Hinds Appointed to Senate Ways And Means
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Sen. Adam Hinds was appointed to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
The Pittsfield Democrat was appointed to the committee by acting Senate President Harriette Chandler on Wednesday, the same day Gov. Charlie Baker put forth his $40.9 billion spending plan for fiscal 2019.
"I am honored to join this important committee," Hinds said in a prepared statement. "It provides an opportunity to give western Massachusetts a louder voice when the Senate is making key policy and spending decisions."
Hinds is still in his first term and the assignment is coveted by lawmakers. The group is charged with reviewing all financial matters and the drafting of the Senate budget. It is also the last stop for many bills and proposals before reaching the Senate floor.
"I am honored to appoint Senator Adam Hinds to the Committee on Ways and Means. He will make a great addition to the Ways and Means team," Chandler said in a statement. "He has impressed me with his dedication and hard work, and I think that it is especially important that he brings even more Western Massachusetts representation to the committee."
Hinds joins fellow Western Massachusetts Sens. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield, and Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield, on the committee. The committee is chaired by Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland.
"Sen. Hinds is a smart, passionate, effective advocate who has already had a significant impact on the Senate in his first term," Spilka said in a statement. "Whether he is fighting for issues important to his region or engaging young people in local and state government, Adam brings creativity, energy, and openness to his work in the Senate. I look forward to having his voice — another strong voice from western Massachusetts — at the table as we undergo the very vital process of crafting a budget for the Commonwealth."
Baker released his budget on Wednesday as well. The Ways and Means Committees of both the House of Representatives and the Senate will now convene a series of budget hearings across the state. The House will take on its budget in April and the Senate follows in May.
Baker's budget is being touted as one that focuses investment in funding for cities and towns, tax relief for families, and increased funding for education, substance abuse, and mental health.
"This fiscally responsible budget continues to support every community in the Commonwealth without raising taxes on the people of Massachusetts," Baker said in a statement.
"Through tax credits, new programs and increased investments, our proposal will support working families as well as small businesses and enhance programs to make college more affordable, fight the opioid epidemic and get workers the skills they need to compete for better jobs. We look forward to working with the Legislature in the coming months to pass a sustainable and balanced state budget."
Hinds also serves on the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development and is the vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies. He is a member of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, the Joint Committee on Housing, the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, the Special Senate Committee on Citizen Engagement and the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.
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