Scenes from 10th Bristol District

4.25.13
Straus' amendment would open MBTA pension books
Standard Times

BOSTON — State Rep. William Straus has pushed an amendment through the House of Representatives that would open the MBTA's long secretive pension plan to public scrutiny. The 153-0 vote came as an amendment to the state budget bill now being debated by the House. The Mattapoisett Democrat, who serves as House chairman of the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee, said he wrote the amendment as part of his push for "continuing transportation reform." Straus said the pension records of the state's public transportation system have been kept private by a 1993 ruling of the state Supreme Court that the system was created by a private trust in the 1940s. "We came up with a different legal approach to redefine a private trust as subject to public records requirements if it takes public money and provides pension payments to state employees." The Senate approved a similar measure last week, and Straus said a conference committee will try to determine "which legal language is going to have the best chance to withstand a legal challenge." Still, "It's likely this issue will end up in the courts," Straus said. Republican Rep. Shauna O'Connell of Taunton proposed similar legislation last year, but it was defeated in the Democratically-controlled House.  

3.29.13
DOT reversal could spell good news for South Coast Bikeway Organizers of the South Coast

Bikeway campaign to create trails from the Rhode Island border in Swansea to the Cape Cod Canal got some good news Thursday night that could help the project move forward. At a summit Thursday at the University of Massachusetts Law School on the economic impact of rails, state Rep. Bill Straus, who chairs the Joint Committee on Transportation, told a crowd of about 100 bikeway supporters that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has reversed a standing policy against shared rail and bicycle trails

08.20.2012
Rep. Straus Joins Effort for Federal Emergency Aid for the Fishing Industry
Bill Straus issued a detailed support letter to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on August 20, 2012 expressing support for Governor Patrick's emergency aid petition for the Massachusetts fishing industry. The request is based upon the devastating impact which will occur in the state and its main ports of New Bedford and Gloucester as a result of the targeted cutbacks in fishing effort under Federal regulations. Bill's full letter is attached.» read letter

06.22.2012
Taunton casino could 'create traffic nightmare' for SouthCoast
William Straus, a Mattapoisett Democrat who serves as House chairman of the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee, said he has had two meetings with » read more

05.14.12
Boston—Representative Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett), expressed his praise today for an Order by state insurance commissioner Joseph G. Murphy which rejected a proposed increase in homeowners insurance by the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriters Association (FAIR Plan). » read more

04.29.11 House Passes Balanced FY '12 Budget
State Representative William Straus yesterday joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing a balanced FY '12 budget. The budget, which passed with the bipartisan support of all but one Republican Representative, closes a projected $1.9 billion budget gap through cuts to state spending totaling $1.2 billion. » read more

02.03.11
Straus appointed Chairman of Joint Committee on Transportation
 Boston, MA: Representative William M. Straus (D-Mattapoisett) has been appointed by the House Democratic Caucus as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation at the State House » read more

10.7.2010
Wareham District Court Bumped from the Short List
WAREHAM — Wareham Fourth District Court has received a stay of execution for possible closing after the state House of Representatives approveda supplemental appropriations bill, which includes $9 million for the trial courts in Massachusetts. » read more

8.14.2010
New Law Expands Farmers Markets Access
Massachusetts wine makers have scored a major vino victory, which will allow them to sell their grape goods at farmers markets throughout the state. » read more

7.9.2010
Massachusetts House Approves Farm Wineries Proposal by Representative Straus
Boston – The Massachusetts House of Representatives has adopted a proposal to promote local farm wineries and assist in the growing popularity of farmers markets in the Commonwealth. » read more


5.25.2010 | The Standard Times
State Rep. William M. Straus wants Google to hit the delete button on private data the company scooped up from Wi-Fi networks over the past three years. » read more

 

5.10.2010| The Marion Sentinal
Local legislators band together in call for upping fish catch limits
BOSTON — State Rep. Bill Straus, D-Mattapoisett, has joined with seven other bi-partisan area legislators urging the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to up catch limits for stock fish from northeast fishery stock to allow the beleaguered fishing industry to stay afloat.. » read more

4.26.2010| The Standard Times
Dam safety bill clears committee, goes to state Senate for review
April 26, 2010 12:00 AM The state Senate is expected to debate legislation that would require a detailed inventory and classification of the thousands of dams throughout Massachusetts be completed by next summer. » read more

11.18.2009| The Standard Times
Committee Approves E-Waste Recycling
Boston – Representative William M. Straus (D-Mattapoisett) today announced the Committee approval of legislation regulating electronic waste recycling in Massachusetts. The redraft was authored by the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, the Committee of which Rep. Straus co-chairs. Electronic or “e-waste” represents a source of toxic materials which threaten public health when disposed of improperly. In addition, a strong recycling program recaptures many materials for re-use. » read more

June 24, 2009 | OP ED The Standard Times
YOUR VIEW: Catch-share fishing needs work
A federal government fisheries panel is meeting in Portland, Maine, this week. That panel, the New England Fisheries Management Council, will vote on what is either the most creative and innovative change in how our groundfish are managed, or, perhaps, the next in a long line of blunders in government oversight which will change the shape of ports like ours forever » read article

June 13, 2008 | The Standard Times
Wareham rail plan gets boost
BOSTON - A proposal to bring commuter rail to Wareham has gotten a boost in a $1.5 billion transportation bond bill that cleared the House this week. » read article


News Stories [back to top ]

From The Standard Times:
Dam safety bill clears committee, goes to state Senate for review 4.26.2010
Committee Approves E-Waste Recycling 11.18.2009
YOUR VIEW: Catch-share fishing needs work June 24, 2009
Wareham rail plan gets boost June 13, 2008
Oil spill bill clears the Legislature July 23, 2008
House Endorses Kayak Training Bill July 23, 2008
Wareham rail plan gets boost June 13, 2008
Rep. Straus Made for Convention Role February 20, 2008
Identity theft legislation passes House July 11, 2007
Straus rolls to 8th term November 8, 2006
Bill Straus Endorsed for Re-Election October 26, 2006
Kayak safety bill heads to Senate May 13, 2006
ID Theft Bill Moves Ahead March 16, 2006
New laws needed to stop identity theft
William M. Straus and Jarrett T. Barrios March 6 2006
Kayak bill would improve boating safety July 2, 2005
Straus has a hand in pro-consumer initiatives June 2, 2005
Legislators take a look at school funding future May 27, 2005
Rep. Straus is consistent, strong October 27, 2004
Romney to sign oil spill measure August 4, 2004
Legislature overrides Marion housing veto July 23, 2004
Is it time to dig another tunnel through Boston? June 1, 2003
Identity is hard to guard September 2, 2001
Straus files privacy bill September 2, 2001
Creating a home for marine life, January 19, 2000