Steven Howitt on the Issues Click on an Issue Title Link below and learn more. | | Accountability | The most important issues facing the Commonwealth today are accountability and fiscal discipline. We need to ensure that we are spending our resources in the most efficient manner possible. The way to ensure accountability is to elect me to the Legislature to represent your interests. I want to put money back in your pockets and help your hard-earned money go farther for you and for your families. The voices of Norton, Seekonk, Swansea and Rehoboth need a presence on the Hill, and I intend to represent us well.
| New Directions | I am running for Massachusetts State Representative because I want to return a two party system to the Hill. . I intend to do what is right, as your elected Legislator, for all the people, and not simply for the special interests. Government is and should be about public service, not self service. I will listen to you, the voters, and take your message to the top. I am committed to working hard to bring the Government back to the people where it belongs.
| | The purpose of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 40 B is as follows:
“To increase the supply and improve the regional distribution of low and moderate income housing by allowing a limited suspension of existing local regulations which are inconsistent with construction of such housing.” In theory, although median income housing is appropriate and necessary, we cannot and should not allow the State to dictate to our communities that we must allow developers to sidestep customary zoning regulations and master plans. With the astronomical rising costs of housing in our district, we need median income housing for our senior citizens, our firefighters, our police force, our teachers and our children, all of whom are vital to our safety, education and growth as a vibrant community. We need a stronger voice for our communities as to what can and will be built in our communities. As a former Planning Board Member and Town Selectman, I firmly believe that the 40B law must be revised to adapt to need of communities, not to the needs of developers who could abuse the intent of the law for their own personal gain with a disregard to the results of their projects. The general principle governing hearings before a local planning board and/or the zoning appeals board is that all local restrictions, as applied to the proposed affordable housing, be “consistent with local needs.” General Laws, c. 40B § 20 defines consistency with local needs as being reasonable in view of the need for low and moderate income housing balanced against health, safety, environmental, design, open space and other local concerns. If less than ten percent of a municipality’s total housing units are subsidized low and moderate income housing units, there is a presumption that there is a substantial housing need which outweighs local concerns. The risks inherent in communities giving way to development of low and moderate income housing for the sake of fulfilling a presumed need caters to the ideals of developers, not the citizens of our community. Developers should conform to the zoning regulations and master plans carefully developed to best serve our communities, versus taking short cuts and overcoming regulatory loopholes to enable them to override our neighborhoods with quick fixes
| | I cannot support the proposed LNG facilities as a matter of public safety. A report released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is the licensing group for all LNG facilities did not adequately assess the probability of an accident involving LNG. However, it does describe hazardous fires that could result from a gash in a vessel transporting LNG. It also describes on-water spills from shipping boats which would result in hazardous contamination, as the spread could not be contained by a dike or other containment devices. On the water, in the shipping areas, a danger zone for fire radiation could extend for a mile, with the gas vapor potentially spreading for several miles or more. It cites the need for an exclusion zone. But how big would that zone have to be, and who could realistically define those boundaries? I believe that terminals for liquefied natural gas and shipping routes should be kept far from residential, populated areas, particularly in light of the report’s findings. Even as research continues into the probability of an LNG terminal being located nearby, the worst-case scenarios, as remote and unlikely as they may be, are not an acceptable risk. Impacted by the LNG issue are residents who already live in the communities, and incoming residents who would likely reconsider moving in to the community. The mere mention of “exclusion zones” gives me reason enough to say I can not and will not support the project. I agree with those who are knowledgeable about the ramifications, and who are seriously concerned about the public’s safety and well-being. | | I want to roll back the income tax rate to 5% as voted in 2000. Fifteen years ago, a “temporary tax hike” went into place, raising the income tax rate from 5% to 5.75 %. The current legislature voted to impose this increase. There was a ballot question put forth eleven years later, requiring a 3 year phase in of an income tax reduction, back to the 5%. This ballot question was approved by 59% of the voters in 2000. In the 4th Bristol District (Norton, Seekonk, Swansea and Rehoboth) the ballot question passed at greater margins than those in the rest of the Commonwealth, with the average of 68.6% of the voters in favor of the rollback. The legislators voted in 2002 to freeze the income tax rate at 5.3%, once again, disregarding the will of the constituency, it seems in direct defiance of the voters’ wishes. As your elected Representative, I will vote to roll back the income tax rate to 5% as promised in 1989, and mandated by you, the voters, in 2000.
