News

HOUSE PASSES MUNICIPAL RELIEF BILL
State Representative Paul Donato, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, announced on April 26th, the unanimous passing of legislation facilitating mutual aid agreements, allowing pension systems to extend their funding schedules and permitting municipalities to enter into leases of up to 30 years without a home rule petition in an effort to provide cities and towns with new means for managing municipalitiies through these challenging economic times.
Many of the components of the bill are simple and straightforward, allowing municipalities to do things one might have assumed they already could do. Foe example, the bill allows municipalities to establish an e-billing program, a money-saving practice that has been used by private companies for years.
Other provisions are more pro-active, giving municipalities new tools to manage employee benefits, facilitate regionalization, operate more efficiently and enjoy more flexibility in municipal finance. For example, provisions to promote sound bidding practices and allow municipalities to enter into mutual aid agreements will help cities and towns save money on services, equipment and staffing. It also allows cities to offer an early retirement option for its employees as well as local retirement system funding relief.
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REPRESENTATIVES PAUL J. DONATO, CARL M. SCIORTINO, JR.
and SEAN GARBALLEY and SENATOR PAT JEHLEN
BRING REVENUE COMMITTEE “LISTENING TOUR” TO MEDFORD
Tax Policy and the Challenges of Local Government
BOSTON – The Joint Committee on Revenue has been traveling the state on a “Listening Tour,” to hear from the public their thoughts on tax policy in Massachusetts. The Medford stop of the Listening Tour will be held in the Council Chambers, Medford City Hall, on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, from 7 to 9 pm. House Revenue Chairman Representative Jay R Kaufman (D-Lexington) will facilitate audience discussion and questions following a brief overview of how Massachusetts tax policy is structured.
The listening tour will take the Committee around the Commonwealth and will focus on how tax policy impacts a variety of topic areas. Each stop will open with a brief snapshot of the current revenue picture in Massachusetts. These events are open to the public for their participation.
“In these tough economic times State and local revenues have been severely strained. By holding these public forums, we as lawmakers are able to hear directly from the public their concerns regarding various tax policies. It is critical to evaluate these policies for those most in need, we must take a hard look at the structure of our tax policy to better evaluate its long-term sufficiency,” said Rep. Jay R. Kaufman.
Representative Paul Donato added that, “We legislators hear regularly from constituents asking us to increase funding for – or at lease level fund – local aid, education, and other programs. These appeals must become conversations about funding and priorities, if they are to yield results that people want.”
Come get a picture of the state’s finances, and share your opinions about how we tax and spend in Massachusetts.
(May 28, 2010)
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DONATO BACKED ANTI-BULLYING BILL NEARS VOTE
LOCAL LAWMAKER CONFIDENT OF QUICK PASSAGE

By KEVIN MACCIOLI
MEDFORD – Anti-bullying legislation is one step closer to reality in Massachusetts.
A bill before the Joint Committee on Education received a favorable endorsement Tuesday and is now headed for the Senate, where State Representative Paul Donato, D- Malden/ Medford, hopes it will get a quick vote.
A longtime proponent and co-sponsor of anti-bullying legislation, Donato said the proposal passed by the committee is a positive step forward. He said it is unfortunate it took a recent series of hi-profile bullying incidents in other parts of the Commonwealth to get the legislature to finally act.
“This legislation – we hope – will make not just the students doing this accountable, but parents aware and accountable and schools more accountable, as well,” Donato said Wednesday morning.
The legislation targets not just traditional face-to-face schoolyard bullying, but also cyber-bullying. It, among other things, requires school district to implement prevention and intervention measures.
Following a vote in the Senate, Donato, who plans to co-host a meeting on bullying with Medford School Committeewoman Ann Marie Cugno next month, said the legislation will make its way to the House, where he hopes a vote will be taken by mid-March.
In a related matter, the Medford City Council Tuesday night passed a resolution offered by Councilor Stephanie Muccini Burke calling on the Medford police to host a meeting for parents to educate them on cyber-bullying.
“We have the resources right at our fingertips and I think we need to use them,” said Burke referring specifically to Medford Police Lt. J.J. McLean, a recognized computer crimes expert.
Published February 25, 2010 in editions of the Malden Evening News & Medford Daily Mercury
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REPRESENTATIVE SAYS I.T. SYSTEMS IN CITIES AND TOWNS "INSUFFICIENT"
Representative Paul J. Donato, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, said most towns have "insufficient" systems to protect municipal data from viruses, security breaches and hardware malfunctions. Donato's comments came at a meeting of a regional advisory commision charged with reviewing opportunities for cities and towns to combine education, public safety, public health, housing , veterans' services, transportation and municipal finance functions. A report is due in April. "Regionalization is the only way to retain a variety of services," said Donato.
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REPRESENTATIVE DONATO AWARDED PIPEFITTERS LOCAL#537 LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2009
Each year Pipefitters Local #537 presents an award to the Legislator who supports social justice for working men and women in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.    This year Pipefitters Local #537 Committee on Political Education has unanimously voted and was proud to award the Legislator of the Year award to Representative Donato. Representative Donato is always first to stand with working men and women to ensure their standard of living and working conditions are never compromised. The award was presented on March 19th.
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REPRESENTATIVE DONATO NAMED LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR BY MWRA ADVISORY BOARD
The MWRA Advisory Board presented Representative Paul J. Donato with its "Legislator of the Year" award at the February Advisory Board Meeting. The Board sincerely thanked Donato for his leadership in securing Debt Service Assistance over the years and his advocacy in promoting pro-rate payer legislation.
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REPRESENTATIVE DONATO NEW CHAIR OF JOINT COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPALITIES
House Speaker Robert DeLeo named Representative Paul Donato as the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Municipalities & Regional Govenment.
Donato said Speaker DeLeo believed his experience as a former school committee member, city councilor, and mayor in Medford made him a good fit for the job.
"I'm excited about it," said Donato. "this fits right in with whats going on with the state budget and the work I've been doing the last couple of months on the Municipal Relief Commission."
Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn said he was pleased to hear of Donato's new assignment.
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REPRESENTATIVE DONATO APPOINTED TO CO-CHAIR SPECIAL MUNICIPAL RELIEF COMMISSION
A special state commission created to examine municipal relief options is being co-chaired by Representative Paul Donato and State Senator Stanley Rosenberg (D- Amherst).
"This is a very important commission the Governor requested and the House Speaker and Senate President agreed was necessary," said Donato. The commission has until December 15 to submit a report and recomendations to Governor Deval Patrick and legislative leaders.
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REPRESENTATIVE DONATO HONORED BY HOUSING FAMILIES, Inc.
HFI and community leaders honored State Representative Paul Donato for his advocacy work with homeless families on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at All Seasons Table Restaurant in Malden.
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REPRESENTATIVE DONATO HONORED BY MASSCAP

