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Supporting Our Communities Fighting for the communities of Abington, East Bridgewater, and Whitman is always Allen’s top priority. He is a constant advocate for more local aid, including higher levels of Chapter 70 education funding and unrestricted municipal aid. Now more than ever, state investment in our towns’ economic future is critical. That is why Representative McCarthy worked to secure a $1.6 million Public Works Economic Development Grant for the redevelopment of the North Abington business district. The award will fund roadway resurfacing, sidewalk improvements, and streetscape enhancements. A traffic signal at routes 58 and 139 will be installed, and a 34-space parking lot for nearby Arnold Park will be constructed. These investments will help make the area a highly-appealing destination that will attract visitors and businesses from around the region. Allen has also ensured that the area’s priorities were included in the state’s long-term capital spending plans. When the legislature took up a round of bond bills in his first term, he won authorizations for projects in each of the district’s three towns. Representative McCarthy is always looking for ways to make government more efficient and to curb fraud and abuse. In January 2009, he served on the House Special Committee on Pensions, a group of legislators that reviewed the state’s retirement system and laid the early groundwork for a landmark pension reform bill that passed later in the year. That legislation did away with the so-called “one day, one year” rule that allowed elected officials to serve just one day in a calendar year and gain a full year of service. The “king for a day” rule that allowed increased pension benefits for some employees who go out on accidental disability retirement while filling in for a supervisor was also eliminated, as was a provision that enabled legislators to receive increased benefits after losing an election. These new rules apply to both current and future employees. Allen also supported the largest overhaul of the state’s transportation system in 50 years. The measure streamlined Massachusetts’ sprawling transportation bureaucracy and will save the state nearly $6.5 billion over the next 20 years. The savings will be achieved through reduced overhead costs and new policies. $700 million would be saved by bringing MBTA employees’ health insurance benefits in line with those of other state workers. The so-called “23 and out” policy that enabled MBTA workers to retire with 23 years of service and immediately collect benefits was also eliminated. Additionally, the bill ended the costly practice of borrowing to meet payroll expenses by stipulating that salaries must be covered by the agency’s operating budget. The legislation eliminated the controversial Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and consolidated the state’s various transportation agencies into one new organization, called the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MassDOT consists of four divisions. The RMV retained its familiar responsibilities. The Highway Division oversees highways, including the turnpike. The Mass Transit Division includes the MBTA and regional transit authorities, and the former Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission was replaced by the Aeronautics Division. Allen also joined other Massachusetts representatives in passing the most sweeping ethics overhaul in 15 years. That legislation earned the support of government watchdog group Common Cause Massachusetts and banned all gifts to public officials. The felony charge would apply to both the recipient and the giver and would carry a penalty of 5 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. The bill also provided the Ethics Commission with new investigatory powers, including enhanced subpoena power, expanded regulatory authority, and an increased statute of limitations. As the husband of a public elementary school teacher and father of two young public school students, public education is an issue that is of great personal importance to Representative McCarthy. He was proud to be named the Vice Chairman of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Education. Working closely with Chairwoman Marty Walz, Allen and the committee review all legislation regarding the state’s K-12 public education laws and issue recommendations for action to the rest of the legislature. When East Bridgewater High School was placed on probation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Allen redoubled his ongoing efforts to advance the district’s Massachusetts School Building Authority application. After continued lobbying from Allen and other members of the legislative delegation, MSBA invited East Bridgewater to collaborate on a project feasibility study. This marks an important step forward in the authority’s approval process. Allen also wants state government to do more to relieve the burden that special education costs place on families and school districts. During each budget cycle, he has lobbied for a higher Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursement rate and a lower cost threshold to activate those reimbursements. He is also a co-sponsor of important autism insurance reform legislation. The bill would require health insurers in Massachusetts to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, which currently affects 1 in every 91 children. Passing this measure would directly ease the financial burden on the many families who care for an autistic child. It would also realize substantial savings for state government as studies indicate that 20 - 50% of students with ASD who receive appropriate intervention are able to participate in regular education classes. Ninety percent show improvement, which also reduces the needed level of special education support. Allen’s work promoting public safety dates to his days as an assistant district attorney. During his first term in office, he won $12,500 in child safety funding for East Bridgewater. The grant was disbursed directly to the town, which was able to spend the money on a child safety program of its choosing. Representative McCarthy also won a $100,000 state grant for Learn to Cope, a local support group for families with members addicted to opiates like Oxycontin or heroin. The group was founded in response to sharply rising cases of opiate addiction and quickly grew to an organization of nearly 500 members. They have achieved remarkable success. Another issue of concern to Representative McCarthy is improper hypodermic needle disposal. Since a state Clean Needles law was passed in 2006, the incidence of these sharps being disposed of in public places like parks and playgrounds appears to have risen dramatically. Allen has authored legislation that would create stiff new penalties for possessing and disposing of these needles in public places, empowering police officers to address the issue and creating a new deterrent against the practice. Representative McCarthy believes strongly that state government must support the needs of our senior citizens.He has consistently advocated for increased funding for local Councils on Aging. He also helped clear the way for the construction of the beautiful new Abington Senior Center. In order for the town to finalize the purchase of the building, emergency legislation had to be passed. Bills of this nature can often take months to complete, however Allen and state Senator Michael Morrissey were able to pass the measure in a matter of days. Today the center is a well-known and heavily-used resource for senior citizens in Abington and beyond. |
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Issues and Accomplishments
