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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on Monday the appointment of four new members to the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee. These new members complement the Committee’s existing eight members, bringing membership back to the full twelve members authorized by statute. These new members represent the mortgage industry, the real estate industry, consumers, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.
“We welcome our newest members to the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee and thank all members for their commitment to the nation’s individuals, families, and communities who rely on the nationwide housing counseling program to find and sustain safe and affordable homes,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “For the first time in recent years, the Committee is at its full twelve members, as allowed under statute. The work of this Committee in advising HUD’s Housing Counseling program is not only critical to the nation’s recovery from the financial effects of COVID-19 but is a vital part of reshaping fairer and more equitable housing opportunities for communities of color.”
The following new Committee members announced today will serve three-year terms:
Additional information about each of the new members can be found here. These individuals will join the following Committee members who were appointed or re-appointed in September 2021:
Jan 25, 2022 05:30 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
As MA House Debates VOTES Act, Danielle Allen Calls For Same-Day Voter Registration
Boston, MA – Today, with the VOTES Act up for debate in the Massachusetts House, national democracy leader and gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen is highlighting the need for same-day voter registration. Included in the Senate version of the bill, but not in the House’s, this key provision will make it easier for people across Massachusetts to cast their ballot and own their voice. Allen has already committed to promoting same-day registration as part of her democracy agenda — a transformative strategy to reimagine our democracy to empower all of us.
“From the pandemic to climate to the housing crisis, solving our biggest challenges starts with strengthening our democracy,” said gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen. “We need to get everyone to the table to knit ourselves together as One Commonwealth — and that starts with making it easier for every eligible voter to cast their ballot. Same-day voter registration has to be part of that effort.”
In 2020, Massachusetts introduced new voting provisions to make it easier and safer for people to cast their ballot during the pandemic — which resulted in the highest voter turnout in Massachusetts history. In an important step to strengthen our democracy and drive participation and empowerment, the VOTES Act would make many of those provisions permanent. However, Massachusetts’ turnout still lagged behind 13 other states in 2020, many of which used more innovative practices like same-day registration to expand ballot box access.
“Right now, our country needs a national leader to show the way towards a stronger democracy. Massachusetts has the chance to be that leader — but only if we take this seriously and use all our tools to shore up the right to vote,” said gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen. “I’m urging the Legislature to move forward with same-day voter registration as part of the VOTES Act.”
這5名在科學及社會上有傑出成就的學者，分別為化學系的W. M. Keck能源教授 Mircea
Dincă，麥高文腦研究院副主任Guoping
Feng，Kavliw天體物理和空間研究院資深研究員David
Shoemaker，機械工程Hatsopoulos教授Ian
Hunter，機械工程系負責人暨福特工程教授Evelyn N. Wang。
Guoping Feng是腦及認知科學系的James W. and Patricia T. Poitras神經科學教授，也是麥高文腦研究院副主任，以及史丹利(Stanley)心理研究中心的模型系統和神經生物學主任。他同時也是麻省理工學院和哈佛大學合辦的博德研究院 (Broad Institute)的機構成員。
他的研究致力於了解腦內突觸的發展及功能，以及突觸功能障礙對神經發育和心理疾病的影響。藉著了解這些疾病的分子，細胞，以及電路機制，Guoping
Feng希望他的工作最後能為數以百萬計受這些毀滅性疾病困惱的人，帶來新的有效治療。
Evelyn N. Wang是機械工程系主管，也是福特工程教授。她的研究項目綜合了微/納米級熱能的基礎研究，以及大眾運輸過程，藉由研發創新工程結構來在熱能管理，能源及水收集系統中催生出創新的解決方案。
她在熱光伏上的工作，於2016年時被選入科技評論 (Technology Review)的清潔能源最大進步名單，在2017年時被選為該雜誌的十大突破科技之一，另外還獲得能源部前沿研究中心的十大之十獎 (Ten of Ten)。 她所做的從空氣中萃取水，已為她贏得2017年”外國政策 (Foreign Policy)”的”全球重新思考者”頭銜，2018年第八屆蘇丹王子bin
Abdulaziz國際水獎。
Public Health Advocates Raise Alarm on Proposed Funding Cuts
BOSTON, MA – Today, the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) criticized a 33% proposed cut to local public health in Governor Baker’s fiscal year 2023 budget.
