Government Affairs
The Metro South Chamber of Commerce works on behalf of members to advance responsible public policy that ensures that the business community has the resources, infrastructure, and opportunities to keep our region's economy strong and growing.
Government Affairs Committee
The mission of the Government Affairs Committee of the Metro South Chamber of Commerce is to review pending legislation and regulations for their impact on business and develop positions that will enhance economic growth. The committee also develops programs that inform and encourage members to participate in the Chamber's government affairs initiatives. Meetings take place monthly with thoughtful dialogue on contemporary issues. Committee members receive regular legislative updates. If you would like to become involved with the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee please contact:
Committee Chair: Christine Karavites
Proteas Consulting
ckaravites@donahue.umassp.edu
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Legislative Toolkit
Let's face it, government affects your life every day and government actions can have a detrimental affect on your business. Talking to your elected officials about issues important to you and your business is vital to your continued ability to prosper and it is easier than you think. Your elected officials are anxious to hear from you, their business constituent. They often vote on legislation based on constituent input. Here are some practical tips on how to become a more active advocate for your business and the Metro South region.
How to Contact Officials:
It is impossible for lawmakers to know how every piece of legislation they vote on will affect your business. A well-written letter or a detailed phone call will often help them understand the implications of pending legislation. Lawmakers may be reached by U.S. Mail, e-mail or by fax. To reach them by e-mail, follow the links indicated by their names in the
Legislative Roster
and access their web page. Here are some tips on writing a persuasive letter or calling:
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Traditionally, state and federal legislators are addressed as "The Honorable..." and the Governor is addressed as "His/Her Excellency..." in any written correspondence. The only address needed for federal legislators (Congress) is "U.S. House of Representative, Washington, D.C. 20515" or "United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510." The address for state legislators and the governor is "State House, Boston, MA 02133."
When writing legislators, use this format:
The Honorable (Name)
Position (U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, State Senator, or State Representative)
State House, Room ____________
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Representative (or Senator) (Name)__________:
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If possible, write your letter on your company's letterhead. Try to keep it to one page - anything longer may be ignored.
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When you write or speak to officials, be persuasive and concise. Get right to the point. Let them know if you favor or oppose the legislation and why. Let them know what you would like them to do - oppose the legislation, vote in support of it, or propose an amendment and ask for a reply that clearly states what action the member plans to take. You've taken the time to contact your elected official and you're entitled to know where he/she stands. Remind them that you are following the issue closely.
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Be specific in your letter or phone call. Identify the specific bill you are writing or calling about, using the official bill numbers (Example: House Bill 1000 or HB 1000). Thousands of bills are filed in the state legislature and in Congress each year. The bill number will help the legislator know which bill you mean. As a rule, never write about more than one issue per letter. Write a second letter if necessary if you want to include more.
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Be friendly and polite but businesslike. Make sure you are organized and know all your facts. You should cover your position, the opposing arguments, and the reason your position is better for your business and their legislative district. Do not ramble.
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Explain who you are, what business you represent, and what you and your business do. If you are a constituent and voter in their district then make sure to mention it. Talk about your business's role in the community and how many people you employ - remember your employees are voters! Emphasize what you and your business provide to the local community - private investment, contributions and support to local community groups, number of local employees... etc.
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Use facts to bolster your position, provide specific examples of how a piece of legislation or a regulation impacts your business, your employees, and the region. The more local you make the argument, the more persuasive it will be.
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Mention your membership in the Metro South Chamber of Commerce. This connection will reinforce the message that the Chamber staff will be delivering in future meetings.
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Metro South Legislative Roster
Governor
Deval Patrick
State House, Room 360
(617) 725-4005
Lt. Governor
Timothy P. Murray
State House, Room 360
(617) 725-4005
Governor's Cabinet
Secretary of Administration & Finance
Leslie A. Kirwan
State House Room 373
(617)727-2040
Special Advisor on Education
Dana Mohler-Faria
Office of the President
131 Summer Street
Bridgewater State College
Bridgewater, MA 02325
(508) 531-1201
Website: www.bridgew.edu
Secretary of Elder Affairs
Michael E. Festa
Secretary of Energy amd Environmental Affairs
Ian Bowles, Secretary
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1100
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Dr. Judy Ann Bigby
Secretary of Housing and Economic Development
Dan O'Connell
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-8380
Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development
Suzanne M. Bump
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-6573
Secretary of Public Safety
Kevin M. Burke
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-7775
Secretary of Transportation and Construction
Bernard Cohen
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 973-7000
Secretary of Veteran's Services
Thomas G. Kelley
Massachusetts Department of Education
Jeffery Nellhaus
Commissioner
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
(781) 338-3000
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Constitutional Officers
Secretary of the Commonwealth
William F. Galvin (D)
State House Room 340
(617)727-2800
Attorney General
Thomas Reilly (D)
One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
(617)727-2200
Treasurer and Receiver General
Timothy P. Cahill (D)
State House Room 227
(617)367-6900
Auditor of the Commonwealth
A. Joseph DeNucci (D)
State House Room 230 (617)727-2075
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U.S. Congressional Delegation
U.S. Senators
Edward M. Kennedy
(D)
2400 Kennedy Federal Bldg., Boston 02203
(617)565-3170
315 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202)224-4543
John F. Kerry
(D)
One Bowdoin Square, Boston 02114
(617)565-8519
421 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202)224-2742
U.S. Representatives
Barney Frank
(D) - 4th District
29 Crafts Street, Newton, MA 02458
(617)332-3920
2210 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202)225-5931
Stephen F. Lynch
(D) - 9th District
166 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02401
(508)586-5555
235 Cannon House Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202)225-8273
William Delahunt
(D) - 10th District
1495 Hancock Street,Quincy, 02169
(617)770-3700
1517 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D. C. 20515
(202)225-3111
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State Senators
with Metro South Communities Served and Committees
Robert S. Creedon, Jr.
(D)
(617)722-1200
Room 413-C
Brockton, E. Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, and Whitman
Judiciary (Chair); Banks & Banking; Criminal Justice; Natural Resources & Agriculture
Brian A. Joyce
(D)
(617)722-1643
Room 413-A
Avon, Canton, Easton, East Bridgewater, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater
Public Service; Banks & Banking(Vice-Chair); Election Laws (Chair); Public Safety (Vice-Chair); Senate Post Audit & Oversight
Michael Morrissey
(D)
(617)722-1494
Room 413-D
Abington, Holbrook, Rockland
Government Regulations (Chair); Ways & Means; Commerce & Labor; Criminal Justice
Robert L. Hedlund
(R)
617-722-1646
Room 413E
Norwell
Senate Post Audit & Oversight; Senate Steering & Policy; Banks & Banking; Counties; Criminal Justice; Insurance; Transportation
Marc R. Pacheco
(D)
(617)722-1551
Room 109-C
Bridgewater
Natural Resources & Agriculture; Senate Ways & Means; Senate Post Audit & Oversight (Chair); Public Safety
Jo Ann Sprague
(R)
(617)722-1222
Room 206
Sharon
Ways & Means; Taxation; Public Safety; Public Service; Science & Technology; Counties; Local Affairs; Education, Arts & Humanities
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State Representatives
Bruce J. Ayers
(D)
(617)722-2120
Room 472
Randolph
Insurance; Government Regulations; Public Safety
Christine E. Canavan
(D)
(617)722-2320
Room 34
Brockton, W. Bridgewater, Easton
Health Care; Steering Policy & Scheduling
Geraldine Creedon
(D)
(617)722-2572
Room 146
Brockton, Easton
Ways & Means; Post Audit & Oversight; Education
David L Flynn
(D)
(617)722-2017
Room 155
Bridgewater, Easton
Ways & Means; Long-Term Debt & Capital Expenditures
William C. Galvin
(D)
(617)722-2220
Room 238
Avon, Canton, Stoughton
Ways & Means; Insurance (Vice-Chair); Health Care
Louis L. Kafka
(D)
(617)722-2305
Room 237
Sharon, Stoughton
Ways & Means; Post Audit & Oversight; Steering, Policy & Scheduling
Thomas P. Kennedy
(D)
(617)722-2012
Room 277
Brockton
Ways & Means, Counties
Daniel K. Webster
(R)
617-722-2305
Room 237
Hanson
Personnel & Administration; Post Audit & Oversight; Banks & Banking; Criminal Justice
Ronald Mariano
(D)
(617)722-2220
Room 254
Holbrook
Insurance (Vice Chair)
Robert J. Nyman
(D)
(617)722-2210
Room 472F
Hanover, Norwell, Rockland
Banks & Banking; Public Safety
Allen McCarthy
(D)
Room 477
Halifax
Counties; Steering Policy & Scheduling
Joseph R. Driscoll, Jr.
(D)
(617)722-2460
Room 443
Holbrook
Thomas Calter
(D)
(617)-722-2425
Room 237
Abington, East Bridgewater, Whitman
Health Care, State Administration
Walter F. Timilty
(D)
(617)722-2692
Room 167
Randolph
Criminal Justice; Public Safety; State Administration
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Legislative Tracking
Click
here
to search the Massachusetts Legislative Tracking System for the history of Senate and House bills from the Massachusetts Legislature by bill number of keyword. Results provide text file links to Senate and House bill histories.
Click
here
to search the Federal Legislative Information System (THOMAS) for the history of Senate and House bills from Congress by bill number or keyword.
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House & Senate Phone Numbers
State House of Representatives Switchboard Number:
(617) 722-2000
State Senate Switchboard Number:
(617) 722-1276
State House of Representatives Fax Number:
(617) 722-2897
State Senate Fax Number:
(617) 722-1007
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Who Are My Elected Officials?
Find out who your elected officials are by clicking
here!
Chamber in Action!
The Chamber continues to work on several key legislative initiatives. Check out the links below to read a copy of the Chamber's recent legislative letters or written testimony and to help the Chamber advocate for a pro-business legislative agenda:
Here's how you can help!
You can join the Chamber to encourage legislative support by mailing a similar letter to the legislative leadership and/or to your local legislators. If you would like, you can use the Chamber's
Legislative Roster
for contact information. For assistance contact Christine Karavites at (508) 586-0500 ext. 221 or email ckaravites@donahue.umassp.edu.
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