Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports that many African American legislators are opposed to the adoption of the latest version of the state budget proposed by the Ways and Means Committee of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Vaillancourt reviews the proposed budget, which includes cuts in rental assistance and welfare assistance. The budget also includes cuts to the Department of Social Services and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Interview with State Rep. Shirley Owens Hicks, State Rep. Byron Rushing, and Louis Elisa of the Boston chapter of the NAACP at a breakfast meeting of the Massachusetts Legislative Black Caucus. Owens Hicks and Elisa talk about the need for funding of human services. Rushing says that many voters are not opposed to new taxes to fund human services. Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Richard Volk talks about the proposed budget in the chambers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following items: Maureen Hart Hennessey of the Norman Rockwell Museum and African Americans in the paintings of Norman Rockwell
1:00:11: Visual: Shots of a breakfast meeting of the Black Caucus. Shots of attendees at the breakfast including Byron Rushing (State Representative). Meg Vaillancourt reports that African American legislators are concerned about the adoption of the budget proposed by the Ways and Means Committee of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Vaillancourt notes that African American legislators are concerned about cuts to specific areas of the budget. V: Footage of Shirley Owens Hicks (State Representative) saying that cuts to the budget will affect the poor; that many people depend on the services provided by state agencies. Vaillancourt reports that Richard Volk (Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee) unveiled a budget which cuts $582 million from the budget proposed by Michael Dukakis (Governor of Massachusetts); that the budget includes no new taxes. V: Shot of Volk in the House chambers. Volk stands at a podium to explain the proposed budget. On-screen text details some of the cuts included in the budget proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee. Vaillancourt reports that the House Ways and Means budget includes an $8.5 million decrease in rental assistance and a $12 million decrease in emergency welfare assistance. Vaillancourt notes that the budget cuts $6 million from the Department of Social Services; that the budget cuts $20,000 from the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). Vaillancourt reports that the House Ways and Means budget increases spending on AIDS prevention, elder services, and drug treatment. V: Footage of Rushing saying that the House Ways and Means budget did not cut some areas; that the budget increased spending in other areas. Rushing says that the House Ways and Means Committee proposed spending more money on drug treatment than Dukakis did. Shot of the Massachusetts State House. Vaillancourt reports that legislators are aware of the popular revolt against new taxes; that the minority community may be more receptive to the governor's call for new taxes. V: Footage of Rushing being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Rushing says that his constituents favor new taxes; that many voters all over the state probably favor new taxes. Rushing says that many state representatives are not listening to their constituents. Footage of Owens-Hicks being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Vaillancourt asks Owens-Hicks if she will vote for new taxes. Owens-Hicks says that she is not opposed to some elements of the new tax package; that she supports a capital gains tax; that she is not opposed to cigarette or alcohol taxes. Owens-Hicks says that she will not endorse a gasoline tax. Footage of Louis Elisa (Boston chapter of the NAACP) being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Elisa says that every citizen of the Commonwealth needs to reaffirm their commitment to human services and to their neighbors. Elisa says that the state legislators cannot play politics when there are lives at stake.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/24/1989
Description: Marcus Jones reports that the Massachusetts State Legislature has passed a bill designating the city of Quincy as the location for the new headquarters of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Parcel 18 in Roxbury had been chosen as the initial site for the headquarters. Speaker of the House George Keverian and House leadership in the chambers of the House of Representatives. Mayor Ray Flynn , City Councilor Bruce Bolling, and Parcel 18 supporters at a press conference outside of the Massachusetts State House. Flynn and Bolling express their support for Parcel 18. Flynn says that the legislature's decision has undermined public confidence in the government. Governor Michael Dukakis has vetoed the bill designating Quincy as the MWRA site at a press conference. Interview with Reverend Tony Bethel of the Parcel 18 Task Force, who says that he and his supporters will continue to fight for economic justice for Roxbury. Footage of the building in Quincy proposed to house the MWRA.
1:00:12: V: Footage of Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) at a press conference outside of the Massachusetts State House. Bolling says that state legislators need to stand with the supporters of Parcel 18; that the supporters of Parcel 18 are on the "correct side." Shots of a crowd of Parcel 18 supporters gathered outside of the State House for the press conference. The supporters hold signs reading, "Parcel-to-parcel linkage" and "Roxbury equals economic opportunity." Marcus Jones reports that the Massachusetts state legislature has passed a bill which designates the city of Quincy as the location for the new headquarters of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Jones notes that the bill overrules the MWRA's initial decision to build their headquarters on Parcel 18 in Roxbury. V: Footage of George Keverian (Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives) and the House leadership at the front of the chambers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Shots of the exterior of the Ruggles MBTA station in Roxbury; of the Boston skyline from Parcel 18 in Roxbury. Jones reports that Quincy legislators pushed for the MWRA to settle in an aging industrial building near the site of a sludge facility. V: Shots of officials climbing the stairs of an industrial building in Quincy; of the interior of the building. Shots of the sludge facility in Quincy. Jones notes that Parcel 18 supporters say that the battle is not yet over. V: Shots of demonstrators at the press conference outside of the State House. Shot of a sign reading, "Keep the MWRA in Roxbury." Footage of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) saying that the legislature's decision jeopardizes the citizens' confidence government. Flynn says that the legislature has not shown a commitment to "straightforward, honest government." Shot of Michael Dukakis (Governor of Massachusetts) signing a piece of paper at a press conference. Members of the media photograph him. Jones reports that Dukakis vetoed the legislature's MWRA bill yesterday; that the legislature will vote next week on Dukakis's veto. Jones reports that Parcel 18 supporters will lobby for the Roxbury site over the next week. V: Shot of the press conference outside of the State House. Shots of demonstrators and audience members at the press conference. A demonstrator holds up a sign reading, "Fairness equals a vote for Roxbury." Footage of Bolling saying that Quincy was not chosen to be the initial site because Quincy did not have the best proposal.The crowd applauds for Bolling. Footage of the Reverend Tony Bethel (Parcel 18 Task Force) being interviewed by Jones outside of the State House. Bethel says that he and his supporters will continue to fight for economic justice for the Roxbury area, even if Dukakis' veto is overruled. Jones reports that Parcel 18 supporters have vowed to continue the fight to bring the MWRA to Roxbury.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/11/1989