Today, Governor Baker announced details for the initial implementation of federal unemployment benefits in the CARES Act, the federal based COVID-19 relief package. This federal program, enacted on March 27, 2020, will be administered by states. Today’s announcement reflects the first set of partial guidance that Massachusetts will immediately implement to support unemployed workers. The…
Congress passed COVID-19 relief legislation last week, which has now been signed by the president. The newsletter we sent out last week contained an overview of the legislation. Three specific parts of that legislation will be particularly relevant to our small businesses and workers: Direct rebates: The CARES Act provides a $1,200 rebate to individuals and heads of households and $2,400…
Last week, in his State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Baker announced the inclusion of the “Career Technical Institute Initiative” in his FY2021 budget proposal. This initiative would transform vocational schools in order to provide classes in shifts, allowing for greater use of these technical resources, just as we have done on Cape Ann with our…
This week, the House of Representatives advanced and finalized several pieces of important legislation, covering the topics of education, nutrition, public safety, and children’s health before breaking for the holidays. As formal sessions end for the remainder of the year, I’m pleased we advanced these critical pieces of legislation, sending several to the Governor’s desk…
Last week, the House of Representatives unianimously passed the Student Opportunity Act to update the education funding formula for our K-12 schools. This historic legislation invests $1.4 billion in the Commonwealth’s public education system, including a projected $3.4 million in new Chapter 70 funding for Cape Ann’s schools once fully implemented.
Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) announced Julie LaFontaine as the recipient of the third annual Jeremiah J. Healy Service Award. Established by Ferrante in 2017, the award is given to an individual who best epitomizes the social gospel of Matthew: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me…
On Tuesday, the Legislature’s Transportation Committee heard testimony on several bills aimed at expanding use of electric cars. One proposal, backed by Reps. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, D-Gloucester, and Lenny Mirra, R-West Newbury, would reauthorize the rebate program for low-emission and electric vehicle purchases up to $75,000 and create a new rebate offering a $400 discount on…
As fall begins and our formal sessions resume at the State House, I want to update you on some of the important work that is happening on Beacon Hill and around Cape Ann! First, some exciting news on education. The Joint Committee on Education released an education funding reform bill last week that fully implements…
Donald Trump’s trade war with China has economic salvos striking in places you’d never expect. Like, say, the retaliatory tariffs that are bursting over the New England lobster industry. In September 2017, US lobstermen shipped over 1,100 metric tons to China alone. Distributors selling more lobsters resulted in beneficial stable prices for lobstermen and more…
State Rep. Ann Margaret Ferrante, D-Gloucester, said the trade wars are hurting not just lobstermen but other sectors of the seafood industry connected to it, such as processors, wholesalers, supermarkets and restaurants. “The lobster is commodity that feeds a chain of industries,” she said. “You’re talking about a supply chain of about five industries that…
