News
Redistricting Brings Changes to Third Plymouth District
(BOSTON) - Last week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation, An Act relative to establishing representative districts in the General Court (H 4217,) that established new political boundaries for all 160 House districts. The Third Plymouth District, represented by State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull), will be comprised of the Towns of Hingham, Hull, and Cohasset. The district now includes all precincts in Hingham. Precinct 3 in North Scituate will be part of the Fourth Plymouth district. After conducting and releasing the U.S. Decennial Census, Massachusetts is constitutionally . . . Read More
Representative Meschino Bill in Relation to Waivers for Non-Fault Overpayments Receives Support from AFL-CIO, GBLS in Hearing
(BOSTON) - This week, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) testified in support of An Act relative to waivers for non-fault overpayments (H4202) to streamline and enhance the standards to determine whether the collection of overpaid state and federal unemployment benefits accrued in 2020 and 2021 will be waived. The bill supports the Commonwealth’s workers and their families by providing clear guidance to the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) on the process and standards to consider no-fault waiver requests. After filing the bill last month, the bill was promptly . . . Read More
Electric Vehicle Rebate Needs to Increase, Expand
In Commonwealth Magazine FROM THE GRIDLOCK of the Southeast Expressway to Logan Airport and the Cape Cod bridges, traffic congestion is so commonplace in Massachusetts that it’s easy to forget transportation is also our leading cause of climate pollution. All this movement of people and goods fuels the extreme weather trends that threaten our coastal communities, statewide economic vitality, and the very infrastructure that our cars and trucks depend on. Transportation is also responsible for dangerous pollutants that cause heart and lung disease — especially in neighborhoods that . . . Read More
Broad Coalition Urges Support of Legislation to Expand Supportive Housing and Services
Press Release by United Way (BOSTON) – A broad coalition of 70 housing advocates and providers, healthcare institutions, and nonprofit and philanthropic leaders today urged the Joint Committee on Housing to favorably report out new legislation sponsored by State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) that would transform the Commonwealth’s homeless response system and advance long-term housing solutions throughout Massachusetts. House Bill 3838 – An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool Program to address the medically complex needs of disabled men, women, and children experiencing . . . Read More
Advocacy of Federal and State Legislators and Town Officials Results in Scituate Station’s Preservation
(BOSTON) - Today State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined members of the federal delegation, Massachusetts State Senators and Representatives, and town officials in celebrating the U.S. Coast Guard’s decision to preserve its seasonal station in Scituate. Since June 9, when the U.S. Coast Guard announced its intention to shutter the Scituate station as part of a broader effort to consolidate four “redundant” stations across the United States, federal and state legislators alongside town officials have advocated for the station’s preservation using a variety of tactics. On August 31, . . . Read More
Representative Meschino Files Bill in Relation to Waivers for Non-Fault Overpayments
(BOSTON) - Last week, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) filed An Act relative to waivers for non-fault overpayments (HD4461) to streamline the standards that determine whether the collection of overpaid state and federal unemployment benefits accrued in 2020 and 2021 will be waived. The bill supports the Commonwealth’s workers and eases the strain placed on the Department of Unemployment Assistance by an unprecedented number of waiver applications. Unemployment insurance (UI) benefits provided, and continue to provide, critical support for workers and their families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions . . . Read More