Here is my press release on the end of the session accomplishments. Sorry these are so long, but I want to keep people informed.
Bosley Announces End of Session Accomplishments
As the Legislative session drew to an end these past few weeks, Representative Daniel Bosley (D-North Adams) played a key role in passing major legislation through the House of Representatives that impacts both the Commonwealth as a whole and secured critical funding for Berkshire County. Down to the wire, as versions of various bond bills passed between the House and Senate, Bosley kept his district in mind as thousands of earmarks were included in these bills.
One bill that Representative Bosley has been heavily involved with is aimed at expanding broadband service throughout the Commonwealth. Currently there are 63 towns in Massachusetts where there is only partial broadband service, and 32 have no access at all. This digital divide slows and deters economic development, threatens public safety and health, hinders municipal business and restricts creativity in the classroom. The bill created the Broadband Institute and dedicated $40 million for the purposes of increasing high speed internet access to communities across the state. According to Bosley, “this is the culmination of years of work to bring up the telecommunication infrastructure up to speed in my district. Now merchants will have faster access for their electronic transactions and business owners will no longer be at a competitive disadvantage.”
Representative Bosley was also able to obtain $54.5 million for the construction of a new, free-standing Center for Life Science and Innovation building at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. As part of the science and technology upgrades to the college, the existing science rooms need to be retrofitted. The last major upgrade at MCLA was 30 years ago and this funding will go a long way to level the playing field in the Science and Technology field. Bosley said that, “this project will continue the pipeline needed to feed the growing demand in the science and technology sectors. In staying true to the Commonwealth’s renewed commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), the new science center will be able to offer the next level of education for young people in the western part of the state.”
As the House Chair of the Regional Transit Authority Caucus, Bosley was integral in obtaining language to alter the funding mechanism for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) and secured funding for two major projects in the district through the transportation bond bill.
The bill included $9 million for planning, engineering, and construction on a significant portion of Route 116 in the Town of Savoy. This road has not been repaved since 1992. “Following this winter, Route 116 was laden with potholes to the point where it was dangerous to drive on. Year after year, the town has spent tens of thousands of dollars to patch the road. I am pleased that we were able assist the town to secure funding to completely re-engineer and re-construct the road to ensure its safety for the future,” said Bosley. There was also a $750,000 earmark for the City of North Adams to resurface four major roads that lead into the city. As preparations for the Hadley Overpass Bridge are underway, this will ensure the city can offer well-maintained alternate routes when construction begins.
In addition to that, there was language included in the bill that charges the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works and the Secretary of Administration and Finance with exploring the Commonwealth’s participation in the federal Toll Credit program, a program under which states that collect tolls for the maintenance and improvement of the federal highway system are given credit for part of those expenditures. There is a mechanism which appropriates any currently unused federal dollars that the state can access through the toll credit program to be used to fund improved financial practices and accountability at the Regional Transit Authorities.
According to Bosley, “the current reimbursement funding to the RTAs is costing citizens of the Commonwealth millions of dollars in unnecessary interest charges each year. As gas prices increase, the use of public transportation has similarly seen increased ridership. The switch to forward funding will help ensure sustainable funding for RTAs and allow the Commonwealth to become more cost-effective.”
The Small Town Road Assistance Program had some language changes that are pertinent to the district. Of particular note, eligibility for the program was expanded to include communities with 7,000 or less (it is currently set at 3,500 or less). It also repeals the law that requires communities who receive STRAP grants to repay 30% of the grant within 10 years. “These changes in the STRAP program are important to my district because more communities will qualify for the program and they will no longer need to worry about the 30% repayment before applying,” said Bosley.
This past winter, Bosley served as a member of the Massachusetts Dairy Farm Revitalization Task Force. The task force produced a report at its conclusion and its recommendations, which called for an income tax credit for farmers, the creation of a Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board, and a linked loan program, among other programs, are embodied in An Act Relative to the Preservation of Dairy Farms.
