MA Gun Bill Filed to Give Police Extra Tools

In the Press:

* Reducing Gun Violence– Continuing Governor Patrick’s efforts to reduce gun violence and strengthen public safety, Public Safety Secretary Kevin M. Burke today announced that the Patrick-Murray Administration has filed a bill to give police and prosecutors more tools to tackle illegal gun use and make the Commonwealth a safer place to live, work, and raise families. “We see and feel the effects gun violence has on our families and our communities throughout Massachusetts – and we must do everything in our power to help prevent it,” said Governor Patrick. “This legislation gives law enforcement the critical tools they need, and sends a very strong message that illegal gun use will not be tolerated.” Read more here, in the Boston Globe and the Associated Press.

* Swine Flu Update– Governor Patrick and state public health officials continue to closely monitor H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) in Massachusetts. This morning, the Department of Public Health confirmed 11 additional cases, which brings the state’s total case count to 45. Each of the new cases is expected to fully recover and none of the cases is currently hospitalized. The age range of cases is 2 to 57.Please clickhere for more information.

* Community Forums on Choices and Priorities– On Monday, May11th in Braintree, Governor Patrick will kick-off the first in a series of statewide community forums on choices and priorities facing Massachusetts in the current economic climate. Building on his commitment to civic engagement and governing for the long-term, Governor Patrick and senior administration officials will host 36 "Community Forums on Choices and Priorities" between now and the end of May, giving residents a chance to voice their opinions about the difficult budget decisions, reform proposals, and revenue packages being debated on Beacon Hill. "As a steep decline in revenue continues to force painful budget choices, now is the time for public officials to engage with the public we serve - to ask them what kind of government they want and how to best pay for it," said Governor Patrick. "These forums will help us accomplish that critical goal, and bring the reform people want back to Beacon Hill." Learn more here.

o Read more in the Associated Press and the Springfield Republican.

* Difficult Budget Decisions:With the national recession continuing to hit Massachusetts hard, state officials and economists testified during a Senate revenue hearing yesterday that the state will be facing budget problems for the next few years. Administration and Finance Secretary Leslie Kirwan said, “As we have done throughout the year, the Governor and I met today with a number of economists who shared updated information about the economy and likely impacts on state revenues. Clearly, the fact that revenues are predicted to fall $1 billion short for the remainder of this year means we will face a significant gap in the fiscal year that begins in just two months. We will continue to work with outside experts and the Legislature to analyze the latest information and over the next few days we will revise our revenue assumptions for Fiscal Year 2010.” Read more in the Boston Globe, Associated Press, Springfield Republican, Worcester Telegram, and the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle.

* Revenue Proposals:A Massachusetts business group has launched a statewide campaign to oppose a sales tax hikeapproved by the House of Representatives, arguing that a recession is the worst time to increase the tax burden on businesses. Governor Patrick has deep reservations about imposing a higher sales tax on people during these difficult economic times, especially at the risk of costing the Commonwealth jobs. Doing so without meaningful results on the Governor’s reform agenda is unacceptable. "I am unwilling to wait any longer to change the way we do business in state government," said Governor Patrick. "In fact, I am unwilling to ask you to support revenue increases without real reforms." Watch the Governor’s revenue message here. Read more in the State House News Service and the Billerica Minuteman.

* Pension Reform: In keeping with his commitment to reining in costs and restoring public trust, Governor Patrick said he wanted special pensions awarded to 10 legislators to be rescinded. The Treasurer, whose office oversees the Retirement Board, will not reverse the decisions. Read more in the Boston Globe.

o Governor Patrick has been clear – these special pension perks for a select few must end. He has directed his legal counsel to review all options available to the Retirement Board for rescinding and ending unwarranted payments to these former legislators now. It is his hope that the Treasurer will join with him to help end these abuses, but if that is not the case he will continue to look for ways to end these practices. In January, the Governor called for pension reform in his State of the Commonwealth address, and as recently as March 22 he publicly outlined his reform initiatives. The Senate passed their pension reform bill that included the Governor’s initiatives last month, and the Governor is working with the Senate and House to put an end to these pension loopholes once and for all.

* Commitment to Economic Development– Governor Patrickremains focused on economic development. Watch a podcast of the Governor’s meeting with Cape Cod tourism leaders last week. The Governor noted that the Cape plays a significant role in a $20 billion industry that employs 160,000 Bay Staters and serves 20 million visitors annually.

This Week:

* On Saturday, Governor Patrick returned to Boston from Chicago, Illinois.

* Monday, Governor Patrick joined Mayor Menino and Transportation Secretary Aloisi at Dudley Station in Roxbury to announce more than $100 million to improve bus service along New England’s busiest bus corridor and in neighborhoods currently unserved by rapid transit. Read more here.

* Monday afternoon, Governor Patrick attended a legislative leadership meeting.

* Monday evening, Governor Patrick offered remarks at the Construction Industries of Massachusetts Annual Meeting.

By MA Governor's office.