Your Arlington, your views

State Rep. Will Brownsberger, whose district includes Arlington, sent the following letter to Rep. Robert A. DeLeo, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, outlining Brownsberger’s state budget priorities.

Please do not think that the letter is the last word from me on the budget.

This letter is just one step in the House budget process. We have received the Governor’s proposed budget. The Ways and Means Committee in the process of preparing a House Budget. The Ways and Means chair seeks input from House members before drafting the budget in two steps — through letters like this one and through an individual meeting.

Then, after a draft of the House budget comes out, we have a second major round of input — we send our proposals for amendments to Ways and Means before debate begins. Ways and Means can accept or negotiate amendments or hold them for an actual floor fight. Typically only a handful of amendments end up being debated on the floor.

The final pass of input occurs after both the House and the Senate have acted on the budget — there is a conference committee between the two branches that has plenary power to make additional changes. However, changes at this stage are harder to accomplish.

You can reach me on my cell at 617-771-8274 or by e-mail at willbrownsberger@gmail.com.

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February 11, 2008

Hon. Robert A. DeLeo
Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means

Dear Chairman DeLeo,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the House Budget.

I am particularly concerned about local aid — expanding the special education circuit breaker (7061-0012), Chapter 70 (7061-0008), the METCO program (7010-0012) and also protecting Lottery funding and Additional Assistance.

I note that in the major aid programs — Chapter 70, Lottery and Additional Assistance — Arlington is still below the aid level it received in 2002. I would like to see us find a way to bring Arlington and the handful of similarly situated communities up to at least their 2002 levels.

I am also concerned about local property tax relief and I hope that, despite the state’s budget predicament, we can make progress on some expansion of the property tax circuit breaker. I am prepared to support alternative local revenue options, including the local option meals tax and the telecom loophole closing.

Other top district priorities for me include:

1. Operating and maintenance support for public housing (7004-9005) and the other basic housing programs under DHCD in the 7004-xxxx range (MRVP, RAFT, Soft Second Mortgage, Housing Consumer Education, etc.)
2. Services that help seniors to remain in their homes — generally the programs under Elder affairs in the 9110 range, such as elder protective services (9110-1636), the COA formula grant (9110-9002), the home care related programs (9110-1630, 9110-1633, 9110-1500); also, the Community First initiative (4000-0650).
3. The Office of Dam Safety (2800-0700), with a $200,000 earmark for the Amelia Earhart Dam on the Mystic River (this earmark appears in the Governor’s online system, but not in his printed budget).
4. Programs that help immigrants become integrated in our society as citizens, including adult basic education (7035-0002) and the citizenship programs (4003-0122).

Additionally, I feel that the following programs are very worthwhile and merit high prioritization:

1. Programs that protect LGBT youths (7010-0005 and within 4590-0250), LGBT elders (9110-9002) and LGBT victims of domestic violence (within 4513-1130).
2. The Youth Build program (7061-9626).
3. Teen pregnancy prevention (4530-9000) and comprehensive family planning (4513-1000) and teen parent support programs including the Young Parent GED program (4401-1000).
4. The scheduled bar advocate compensation increase (0321-1510).
5. The Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, 4512-0200 and 4512-0201.
6. Low income child care, 3000-4060 and 4403-2120 (earmark for Playspace).
7. The Mass Cultural Council (0640-0300) and the Cultural Facilities Fund (Outside Section 5).
8. Proposed program to establish social worker loan forgiveness program as proposed by NASW under the Board of Higher Education.
9. Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (0321-1600)
10. Earmark of $6 million for “family preservation and reunification services” in line-item 4800-3800, DSS.

As serious as our budget gap is, I wish to express my opposition to one cost-cutting strategy employed in the Governor’s budget. I committed in my 2006 campaign to oppose additional increases in the public employee share of health care if they are not bargained collectively. I think it is fair to bargain about reducing the share, or bargain about salary in contemplation of a planned share reduction, but it seems backhanded to unilaterally increase these shares after collective bargaining has recently been concluded for a number of units.

I also wish to express my willingness to support necessary state revenue increases — either the corporate tax revenue increases proposed by the Governor or other alternatives developed by the legislature. I do agree with those who feel that it is not responsible to count casino revenues towards this year’s budget balance.

I support and respect the commitment of all the state’s leaders to making health reform real — inclusive of all essential benefits, which I believe should include dental care — and I understand that this progress comes with a price.

I look forward to our scheduled meeting regarding the budget.

As always, I am very grateful for the time and consideration that you give to the concerns and views of members.

Read the dialogue posted to the Daily Kos