緬因州會否出現首名華裔市長 12/8 見分曉

緬因州路易斯頓市（Lewiston）的市長選舉，由於兩名最高票候選人的得票率都沒超過50%，該市預定於12月8日為這兩人再辦一次選舉，一決勝負。緬因州是否將締造選出首名華裔市長的歷史，還得等等看。

路易斯頓市共有5人參選市長。有一半華裔血統的陳樂（Ben Chin）爭取到最高票，3,763票，得票率44%。

路易斯頓在位市長，爭取第三度連任的麥當納（Bob Macdonald）得3,106票，得票率37%。

其他3名參選人為Steve Morgan，Charles Soule，以及Luke Jensen。

陳樂向支持者表示，這場選舉已變成路易斯頓市，甚至是緬因州的靈魂之戰，他期待著即將舉辦的第二次選舉。

麥當納則表示，他對自己有信心，反正他要是就贏，要不就輸。

外界觀察家指出，這場選戰分裂了路易斯頓市。該是一向是民主黨堅強陣地，但近年選民態度轉趨保守，選出了麥當納當市長，還在2014年以絕大多數票選出共和黨籍的路易斯頓市居民樂佩吉（Paul LePage)當州長。

這場選戰也吸引了非常多的選民出席投票。非正式選舉結果顯示，超過8,300人投了票，佔已登記選民的三分之一有多。但這類選舉一般只有不到20%的選民投票。

因為兩大事件，緬因州路易斯頓市這場選戰，甚至上了全國版頭條。先是9月份時，麥當納要求製作一個領取政府援助者的網上名冊，陳樂批評這一做法，接著10月份時，當地房東鄧喬（Joe Dunne ）插出一個寫著「別投票給“何志陳（Ho Chi Chin）”」字句的標語牌。

鄧喬說，他放這個標語牌是因為陳樂的社會主義政策。但是，陳樂是一名華裔美人，包括共和黨員，民主黨員在內的許多人都批評這做法涉嫌種族歧視。

陳樂工作的緬因人民聯盟（Maine People’s Alliance）曾公佈一份報告，指該市71筆由鄧喬等3名房東所擁有土地，營運方式令人憂慮。

截至10月20日止，陳樂的競選陣營已籌得63,000元，麥當納卻只籌得1600元。

HARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO PAY $1.87 MILLION TO MASSHEALTH OVER DRUG PRICING ALLEGATIONS

HARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO PAY $1.87 MILLION TO MASSHEALTH OVER DRUG PRICING ALLEGATIONS

BOSTON – Two pharmaceutical companies will pay a total of $1.87 million to resolve claims that they underpaid drug rebates owed to MassHealth, Attorney General Healey announced today.

The AG’s Office joined with other states and the federal government in resolving allegations that AstraZeneca LP and Cephalon, Inc. violated state and federal False Claims Acts by manipulating price reporting to decrease rebates that they owed to state Medicaid programs. 

“These pharmaceutical companies were alleged to have manipulated reporting requirements in order to underpay rebates for their drugs,” AG Healey said. “This settlement brings critical funds back to our MassHealth program. We will continue to work to hold drug manufacturers accountable for their conduct and ensure that they comply with federal and state laws.”

Under a federal law known as the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, drug manufacturers must periodically return a portion of the amount paid by state Medicaid programs for the manufacturers’ drugs. The rebate program is designed to ensure that states pay competitive prices for drugs. The rebate is calculated based on a percentage of the average price drug wholesalers pay for the manufacturer’s drugs. This average price, which the manufacturer reports to the federal government, is known as the Average Manufacturer’s Price (AMP). The greater the AMP reported by the manufacturer, the greater the rebate the manufacturer must pay. 

The settlements resulted from a qui tam action pursued by a whistleblower in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under the federal False Claims Act and various state false claims statutes. The complaint alleged that AstraZeneca and Cephalon falsely treated certain fees paid to wholesalers as “discounts,” and that the effect of this accounting practice was to improperly decrease the AMPs AstraZeneca and Cephalon reported to the federal government, enabling them to underpay rebates owed to the states.

Under the terms of its settlement, AstraZeneca will pay the United States and participating states a total of $46.5 million. Of that amount, AstraZeneca will pay roughly $1.75 million to MassHealth. In a separate parallel settlement, Cephalon will pay the United States and participating states a total of $7.5 million, including approximately $129,000 for MassHealth.

