Governor's Forum in Franklin

We attended the Governor's Forum in Franklin, held at their beautiful Council on Aging building today. My companion was particularly impressed with the chocolate chip cookies! I guess I need to contact the Governor's staff to ascertain the source.

.

I was impressed at the seminars and trips that were offered by the COA. One of the seminars being promoted was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Westwood/Walpole, called "Greening Your Lifestyle" with a synopsis of "Learn how to decrease your use of energy in your home and in your house of worship" and included workshops: Home Safe Home: Safer Alternatives to Household Chemicals; Water Conservation at Home; Green Your Lifestyle; Art Activity for Kids: Responsible for the Earth; Deeper Home Energy Reduction; The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in the Green Revolution; Solar Energy (Roof Panels & Photo-voltaics); Hosting Home Energy Parties & Carbon Neutral Buildings.

.

It made me sad to realize that Middleboro G&E is so far behind the curve that they're only now discussing the supply side of the energy equation and not promoting the importance of reducing the demand side of the energy equation.

.
But I digress!

.

The turnout for the Governor's Forum was impressive. The crowd offered articulate comments and positive solutions about streamlining certain services, as well as updating the Ch. 70 formula for school funding.

.

There was almost unanimous consensus about 1. overhauling the pension abuse by the few to restore public trust, 2. a graduated, progressive income tax, as has been suggested elsewhere 3. unanimous support for the Governor's insistence that "reforms" need to precede new revenues.

.

I had the pleasure of sitting at a table with parents of Special Needs Adult Children who were living at home, but will loose services on July 1st.
.

One woman explained that both she and her husband work and want to keep their son at home, but on July 1st, his day program and his transportation will be eliminated. That means that one of them needs to stop working to stay at home with him. She questioned if that made fiscal sense.

.

The other couple have an adult daughter whose services will also end, but their daughter requires additional physical assistance since she is wheelchair bound. They need a chairlift for their garage and were initially told that MassHealth would pay for it, but then were told it wouldn't.

.

Now maybe you're thinking "So what?"

.

These are the people we used to warehouse in institutions.

.

When we became enlightened, it became less expensive to provide support services to this special community within the community and this special community flourished and progressed. Some held jobs, run their own personal errands and function independently. They have friends among their peers, have parties, dances, sleepovers and do just the same things the rest of us enjoy. Many participate in the Special Olympics programs that are offered. And it has become a win-win with taxpayers saving money and this special community enjoying better lives as a result.

.

The last comment of the evening commended the Governor for his casino proposal. Surely, that couldn't be the last word!

.

The legislature has undefined predatory gambling on its fall agenda to close the budget gap.

.

If we want to discuss closing the budget gaps with Treasurer Cahill's slot parlors that doesn't create jobs and the Treasurer's revenue/expense projections are illusory.

.

There is no state in the nation with lower taxes than Massachusetts that has gambling. 49 of 50 states are in recession. Gambling isn't the solution to new revenues.

.

It was disappointing that GIC legislation wasn't mentioned, but time ran out.

.

We are faced with tough times and tough choices, and it was clear listening to tonight's crowd, we'll survive it by listening to each other.