“A proposed cut to local public health in the midst of a continuing global pandemic defies both logic and common sense,” said Carlene Pavlos, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association. “It is made all the more egregious by the fact that the administration continues to place an enormous amount of responsibility on the shoulders of local boards of health.”
The $5M cut proposed to the “Public Health Excellence Grant Program” at the Department of Public Health would negatively impact public health capacity and staffing in communities across the Commonwealth.
“MPHA will work with our legislative allies to ensure that the House and the Senate budgets include the needed resources for our local boards of health,” continued Pavlos. “As they continue their essential work to deliver vaccines, conduct tests, and enforce public health guidance, local public health workers need and deserve the support of state policymakers.”
The Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes a healthy Massachusetts through advocacy, community organizing, and coalition building. We are leaders in the movement to create health equity by addressing the root causes of health and wellness. We promote policies that impact the major drivers of health outcomes, such as access to healthy food, safe affordable housing, and transportation. We also advocate for equitable public health services throughout the Commonwealth. To learn more, visit www.mapublichealth.org. ###
Governor Baker Nominates Attorney Karin Bell as Associate Justice of the Superior Court
BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Attorney Karin Bell as Associate Justice of the Superior Court. Attorney Bell has 19 years of legal experience.
“The many years of legal experience that Attorney Bell will bring to the Superior Court make her a well-qualified candidate,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I look forward to the Governor’s Council’s consideration of her nomination for this appointment.”
“I am pleased with the nomination of this distinguished attorney,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed, I am confident that Attorney Bell’s skills and knowledge will allow her to continue to serve the public effectively in this new position.”
The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Massachusetts, is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Court's 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000 and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The Superior Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes.
For more information about the Superior Court, please visit their homepage.
Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.
About Attorney Karin Bell
Attorney Karin Bell began her legal career in 2003 as a law clerk under Judges Nathaniel M. Gorton and F. Dennis Faylor of the District of Massachusetts. In 2003, Attorney Bell joined Goodwin law offices, working as a litigation associate. She then joined the Office of the US Attorney for Massachusetts. Attorney Bell started as an Assistant US Attorney and was named Chief of the Worcester Branch office in 2013. From 2018 to 2021, Attorney Bell became Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and worked on several high-profile cases, most notably serving as a co-lead prosecutor for the Operation Varsity Blues trial. She was promoted to Chief of the Criminal Division in 2021. In 2021, Attorney Bell became a partner with Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP. She volunteers as a judge in the Harvard Law School Moot Court Competition, teaches at the Discovering Justice program, and volunteers at Grace Chapel. Attorney Bell received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in 1997, and her Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2002.
(Boston Orange編譯) 國家氣象服務局週三時發出警告，這週五、六的一場大風雪，風速可能高達每小時60英里，可能在麻州地區降雪高達16英吋，沿海地區可能淹水。
麻州東，北及南邊和羅德島州，估計會降雪8到16英寸。鱈魚角一帶風速尤其強勁。
國家氣象局氣象學家Bill
Simpson說，估計週五下午開始，麻州西部就會開始下雪了，到傍晚時分就連波士頓地區也會開始下雪了。目前暴風雨的未來足跡還很不確定，預估的降雪最多地區可能會有變動。
氣象學家Rodney
Chai在網上簡報中表示，由於暴風雨多面來襲導致的潮水高漲，週六早上會出現輕微淹水現象，但下午海浪風更大時，會讓人更擔憂些。他勸海事人員盡量留在港內，因為25到30英尺海域的陣風強度可能達到颶風程度，會非常危險。
預報人員表示，這場暴風雪將從週五到週日早上，對大西洋中部及東北部，包括95號州際公路的大都會區，形成很顯著的冬日影響。人們須注意因應大雪，勁風，洪水。
查理貝克說，幾乎所有的東西都在漲價，對很多人來說，過去這兩年很辛苦，我們是想要幫忙，而我會很高興看到議員們認真考慮這提案。
雖然在提議減稅優惠之際，查理貝克並沒有提出更廣泛的加稅來彌平減稅可能出現的缺口。他指出，去年的稅收盈餘，使得減稅行動是可負擔的。他的預算案也以麻州在醫療護理上的開支會降低為基準，打算增撥4億8500萬元給麻州的學校，另額外撥款2億5000萬元來幫麻州退休金應付轉帳需要。
查理貝克的財務卿Michael
J. Heffernan表示，稅賦不是零和遊戲，”我們沒有為這7億元犧牲任何的服務或項目，一點也沒有”。
查理貝克的助理說，目前，麻州單獨報稅者中年收入8000元以下人士，14,400元以下的一家之主，以及年收入低於16,400元的聯合報稅人士，可獲免申報麻州所得稅。在查理貝克的提案中，該依標準將提高為$12,400元，$18,650元，以及$24,800元。估計可為23萬4,000名納稅人節省4100萬元。
查理貝克還想大幅度改變麻州物業稅。目前包括華府 ( D.