            Assistant Attorney General Joshua Orr of AG Healey’s Medicaid Fraud Division served as principal negotiator on behalf of the states.  He was assisted by Assistant Attorney General Robert Patten, also of AG Healey’s Medicaid Fraud Division, and by Assistant Attorneys General and data analysts from Colorado, New York, Nevada, South Carolina, and Texas.  

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER JACQUELINE WOODSON TO VISIT CODMAN SQUARE, GROVE HALL, AND DUDLEY BRANCHES

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER JACQUELINE WOODSON TO VISIT CODMAN SQUARE, GROVE HALL, AND DUDLEY BRANCHES

Part of the Boston Public Library’s Brown Girl Dreaming Initiative

BOSTON – November 4, 2015 – Today, the Boston Public Library announced that celebrated children’s and young adult author, Jacqueline Woodson, winner of the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newbery Honor Medal, will visit three Boston Public Library branches in November. Woodson’s visits are part of the BPL’s Brown Girl Dreaming initiative hosted at the Codman Square, Grove Hall, and Dudley branches this fall, and inspired by the author’s book of the same title.

“Jacqueline Woodson’s story is powerful, and important for young people to hear,” said David Leonard, Interim President of the Boston Public Library. “Through the Brown Girl Dreaming initiative, young people are learning that the powerful stories found in books, can inspire them to dream and grow.”

Launched in September, the Brown Girl Dreaming initiative is aimed at connecting Boston children and teens in grades 5-12 through Woodson’s powerful memoir-in-verse, and encouraging them to dream about their futures and possibilities.  The initiative includes discussion groups about Woodson’s book and poetry workshops, culminating with Woodson’s branch visits onThursday, November 19, where she will talk about Brown Girl Dreaming, take questions, and sign books.

With the generous support of Bank of America, 500 young Bostonians have received a copy of Woodson’s celebrated book, published in 2014, which details the author’s experience “grow[ing] up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and my growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.”

“Bank of America is pleased to support this thoughtful learning initiative that can make a deep impression on a young life,” said Miceal Chamberlain, Massachusetts President for Bank of America. “We’re proud to invest in Boston’s neighborhoods and support learning across the city.”

Woodson will visit three branches on Thursday, November 19, 2015:

Codman Square Branch, 690 Washington Street, Dorchester at 10:00 a.m. (limited seating)

Grove Hall Branch, 41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester at 12:15 p.m. (limited seating)

Dudley Branch, 65 Warren Street, Roxbury at 7:00 p.m.

All of Woodson’s branch visits are free and open to the public, however, seating will be limited at the Codman Square Branch and Dudley Branch events, due to the planned attendance of students from Boston Public Schools. The public is encouraged to attend the evening Dudley Branch program to ensure seating, and books will be available for purchase at that time.

AALDEF 2016 Justice in Action Award Recipients Announced

Heidi Chen of Zoetis, Eric H. Holder, Jr. of Covington & Burling LLP, and
Phil Yu of AngryAsianMan.com to receive AALDEF 2016 Justice in Action Awards

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) has announced the recipients of its 2016 Justice in Action Awards:  Heidi Chen, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Zoetis; Eric H. Holder, Jr., partner at Covington & Burling LLP and former U.S. Attorney General; and Phil Yu, founder and editor of AngryAsianMan.com. They will receive the awards at AALDEF's Annual Lunar New Year Gala on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, in New York City.

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and efforts in advancing social justice. Past recipients include Congressman John Lewis, David Henry Hwang, Sandra Leung, Fareed Zakaria, Jose Antonio Vargas, BD Wong, Don H. Liu, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, George Takei, Katrina vanden Heuvel, Harry Belafonte, Seymour Hersh, Larry Tu, Ivan Fong, John G. Chou, Margaret Cho, Neal Katyal, and Yoko Ono.

Over 700 leaders of the civil rights, legal, business, and arts communities across the country are expected to attend AALDEF’s 2016 Lunar New Year Gala. The evening begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by the Justice in Action Awards ceremony and a banquet dinner. Tables of ten, available at $50,000, $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000, include a VIP reception. Individual tickets start at $500. To reserve tickets, please contact Lillian Ling at 212.966.5932 ex. 202 or lling@aaldef.org.

Since 1974, AALDEF has been protecting and promoting the civil rights of Asian Americans across the nation through litigation, advocacy, organizing, and community education. All proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala will go directly towards supporting AALDEF's legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, educational equity, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking

Governor Baker Raises Concerns Over Federal Government’s Potential Marine National Monument Designations

Governor Baker Raises Concerns Over Federal Government’s Potential Marine National Monument Designations

Letter to President Questions Process and Potential Impacts to Commonwealth’s Fishing Industry

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker sent a letter to President Barack Obama raising concerns with the potential designation of one or more National Marine Monuments in the Northwest Atlantic – offshore of New England. The letter, which cites the ongoing work of Massachusetts as part of two regional ocean management governances processes, characterizes the proposal by President Obama as detrimental to the state’s recreational and commercial fishing industry and ongoing work towards the protection of ecological areas.

“While the protection of critical marine habitats is a goal shared by many—including my Administration—significant questions and concerns have been raised regarding this possible designation,” said the letter from Governor Baker to President Obama, “I wish to convey my Administration’s apprehension as to both the process being implemented and the effects of such a unilateral declaration.”

In his letter, Governor Baker raises objections over the lack of public and stakeholder engagement leading to the proposal for deep-sea canyons and seamounts, including Cashes Ledge, to be included in the federal National Marine Monument declaration. “My Administration has been unable to determine how these areas were identified and selected. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) held a single public meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, and I believe that this falls far short of any meaningful stakeholder process,” the letter states.

Citing the ongoing work of regional and federally-established ocean planning collaboration, Governor Baker reiterates the Commonwealth’s proactive work towards oceanic and ecological protection. “The Commonwealth is a full and active participant in two regional ocean management governance processes that include important components of marine habitat characterization and the protection of important ecological areas. The recent work of the New England Fisheries Management Council and the first-ever regional ocean planning initiative under your Administration’s National Ocean Policy both serve as vital forums for the collective management of our region’s oceans.” The Governor goes on to characterizes the working groups as “stakeholder-based, informed by rigorous science, and provide for robust public input.”

Further, Governor Baker highlights the negative impacts the National Monument designation will have on state’s recreation and commercial fishing industry, saying, “I am very concerned that the proposed marine protected area designation will undermine the ongoing New England Fishery Management Council and Northeast Regional Planning Body. Their work, plans, and processes are underway, and will jeopardize already strained relationships with important stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishermen. The proposed National Marine Monument designation is inconsistent with and contrary to the process and principles of the ongoing regional ocean planning initiative.”

View the letter here: http://www.mass.gov/governor/docs/news/noaa-letter-11-4-15.pdf 

STEP Grant Application is Now Available MOITI, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network and the Massachusetts Export Center, is pleased to announce the Massachusetts State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program. Under the STEP Program, grants will be available to eligible Massachusetts small businesses for the purpose of increasing export sales of their goods and services. This grant is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Full details are now available atwww.mass.gov/export/step. Upcoming Events   An Export Forum with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas for companies interested in learning more about export resources, opportunities and ideas on how to succeed in overseas markets will be held on November 16th in Marlborough. Successful exporters will share their experiences and answer questions from the audience. A second panel includes speakers from U.S. and state trade agencies including MOITI. To register, contact Russell Pandres in Rep. Tsongas's Lowell office at Russell.pandres@mail.house.gov or call 978-459-0101. STEP Grant Webinars will be hosted by the Massachusetts Export Center and MOITI to assist small businesses in preparing a successful STEP Grant Application on November 20th and December 17th. To register, visitwww.mass.gov/export/step/register. A Quebec Medtech Showcase will be hosted by the Quebec Government Office in Boston and MassMedic and will feature the Premier of Quebec Mr. Philippe Couillard, 8 medtech companies from Quebec, and a night of networking on Nov. 12th in Boston. For more information and to register, visit the Quebec Government's eventbrite page. Recent MOITI Activities

Brittany and Hunter of MOITI joined the UNAGB UN Day Luncheon with Ambassador Matthew Rycroft. Governor Charlie Baker joined leaders from Hokkaido to celebrate25 years of sister state relationsbetween MA and the prefecture of Hokkaido in Japan MOITI and the ChileMass Alliance hosted a successful panel discussionon start-up collaboration between MA and Chile. Asst. Secretary Nam Pham addressed the New England Chinese Networking Association (NECINA) annual conference. Asst. Secretary Mike Kennealy and Hunter of MOITI welcomed adelegation of business and government leaders from India to Massachusetts.

