State Senator Katherine Clark

by Katherine Clark
Last summer, the state’s inspector general accused the director of Merrimack Special Education Collaborative of diverting $11.5 million in public funding to boost his salary and those of a few top executives. In response, last week the State Senate passed legislation to reform the Commonwealth’s system of education collaboratives, increasing the transparency, accountability and oversight of these important institutions.… [more]

With the cold weather upon us, it’s a good time to think about making our homes more energy efficient. Energy efficiency improvements, many of which can be done easily and at relatively low cost, save money and energy and make our homes more comfortable. And with fuel costs running considerably higher than last year, these improvements can make a real difference.… [more]

This past year, as the state continued to confront economic challenges, I focused on ways to build our schools and our communities, support our businesses, and maintain a strong fiscal position for the Commonwealth.  The Fiscal Year 2012 budget was a difficult one, with the legislature facing a projected $1.9 billion budget gap.  While we struggled with cuts, I was proud to work to preserve – or in some cases increase – funding for priority programs, all without raising taxes.  Highlights included:

• Maintained and increased funding for elder services like adult day habilitation, home care and elder protective services.

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As we begin 2012, the challenge will be to find policy solutions that work and to support innovative and efficient programs, all while being responsible and accountable stewards of taxpayer dollars.  This year’s budget debate will likely be another difficult one, with the state facing a tight fiscal environment and the possibility of budget cuts.  I believe that we can and will develop a budget that funds vital programs in a sensible way, and I look forward to your input as my colleagues and I move forward in that process.… [more]