LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER
FROM THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR
The legislative director of the Massachusetts State Grange is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the legislative affairs of the members of the Massachusetts Grange in conjunction with the National Grange at the level of our federal government and the legislative affairs at both the State and local level. Part of that responsibly is to ascertain the primary concerns of the Massachusetts Grange members and the concerns of our neighbors and fellow residents of our Commonwealth and our local communities. Of particular concern are issues that affect the quality of life for rural and suburban families and their communities and to act as a voice or a channel of communications for that voice with the elected and appointed members of our national, state and local governments.
The second part of that responsibility is to maintain a vigilant eye and ear to pending legislation that might be of special concern to Grange members, to encourage them to employ the Grange meetings as a forum for discussion and debate on these issues and help them formulate resolutions to be submitted to the state and national Granges. The programs of the Lecturers in each Grange can be very instrumental in achieving this purpose also, so it is highly recommended that a collaborative association between the subordinate Lecturer and the Legislative and Agriculture committee chairmen be fostered.
At the National level the Grange has developed an extensive program that is available to interested Grange members through the legislative committee chairman of your Subordinate or Pomona Grange. The priority issues and topics of this manual are summed up in the Blue Print for Rural America. 1. Extend prosperity in US Agriculture to family farmers and ranchers. 2. Reform eminent domain authority. 3. Expand rural telecommunications services. 4. Achieve energy security. 5. Improve quality and availability of health care. Other areas of concern to Grangers and our rural neighbors, besides agricultural issues, are citizenship and public affairs, conservation of natural resources (including energy resources) education & health, labor & judicial, taxation & transportation. Copies of the National Grange Legislative Policies and Grassroots Training Manual are available from the legislative director by sending an email to legislation@massgrange.org An electronic copy of this document is also available by clicking on the pdf file: (this is a large file and may take several minutes to open)
The 2012 Massachusetts State Legislative Policy book is available as an electronic document that can be downloaded by any Granger who may have need of it.
In order to help us continue to develop this handbook and be able to continue to edit and update it in the future, all members are encouraged to communicate to the state Legislative Director, what you consider to be the three most important social and political issues our community faces today and what legislation you think would be appropriate to address those issues. If you have any issues or concerns you are welcome to call me at (508) 234-3892
Christopher Szkutak
Legislative Director
Massachusetts State Grange
