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iBerkshires.com Columnist SectionSue Bush
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Bosley Pleased With Outcome Of House Budget12:00AM / Monday, May 01, 2006
Boston – With the conclusion of the House budget deliberations late Friday afternoon, State Representative Daniel E. Bosley (D – North Adams) commented on the amended FY 2007 proposed spending plan, saying; “This budget is about the people and we were successful in bringing many great programs and services to the residents of the Commonwealth.â€
The biggest accomplishments for Bosley were the amendments that he advocated for on the House Floor. The following achievements were all prompted by Bosley’s hard work and dedication:
· $250,000 for capacity-building at MCLA to support the pilot wireless learning initiative in the North Adams and Pittsfield middle schools
· $100,000 for the Berkshire Compact for Higher Education, a program to promote affordability and access to the higher education resources available to residents of Berkshire County
· $200,000 for North Quabbin Community Coalitions of Massachusetts (formally AHEC), including The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
· $500,000 for the continued roll-out of the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative
· $1,000,000 for the Tri-Town landfill in Heath for pollution prevention
· $200,000 for the Western MA Enterprise Fund to provide workforce training in Western MA
· $42,000 to help fund the Turner House Living Center For Veterans in Williamstown
· Funding for alternative dispute resolution services in the trial courts, through the Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority and Berkshire Mediation Services
· $960,000 for the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment
· $68,000 for the North Adams Airport
· $500,000 for the matching grant for the Mohawk Theater
· $700,000 for the Massachusetts Cultural Council
· $900,000 to the Vietnam Veterans skating Rink in North Adams
In reference to the above accomplishments of the House of Representatives Bosley stated; “We always hear about big programs that impact our communities, but this budget proves that it is not always the big programs that make a difference – many times it is the small programs that make a huge impact to the local economy. These are the accomplishments are often the most rewarding.â€
The Berkshire delegation, comprised of Representatives Bosley, Speranzo, Pignatelli and Guyer were able to secure the aforementioned earmark of $500,000 for the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative. “This is great news for the middle schools in North Adams and Pittsfield,†said Bosley. “It will assist them financially as they roll-out the next group of laptops to the next grade of students. We are grateful to Chairman DeLeo and the Ways and Means Committee for their continued support and understanding for this initiative.â€
Additionally, much of the language from economic investment bill designed to promote job creation, economic stability, & competitiveness in the Massachusetts economy was included in the FY’07 House budget. The legislation invests in small businesses, community development and workforce education and development while seeking to ease cumbersome regulatory burdens. A few examples of programs included:
· Adult Basic Education
· The Cultural Facilities Fund
· One Stop Career Centers
· School To Career Connecting Activities
· Massachusetts Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Grant Fund
· Expansion of Broadband Services
· Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
· Recapitalization of the Brownfields Redevelopment
· Recapitalization of Emerging Technology Fund
This bill, the House budget proposal, engrossed in the House, will now be sent to the Senate for consideration and debate. Once the Senate engrosses its version of the budget document, a conference committee will work out the differences between the two versions for final enactment. The bill will then be sent to the Governor. |
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