – will each see modest increases in their Chapter 70 funding.  Also included in the resolution was funding to hold cities and towns harmless for the decline in lottery revenues.  This additional funding approved by the legislature ensures that despite lower than expected lottery revenues, local aid assistance to cities and towns will remain the same for Fiscal Year 2009.  Although this puts an additional strain on the state budget during an already difficult fiscal climate, the majority of my colleagues and I feel that this funding is extremely valuable to the men, women, and children in each of our districts.

Also appropriated from the state and supplemental budgets that is not included in local aid assistance is funding for other programs and projects that are of critical importance to the communities of Brockton, Easton, and West Bridgewater.  This year, for example, the City of Brockton received $685,000 through the Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative (Shannon Grants) that is funded by the legislature.  In West Bridgewater, funding was awarded last month to the Housing Authority to improve D’Arpino Village on Esther Drive.  The town also recently received state funding for the construction of a new soccer field.  And each community within my district has or is now in the process of working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to renovate or build new schools with money set aside by the legislature.

Over the past few years, there is no doubt that the Commonwealth and its communities have confronted some pretty big challenges while, at the same time, making bold progress in many areas.  The legislature has passed landmark healthcare reform legislation, allowed cities and towns to opt into the Commonwealth’s GIC Health Insurance program, and spurred numerous workforce development initiatives while working to continue investing in our communities.  Clearly, there are many uncertainties with the Commonwealth’s fiscal picture in the coming months and quite possibly over the next year, but I believe the legislature’s commitment through these bold initiatives, such as the five year plan, will help all of us weather the storm.  And if one thing is for certain it is that during these difficult times, our communities – the communities that we also take pride in – will not be left behind. 
 

Representative Christine E. Canavan represents the town of West Bridgewater and parts of
Easton and the City of Brockton in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 
She also serves as the chairwoman of the House’s Second Floor Division.

CANAVAN TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TO HOUSE SEAT
Announced plans to run for 9th term at April 11th Annual Spaghetti Supper

(BROCKTON, MA) – State Representative Christine E. Canavan announced that she will seek re-election for a 9th term to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 

Representative Canavan has represented the 10th Plymouth District – currently consisting of the town of West Bridgewater, and parts of Brockton and Easton – since 1993.  In the legislature, she currently serves as the Chairwoman of the House’s Second Floor Division and is one of the ranking women in House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi’s leadership team. 

“As the State Representative of the 10th Plymouth District for the past 15 years, I have been a tireless advocate for the communities and citizens that I have the great privilege of representing.
“Since I was elected, I have consistently fought for the dinner-table issues that are important to my constituents.  I have taken great pride in offering timely constituent services – helping our neighbors navigate state government and making sure they receive the benefits and services available to them.  I have worked hard to strengthen education opportunities and local services, improve healthcare and social service delivery issues, spur sustainable job opportunities, and protect the environment.  However, there is so much more that remains to be done, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue this important work,” said Representative Canavan.    

At the State House, Canavan has distinguished herself as a true champion for the communities of Brockton, Easton and West Bridgewater.   She has continuously fought for increased Chapter 70 funding and local aid for the municipalities in her district, and worked with her colleagues to modernize and renovate local schools through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).  Each year, the Representative also works to ensure funding for YouthBuild, a program critical to the Greater Brockton community that serves out-of-school youth who are in search of a path to economic independence and success.  She has also worked closely with West Bridgewater officials to secure funding for a new Council on Aging facility and the construction of a new soccer field.

Most recently, Representative Canavan joined Brockton officials to prevent the siting of the International Charter School in Brockton, a proposal that would have financially crippled local school districts.  And she continues to be a vocal opponent of Brockton Power’s proposal to build a 350 megawatt power plant on Oak Hill Way in Brockton’s Ward 4. 

A Registered Nurse, the Representative has also been a leader in determining many of the state’s health care policies, and has earned the respect of her colleagues on these issues.  She has authored legislation, now signed into law, which set patient/staff ratio requirements for Out-of-Hospital Dialysis Clinics to ensure maximum patient safety; and expanded the scope of duties for nurse practitioners.  In the current legislative session, the Representative has sponsored five bills that seek to assist those living with Phenylketonuria (PKU) and similar metabolic disorders by modernizing numerous health insurance regulations.  For the past 10 years, Canavan has also been the chief-sponsor of the landmark Patient Safety Bill which many hope to be signed into law this year. 

Representative Canavan looks forward to seeing many of her friends and supporters at the April 11th spaghetti supper being held at the Brockton VFW Post 1046, 283 North Quincy Street in Brockton.  The suggested donation is $15 per person – smiling children always eat for free. 

Charter school foes lobby state