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

Will, while I agree that prescription abuse is a problem, this bill will likely compound the problems faced by patients dying of cancer and their physicians, nurses and families.  These are the people with intractable and unimaginable pain, usually in the last stages of life who are trying to die with dignity and some comfort. [...]

Will, The MassVote organization current campaign for election law reform includes: Online registration. We’re living in the 21st century! It’s time to let citizens register online. Pre-registration.  When young people are registered, they vote.  So how can we get more young people registered?  By letting them register when they’re 16 and 17 so they’re set [...]

Will Congratulations!  Best of luck and strength and inspiration, in all your efforts and collaborations Just a quick note regarding two current legislative initiatives. “3 Strikes”- I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re resisting this effort.  It’s a blunt weapon that often disregards any sense of respective circumstances of individuals, and doesn’t [...]

Congratulations!  So glad you’re in there fighting for us all, like the latest with three strikes.  And thanks for sharing on the personal side- our families always form such interesting tapestries to which we then add our own threads!

Will, we are lucky to have you representing us! Let us know what you need to get the job done…..  

Will, I recently moved to Belmont and had an energy audit done through the Mass Save program. The auditor told me that because I live in Belmont I was not eligible for several Mass Save programs, including free efficient light bulbs and no-interest loans for energy improvements. Can you explain why Belmont residents are excluded [...]

Hi Will, This is my fault for not taking the time over the years to ask you about your position in person. You certainly are always available. I know others who feel the same way that I do so I thought I would ask on this snowy morning to get some clarification on this issue. [...]

Anyone witnessing the sea of headlights and taillights at rush hour on the highways must realize that the solution to many transportation and environmental  related problems rests with public transportation.   The decision whether to commute to work in an automobile or public transportation is solely in the impact to the pocketbook.  The MBTA and [...]

Please attend this two-day event if you can, and consider endorsing important related Statehouse bills S304 (campaign funding disclosure) S305 (corporate accountability) S308 (clean elections) 1577  (pay to play) On the January 20–21 anniversary of the Citizens United decision, a wide coalition of groups will stand together for GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS! From 12:30pm-1:30pm [...]

Dear Will, Thank you for voting “no” on this criminal centered legislation. You stood out bravely on this, and it is appreciated. Not a popular “no” vote, but true and fair.   Here is some more information passed on from colleague and former Social Work Dean from Salem State. “Massachusetts is poised to pass very [...]

Might we expect any new regulations that require manufacturers to take back the e-waste, and/or make sure it’s recycled safely?

Hi Will … The bill passed recently preventing unions from collective bargaining on health plan design was sold by you and others on the basis that municipal managers needed the flexibility it offered in the face of rising health care costs, that benefits were unusually generous in some towns (e.g. $5 co-pays, very low premium [...]

Here it is Black Friday, the malls have been mobbed since midnight, and retailers are saying they want to be allowed to open on Thanksgiving Day too. They argue that consumers should have the choice to shop on Thanksgiving, which state law now prohibits. Rep. Colleen Garry has in fact filed legislation (House Bill 00989; [...]

Saturday at the Benton, November 19, 12 – 3 pm The library will be open for borrowing, reading and computer use.  A selection of donated books will be on sale.  All proceeds benefit the library. Thanksgiving Thursday, November 24 The Benton will be closed for Thanksgiving. Game Night at the Benton, Friday, December 2, 6-9 [...]

I think that people of color in Arlington should be in the same districts we have now. Too many districts put all the African Americans into one district, and that shouldn’t happen, now that AFrican Americans are already in several districts. Also if they are put into a district that where almost all of the [...]

OK, I will admit it — as everyone probably guessed by now — I’m not a big fan of traffic calming or lane reduction, or anything else that further clogs the cow-paths we call “roads”. Lord knows, I’m not itching  itching for another “Car v. Bike” shouting match, but here’s the latest NMA post re [...]

By John Carr, NMA Massachusetts Activist “One of the things Ford Prefect had always found hardest to understand about humans was their habit of continually stating and repeating the very very obvious.” – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy “THINK ROAD SAFETY!” the sign commanded. “OBEY SPEED LIMIT,” it added. I saw this [...]

The Everett C. Benton Library Fall hours begin this week.  Hours are Tuesdays, 10 am – 3 pm, Wednesdays  and Thursdays 2 pm – 7 pm, the first Friday of the month, 6 – 9 pm and the third Saturday of the month, 12noon – 3 pm.  The library will be open Saturday, September 24. The [...]

Is Governor Patrick reversing his progressive position on “trees to energy?”   An August 31 Boston Phoenix article (http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/126080-devals-green-blues) says he is.   The independent Manomet Report (www.manomet.org/node/322) was unequivocal in its conclusion that large scale forest biomass energy production is not a “carbon neutral energy source.”  The only woody biomass, aka trees that should be burned [...]

One special thing about special education is that it is extremely expensive. State auditor Suzanne Bump has released  scathing critiques of three special education collaboratives in Massachusetts, detailing misuse of millions of dollars of funds. I first heard the story reported on WBUR. Now I fear that more shoes may drop. My question to Will: [...]