State Senator O’Connor Ives Working Into Final Day of Session

State Senator O’Connor Ives Working Into Final Day of Session

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – August, 2014 July is one of the busiest months in the legislature because the legislative session comes to a close on July 31, 2014. As such, the Senate acted on a number of notable pieces of legislation. S. 2337 An Act Relative to Unsolicited Loans This bill was one […]

State Senator Ives Advocates for Key Priorities in State Budget

State Senator Ives Advocates for Key Priorities in State Budget

The Massachusetts State Senate debated the Fiscal Year 2015 state budget last month where I advocated for key provisions that will be beneficial to the constituents of my district. Below are some of the notable district specific priorities that were included in the final budget: • $300,000 for the Methuen Stadium This funding is vital […]

Recognizing The Merrimack Valley’s Long History of Dedicated Veterans

Recognizing The Merrimack Valley’s Long History of Dedicated Veterans

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives June, 2014 It has been a busy month in the State House, most significantly with the state budget, which the Senate passed on May 22. I’m happy to report that during the process I was able to secure key funding for priorities and initiatives that are important for citizens throughout […]

Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives Invites Senate Committee on Drug Addiction Treatment to Methuen for Hearing

Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives Invites Senate Committee  on Drug Addiction Treatment to Methuen for Hearing

By Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives The Massachusetts State Senate has formed a special committee to study drug addiction and treatment options in Massachusetts and aims to address an epidemic of opiate addiction in the state. In response to rising levels of drug addiction, the committee plans to review current treatment options and will make recommendations […]

Protecting Kids – In Your Corner with Katy Ives

Protecting Kids  – In Your Corner with Katy Ives

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives April, 2014 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. I’m glad to report two recent developments that will strengthen safety for our children in the Commonwealth. There have been significant discrepencies in child services this past year; one being the serious challenges at the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) […]

Public Records Should Be Accessible with Penalties for Failure To Comply

Public Records Should Be Accessible with Penalties for Failure To Comply

By: Senator Katy Ives – March 2014 Given this is The Valley Patriot’s 10th year anniversary special edition, I would like to highlight legislation in the State House especially relevant to freedom of the press. Government should have transparency and accountability and the only way to ensure that this is occurring is to have access. […]

IN YOUR CORNER with KATY IVES – A Response to Court Rulings on Sentencing Juveniles Convicted of 1st Degree Murder

IN YOUR CORNER with KATY IVES – A Response to Court Rulings on Sentencing Juveniles Convicted of 1st Degree Murder

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – February, 2014 Senators Barry Finegold, (D-Andover), Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), Eileen Donoghue (D-Lowell), James Timilty (D-Walpole), Joan Lovely (D-Salem), Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), and Don Humason (R-Westfield), recently filed legislation to require juveniles convicted of first-degree murder to serve a minimum of 35 years before becoming eligible for […]

Highlights from 2013: A Year in the Massachusetts State Senate – IN YOUR CORNER WITH KATY IVES

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – January, 204 A year ago I was sworn in as the State Senator of the First Essex District, representing the communities of Amesbury, Haverhill, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport, North Andover and Salisbury. It has been a very busy and productive year, during which I have advocated for initiatives that have […]

The challenge of Growing Wages, Jobs and our Small Business Economy – IN YOUR CORNER with Senator Ives

The challenge of Growing Wages, Jobs and our Small Business Economy –  IN YOUR CORNER with Senator Ives

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – December, 2013 At the end of this year’s legislative session, the Senate took up a bill to increase Massachusetts’ minimum wage rate from the current $8.00/hr. to $9.00 in 2014, with automatic increases to $10 in 2015 and $11 in 2016. These increases would also be tied to the […]

Senate Passes New Veterans’ Bill – In Your Corner with Senator Ives

By: Senator Ives – November, 2013 In the latest effort to support veterans, military members and their families in Massachusetts, the Senate unanimously passed legislation in October to expand benefits, increase access to services, and strengthen the recognition and honor given to our service men and women. Senate Bill 1876, “An Act Relative to Veterans’ […]

Responding to the Overuse of Psychotropic Drugs for Seniors

By: State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives, September, 2013 In 2007 a federal audit found that about one in seven elderly residents were being given antipsychotic medication in nursing homes despite the fact that those drugs carry a “black box” warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A “black box” warning is designed to call […]

Speaking In Support of Police Training and Public Safety

Speaking In Support of Police Training and Public Safety

By: Senator Katie O’Connor Ives – June 2013 May was a busy month in the Senate. It was my first budget season and per tradition in the legislature, a new legislator has to give a first formal speech – a “maiden speech” before being able to engage in discussion and debate on the floor. Senators […]

IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES: Two Bills for Welcoming Survivors Home

  By: State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – May 2013 We are all shocked and saddened by the cruelty of the attacks inflicted on innocent people at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. We mourn for the four individuals who lost their lives and their grieving friends and families. Our hearts also go out […]

IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES – Let’s Get the Basics Right in Massachusetts!

By: State Senator Katy O’Connor Ives – April 2013   As the legislative session heads into the spring, there are a series of important issues facing the Commonwealth. I’m highlighting transportation funding and child safety in this column. As always, I welcome your thoughts on these and other issues. Trains, roads and taxes Beacon Hill […]