Gambling is a vice that hurts families and communities. It looks like gambling will expand in Massachusetts. For many the decision to gamble - especially on the lottery - is an impulsive decision. Gambling cannot be legislated away. However, provided accurate information about gambling, fewer people would gamble. As your state representative, I will propose legislation that will require the lottery and casinos to post an information label indicating the average negative return on each game played. Similar labels will also be mandatory for all television and billboard gambling advertisement.

I believe that if people had the same opportunity to invest their money as they do gambling their money, even fewer people would gamble. At present large initial investment and inconvenience create barriers to many potential investors. I will propose a tax deduction for any mutual fund company offering mutual funds that take contributions as little as $1 and that make their products available in convenience stores and gas stations. These companies would receive further deductions if their funds were comprised of securities of Massachusetts companies. Investment not only affords better risk-reward opportunities but also provides the capital Massachusetts employers need to grow their businesses. I believe that when people are given accurate information and opportunity they will choose investment over gambling.

I believe the biggest crisis facing both state and local government today is a shortfall in revenue. If forecasts for recession come to pass there will be less money in state and federal coffers for city and towns. I think state government needs to make some tough choices about taxes, revenue, and spending to keep city and towns functioning.

As a substitute teacher in the Arlington public schools, I have seen first hand the strains that decreasing budgets place on schools. When I was growing up in the sixties and seventies, the federal government funded critical programs on the state and local levels. Free sports and activities made school fun. School lunch and breakfast programs ensured that students had the energy to develop and to be academically engaged. Today we have "inclusive classrooms" where students that may have been relegated to special ed. classrooms in the past with the help of assistants are now part of the regular academic community. Head Start and other such early child education and intervention programs have done a great job preparing children for school, yet have gone unfunded in recent years. Today parts of the school budget that are deemed less essential get cut so that government-required programs and more essential curricula get funded. This means we have neglected school buildings. I think it is terrible that we send students to classrooms where they can't see the outside through stained Plexiglas windows or where lunch tables have to be moved during rainstorms because of leaky ceilings.

If elected I promise to author a bill that would give a small amount of money to each school to set up an endowment that would set aside money for buildings and grounds. Also second set of money would be used to promote this endowment to alumni, local businesses, citizens, and philanthropy organizations. Towns or schools could never use this money for any other purpose. I believe that strong endowments can keep schools viable places of learning during times of neglect

The states schools of education have many talented professors. Each professor has a different area of expertise that could be a valuable to schools and teachers. I believe the state should provide a stipend to any professor or doctoral student who makes them self available to schools and teachers for advice and consultation on any school matter.

In April the state will move from a "fixed and established" system for auto insurance to a managed competition system. The new plan promises to cap rate increases to 10% and assign drivers considered risky to a special risk pool. This system is designed to lure new insurers to the state. However, out-of-state insurance companies want to use discriminatory methods, such as credit ratings and regional zones to set rates.

The insurance commissioner has put the idea of using one's credit rating to set auto insurance rates on hold for one year, but has allowed insurers a backdoor method to use credit scores -- by permitting them to bundle auto and homeowner's insurance together. Homeowner's insurers use credit ratings to set rates, and can even deny people homeowner's insurance based on that credit score. This means low-income people are unlikely to see savings. Moreover, urban drivers will not be able to choose their insurer, but will be assigned an insurer at a capped rate through the special risk pool.

As your state representative, I will oppose the use of credit scores to determine auto insurance rates for Massachusetts drivers, and further oppose permitting insurers to bundle auto insurance together with homeowner's insurance. I will support competitive rating legislation pending on Beacon Hill that would enable all good drivers to receive the benefits of competition.

