House Budget Will Need a Haircut

House Budget Will Need a Haircut

By: State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell Following an extensive process that starts with hearings in January, the Fiscal Year 2018 House budget was finalized in the last week in April. The Senate will soon complete their budget and the two will be reconciled by 1 July. The 40.4 billion dollar House budget DID NOT include […]

Big Issues for The 2017-2018 Legislative Session

Big Issues for The 2017-2018 Legislative Session

By: Rep. Linda Dean Campbell – Jan. 2017 Before I list several very challenging issues that we will likely face in this Session – some good news: Massachusetts was recently ranked the number one state in the country for quality of life by a fre quented website, 24/7 Wall St. This ranking was based upon […]

MA Lawmakers Pass Public Records Reform, Valley Patriot Publisher Says Senate Must Show Leadership, Close Loopholes

MA Lawmakers Pass Public Records Reform, Valley Patriot Publisher Says Senate Must Show Leadership, Close Loopholes

By: Maria Fiato. Christine Ryan, and Tom Duggan Nov. 23, 2015 MASSACHUSETTS – After nearly five years of trying to get the Massachusetts legislature to reform the state’s impotent public records law, Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan says that they have made a good first step towards holding public officials accountable for not turning over […]

Fran Gradzewicz Cites Personal Story in Testimony on End of Life Care

Fran Gradzewicz Cites Personal Story in Testimony on End of Life Care

By: State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell July, 2105 Francis “Fran” Gradzewicz, longtime resident of Methuen, was joined by her husband Thomas, her daughter Karen Hayden, and myself, as they brought their case regarding the lack of clarity in current law governing end-of-life medical care to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Fran testified in front […]

Strong Support at State House Hearing to Improve Access to Public Information

Strong Support at State House Hearing to Improve Access to Public Information

By: State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell June, 2015 Massachusetts gets an F grade for access to public records according to some very respected public interest groups. A number of bills have been filed to change this including legislation filed by Senator Ives and co-sponsored by both Representative DiZoglio and myself. As a member of the […]

State Money for Methuen in Massachusetts House Budget

State Money for Methuen in Massachusetts House Budget

On Wednesday, the House concluded deliberations for the proposed FY16 with funding allocated for significant projects throughout the Merrimack Valley. In addition to the much toted $400,000.00 funding for the Nicholson Stadium Project the House FY16 Budget also included funding for additional Methuen programs and projects sponsored by the delegation. The Methuen Arlington Neighborhood, which […]

New Veterans Affairs Secretary Comes to Massachusetts

New Veterans Affairs Secretary Comes to Massachusetts

By: Linda Dean Campbell – November, 2014 Very recently, I was afforded the opportunity to have a discussion with our new national Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald. Wisely, he is taking time to visit VA health care centers across the country, including our center in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. I was impressed by some of […]