"Changes to driving laws OK’d by House" by John R. Ellement, Globe Staff | June 24, 2010
The House voted 150-1 yesterday to approve changes to state driving laws that ban texting while driving and allow doctors to alert the state that a patient might be a dangerous driver, among other provisions.
Prior to the vote, Republican Donald F. Humason Jr. of Westfield said from the floor that the ban on texting while driving was designed to prevent people from acting foolishly on the roads....
I don't think that is going to stop them.
Related: State is lagging in efforts to reduce distracted driving
Deal set for ban of texting at wheel
New state law spells it out: No texting behind wheel
Boston Globe Traffic Detail
More:
"Vote may let colleges be called universities
The Massachusetts House voted 124 to 21 yesterday to allow state colleges to call themselves universities. Proponents say the change will make the schools more competitive, but critics argue the change is purely cosmetic and could spur staff to demand higher wages. Representative Ellen Story, Democrat of Amherst, suggested the name change policy is a haphazard way of dealing with a system in need of more significant changes. Representative Peter J. Koutoujian, Democrat of Waltham, countered that the move could energize fund-raising (State House News Service)."
"What’s in a name? Plenty, say backers of renaming state colleges; Cite chance for more money, as bill goes to Senate" by Sydney Lupkin, Globe Correspondent | July 10, 2010
The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 124 to 21 Thursday to allow the nine state colleges to rename themselves universities, making it the farthest such a bill has ever advanced in the Legislature, said Representative David M. Torrisi, chairman of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, who voted for the measure.
Supporters of the bill, which now goes to the Senate, say the change would allow schools to earn more grants, draw more applicants, and make students more attractive to employers. Detractors say it would do little to improve the quality of education and could be costly if professors ask for university pay.
That is why I don't want them doing a damn thing.
Everything they do is COSTLY to YOU!
In general, Massachusetts public universities offer doctoral programs, while state colleges do not.
“I think it will help our state colleges attract and attain more students,’’ said Torrisi, a North Andover Democrat....
Opponents, however, say that the name change might take away what makes state colleges unique and drive up costs. State Representative Christopher J. Donelan, who went to Westfield State College, said he has no doubt that professors and presidents will ask for more money in a few years, leading to higher costs for students. This fall, the total cost to attend Westfield State will be $15,823. “I didn’t see any value in it for students,’’ said Donelan, who voted against the bill.
Hey, that is MY GUY! He even answers his own phones.
And he is RETIRING! Probably sick of the place.
Christopher O’Donnell, president of the Massachusetts State College Association, stressed that nothing in the bill would change professors’ salaries, but added that state college professors in Massachusetts are paid 15 percent to 19 percent less than their peers in other states.
“I don’t think the intention of the university status ever was a money issue,’’ he said...
But it WILL BE because it ALWAYS IS in AmeriKa!
State Representative Ellen Story said the bill is inevitable, but she disagrees with it because she thinks adorning the schools with the name university falsely suggests that the state is beefing up its public higher education system. “It doesn’t need name changes,’’ she said. “It needs money.’’
Story said Massachusetts does not cherish its public higher education system the way other states do. She said if she could give state schools more money and resources, she would.
Ow, that is a SHARP INDICTMENT considering the propaganda I have had drilled in my head since the day I was born here!
Maybe SHE should be running for governor!
Like Donelan, Story said she expects the inexpensive name change to be costly in the long run because college employees will want to be paid on the same salary scale as those at UMass. “I would, too,’’ she said. “But to say that this won’t cost the state anything is naïve . . .and changing logos is just the beginning.’’
This is Massachusetts, right?
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These are the kinds of things we are paying them to do over there?
No wonder this state is in such a mess.
