All told, 2009 was a difficult year on a personal level for many Massachusetts residents, and it was difficult for our state as a whole.
Over the past year, the economy continued a rapid descent and many Massachusetts residents found themselves struggling financially.
Jobs were lost as our state’s unemployment level reached its highest level since the 1970’s. And residents had to grapple with rising costs, including a higher sales tax and the threat of toll increases.
Those new costs were brought on amidst news that our state faced a multi-billion dollar budget deficit and that tax revenues were in steep decline. The legislature purported to try to address the situation with responsible budgeting and reforms in areas like transportation. However, budget plans fell short of finding the real savings we need to make our budget responsible. Too often, programs like local aid and services for the vulnerable fell victim to cuts while wasteful spending and duplication were permitted to remain. And bills passed in the name of reforming things like transportation, ethics and our state retirement system fell short of the full-blown change we need to make state government more efficient and accountable to the taxpayers.
In fact, getting anything done on Beacon Hill was difficult amidst news of ethical problems for politicians, and with too many legislators concerned about things like how they could accept a pay raise and fight back a proposal for term limits instead of thinking about problems facing everyday people across their districts.
As we look ahead to 2010, here’s hoping for a better, brighter year. A recent revenue hearing at the State House pointed to the possibility of economic growth over the next year, with hope that the job market and tax revenues could pick up by year’s end. That would be welcome news to everyone.
Legislatively, formal sessions will begin within a few short days. At the top of the list of bills to be addressed is an education reform bill that will let our state tap into federal Race to the Top funds, while at the same time helping some of our chronically-underperforming school districts succeed. There’s already talk that a debate on expanded gaming could follow. And in late January, Governor Patrick will release his budget plan for Fiscal Year 2011, which will start many months of budget deliberations for the coming year. I’m hoping there will also be a chance to address several bills I filed to establish better monitoring for sex offenders, dangerousness hearings for child rapists, and provisions for municipal relief, among others.
Let’s hope that the next twelve months will be a new beginning for our state and that we will emerge from 2009 stronger, more hopeful, and ready to prosper once again. I wish you and your family a safe, happy and successful New Year.
