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

I transmitted today my annual statement of budget priorities to the Senate Ways and Means Chair.

On February 14 the U.S. Senate H.E.L.P. Committee will hold a Congressional hearing to review the Institute of Medicine’s 2011 report on pain, Relieving Pain in American: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education and Research. A little piece of Massachusetts trivia about this report.  The chairperson of the IOM committee was Philip Pizzo, MD, [...]

Will, This is such an important issue and I am so glad your are taking it on!! We have two family members who continue to be negatively affected by prescription pain killers which makes me very aware of the tight line one walks, starting from the very first presciption. Not that your bill addresses this but [...]

Dear Sen. Brownsberger: Are you taking a leadership role in fighting these destructive and short-sighted T proposals? The MBTA was deliberately left with a huge Big Dig debt and an inadequate funding stream, to support itself by exploiting helpless fare-payers. We need to remove the debt from the T, and create a proper state funding [...]

The globe did a good story this week on the issue of T debt.

Buprenorphine is an essential drug for me. Before I found a doctor who could prescribe it, I lived in constant pain. Please don’t make it even harder to get. I don’t get high on it. It just makes my life bearable.

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 [...]