Joseph P. Diamond, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action announced that MASSCAP honored Representative Donato with their Public Service Self-sufficiency Award on October 15, 2008 at the Great Hall of the State House. This award is made in recognition of Representative Donato's career-long commitment to helping low-income people.
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STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAUL DONATO RECEIVES THE CAL RIPKIN,SR. FOUNDATION'S HALL OF FAME AWARD
State Representative Paul Donato has been selected as the 2008 recepient Hall of Fame Award for legislative service. Rep. Donato accepted his award at the Middlesex County Boys and Girls Club in Medford on Tuesday September 9, 2008. The Ripkin Foundation presents the HOF award to those legislators who demonstrate true dedication and commitment to improving the lives of young people in their communities.

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HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES BOLD BIOFUELS BILL
Representaive Paul Donato and his colleagues in the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to encourage the development of advanced biofuels in the Commonwealth. The legislation aims to promote the use of advanced biofuels through the first-in-the-nation state gas tax exemption on cellulostic biofuels, based on the percetage of renewable fuel used, and mandated blending of advanced biofuels with traditional diesel and heating fuel.
"The evidence is clear that the burning of fossil fuels continues to take a dramatic toll on our environment, and pain at the pump will only worsen. These environmental and consumer costs demand solutions and the House voted to make Massachusetts a part of the clean energy solution," said Representative Donato.
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HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES NATION-LEADING ENERGY REFORM PACKAGE
State Representative Paul J. Donato (D-Medford, Malden) announced that the House of Representatives has unanimously approved a comprehensive, best in the nation energy reform bill that will reduce the Commonwealth's use of foreign oil, increase use and production of cleaner, more renewable energy and help save costs at a critical time for consumers.
"When we saw the energy crises on the horizon last year, the Massachusetts House acted and now will have a law that comprehensively and aggressively tackles this crises at just the right time," said Representative Donato. "I am pleased to have been part of this historic energy reform in the Commonwealth."
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REPRESENTATIVE DONATO SECURES FUNDING TO RESTORE WWII MEMORIAL AT BELL ROCK PARK
An amendment sponsored by Rep. Paul Donato appropriated $100,000 for the restoration of the WWII Memorial at Bell Rock Park. "I'd like to commend Representative Donato for the effective work he did in initiating this appropriation in the House budget," said Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei who represents Malden. Ward I Councillor Gary Christenson and Mayor Richard Howard also praised Donato for his work on this worthwhile project.
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HOUSE APPROVES MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LEGISLATION
The Massachusetts House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to pass landmark mental health parity legislation that will require health plans to cover mental health and substance abuse disorders to the same extent as all other medical conditions.
"This legislation will allow individuals who need mental health services to receive treatment through their health plans while also changing the stigma around mental illness," said Representative Donato.
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HOUSE PASSES BILL REFORMING CHILD PROTECTION
The House of Representatives yesterday gave final approval to a bill that will toughen the laws meant to protect our most vulnerable children from abuse and neglect and ensure that the protection of children is at the top of the state's agenda with a new child advocate dedicated soley to child welfare.
"There is no greater task before us than protecting the most vulnerable children in Massachussetts, and with this legislation we will help set up the framework to better handle the most troubling and disturbing cases," said Representative Donato.