Downing Named as Senate Chair of Revenue

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Sen. Benjamin B. Downing
BOSTON — State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, will tackle timely issues as he takes on his new assignment as Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Revenue during the 2009-2010 legislative session.

Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, released her leadership assignments Thursday, in which Downing retained his vice chairmanship of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, and was appointed to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means — the powerful panel which considers all matters relating to the finances of the commonwealth — and the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

"I appreciate the confidence Senate President Murray has shown in appointing me as Senate chair of the Revenue Committee, vice chair of Higher Education and member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means," said Downing. "I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and the Berkshire delegation from these new positions to address the needs of the 48 communities of the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin District."

The Joint Committee on Revenue considers all matters concerning federal financial assistance, state fees, the raising of revenue for the state by means of taxation, as well as certain matters relating to local property taxation. With revenue and tax issues an immediate focal point for federal, state and local officials, Downing, with newly assigned House Chairman Rep. Jay Kaufman, D-Lexington, will likely consider legislation and engage in policy issues addressing the state's revenue shortfalls.

Downing will continue his membership on the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs this term as well.

This is Downing's third chairmanship in the Senate. His first two leadership roles, Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Public Service and chairman of the Senate Ethics and Rules Committee, afforded him the opportunity to vet and make recommendations on many important policy initiatives, helping, he said, to make his freshman term a success. Downing and Kaufman have partnered in the past, serving as co-chairs of the Public Service Committee in 2007.
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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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