Mass Pavilions at 2016 Trade Shows MOITI is planning to organize Massachusetts pavilions at select trade shows in 2016 similar to those organized in years past. MOITI has identified Arab Health (Jan. 2016),Mobile World Congress (Feb 2016), and Hannover Fair - Energy Pavilion (Apr 2016) as target shows and will soon begin recruiting Massachusetts companies to join these shows. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Brittany McDonough.

MAYOR WALSH CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THANK BOSTON'S VETERANS

MAYOR WALSH CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THANK BOSTON'S VETERANS

BOSTON - Thursday, November 5, 2015 - Leading up to Veterans Day, the Mayor's Office along with the Veterans' Services Department and Office of Neighborhood Services are calling for volunteers to sign-up for "Operation Thank A Vet," a citywide effort to honor Boston's veterans.  Over the weekend of Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, hundreds of volunteers will be going door-to-door throughout the City of Boston to personally thank the men and women who have served in the U.S. Military and provide them with the resources available to them as veterans living in Boston.  "I am proud of Boston's strong tradition of honoring our veterans, and appreciate all of the volunteers who have already come forward to donate their time," said Mayor Walsh. "There is no better way to celebrate Veterans Day than to personally thank the veterans in our city who have served our country."  Volunteers will be provided with specific addresses of veterans and packages to hand deliver. Volunteers can sign-up at boston.gov/veterans.  The City of Boston is committed to connecting Boston's military families with the resources and assistance they are entitled to. Earlier this year, Mayor Walsh released "An Action Plan to End Veteran and Chronic Homelessness In Boston: 2015 - 2018," which outlines the City's strategies to transform Boston's homeless response system in order to end veterans homelessness by 2015 and chronic homelessness by 2018. On Wednesday, the City, along with 11 partner agencies, hosted the first ever "housing surge" for veterans at the Pine Street Inn. Sixty homeless veterans met with representatives to better understand the housing resources available to them.

CITY OF BOSTON HOLDS FIRST-EVER "HOUSING SURGE" FOR HOMELESS VETERANS

CITY OF BOSTON HOLDS FIRST-EVER "HOUSING SURGE" FOR HOMELESS VETERANS

One-stop Event Helped 60 Vets Receive Counseling, Benefits, and Housing Help

BOSTON - Wednesday, November 4, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that as part of Boston's "Homes for the Brave" initiative, the City this morning hosted its first-ever housing surge for veterans at Pine Street Inn.  Representatives from 11 partner agencies gathered for the first time in one place to efficiently assist veterans in connecting with housing and housing resources. "One of the biggest barriers for a returning veteran is finding safe, affordable housing," said Mayor Walsh. "We must do all that we can to honor the men and women who have served our country, and I thank all of the partners who stepped forward to make this event a success. No veteran should be homeless - and in Boston, we are working to make that a reality." To learn more, please visit:

AG HEALEY JOINS COALITION OF STATE AGS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DEFENSE OF EPA’S CLEAN POWER PLAN

AG HEALEY JOINS COALITION OF STATE AGS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DEFENSE OF EPA’S CLEAN POWER PLAN

            Coalition Cites Critical Need for Rules in Order to Protect the Public, Environment, and Grow Economies

            BOSTON— Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that she has joined a coalition of 18 states and several local governments in supporting the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan rules against legal challenges by several states and industry groups. The rules are the culmination of a decade-long effort by Massachusetts and other states and partners to advocate for regulations reducing climate change-causing emissions from power plants.

The AG’s Office joined with the coalition in filing a motion to intervene in support of the Clean Power Plan in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

“We are proud today to join 17 state attorneys general and several local governments, in moving to intervene in support of EPA’s Clean Power Plan,” AG Healey said. “The AG’s Office has long advocated for regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, and it was our office that won the landmark Supreme Court victory inMassachusetts v. EPA, which held that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The Clean Power Plan is a pivotal step that will allow us to curb carbon emissions from existing power plants, and do it in a way that allows the states maximum flexibility.

