One of the most significant responsibilities of my job is to connect residents in our towns with the extremely talented and dedicated folks who provide various social services.  Last winter I co-hosted a program entitled “We are all in this together”:  a forum that detailed numerous ways that folks can receive assistance in these difficult economic times.  The program is to be re-broadcast on local cable during the next few weeks (check listings) but if folks need help with (a) food assistance (b) fuel assistance (c) foreclosure prevention advice (d) job search assistance please contact the following dedicated professionals and volunteers (and please be patient as these folks are all doing their best but have their services stretched to the limit):

Food Assistance: Ronnie Lahage, Marshfield Food Pantry 781 837-0359; Betty Crowley, Scituate Food Pantry  781 545-5827; Mary Doolin, Sewing Seeds  781 837-3337

Fuel Assistance: Pat Daly, South Shore Community Action 508-747-7575; Judy Sansone, Marshfield COA 781 834 5581; Florence Choate, Scituate COA 781 545 8722

Foreclosure Prevention Assistance:

Deidre Hall, Quincy Community Action Corp., 617 479-8181 ext 315;Neighborhood Housing Services of Brockton at 508-895-1782; Jack Mather, Housing Partnership  781 834-1051

Unemployment and Career Assistance:

Jim Elliot, Plymouth Career Center 508-732-5300; Lillian Romero, Dept. Of Transitional Assistance 617 348-8499

Please note that each of these organizations would welcome donations from those who are more fortunate and could afford to assist their neighbors with time or money.  Also, this is a partial list of folks who participated in the program and/or provide essential services.  Log on to my web site for links to others:  www.jimcantwell.com

POSITIVE STEPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS IN MASSACHUSETTS

As readers of the Mariner and followers of my blog can attest, over the past few months I reported on several proposals to encourage businesses to hire new employees & to help lower health insurance premiums for small businesses.  The photo above is of Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry (Chair, Community Development and Small Business Committee), Greg Bialecki (The Governor’s Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development), me, and John Hurst (President of the Mass Retailer’s Association) following one event focused on the need to tackle health insurance premiums for small businesses.  I was thus thrilled at the release of the Governor’s legislative proposals to restrict health insurance companies from charging more than a 3% increase in their yearly rates without an automatic challenge from the State’s Insurance Commissioner.  The recent House vote to freeze unemployment insurance rates for business was an additional step toward improving the Commonwealth’s business climate.  As unemployment is expected to continue to be greater than 9% during this entire year we clearly need to do more to help businesses.   This week I will be providing testimony in support of several measures filed by Governor Patrick and our legislative leaders to streamline government services that promote business growth in our region and in Massachusetts.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUES IN THE NEWS:

“Of the WalMart, by the Enron, and for the Phillip Morris” Most folks involved in politics would agree that we need to REDUCE the ability of a select few special interests to influence elections.  Last month’s 5-4 ruling by the Supreme Court removing many restrictions on corporate and special interest financing of federal elections is a major setback to this goal.  I’ve heard it said that we risk losing what Abraham Lincoln espoused (government of the people, by the people, and for the people).  This ruling by the Supreme Court is not expected to effect state elections in this year.  To avoid even the appearance of influence over my deliberations at the State House, however, I do not request campaign donations from lobbyists and have  made a policy of returning any campaign donations from lobbyists.  As those who may have seen my interview with Pam Wilmot, Executive Director of Government Watch-dog group, Common Cause can attest I am proud of the work that we completed earlier in this session to pass what Wilmot applauded “ the most comprehensive ethics and campaign finance reform legislation in almost thirty years.”

SIGN UP FOR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS OR COME TO OFFICE HOURS

The Patriot Ledger, sister paper of the Mariner, recently ran a story stating that I was a technologically savvy politician who used modern technology to stay in constant contact with folks.  To which my ten year old son, Chris, replied “Dad, you may communicate with people over the internet but you still don’t know how to record things properly on the TV!”

Folks who want to receive my monthly email newsletter or who wish to communicate with me on any issue are encouraged to email me at james.cantwell@state.ma.us or to call 617 722 2014.

For those who cannot come to the State House and wish to meet I have monthly office hours, with the following dates and times coming up:

Tuesday, March 2 at 10 AM at Scituate Council on Aging

Tuesday, March 2 and March 16 at 6:00 PM at Scituate Town Hall

Monday, March 8 and March 22 at 6:00 PM at Marshfield Town Hall

Thursday, March 11 at 9:00 AM at the Marshfield Council on Aging

I also maintain a District Office for office hours by appointment.

Please call ahead to make an appointment and to confirm the schedule as it may change on dates when we have formal sessions or other conflicts.