| | The education of future generations is critical to our country. The children we educate today will become our leaders, educators and workforce of tomorrow. We need to be accountable for the vast amount of money spent on education in our communities, in our district and in our State. The intrinsic value of education is intangible, which of course makes evaluating education on the whole quite difficult. As questions arise pertaining to the accountability of educational appropriations, they should not be viewed as criticizing the importance of education itself. Quite to the contrary—since education is so important, the questions should be viewed as useful evaluation tools in order to help gauge the value received for the dollars expended (or to be spent) on education. To level the playing field, a thorough examination and analysis should occur to completely assess both sides of the issues to reach appropriate conclusions. Findings from the Task Force on State Intervention in Underperforming Districts will ensure that the students of Massachusetts receive a quality education and will serve as a blueprint for reform. I am committed to unlocking the potential of every child. The Task Force, chaired by Paul Grogan, the president of The Boston Foundation, focuses on solutions to help turn around both school districts that are labeled underperforming by the Board of Education as well as “low performing” as defined by new criteria. Statewide, the report calls for removing administrators from the teachers union, a common sense proposal that eliminates an obvious conflict of interest. Under legislation that was filed, a school is deemed “low performing” when its student performance on the MCAS exam fails to meet minimum standards for two consecutive years. For those schools, the report calls for giving management the authority to dismiss teachers for “good cause” rather than “just cause,” making it easier to remove bad teachers. In districts that have been declared underperforming, these new powers could be applied to any school with the approval of the Board of Education. In addition, the report gives superintendents the authority to convert “low performing” schools into pilot or charter schools, giving them maximum flexibility to make needed changes. The task force report recommends a comprehensive turnaround strategy for underperforming districts, starting with: · Establishing leadership evaluation teams appointed by the Education Commissioner and comprised of a teacher, administrator, private sector executive, instructional expert and community representative;
· Determining the willingness of district leadership to participate effectively in a partnership with the state and act swiftly to make changes;
· Engaging a turnaround partner if the evaluation team determines the district leadership does not have the capacity to make necessary reforms; and
· Ensuring community involvement occurs at every stage of the process. I believe a local partnership can work to turn around underperforming districts. I believe it is critical for parents and families to become involved and stay involved in children’s education.
