Tuesday, January 8, 2013
A drop in the state's median household income led to the salary reduction
Massachusetts lawmakers will get a pay cut this year, in accordance with a state law that links legislators’ salaries to the state’s median household income. Governor Deval Patrick’s office announced the drop in wages this week. “As required by Article CXVIII of the Amendments to the Constitution, for the purpose of adjusting the base compensation of members of the General Court, we have ascertained, from the federal census American Community Survey and reports of average weekly wages, that the median household income for the Commonwealth for the preceding two-year period decreased by 1.8 percent,” Patrick said in a Jan. 2 letter to State Treasurer Steven Grossman. The pay cut amounts to about $1,000 annually from legislators’ current base…
Friday, December 14, 2012
If passed, the law would allow the public to access information about Level 1 sex offenders.
In the wake of last week's horrific news of a Wakefield man arrested on charges that he raped infants and toddlers, House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he will take another look at legislation to publicize names of low-level sex offenders, an initiative that has the support of Westford state representative James Arciero. Arciero, who also represents Littleton and Chelmsford Precincts 5,7 and 8, believes that the proposed law, which would add Massachusetts to the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, is a common sense move. "We want to give information to all citizens that is necessary to protect families and keep neighborhoods safe," said Arciero, who spearheaded legislation last year to put information of Level 2 sex offenders …
Friday, December 7, 2012
Patrick announced the budget adjustments Tuesday.
In anticipation of the “fiscal cliff” combined with projected tax revenues that are more than half a billion dollars lower than previously expected, Gov. Deval Patrick released a revised budget designed to deal with the gap Tuesday. “The uncertainty of the fiscal cliff and the resulting slow down in growth, is the direct cause of our budget challenges,” Patrick said. “Congress and the President must come to terms on a solution so the private sector will continue to make the kind of investments that create jobs, grow state and federal tax revenue collections and contribute to a lasting economic recovery." The state is now expecting to bring in roughly 21.5 billion in tax revenue, and Patrick's plan to bridge the gap between this amount and…
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Hosted by State Representative James Arciero, a new venue drew a significant increase in attendance this year.
With the closure of the Westford Grille, Representative Arciero's Toys for Tots/Lowell Sun Santa Fundraiser moved this year to the Outlook Restaurant at Nashoba Valley Ski Area, bringing with it a significantly larger crowd. If you couldn't make it, here are some pictures from the event. More information on the Lowell Sun Santa program is available on the Lowell Sun website, more information on Toys for Tots is available on the Toys for Tots Foundation website.
Friday, August 3, 2012
The tax break was part of a larger economic development bill the state legislature passed Tuesday.
As part of the jobs bill passed on the last day of the legislative session, lawmakers passed a two-day tax holiday. The 115-page bill, passed on Tuesday, included a two-day holiday on the weekend of Aug. 11 and 12 from the state's 6.25 percent sales tax, according to the Boston Globe. The bill also allows for $30 million in state grants to spur economic development, particularly in scientific research and advanced technology manufacturing, the Globe reports. Excluded from the tax holiday are restaurant meals, cars, motorboats, tobacco and any item that costs more than $2,500. To offset the loss of revenue, Gov. Deval Patrick set aside $20 milliion in a supplemental budget he filed early last month. Massachusetts was one of 17 states in …
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The House is expected to decide today whether to accept the governor's changes to an amendment that restricts how welfare money can be used.
State Representative James Arciero (D-Westford) joined in overturning Governor Deval Patrick's veto on a law that restricts use of electronic-benefit cards, also known as EBT. Arciero was one of 154 House members to vote on passage of the original bill despite the veto, with no one in opposition and only Bryan Rushing (D-South Boston), Russell Holmes (D-Boston), Harriett Stanley (D-West Newbury), and Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) not voting. As part of the 2013 state budget, the Legislature included language that would have banned EBT card use to buy jewelry, manicures, tattoos, guns, pornography and other items. It is already illegal to use such cards to buy tobacco, alcohol and lottery tickets. But on Sunday Patrick rejected these new …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
State Representative James Arciero (D-Westford) was strongly in favor of the legislation, which would eliminate parole for violent offenders after their third offense.
State Representative James Arciero (D-Westford) praised his colleagues in the legislature for the passage of H. 3818, also known as the "Three Strikes Bill" or "Melissa's Bill." The piece of legislation gained its second name in reference to Melissa Goule, a 27-year-old teacher who was raped and murdered in 1999 by a man who had already been convicted of 27 crimes and only served two years on the murder. “This proposal has been under consideration for the last twelve years, and to my way of thinking, that’s twelve years too long," said Arciero, who recently addressed a public safety rally at the State House. "These strong sentencing reform measures will mean that violent repeat criminals who commit the most heinous crimes will be removed…
Thursday, July 19, 2012
State Representative James Arciero (D-Westford) spoke at a rally in front of the state house urging passage of House Bill 3229, which would provide more information to the public on Level II sex offenders.
Earlier this week State Representative James Arciero joined with local community leaders such as Chelmsford’s Laurie Myers to speak in front of the state house to increase protection for children and neighborhoods against sexual predators. Myers, president and founder of the public safety and victims’ advocacy organization Community Voices, said the bill will ensure that the most current information regarding sex offenders is available to the general public via the internet. “The safety of my community doesn't end at the town line. As parents we travel to different communities with our children and should have access to the information without having to visit the police department to fill out a form every time we want it,” said Myers…
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The following is a press release from State Representative James Arciero.
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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Ms. Kaylee Slafkosky, a junior at Westford Academy, recently participated in the 2012 Job Shadow Day program. This program, sponsored by Westford Academy to give students insights and information into possible future careers, allows an individual to shadow an individual for a day to see what a typical day at work is like and what transpires. As part of this program, Ms. Slafkosky shadowed Mr. Brad MacDougall of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts. Mr. MacDougall is the Vice President of Government Affairs for the organization which was established in 1915 and is currently the largest non-profit, non-partisan association of Massachusetts employers. Their mission is to advocate for policies which will promote business and …
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
State Representative James Arciero presented House Resolutions honoring Mary Lyman and and Nicholas Basinas.
- SUMMER
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Tuesday, May 29, 2012
State Representative James Arciero recently honored two Westford residents at the 2012 Kiwanis Apple Blossom Festival and Parade. Mr. Nicholas Basinas was named as the Westford Kiwanian of the Year and Ms. Mary Lyman was named the Westford Kiwanis Person of the Year. Both honorees were presented with House Resolutions from the Massachusetts House of Representatives outlining their contributions to their community and country. Mr. Basinas is a World War II veteran and has been a member of the Westford Kiwanis since the 1960's. He was influential in re-establishing the Westford Apple Blossom Festival in 1968. Ms. Lyman is very active in the Westford community and has greatly contributed to the local schools, the Boy Scouts of America …
ltm
2:25 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Informative reading for Westford state representative James Arciero and House Speaker Robert DeLeo By Dr. Jill Levenson: A multi-state recidivism study using static-99R and static-2002 risk scores And tier guidelines from the tier guidelines from the ADAM WALSH ACT ◆ RESEARCH REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE 2012 Award Number 2008-MU-MU-000 more ›