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Medication Assisted Treatment: An Important Tool to Fight Addiction
Medication Assisted Treatment: An Important Tool to Fight Addiction Perhaps the single most important presentation during the Special Commission on Substance Addiction Treatment in the Criminal Justice System‘s year-long study of addiction in the court system was made by Sarah Wakeman, MD, Medical Director of the Substance Use Disorder Initiative…
Problems with three types of taxes: “sin taxes,” the “millionaire’s tax,” and taxes on short-term rentals
Problems with three types of taxes: “sin taxes,” the “millionaire’s tax,”and taxes on short-term rentals. “Sin Taxes” The problem with “sin taxes” is the inability of politicians to understand the principle. Philadelphia passed an incremental “sin tax” of 1.5 cents per ounce on sugary and diet drinks, presumably to…
Physician-assisted suicide
In 2012, a ballot petition to create a physician-assisted suicide law was defeated by a razor thin margin. A bill, House 1991, is being promoted by Representative Louis Kafka (D – Stoughton), along with 38 co-sponsors, that has a hearing on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 in front of the Joint Committee on Public…
A case against legalization of recreational marijuana
There are a number of aspects to consider when weighing the merits of a ballot question that would legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes in Massachusetts, including: Gateway drug debate Science of the developing brain Relative harm of using marijuana versus alcohol, prescription medications, and other illicit/licit substances…
Governor’s opioid working group issues action plan
Governor Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders held a press conference this morning to present the Opioid Working Group’s recommendations and action plan to deal with the opioid use epidemic that resulted in more than 1,000 heroin overdose deaths in 2014….
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Early retirement incentive for state workers signed by governor
Governor Baker signed the early retirement incentive program bill into law on May 4, 2015. It allows up to 5,000 state employers to apply for early retirement, including incentives that add a combined five years to either the age or creditable service component of the pension formula. It is projected that the…
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Earned sick time law effective July 1, 2015
Maura Healey, Massachusetts Attorney General, released draft regulations relative to the earned sick time law that voters passed by citizens’ petition last November. See information about the new law and a schedule of the AG’s listening tour here: http://www.mass.gov/ago/doing-business-in-massachusetts/labor-laws-and-public-construction/earned-sick-time/ A listening tour stop is scheduled for Cape Cod on Friday,…
Invitation to RSAT tour at the BCCF
Our Sheriff, Jim Cummings, and Special Sheriff, Jeff Perry, have arranged a tour of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program and Re-Entry Coordination Program at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility (BCCF). This event is open to the public, but by reservation only. RSAT is available to inmates who are…
Rep. Hunt announces support for National Guard “Thank You” initiative
REPRESENTATIVE HUNT ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL GUARD “THANK YOU” INITIATIVE SANDWICH – State Representative Randy Hunt (R-Sandwich) announced that he will be collecting grocery gift cards for our National Guard personnel who have worked tirelessly to support our cities and towns with labor and machinery to clear literally tons of snow. Working…
MassDOT releases draft revegetation plan for denuded Route 6 median
Review MassDOT’s plans for revegetating the Route 6 median that was clear cut last year. These plans are being coordinated with the Cape Cod Commission and both agencies are looking for feedback. You can send me your comments and I will forward them to working group: randy.hunt@mahouse.gov Click the link…
Governor Baker declares weather emergency and issues statewide travel ban
Click the links below to see the emergency declaration and travel ban. Declaration of Emergency 20150126 Travel Ban 20150127
Regional shelter information for winter storm Juno
Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Media Release 2015-01-002 January 26, 2015 For Immediate Release Regional shelter opening moved up to 6:30 p.m. Monday BARNSTABLE (MA) January 26, 2015 – The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) held a conference call at 10 a.m. Monday to finalize plans for…
Christmas & holiday card drive for military service members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2014 CONTACT: Susann Koelsch, Legislative Aide / 508-888-2158 REPRESENTATIVE HUNT ANNOUNCES CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY CARD DRIVE FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS SANDWICH – State Representative Randy Hunt (R-Sandwich) announced that he will be collecting Christmas and Holiday cards for our military troops serving overseas. Working in conjunction with Cape…
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who helped out on this campaign. This was a real team effort. I could not do this politician thing without the full support of my wife, Mary, who is always there taking on the extra work that frees me up to focus on constituents, the legislature, and…
Vote “Yes” on Question 1: An Accountant’s Perspective on the Gas Tax
The November 2014 ballot in Massachusetts contains four questions that were brought by citizens’ petition. Question 1 would repeal the automatic increase of the gasoline/diesel excise tax based on inflation. Background In 2013, legislators passed a 3-cent per gallon increase in the excise tax to raise funds for bridge and…