Sen. Baddour Secures Funding for Haverhill Veterans Center in Supp
Amendment restores over $80K for medical, housing, job support to local  vets   

November 16, 2005, Boston, MA – Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) announced today that his amendment to restore over $80,000 cut from the operating budget of the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill was included in the Senate’s supplemental budget.  The Center has long been a vital resource to local vets, providing health care referrals, food, counseling, and benefits assistance to over 1,000 veterans per month.

“Our servicemen and women have unflinchingly risked their lives to preserve freedom, liberty, and justice,” commented Senator Baddour.  “Ensuring that veterans never go without food, medicine, housing, and job support is the least we can do in return for their willingness to protect our families—and for their willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

Established in 1985, the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center has provided crucial support to veterans—not only in Haverhill, but across the Merrimack Valley—for two decades.  Though funding for the center is traditionally included in the state budget, it was omitted in the FY 06 bill.  Thanks to Senator Baddour’s amendment, the funds will be restored pending approval by the Governor.

Sen. Baddour, Senate Announce Supplemental Budget
Bill includes $1Million in Funding for Haverhill Stadium   

November 14, 2005, Boston, MA – Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) announced today that the Senate’s version of a 2005 supplemental spending bill includes $1 million for renovations to the stadium at Haverhill High School.   Refurbishing the stadium, which was built in 1936, has long topped the City’s wish list for state and local spending.

“Haverhill’s stadium is not only home to the City’s high school sports program—it is an icon of immeasurable importance to the community,” commented Senator Baddour.  “Haverhill should be able to guarantee that future generations will have a place to hold their school events, and that it will be the same venue used by their forefathers.  I can think of no project that better epitomizes the City’s desire to preserve its heritage while looking to the future.”

“I also need to thank William Moynihan and Harry McNamara for being such steadfast advocates of the project,” added Baddour.  “They are truly devoted community members who always ensured that Haverhill Stadium received the attention it deserved.  As a retired Assistant Principal and football coach of 40 years, Harry knows better than anyone what the stadium means.”

Haverhill was the first city in the country to build a high school stadium exclusively for high schools sports.  A number of storied franchises have played there including the New England Patriots, who held their first ever exhibition game at the stadium in 1960.  Both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig have been to events there. 

Unfortunately, over the years, the stadium has deteriorated to the point of being unsafe.  A recent structural report on its cement stands revealed that, unless work is done in the immediate future, the stadium will close and leave homeless Haverhill’s football, field hockey, soccer and lacrosse teams, not to mention the school’s graduation and homecoming ceremonies. 

Baddour Announces Major Funds for Local Projects in Conference Budget
Vast majority of Senate, House earmarks maintained in compromise bill

Boston, MA, June 23, 2005 — Senator Steven Baddour (D-Methuen) announced today that the budget released by the joint Senate-House Conference Committee includes major funding for local projects, including the vast majority of funds earmarked in both the House and Senate versions. Appropriations for local projects will support education, public safety, transportation, and a range of other regional priorities. After a vote by the legislature today, the budget will be sent to Governor Romney for review.

Among dozens of local appropriations, the bill includes:

• $2 million to preserve the inter-district bus program, including the bus line from Newburyport to Boston
  
• $200K for the Link House in Salisbury, a half-way house for women
  
• $40K for the JumpStart Program in Newburyport to foster economic development
  
• $100K for SCARR, a road rage prevention and awareness program
  
• $25K for the Pettengill House, which supports families and children in need
  
• $100K for economic development along Route 110 in Amesbury
  
• $50K to update Salisbury’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which are crucial to public safety and economic development
  
• $25K for the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce
  
• $100K for the Newburyport YWCA
• $250K for the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council
  
• Funding for shellfish processing in Newburyport
  
• $80K for Community Policing in Newburyport
  
• An additional $2.5 million for early education to help implement universal preschool programs

“This is an incredibly good sign for our community, especially since the end of the budget process is in sight,” commented Senator Baddour. “To have our priorities included in respective House and Senate Budgets is important, but having them incorporated in the conference report means the legislature supports them and will send them to the Governor. For us to have virtually every item we supported in this budget is a major victory, and it speaks to the value of our community’s goals.”

If you are interested in more information, please contact Eleni Varitimos or Jim Soland at 617-722-1604.

Senator Baddour Secures an Additional $1.8 Million for Haverhill in Senate Budget
Funds intended to defray Hale Hospital debt

May 25, 2005, Boston, MA – Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) announced today that the Senate Budget for 2006 will include an additional $1.8 million in aid to Haverhill, as well as the $2.6 million earmarked in the FY 2005 budget.  The funds are meant to help the City cope with debt related to the sale of Hale Hospital.

Unlike last year’s appropriation, which was tied to an intergovernmental transfer (IGT) involving an agreement with Quincy Medical Center, this year’s sum will be an immediate cash infusion for the City.  Because the $2.6 million included in the FY 2005 budget was part of an IGT, the funds needed to be re-secured in the 2006 budget. 

“I am acutely aware of the strain placed on the City by Hale Hospital,” commented Senator Baddour.  “Every year, we have to fight to win additional funds that will give Haverhill some financial security—I am pleased to announce another major appropriation, especially because this money will be released directly to the City as part of the 2006 budget.”

Senator Baddour Announces $80,000 Earmark for Community Policing in Newburyport
Funds included in Senate version of FY2006 Budget

May 18, 2005, Boston, MA – Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) announced that $80,000 was included in the Senate version of the FY06 budget for community policing in Newburyport.  The money will be used to restore funding for public safety and police officers, especially those responsible for patrolling schools and neighborhoods, who would otherwise be cut or assigned to deskwork. 

The appropriation will come at a time when Newburyport’s most essential public safety services are at risk.  Due to the City’s financial challenges in years past, Newburyport was forced to cut civilian dispatchers at the Public Safety Department, police patrol officers, and their emergency management director.  Without additional aid, several officers were slated to be removed from duty and the officer positioned near the high school would need to take regular shift work.

For years, the effort to secure an earmark for community policing funding for Newburyport was unsuccessful. 

Senator Baddour Announces Increased Local Funding in Senate Budget
Budget Boosts Commerce, Public Safety, Social Services 

May 17, 2005, Boston, MA – Senator Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) announced that significant funding was included for local projects and organizations in the Senate version of the state budget, released today.  In addition to retaining funding for the vast majority of items earmarked in the House version of the budget, the Senate’s appropriations bill includes new spending for economic development, public safety, and a range of initiatives across the Merrimack Valley.

Among other projects, the Senate budget includes the following increases in local spending:

• $20,000 for Methuen Arlington Neighborhood, Inc., which has made impressive contributions to the public safety—as well as economic and educational opportunity—in Methuen’s Arlington Neighborhood 
  
• $80,000 for Community Policing in Newburyport to help keep police and public safety officers available to protect the community
  
• $50,000 for Salisbury to update the Town’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which is crucial to safely developing Salisbury beach now and in the future 
  
• $100,000 for improvements to and development along Route 110 in Amesbury
  
• $250,000 for the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, a major force in improving the region’s economy
  
• $100,000 for the YWCA in Newburyport
  
• $25,000 for the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce
  
• $100,000 for the SCARR Program to improve driver safety and reduce road rage
  
• $100,000 for the Link House in Salisbury, a half-way house for women
  
• $333,333 for Shellfish Purification in Newburyport
  
• $29,322,628 for adult basic education across the Commonwealth 

“All of the funds added to the Senate version of the 2006 budget for our communities will benefit important causes ranging from economic development to public safety,” commented Senator Baddour.  “Hopefully, these earmarks will mean more opportunity for economic growth, more police protecting our neighborhoods, and more support for those who need our help most.  I am extremely pleased with this version of the budget and look forward to supporting these allocations in the coming months.”

SD 1853
An Act Providing Tuition Waivers for Dependents of National Guard Members and Reservists
There has been a large deployment of National Guard members to Iraq in the recent months. This has left a large financial burden on the families left behind. This bill would allow for tuition waivers for dependents of National Guard members and reservists based on a GPA and based on the time their parent is serving overseas.

SD 1849
An Act Providing for Fee Waivers for Veterans Attending State Colleges and Universities
Fees associated with higher education have increased significantly and cost considerably more than college tuition, making it very difficult for veterans to attend college. This bill would wave fees for veterans based on a strict minimum GPA requirement.