OTHER KEY ISSUES

Planning

Our communities face daunting planning and logistical challenges. When our quiet winter population explodes during the summer season, our local infrastructure - roads, waterways, and regional services - become overextended.

  • How do we develop a long-term approach to deal with development and growth in our communities?
  • How do we smartly and cost-effectively address the affordable housing situation in our neighborhoods?

We must be committed to solving these challenges to preserve the sanctity of our communities for the generations that follow. I am intrigued by the proposals put forth by the Martha's Vineyard Commission's 'Island Plan', the Nantucket Planning Board's 'Nantucket Master Plan', and the Cape Cod Commission's 'Regional Policy Plan' but we need to ensure that these kinds of plans would truly represent the best interests of our communities.

Property Insurance

Many of our residents in coastal communities face the difficult challenge of finding insurance companies willing to insure their homes. Another issue arises when companies willing to insure then send premiums sky-rocketing shortly after signing a contract.

The unfair practices by the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA) and their FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan with their undisclosed charting and independent determination that hurricanes and coastal storms can cause significant damage to our region, is a huge factor in this overwhelming problem.

The MPIUA's unfair assessments result in our residents paying the most money for homeowners insurance in the entire state of Massachusetts while receiving the worst coverage. This independent company holds a vice-grip over our region and has failed to serve our communities fairly.

I propose creating a legitimate alternative to the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association's FAIR Plan for coastal residents in our communities. This organization would provide a number of reasons why insurance and reinsurance premiums are rising. In my opinion, the most unacceptable reason is that foreign companies set the price in the reinsurance market for us. We must regain control of the reinsurance market to the benefit of American citizens.

We are fortunate to have amazing friends and neighbors who are unwilling to put up with the nondisclosure of key information and the unacceptable decisions made by insurance organizations:

  • I attended a hearing in February, 2008 on Beacon Hill held by the Legislature's Financial Services Committee at which Senator Robert O'Leary's bill (no. 624) focusing on the establishment of a catastrophic event fund (CEF) was debated. The bill is designed to encourage private insurers to expand homeowners' insurance coverage in coastal areas. I pledge my full support to such efforts.
  • I applaud the Commissioner of Insurance, Ms. Nonnie Burns, who rejected the FAIR Plan's rate hike of approximately 25%. This was outstanding news for residents on the Cape and Islands. We must use this victory as momentum to stride forward and establish sound alternatives to the FAIR Plan.
  • The Citizens for Homeowners Insurance Reform, a grassroots effort, has applied direct pressure onto the MPIUA, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Federal system. I support this organization and its efforts to enact reasonable reform benefiting our citizens in coastal regions.

Homeland Security

I would be enormously proud to bring first-hand homeland security experience to the State House. Having served on active duty (and now as a reservist) in the U.S. Coast Guard, I participated in developing and enacting homeland security initiatives.

I served as the aide to the Principal Federal Official (PFO) of the 2005 Top Officials Exercise (TOPOFF), a congressionally mandated biennial cycle of seminars, planning events, and national exercises designed to strengthen the United States' capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from large scale terrorist attacks. I also had the privilege of participating in international war gaming exercises at the Naval War College's Center for Naval Warfare Studies.

The most powerful "take-away" from these experiences was the need to develop sound partnerships here and abroad, and maintain transparent, open communications. In our international efforts to defeat terrorism, we must stay ahead of the curve, creating key partnerships so that we can develop the first-class competencies required to swiftly react to incidents should they arise. Key agencies (at the federal, state, and local level) must also communicate openly and honestly, not only with each other but also with the general public.

First Responders and Registered Nurses

We owe an enormous debt to our community's first responders. These men and women should be the best prepared, best equipped, and the best trained professionals in the business. I am committed to ensuring that all emergency response personnel have the tools, information, and resources necessary to respond to small and large scale emergencies.

A vital link in the medical services chain is led by our registered nurses. I support The Patient Safety Act that has been established to limit the number of patients a nurse is assigned at one time.

Immigration

Many of our communities have experienced the positive impact law abiding immigrants and permanent residents have brought to our communities. At the same time, our communities have also experienced some detrimental effects of illegal immigration. We must enforce current federal and state laws to resolve issues of illegal immigration and ensure that companies knowingly hiring illegal immigrants face consequences for breaking the law. We must always maintain a sense of humanity and civility when dealing with immigration policy – at the end of the day, these are our neighbors and our friends.

There are a number of departments and organizations working front and center on this issue, whom I will partner and work with as your State Representative:

  • Local Police Departments
  • FBI
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement