by Representative Carolyn Dykema
2/22/2018

Dear Neighbor, 

Happy 2018! I hope that you were able to enjoy the time with friends and family during the holiday season. Here in the State House there is a lot to look forward to in the upcoming year, including the finalization of a wide-ranging criminal justice reform bill, the beginning of discussions for the fiscal year 2019 state budget, and continued engagement on policy areas that I know are of great interest to residents of the district including healthcare, renewable energy, and transportation. 

In January, Governor Baker recently released his FY19 budget proposal which marks the start of the budget process. The budget is built based on estimates, and this year it was based on a state revenue projection of $27.594b, a 3.5% increase over the current year. This number is the most conservative growth estimate since 2010 due to uncertainty about the impacts of federal tax reform, initiatives scheduled for the ballot in November and potential revenues from the legalization of the recreational marijuana industry. As the House begins consideration of its budget in April, I will continue to prioritize funding for programs that most directly impact my constituents, especially local aid and funding for schools.

With the end of the two-year legislative session scheduled for July 31, I also continue to work on legislation. A list of the bills that I've filed, including a bill on limiting pesticides to protect bees, can be found on the state legislature's website. If you have questions about any of this legislation, I'd welcome the chance to discuss them.
As always, please stay in touch to share your ideas and concerns. Your input is essential to the work I do to represent you at the State House.

For the complete newsletter, please click: http://www.carolyndykema.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Newsletter-Winter-2018.pdf

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Warmly,