C.)，僅有12州在人死後收物業稅。根據AARP這組織，麻州對100萬元以上物業，收稅0.8%到16%。在課稅各州中，麻州和奧勒岡州(Oregon)都是全美最低的。
查理貝克想要把這課稅起限提高至200萬元，而且只針對超額部分課稅。目前的做法是，物業價值超過100萬元這標竿，所有的金額都要課稅。麻州官員表示，這一改變將為2500名納稅人提供2億3100萬元的減免。
查理貝克的預算計畫也將低收入耆英可以申報的最高抵減額，從1170元加倍至2340元，以彌補物業稅，並允許881,000繳交租金的人，在報稅時的最高扣減額，從3000元提高到5000元。
查理貝克還想讓為受扶養者，或托兒護理申報的可償還抵稅減免加倍，約等於70萬戶家庭可得到共約1億6700萬元的紓緩。
查理貝克還提議短期資金盈收的稅率降至5%，削減他預算辦公室訂定的罰則，為大約15萬人共節省1億1700萬元。查理貝克和他的助理把這形容為在越來越多人擁抱遠距工作的環境下，這是使麻州更有競爭力的做法之一。
查理貝克的預算案送到麻州議會後，會有什麼結果，還有待後續發展。麻州議會領導們26日聽到預算案大概後，表示要看細節，才知道贊不贊成。
Baker-Polito Administration Files Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and Tax Relief Proposals
$48.5 billion budget filed alongside comprehensive tax relief plan
Alongside this fiscally responsible and balanced budget proposal, submitted as House 2, the Baker-Polito Administration is filing a comprehensive tax proposal to provide relief for housing and childcare costs, eliminate the income tax for hundreds of thousands of low-income taxpayers, and maintain Massachusetts’ competitiveness. The proposed changes would allow nearly $700 million to remain in the hands of taxpayers on an annual basis starting immediately in tax year 2022.
“Our Fiscal Year 2023 budget will help position Massachusetts strongly for the future by making key investments to support economic growth, sustain our nation-leading educational system, and support the health and wellbeing of our residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “At the same time, we are able to grow our reserves to historic levels and offer a tax relief proposal that will provide substantial relief for low-income seniors and working families. We look forward to working with our legislative colleagues to adopt a spending plan for FY23 that supports a strong and equitable economic recovery across the Commonwealth.”
“The FY23 budget recommendation maintains our Administration’s strong support for cities and towns with another increase in local aid consistent with tax revenue growth alongside other substantial investments to help the economic growth and development of Massachusetts communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This plan takes advantage of our strong fiscal position to increase opportunity for individuals and families and continues our work in priority areas including treatment and prevention of substance addiction, sexual assault and domestic violence, promoting equality and diversity, and increasing access to education, job skills training, and high-value careers.”
“The Baker-Polito Administration is proud to submit an FY23 budget that is fiscally responsible, brings the Rainy Day Fund to record levels, and makes significant investments to support those who need it most, all while affording tax cuts that will help hundreds of thousands of taxpayers across the Commonwealth,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan. “We look forward to collaborating with the Legislature in the coming months to finalize a spending plan that continues to support growth, opportunity, and recovery across the state while limiting future budgetary risk.”
Tax Relief Proposal
The comprehensive tax relief plan filed today alongside the FY23 budget includes proposals that will provide $700 million in tax relief to low-income families and residents and maintain Massachusetts’ competitiveness. With a strong revenue picture and the budget projecting a significant deposit in to the Stabilization Fund, the Commonwealth can afford to provide this relief for working families and seniors. The plan proposes to:
House 2 Fiscal Overview
The proposed FY23 budget is based on the $36.915 billion consensus tax revenue estimate, which anticipates a 2.7% growth in total collections over revised FY22 tax estimates. House 2 recommends a total of $48.5 billion in authorized spending and transfers, excluding the Medical Assistance Trust Fund transfer, which is approximately 0.5% above Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).