“This bill is the right first step towards ensuring the economic viability of dairy farmers throughout the Commonwealth. After filing the emergency declaration and allocating $3.6 million in relief to dairy farmers last May, I am pleased that we were able to offer longer lasting solutions through this bill. With rising gas and feedstock prices, the cost of production is rapidly increasing and the tax credit portion is crucial because it provides relief and stability to dairy farmers and their families when they need it most,” said Bosley.
The main part of the bill is a tax credit that is mirrored after similar legislation in South Carolina. The 90% refundable tax credit allows farmers to take a credit when the federal milk marketing order price for the applicable market drops below a trigger price established by the Commissioner of Agricultural Resources. The Department of Agriculture is charged with developing regulations to ensure that the cost of the tax credit to the state ranged from zero when milk prices are sufficient to cover Massachusetts farmers’ production expenses to no more than $4 million.
Other portions of the bill include: allowing the Department of Agricultural Resources to establish a program and regulations to permit the use of discount coupons in the sale of milk, extending from 2 to 10 miles, the span that individuals may drive farm equipment without registration, authorizing farmers who have an APR to qualify for farm viability technical assistance and implementation funding and creating a commission to study and recommend options for updating farming technology to promote energy conservation.
In his position as the House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, Representative Bosley worked in tandem with House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi (D-Boston) to produce legislation focused on promoting and developing the state’s clean energy sector. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center will promote workforce training in the clean energy sector and provide support to existing clean energy companies in the Commonwealth through the establishment and administration of job growth grants.
The bill establishes two types of job growth grants to be administered by the center: the clean energy seed grant and green jobs initiative grant. The clean energy seed grant will award funding to clean energy researchers and companies, non-profit and community-based organizations that seek to expand their organization and grow jobs. The green jobs grant initiative will award funding to higher education institutions and vocational technical schools to facilitate workforce development efforts.
"This Green Jobs bill will create the workforce and develop the industry needed to service this demand. It's going to put thousands of people to work throughout the entire state and create sustainable economic development in an industry that has great potential for the Commonwealth,” said Bosley.
The bill is revenue neutral. Under the bill, $43 million from the Massachusetts Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund and $5 million from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund will be transferred to the center to administer grants and facilitate economic growth. In the FY ’09 budget, $3.95 million was allocated to fund a clean energy industry study, operations at the center, and three different green job programs that will be administered by the Secretary of Environmental Affairs, including Senator Benjamin B. Downing’s (D-Pittsfield) “pathways out of poverty” workforce development grant to train low and moderate income individuals for jobs in the clean energy sector.
One of Representative Bosley’s bills that passed through the legislature this session was a bill that establishes a Creative Economy Council within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. The council will be tasked with formulating statewide strategies to enhance, encourage, and develop the creative economy in the Commonwealth.
“Coupled with the state’s existing creative economy sector, this council will help to create a comprehensive and sustainable infrastructure to cultivate a real strength of the Commonwealth.” Bosley said. “Many local artists, collaboratives, and organizations throughout the state are looking for ways to expand their businesses. By helping them accomplish this goal, we are creating more jobs, diversifying our state’s economy, and bolstering our tourism industry.”
The creative economy has also become a significant outlet for students graduating with art, design, and music degrees from colleges and universities throughout Massachusetts. With a culturally rich district, Bosley appreciates and acknowledges the impact this sector has on the economy.
In the environmental bond bill, Representative Bosley maintained two earmarks that preserve and expand on the pristine landscape of the Berkshires. One of them was $600,000 for the study, preliminary design, site preparation and associated costs of the Greylock Glen Environmental Center in the town of Adams. “I am grateful that we were able to assist the Greylock Glen project with this funding. Recently, the entire project has been moving forward and funds for the study will only serve to expedite this ongoing process.” In addition to that, $3.35 million was earmarked for phase II inspections and emergency repairs to the Notch reservoir and Mount Williams Reservoir Dams in the city of North Adams.
Upon enactment by both branches, these bills will be laid before the Governor to be signed into law.
In addition to this press release, I am very pleased that $50 million was included in the general bond issue for the cultural facilities fund that I created in the 2006 economic stimulus bill to fund the next few years repairs of our facilities around the Commonwealth and $10 million was kept in a fuel assistance fund. More on my plans to help people in the district this winter in an upcoming post.