 Here in Massachusetts, we’ve been national leaders in clean energy —from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, to energy efficiency programs, and a standard to promote greater reliance on renewable energy. Those programs have been good for Massachusetts residents and good for our regional economy. There is no time to waste.  Securing these emissions reductions from power plants—the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States—is critical to putting us on a path to avoid dangerous levels of warming, and toward building a sustainable energy future.”

The coalition includes attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, the District of Columbia, the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boulder, South Miami, and Broward County in Florida.

The EPA released the Clean Power Plan under Sections 111 (d) of the Clean Air Act in August 2015. The Clean Power Plan establishes a national goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants by 32 percent from 2005 by 2030. The rule for existing power plants is expected to eliminate as much climate change pollution as is emitted by more than 160 million cars a year.

Also today, AG Healey joined a coalition of states and local governments in filing a motion to intervene in separate cases pending in the D.C. Circuit to defend EPA’s rules establishing carbon emission standards for new and modified power plants under Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act.

On Aug. 3 2015, AG Healey sent EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy a letter co-signed by a coalition of state attorneys general and local governments, expressing strong support for the final rules and pledging to help EPA defend the rules from legal challenges. The coalition’s letter emphasized that the EPA’s power plant rules are “firmly grounded in the law.”

Earlier this year, AG Healey successfully helped defend the proposed rule for reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants against premature legal challenges brought by the coal industry and several coal-producing states. Several states, including Massachusetts have taken cost-effective measures to reduce carbon emissions from the power sector, including establishing renewable portfolio standards to encourage greater reliance on clean energy, implementing energy efficiency programs, and participating in market-based programs, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. 

This matter is being handled by Melissa A. Hoffer, Chief of AG Healey’s Energy and Environment Bureau, Christophe Courchesne, Chief of the Environmental Protection Division, Assistant Attorney General Tracy Triplett and Legal Analyst Jillian Riley.

AG’S OFFICE SEEKING APPLICATIONS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PROVIDERS FOR GAME CHANGE PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

AG’S OFFICE SEEKING APPLICATIONS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PROVIDERS FOR GAME CHANGE PARTNERSHIP WITH 
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Application Period Opens For Grant Program For New Anti-Violence Initiative in High Schools

BOSTON — As part of her office’s new anti-violence partnership with the New England Patriots, Attorney General Maura Healey opened the application period for a grant program to fund training by local domestic violence and sexual assault (DV/SA) prevention organizations in high schools across Massachusetts.

This grant program is one component of  “Game Change: The Patriots Anti-Violence Partnership,” announced in September by AG Healey and New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. The AG’s Office is awarding six grants of up to $45,000 each to six domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy organizations statewide for the 2016-2017 school year. The selected organizations will partner with and provide support services to schools.

“The Game Change program will help prevent violence by reaching students at an early age and teaching them about healthy relationships,” said AG Healey. “We are looking to partner with organizations that will lend their expertise and support to students, parents and school administrators as we work to prevent domestic violence.”

The first phase of the Game Change program will train 180 personnel from 90 high schools across the state through a series of training institutes conducted by the nation-leading Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program, run by The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University. The AG’s Office is currently acceptingapplications from schools for participation in the Game Change program. Schools will be selected this winter and trainings will begin this spring.

In the second phase of the program, the AG’s Office will select 30 high schools – five in each of the six regions of the state – to receive more in-depth training for school staff, students, parents and administrators. Each of these 30 high schools will be paired with a local DV/SA provider for ongoing support.

Applicants for the DV/SA Provider grants must:

·         Have experience in providing domestic violence and sexual assault prevention educational programming in high schools.

·         Be committed to viewing its organization’s involvement in the program as a way to help schools sustain violence prevention programming beyond the life cycle of the grant.

·         Be willing to attend the three-day initial training institute for their region, which the AG’s Office anticipates will be held in the winter of 2016.

·         Develop an ongoing relationship with the schools, including helping to provide classroom programing, training other school staff, educating parents, working with the administration on anti-violence policies and offering services for parents and families dealing with violence and abuse.

Interested applicants can visit the Attorney General’s website,www.mass.gov/ago/gamechange for additional information about the application process and to submit an application. The deadline to apply for the grant is 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015.

昆士市長柯奇（Koch）順利連任

昆市首屆一任四年市長，由第五度連任的在位市長柯奇(Tom Koch)以12,416票當選，競爭對手費林（William Phelan）得9615票。