| ILLEGAL ALIENS  | Illegal aliens are a burden to the taxpayers. Illegal aliens are persons who have entered this country illegally. They have broken laws to do so. They are not immigrants, they are illegal trespassers. Preventing access to the country by illegal aliens is a means of protecting the health, security and safety of all Americans. Our ancestors who migrated to the United States entered the country legally. They followed the rules. They were welcomed. Their heritage and traditions are honored. They chose to adapt to the traditions and language of the United States. Those who have jumped the lines, crossed the borders, or hidden away to enter the country illegally, the illegal aliens, should not be provided the same liberties and rights of those who abide by the rules. It is an insult to legal immigration. We need to strengthen the borders and heighten the enforcement practices of the Bureau of Immigration. There should be legislation adopted stating that any corporation or its subsidiaries doing business with any municipality in our Commonwealth must provide an affidavit stating that they knowingly do not, and will not hire illegal aliens. The corporations would be subject to fines for non-compliance. There should be legislation adopted stating that any landlord who knowingly or willfully leases or rents property or housing to illegal aliens should be fined. Illegal aliens receive free medical care, as hospitals or emergency rooms are required to treat persons in need of assistance without regard for their ability to pay. The rest of us pay for that privilege. Illegal aliens driving motor vehicles without a license may be stopped for a traffic violation. But more often then not, the officer will be unable to complete the paperwork required for the fine—the illegal alien will not have a driver’s license, will not have a valid ID card, will not have a permanent place of residence or employment. Illegal aliens entering the country without medical checks and balances in place risk bringing back diseases that were once considered “cured” here. Tuberculosis clinics are cropping up across the country once again. Leprosy is back. These diseases were unheard of in the United States until the illegal aliens arrived. Legal immigrants come into the country complete with medical checks to prove that they are not carrying diseases such as these. Of course it is unreasonable to state that the illegal aliens should be deported and sent back to their countries. But an enforcement of border patrols should be mandated. When illegal aliens are caught, they should not be brought in to the country and sent to immigration court—they should simply be refused access, and should not be permitted entry. | SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS | I believe in a person’s rights to keep and bear arms. “The conclusion is thus inescapable that the history, concept, and wording of the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as well as its interpretation by every major commentator and court in the first half century after its ratification, indicates that what is protected is an individual right of a private citizen to own and carry firearms in a peaceful manner.” (From the Report on the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the United States Senate, ninety-seventh Congress, Second Session, February 1982)
| JESSICA’S LAW and MELANIE’S LAW | The Jessica Lunsford Act revises sexual predator criteria; requires twice yearly re-registration by sexual predators; provides criminal offenses for failing to reregister, failing to respond to address verification, failing to report or providing false information about sexual predator, and harboring or concealing sexual predator; requires electronic monitoring for certain offenders placed on conditional release supervision, etc I am an advocate of Jessica’s Law. Consolidated here, Jessica’s Law will: Ensure that all child molesters who molest children under the age of 14 are put into a prison with a
mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years or 25 years to life. Closes all loopholes in the law. Eliminate all “good-time” credits for sex offenders ensuring that these sex offenders are required to serve
their entire sentence and will not be released for good behavior. Electronically monitor convicted sex offenders for life, if they are ever released from prison, through GPS
tracking. Create a 2,000 foot “predator-free” zone around schools and park to prevent sex offenders from living
near where our children learn and play.
For more information go to: I am an advocate of Melanie’s Law. Melanie’s Law will enforce stricter drunk driving statutes. “Melanie’s Law” was signed into law on October 28, 2005. Melanie Powell was a 13-year-old girl who was killed by a repeat drunk driving offender who struck her in the broad daylight in July 2003. Its purpose is to enhance the penalties and administrative sanctions for Operating Under the Influence (OUI) offenders in Massachusetts. The information below highlights the new penalties under the law and those sections that pertain to RMV suspensions. For First Offenders (1st Offense) Massachusetts DUI/OUI: If you are Found Guilty For Second Offenders (2nd Offense) Massachusetts DUI/OUI: If you are Found Guilty Not eligible for work/school hardship license for 1 year (+3 additional years of
if you refused the breath test) As of 1/1/06, an ignition lock will be installed in your car at your own expense for 2 years as a condition
of license reinstatement.
For Third Offense (3rd Offense) OUI Massachusetts OUI / Drunk Driving If you are Found Guilty They can seize, keep, and sell your vehicle for a third or subsequent OUI offense.. Not eligible for work/school hardship license for 2 year
(+5 additional years of if you refused the breath test) The Registry may cancel your registration while your license is suspended for a third or subsequent
OUI offense.