Through fiscally responsible policies and in close collaboration with the Legislature, the Baker-Polito Administration has brought the budget into structural balance and built up financial reserves to historic high levels. With a current balance of $4.64 billion, the Stabilization Fund is already more than four times greater than its balance at the start of the Administration.
The House 2 budget includes a $749 million increase to the Stabilization Fund, which, in combination with projected FY22 transfers, will grow the fund to an all-time high of $6.64 billion by the end of FY23.
Providing Record Investments in Massachusetts Students
In the House 2 budget, an increase of $591.4 million is recommended to fully fund the Student Opportunity Act, including $485 million in Chapter 70 funding, with a focus on school districts serving low-income students, for a total of $5.989 billion. The FY23 proposal also includes a $41 million increase over FY22 for special education circuit breaker reimbursement for cities and towns, and a $64.8 million increase in charter school reimbursement funding.
The FY23 budget proposal also includes a $1.45 billion investment for college readiness, affordability, and degree completion. This funding includes more than $155 million in financial aid grants, including $18 million to support an expansion of the MASSGrant Plus program that will enable all low-income, in-state undergraduate students to attend public higher education without incurring debt for mandatory tuition and mandatory fees – the largest increase in financial aid in over two decades.
Investing in Housing Stability
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the state’s existing housing challenges and brought further economic instability for many across the Commonwealth. In House 2, the Administration proposes historic reforms and investments in rental assistance, re-housing benefits, and housing vouchers to expedite recovery and create long-lasting improvements in housing stability and access to homeownership. Building on the Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI), which has distributed more than $500 million in state and federally funded rental assistance to individuals, families, and landlords in crisis, House 2 significantly expands state funding and eligibility for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and HomeBASE programs, with the goal of reducing evictions and homelessness.
The budget recommends $80 million for RAFT, an increase of $58 million (264%) above FY22, which will support a permanent benefit limit increase to $7,000 over 12 months, versus $4,000 pre-pandemic, and serve an estimated 15,000 households, up from 5,000-6,000 previously. $56.9 million is recommended for HomeBASE, a $30.9 million (119%) increase above FY22, to serve more than 4,100 families in FY23, versus a projected 1,885 in FY22. It will also support an increase to the maximum benefit from $10,000 over one year to $20,000 over two years, which will allow for more extensive and flexible support to households.
House 2 also proposes reforms to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) to maximize utilization of mobile vouchers and align benefits with federal rental assistance programs operated by the same local housing authorities. $145.6 million is projected to be available for MRVP in FY23, an increase of 223% since FY15, which will support a reduction in tenant rent share from 40% to 30%, projected to benefit more than 9,000 households across the Commonwealth, and a shift to a new payment model to give families more housing choice and flexibility.
Expanding Affordable Childcare Options
House 2 provides $802 million in funding for the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), an increase of $273.9 million (52%) since 2015. This funding includes $693.7 million in funding for income-eligible and DCF- and DTA-related childcare, which incorporates $53.9 million to annualize the implementation of a more equitable parent fee scale that improves childcare affordability. The updated fee scale will result in virtually all subsidized families paying a fee that is 7% of their income or less in FY23.
Expanding Health Care Services for the Most Vulnerable
The House 2 budget proposal protects core programs and builds on investments made over the last seven years with meaningful health care reforms that will expand services for and reduce the burden on the most vulnerable, while improving the accessibility of equitable, world class care for all Massachusetts residents.
The budget recommends $17.811 billion gross / $7.169 billion net for MassHealth, which includes $115 million to expand outpatient and urgent behavioral health services informed by the Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform, a multi-year blueprint that incorporates feedback from hundreds of individuals, families, providers, and other behavioral health stakeholders. The MassHealth budget recommendation also incorporates an increase of $21 million to expand the Medicare Savings Program, which will reduce out-of-pocket health care spending and prescription drug costs for approximately 34,000 low-income seniors and disabled individuals.
The Administration is also proposing new investments to support families that are fostering children in the care of the Department of Children and Families and encourage recruitment of additional foster parents, including $13.4 million that will support approximately 4,500 families who provide care for 6,700 children.
