The Barrett Report
Financial literacy leaders
By addressing nitty-gritty matters of managing dollars and cents, Budget Buddies extends a hand to hardworking local women who are running households and family finances. Joined by a longtime mentor-student pair who are now fast friends, Budget Buddies’ cofounders met recently with State Treasurer Deb Goldberg to discuss financial literacy for women across Massachusetts.
From left to right: Liz Gustin, Budget Buddies coach; cofounder Kathy Brough; cofounder Anita Saville; Treasurer Goldberg; Jacki Rodriguez, Budget Buddies student; and moi.
Innovation Sputters in Battle Against Climate Change
The New York Times
Reports the New York Times, “In the race to develop technologies to slow climate change, the world is off track.” Which means it’s high time to put a price on carbon, as my legislation will do for Massachusetts.
Home insurance hikes draw Senate scrutiny
Press Release
Boston — Responding to recent Division of Insurance approvals of big hikes in home insurance rates, the State Senate’s oversight body is launching an inquiry into the increases. State Senator Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Chair of the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee, says he wants to hear explanations from insurance executives and Division of Insurance regulators, and comments from consumer advocates.
“Last winter, insurers shelled out real money to pay for damage from ice dams and water leaks — but hikes of eight and nine percent deserve a very close look by regulators and legislators,” Barrett said. “The industry is supposed to set aside reserves in advance for the occasional tough year. I hope the Division of Insurance went to town with its due diligence before approving these big increases. Let’s see if they did. We want to make sure residents are protected.”
Read moreDisabilities Caucus Kicks Off
Press Release
In concert with activists and advocates, State Senator Mike Barrett, D-Lexington, and State Representative Denise Provost, D-Somerville, recently launched a Disabilities Caucus within the Massachusetts Legislature. The inaugural event took place at the State House.
Barrett and Provost founded the Caucus to promote cohesive advocacy for people with disabilities. “Groups representing the disabled don’t have the State House clout other minority groups have,” said Barrett, who has served as Senate Chair of the legislative committee that oversees policies related to people with disabilities. “The difficulties posed by each physical, emotional, and cognitive challenge seem so distinctive. But distinctiveness needn’t mean fragmentation. The Caucus will help foster broad awareness.”
Editorial: Putting a price on carbon
The MetroWest Daily News
“It’s a discussion worth having. Climate change won’t wait for Congress to show leadership. Where better than Massachusetts, birthplace of innovation, to launch an aggressive response to the threat of climate change?”
Barrett backs “right to dry”
State Senator Mike Barrett, D-Lexington, is supporting a new “right to dry” for Massachusetts residents. His bill would extend the right to hang laundry on clotheslines to all state residents.
Barrett introduced the legislation at the initiative of environmental activist Peggy Brace, a constituent from Concord. He recently testified in favor of the idea at a public hearing at the State House.
Read moreSentencing reform gains steam
Advocates packed the State House recently to back legislation to reduce the length of prison sentences for a host of drug-related offenses. State Senator Mike Barrett, D-Lexington, supports the reforms, calling excessive prison terms a “huge drain of taxpayer dollars” with “no added deterrent effect” on those eventually released.
Massachusetts spends more than $46,000 per year to imprison each non-violent offender, many of whom have mental health and substance abuse problems. Oftentimes, Barrett says, they should instead be in treatment clinics where they can get help, an alternative that is not only more effective but costs less money.
Mass. home health workers win wage hike to $15 an hour
The Boston Globe
This is important, since it promotes an elusive idea: If you work hard, 40-50 hours a week, you should make enough to get by.
Chelmsford, Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail pay tribute to Carol Cleven
My friend Carol Cleven submitted the original legislation to create the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Carol passed away recently, and the Chelmsford legislative delegation made a donation in her name to help maintain the rail trail. Read more