For more information go to: | | The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the Highway/Public Works departments merger will save money for the taxpayers. In the first year of consolidation alone this merger would result in a savings of $190 million dollars. The reason for these savings in the first year is that, without any negative impact on road quality, those monies will no longer be needed, given the shared credit strength of the new combined entity. Recent Turnpike actions have placed the entire statewide transportation plan in jeopardy. We’ve all see the results of the “Big Dig” and a changing staff is one result. A consolidation of the departments will speak to the will of the people to save money, and be more efficient. | | Passage of the construction reform bill marks the first major construction reform in 24 years. Reform would not have occurred without pressure on the Legislature to address the problems with public construction process. Construction reform will free up over $200 million that can be allocated to other programs The reforms include the following changes:
Alternative delivery methods State and municipal governments now have the freedom to use alternative procurement and delivery methods on particularly complex construction for projects valued at more than $5 million. The design-build system may now be used for road and bridge projects under Inspector General approval. The design-build method is a method in which the owner procures both the design and construction services in the same contract from a single, legal entity referred to as the design-builder. In a Construction Industry Institute study, design-build projects were delivered 33% faster than the previous Design-Bid-Build projects and cost 6% less.
More accountability The Construction Manager-at-Risk method will be available for use in public construction projects valued at more than $5 million. The Construction Manager-at-Risk places responsibility on the shoulders of the manager and ties their performance to the cost and time frame of the construction project through a guaranteed maximum price to be paid to the construction management for construction fees and cost of work. Construction managers must assume any costs over that amount.
Professional supervision Municipalities and other public agencies must hire a project manager for all projects valued at more than $5 million. The Legislature lowered the minimum project value to $1.5 million. Hiring a professional project manager will provide cities with an overseer who is able to understand the intricacies of construction projects and reduce the possibility of crooked construction practices.
Increased opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned forms An affirmative marketing program may now be established to ensure fair participation of minority-owned and women-owned businesses on state assisted building projects and capital facility projects. Public agencies may give added weight to minority and women owned businesses during contract award considerations.
More Funds for School Construction Projects Construction reform benefits the School Building Assistance Fund. Currently, the SBA has a backlog of 425 schools on the waiting list, even with the moratorium. Construction reform measures will free up at least $200 million in the state budget. This money could be used to lower school construction costs and help pay back the money promised to the districts for building projects. Massachusetts has been troubled by inefficient construction practices and hampered by the bureaucratic red tape required in order to get projects off the ground. Despite resistance from the Democrats in the Legislature, the first major construction reform in almost 25 years was passed in July 2004. | Funding School Building Construction | In the Commonwealth, there are many old buildings, including local school buildings. The average school structure was built during the Eisenhower administration. There is a state and local government partnership called the School Building Assistance Program. This program makes reimbursements for the construction or rehabilitation of over 750 buildings at the present time. This new growth is not without its costs; the success of the program has resulted in an unsustainable explosion in the demand and a long waiting list for rehabilitating or constructing new school buildings. There are now upwards of 420 projects valued at $4 billion in line. There are plans of extending bonds from 20 to 40 years to enable towns to take advantage of the present low interest rates. This would provide the necessary funding, not only to retire all remaining obligations, numbering 748, but would also move the 420 schools in waiting mode by fiscal year 2009 into construction mode, while honoring all prior commitments made to cities and towns like Norton, Seekonk, Swansea and Rehoboth.
| Abigail and John Adams Initiatives for scholarship funding | There is a program entitled the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program. It awards the top 25% of Commonwealth high school seniors (as measured by the statewide MCAS scores taken by the end of junior year) with free tuition to the University of Massachusetts, or to any state or community college. In addition the top 10% of the students receive a $2,000 bonus to help them cover the costs of additional campus expenses. Reimbursement to higher education campuses for tuition and fees is administered carefully through a line item on the Governor’s budget. This merit-based program requires a student to enroll in full-time study for up to four years, and is contingent upon their maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average. Parochial and private school students who take the MCAS exam at their own expense are eligible to participate in the scholarship program as well. I endorse the program and see the benefits it will bring to the many families and students encountering challenges and difficulties in paying for higher education in addition to other family expenses. Further, the program offers the potential to enhance and educate the workforce of Massachusetts with new graduates who may choose to live and work in the Commonwealth after graduation.
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