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

Hearing was the first of several Bill would change healthcare payments and organizations Everyone “pro” cost control, but some details at issue Providers concerned with over-regulation, lack of flexibility Others want public-option, public wellness provisions Committee concerned with cost estimates and funding     The joint committee on healthcare finance held its first hearing regarding [...]

Join your North Cambridge neighbors for an ice cream social at Sleeper Park (corner of Cedar and Dudley Streets) on Saturday June 11th at 3 pm (rain date: Sunday June 12th at 3 pm) for free ice cream and a chance to meet with your neighbors and talk about what great things you would like [...]

Dear Will – it was nice getting to meet you at Town Day – also great to get a chance to discuss the library. Unfortunately, I’m writing on another topic — like many Belmonters, I commute out to 128 on a daily basis. In my case I head North in the morning and south in [...]

Will, Do you know anything about the wooden walkway on the footpath next to the Alewife Brook? It is next to Cross St near the Parkway. It has been sitting there unfinished for a while. It only needs about 6 feet; does someone need to light a fire under someone to get it done? It [...]

This is a set of thoughts for builders seeking to become more green oriented. The thoughts may also be helpful for homeowners thinking about green projects.

Will, Interesting article here, partly on recents trends in union-busting, but also on public employee pensions.  Proposes, in the final paragraphs, that perhaps pensions should be put to a vote, just like bonds. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/mayjune_2011/features/the_fallacy_of_union_busting029139.php I’m not certain this would work well, because the public tends to have anti-Keynesian impulses (“I’m cutting back, so should the [...]

Interesting study – see the original document (quick read, 8 pages, simple-to-understand, good graphics) at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Fact_Sheets/Economic_Policy/drivers_federal_debt_since_2001.pdf How’d the national debt get so huge? In 2001, the Congressional Budget Office forecast that the nation’s publicly-held debt would be eliminated by 2006, and a surplus of $2.3 trillion would have accumulated by now. Instead, the federal government is now [...]

[from the NMA newsletter] This is a tale of two cities and how they approach their traffic safety responsibilities. As the newsletter title intimates, Roseville (California) and Chevy Chase Village (Maryland) represent a contrast of law enforcement philosophies. Let’s start with Roseville. Former Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge moved into that same role with Roseville [...]

We send our elected representatives to the State House to make hard decisions.  They are usually not popular with everyone.  Representative Brownsberger has listened to all sides of this issue and made the best choice possible.  Saying no is the hardest thing any of us has to do.  Will, your experience in town government shows [...]

Rep. Brownsberger, You said in the posting the Unions played by the rules but you have chosen to change them and that is not good faith bargaining.  I read your posting that because you are a legislator, you can change the rules.  As a union member who has negotiated contracts for my local, I played [...]

From today’s Boston Globe – ““It’s pretty stunning,’’ said Robert J. Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “These are the same Democrats that all these labor unions elected. The same Democrats who we contributed to in their campaigns.”  Congratulations to you, Will, and the others who voted FOR the people of MA who get handed [...]

I believe it is incredibly insensitive and reprehensible to remove collective bargaining rights from the union when planning health care options for their employees.   As a lifetime Democrat, I believe it is time for me and others to reconsider our political affiliation.     Why are you so afraid of our right to bargain [...]

The pay scales of public employees might be decided by an impartial referee committee that has no vested interest but the public interest (as much as is humanly possible). Politicians should not be directly involved in negotiating with unions. I believe in the very high value of unions.  However,  it is true that most people [...]

Will -I support your stand with the speaker on removing bargaining rights for municipalities on health care. Budgets are being cut to the bone and everything should be on the table in setting town budgets. Health care is also the prime area of expense growth and we all have to share the pain of controlling [...]

Will, I support your stand on allowing local authorities to modify contracts. All budgets are under pressure and there has to be shared sacrifice. I would like to see some more sacrifice by taxpayers. The tax rate could easily go up. The quid pro quo would be that towns and the State Government would have [...]

Dear Will, Please continue to come to relate to our Forum. We will be going over the facts again in terms of flooding and forest to note that the scientific facts of the DEP Hearings were ignored. I am very sorry if we have disappointed you to continue battling. IT is a miserable position to [...]

The all-electric Nissan Leaf will be available in MA by end of 2011.  The federal incentive is $7500.  Some regions and states, including California, offer additional incentives up to $5,000.  What is MA planning to do in order to encourage electric vehicles?

Hi Will, I have been researching SRECs for MassAudubon’s.  To date we have 250 kW of installed capacity around the state of which  44 kW qualify for the MA solar carveout.  I learned thatoin January 1, 2011 the DOER reduced, by over 8%, the penalty that producers pay for each MW below the state’s mandated solar quota (ACP).  Their stated [...]

Hi Will … I am curious if you know much about the services provided to educators by the DOE.  I am talking about licensure, MTEL, etc. The level of service for licensure particularly has steadily dropped over the years due to budget cuts.  At the moment a teacher with questions about their license can only [...]

Not  a current concern, but just some educational feedback from a group I belong to Roundabout Feedback Thanks to all who responded to our informal survey about roundabouts in last week’s e-newsletter. We have received close to 200 opinions, most from drivers who are quite experienced with roundabouts, both in the United States and overseas. Responses [...]