The Senate last week passed legislation that would aid the state in weathering the fiscal downturn.  The legislation will utilize $200 million from the state's stabilization fund, which was created for economic situations like the one we are currently facing.  The bill also includes a two-month tax amnesty program to encourage residents to make payments by removing penalties. This amnesty will not be available to anyone who has been investigated or prosecuted for tax-related offenses.  In addition, the legislation approved using $100 million from the state's pension fund, and cut $2.5 million from the Commonwealth Corps program.

Along with the voluntary cuts from the legislature, constitutional officers and the cuts made by the Governor, this legislation is necessary to balance our budget. We will have a better idea of if and what other cuts need to occur once we see the result of capital gains collections in January.

Our goal is to find efficiencies and preserve services that the residents of the Commonwealth depend on most.

The Senate voted last week to eliminate the use of trans-fats in the preparation of all foods in Massachusetts restaurants, following California as the second state in the nation to implement a statewide ban. 

The bill supports efforts by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006 that required food manufactures to list all trans fats on food nutrition labels.     

Trans fats are hydrogenated vegetable oils that raise the level of bad cholesterol in food. While they occur naturally in small amounts in some meats and dairy products, artificial trans fats are used to make most baked and fried foods.

To ensure the speedy removal of trans fats from Massachusetts restaurants, the bill gives the Department of Public Health six months to make sure that restaurants eliminate oils, shortenings and margarines containing the artificial fats. Restaurants will have 12 months to eliminate all oils or shortening used in deep frying or cake batter.

While the bill eliminates the use of trans fats in restaurant food preparations, it exempts serving packaged foods, such as potato chips, that contain trans fats.

With this legislation, we are eliminating a harmful food additive that is a major contributor to high cholesterol and heart disease. When you really think about it, this is no different that taking the lead out of paint - it's a serious health risk, and you just don't need it. I hope other states will follow the example of Massachusetts and California.

As part of an ongoing effort to educate the public about the dangers of carbon monoxide and encourage residents to comply with Nicole's Law, I will join State Fire Marshall Stephan Coan, Plymouth Chief Edward Bradley, Sandwich Fire Chief George Russell and the Plymouth and Sandwich Fire Departments to give out fee carbon monoxide alarms to residents.

After a brief speaking program, 200 carbon monoxide alarms will be available at each location, while supplies last.

The carbon monoxide alarms are being donated by Kidde, a leading supplier of residential and commercial smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and other life safety products. 

Nicole's Law requires every residence in Massachusetts to be equipped with a working carbon monoxide alarm.

The following are the times and locations for each event. Please pass this information along.

·           Noon
Plymouth Fire Department
114 Sandwich Street
Plymouth

·           2:00 p.m.
Sandwich Fire Department
115 Route 6A
Sandwich

"Senate President Murray understands how tourism affects the local economy, especially on Cape Cod. Tourism affects the local economy year round and documents the correlation between business referrals and dollars spent in the community.  Senate President Murray knows that investing in tourism will result in more dollars coming back into the State and each individual town."

-Marie Oliva, President & CEO
of the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce