TAKE ACTION
ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC HEALTH VETOES.
The Governor has reduced funding for community-based public health programs by more than $6 million from the FY10 budget sent to him by the Legislature -- a budget which had already steeply cut public health.
We are particularly concerned about more cuts to the Department of Public Health (DPH) Health Promotion and Disease Prevention line item, which has been cut nearly in half from FY09 funding. See our fact sheet for legislators here.
Please call your Representative and Senator and ask them to override the Governor's public health vetoes. You can reach the State House Switchboard at 617-722-2000. If you don't know who your Representative and Senator are, visit www.wheredoivotema.com.
VICTORY ON THE ALCOHOL SALES TAX EXEMPTION!
In a rare glimmer of good news, the House, Senate, and the Governor have all approved removing the alcohol sales tax exemption -- a major victory for public health advocates who have fought for this change for more than 10 years! Thank you to everyone who called and visited your legislators in support of this measure! The change will end this subsidy to the alcohol industry and bring in more than $100 million per year in state revenue. Small increases in the price of alcohol have also been clearly shown to reduce underage drinking.
For additional information, please contact Maddie Ribble at MPHA at 617-524-6696 x111 or mribble@mphaweb.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS
21st Annual Western MA Elder Care Conference - Tentative Date of
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 • MassMutual Conference Center, Springfield, MA • Click here for more information in the fall of 2009.
NEW! JOINT MEMBERSHIP IN MPHA AND APHA
MPHA is part of a pilot project with the American Public Health Association (APHA) to encourage new and renewing individuals to join both groups at the same time... with one deeply discounted annual fee!
Click Here to learn more, or contact Kara Keenan at MPHA.