Promoting Diversity and Opportunity
The FY23 budget proposal builds on the Administration’s longstanding commitment to promoting equality and opportunity for communities of color with more than $20 million invested in targeted DESE college and career pathway programs, including Early College, Innovation Pathways, and Dual Enrollment programs. It also maintains over $30 million for other initiatives aligned with the recommendations of the Governor’s Black Advisory Commission (BAC) and Latino Advisory Commission (LAC). This funding includes support for YouthWorks Summer Jobs, small business development, financial literacy, and workforce training.
House 2 provides $3.9 million to the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) to continue its work to ensure accountability and compliance with diversity goals, oversee agency diversity spending, and audit and review spending data.
Encouraging Economic Growth and Development
House 2 continues the Baker-Polito Administration’s focus on promoting economic growth, opportunity, and equity for communities across the Commonwealth. The proposal includes $4 million for the Small Business Technical Assistance Grant Program to support an estimated 1,500-2,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses, especially those owned by women, immigrants, veterans, and people of color. House 2 proposes $7.5 million for the Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant program.
This budget maintains support for the Career Technical Initiative, providing $17.9 million in total funding across the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and DESE. The initiative is designed to address the worker shortage and skills gap in the trades and technical fields, including plumbing, HVAC, manufacturing, and robotics, and it offers industry-recognized credentialing and career pathways with training aligned to apprenticeships and post-secondary degrees.
These investments build on the Administration’s work through the COVID-19 pandemic to support more than 15,400 businesses across the Commonwealth with over $700 million in relief. This program – the largest per capita state-sponsored business relief program in the nation – prioritized aid for specific economic sectors and demographics known to be the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and worked with a wide range of partners to ensure businesses that needed it most applied to the program.
Addressing Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have created additional challenges for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. The Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Polito, has continued to work closely with community partners and stakeholders to ensure that survivors and their families have access to necessary services and supports.
House 2 furthers these efforts by recommending $123.4 million in total funding for services dedicated to the prevention and treatment of sexual assault and domestic violence, a 91% increase in funding since FY15.
Substance Addiction Treatment and Prevention
The Administration, working closely with the Legislature, has nearly quadrupled funding for substance addiction treatment and prevention since taking office. These efforts have helped the Commonwealth add more than 1,200 patient treatment beds, including more than 800 beds for adults at varying treatment levels. House 2 proposes $543.8 million in total funding across multiple agencies for a wide range of harm reduction, treatment, and recovery programs that support individuals struggling with substance addiction and programs that work to prevent substance addiction through education, prescription monitoring, and more.
THE BAKER-POLITO ADMINISTRATION’S FY23 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS BY NUMBERS
Supporting Local Government
K-12 Education
Fully funds the landmark Student Opportunity Act, adding a total of $591.4 million in new spending.
In addition to Chapter 70, provides $952.8 million for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, including $31.1 million to scale up proven programs that will develop and expand college and career pathways for more than 17,100 high school students, a $12 million increase above FY22 funding
Early Education and Childcare
$802 million for Early Education and Care (EEC), an increase of $273.9 million (52%) since FY15. The recommendation includes:
Higher Education
$1.45 billion for the Department of Higher Education, University of Massachusetts, and state universities and community colleges, which includes:
Housing and Homelessness
$716.5 million for the Department of Housing and Community Development, a $132.4 million (23%) increase above FY22, including:
Economic Development
Labor and Workforce Development
$440.1 million for workforce development programs and initiatives across a wide range of state agencies, a $191.3 million (77%) increase since the Administration took office
Health and Human Services
Substance Addiction Prevention and Treatment
$543.8 million provided in FY23 across a variety of state agencies, an increase of $424.5 million (356%) since FY15. Funding includes:
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
$123.4 million across the budget, a 91% increase since FY15, which includes:
Promoting Equality and Opportunity
More than $50 million supporting the recommendations of the Black Advisory Commission (BAC) and the Latino Advisory Commission (LAC), including:
Transportation
Energy and the Environment
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
$5.8 million is also provided for new appropriations supporting the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission and four other commissions created in the Police Reform bill.
Securing and Modernizing Government IT
$164.1 million for the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security to support:
To access the Governor’s filing letter, budget message, and specific account information click here.