When an individual goes to purchase health insurance, making an informed, cost effective choice is a difficult proposition. Consumers are faced with a myriad of choices. There is too much technical information presented in an inconsistent and confusing manner. This is especially true when it comes to prescription drug coverage. Most doctors do not know which drugs are covered under their patient’s plans. Many employers pay benefit consultants to help them decide which plan will best meet their needs and bottom line. Because these employers are informed they are equipped to make appropriate choices. But individuals must sift through the volumes of confusing information unable to accurately compare plans and understand the future impact of their decision.

Now that individuals within the Commonwealth are required to show proof of health coverage, it is imperative they have access to straightforward information that can be easily understood. Therefore, I would support plans like MASSPIRG and Consumer Union’s Standardized Information Disclosure Form. The disclosure form would use a question and answer format to provide consumers with the information in simple language so they can make appropriate choices. Only when consumers understand their options can they shop for the best product to fit their budget.

The state should also make an attempt to address the biggest underlying cost to healthcare…that of the health and wellness of its citizens. The cigarette tax should not only support smoking cessation programs it should also promote exercise and healthy nutrition. Health plans should be required to reward doctors who get their patients to adopt healthy life styles and get regular checkups. It should also ban drug companies from giving doctors inappropriate gifts and incentives for prescribing its drugs. A healthier citizenry will require less care and will ultimately help manage the cost of health care for everyone.

The recent apartment building and Synagogue fire in Gloucester should be a wake up call to all the citizens of Massachusetts. We need to end the growing trend of sending out a single fire fighter to respond to a call. Because Arlington and Medford has such a dense concentrations of wooden homes and structures in a woodland environment it is very susceptible to fire. While California wildfire conditions are a remote possibility a large draught driven fire is very possible. Cities and towns should have the resources and manpower to respond large fires. The state needs to make a special provision for the funding of fire departments when giving out local aid.

I take great interest in environmental issues and truly believe that global warming deserves urgent government attention. The government should be active in promoting sustainable energy projects as well as lessoning the effects of the urban heat islands that exist in our cities and towns. In addition, I believe every significant body of water can be and should be clean enough to swim in. I also believe there are many ways the state can reduce carbon emissions. Here are a few of my positions on the issue:

1. Create tax incentives to use cleaner fuels by setting tax rates on the various types of fuels based on environmental impact. By the same token, the users and providers of clean, sustainable fuels should be given tax credits.
2. Allocate more transportation dollars towards public transportation, bike paths, bike lanes, and other clean air alternatives. Conversely, the state should avoid building more roads where such roads will encourage unnecessary use of motor vehicles and result in greater congestion, rather than alleviating congestion.
3. Provide tax breaks and credits as financial incentives for companies to switch to alternative fuel sources. Utilities that do not make a switch should be required to expand energy efficiency rebates. Currently, utility rebates and government tax credits do not provide consumers with incentives to switch to energy saving alternatives, such as ultra-efficient hot water heaters, adding insulation or buying more energy efficient home appliances.
4. The Commonwealth needs to be a leader in adopting alternative fuels. The state should set a mandate to switch to alternative fuel for its automobile fleets and set up solar panels on its buildings within 5 years.
5. Eliminate restrictive zoning law practices that encourage suburban sprawl and eliminate affordable housing. Sprawl destroys habitat and increases commute time. The state should require communities to develop more intelligently, fairly, and effectively before allowing the haphazard development of rural lands. Denser settlements mean more people can walk to school or to work. Public transportation also becomes more feasible and easier to provide.

The ocean has been a vital part of the economy since our founding. I believe the state needs to limit development next to our wetlands and shorelines. For existing settlements, the state needs to be diligent about enforcing environmental laws. The state should encourage local development of advanced sewer treatment systems. Regional systems like Deer Island, while very effective at improving water cleanliness, have an adverse impact on local aquifers. For example, storm water that would normally enter the Charles River aquifer and watershed now gets piped out many miles into the ocean. During draught years this could have a drastic effect on the Charles River ecosystem. Coastal fisheries such as Herring and Shad are dependent on fresh water rivers and streams. That is why it is imperative that we treat water as close to the source as possible.