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News
& Press Releases
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Press Releases |
Articles by the Senator | Photo Gallery
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Senator
O'Leary and Rep. Peake Hold Office Hours in Harwich
July
24 - Senator
Robert O’Leary (D-Barnstable) and Representative Sarah Peake (D-4th
Barnstable) will be holding district office hours on Friday, July 24th
from 1:30 pm to 2:30pm at Harwich Community Center, Activity Room #4,
located at 100 Oak St. in Harwich.
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Legislature Sends Governor Patrick
Bill Allowing Non-Profits to Protect Their Bottom Line
June 30,
2009 - The
Senate and House voted in support of Senate Bill 2078, the Uniform Prudent
Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA).
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O'Leary Votes to End Worst
Abuses in Pension System
June 25, 2009 - Continuing the Legislature’s
ambitious reform agenda, the Senate and House on Thursday approved
landmark legislation that will eliminate the worst offenses in the
state pension system.
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O'Leary
Vote for Ethics Reform
June 25, 2009
- Continuing to work towards reforming a number of key areas in state government, Senator O’Leary joined his House and Senate colleagues in supporting legislation that strengthens current ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws, and enhances the integrity of the political process.
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Senate Votes on Allowing Non-Profits to Protect Their Bottom
Line
June
11, 2009 - The Senate today voted unanimously in support of Senate Bill 2078, the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act
(UPMIFA). 36 states have passed similar legislation, which raises the threshold of responsibility for non-profits in managing their assets, while providing greater flexibility to these organizations in managing their endowments.
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O'Leary Votes to End Worst
Abuses in Pension System
June 10, 2009 -
Continuing the Legislature’s
ambitious reform agenda, the Senate and House on Thursday approved
landmark legislation that will eliminate the worst offenses in the
state pension system.
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Senator
O’Leary and Representative Sarah Peake Welcome the World
Champion Back Office Associates 70+ Softball All-Stars to the
State House
April
28 - The
Back Office Associates 70+ All Stars completed its best season
ever in 2008 by winning Senior Softball USA’s coveted Triple
Grand Slam in the 70 plus AA Division at the World Championships
in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Senator
O'Leary Encourages Residents to Contact Energy Bucks to
Access Energy Assistance by April 30th Spring Deadline
April 15 - Burdened by the
downturn in the economy and a particularly harsh winter, many more
Cape & Island residents have been struggling to pay their
bills.
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Senator O’Leary Votes for Pension Reform
March 31 - The Senate today continued to push its reform agenda with unanimous approval of a bill that will tie off loopholes in current pension laws to save taxpayer money and end abuses.
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Senator O’Leary Votes for Transportation Reform
March 31 - Just two months after announcing its plans for a major overhaul of the state’s
transportation system, the Senate passed comprehensive reform legislation that consolidates multiple agencies into an independent authority.
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Senator O’Leary Votes to Preserve a Driver’s Right to Appeal
March 26 - Auto insurance reform legislation passed the Senate yesterday that blocks a recent proposal by the Commissioner of Insurance to eliminate a drivers’ ability to appeal “at-fault” cases and other incidents to the Motor Vehicle Board of Appeals.
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Barnstable Route 6A Project Receives Green Light
for Federal Recovery Funds
March 25 - The Patrick Administration and local legislators today announced that a Barnstable road project has been advertised for bid as one of the “shovel-ready” transportation projects using federal highway stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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Murray, O’Leary Announce Over $$1.3 Million in Public Safety Grants for Upper Cape Communities, Barnstable County
March 12 - Senate President Therese Murray and Senator Robert O’Leary (D-Barnstable) announced today that a total of $1,308,614 in grants have been awarded to Cape Cod communities as well as Barnstable and Dukes Counties to support their 911 emergency dispatch communications centers and enhance public safety.
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Senator
O'Leary Senate Chair of Joint Committee on Education
February
13 - The
Senate today handed out committee assignments and Senator Robert
O’Leary (D-Barnstable) will chair the Joint Committee on
Education.
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State Zoning Reform Legislation Filed by Senator O’Leary
February 11 - State Senator Robert O’Leary has filed legislation that will provide a major overhaul of existing state land use and zoning laws.
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On-Going Costs of Running the Mirant Canal Plant Addressed:
Upgrades to Grid Remove Need For Uplift Charge
January 30 - Senator Robert A. O’Leary and
Representative Matthew C. Patrick, along with several legislators
including members of the Cape delegation and Senator Michael Morrissey
announced that after short term upgrades have been made to address
reliability issues the need to run the Canal plant out of merit will no
longer exist.
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Senator
O’Leary Urges Constituents to Apply for Financial Aid to Help Pay for
College
January 16 - Paying for college is a daunting
challenge, but Senator O’Leary wants students and their families to
know that help is available, particularly though free assistance from
TERI (The Education Resources Institute).
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Senator
O'Leary Appointed to Governor's Federal Stimulus Task Force on
Education and School
January 15 - The
Governor announced that he would be forming various task forces to
make recommendations on how the expected federal stimulus money
should be spent.
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Governor Signs Bill Creating the Cape Cod & Islands Commission on the Status of
Women
January 13 - Over this past weekend, Governor Patrick signed Senate bill 2884, An Act Establishing the Cape Cod & Islands Commission on the Status of Women into law.
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Governor Signs Harwich Affordable Housing Trust Fund
January 12 -
The Governor today signed legislation relative to the town of Harwich, An Act Establishing the Harwich Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
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The Senate Sends Local Bills to Governor's
Desk
January 7 - A slew of local bills just arrived at the
Governor's desk for signature.
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Legislature Sends "No Discharge"
Bill to Governor's Desk
January 6 - The House and Senate gave final enactment to
House Bill 4805, An Act Relative to Discharging Marine Sewage into
Waters of the Commonwealth Designated “No Discharge” Areas,
sponsored by Rep. William Straus (D- 10th Bristol).
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Cape
and Islands Facilities Receive Round 6 MTC Feasibility Grant
Dec 22 - Senator O’Leary is pleased to announce
that four groups in the Cape and Islands district that applied for
large Onsite Renewable Initiative feasibility study grants from
the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Renewable Energy
Trust Fund have received them.
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Nantucket
Sewer Act Passes the Senate
December 8 - The
Senate yesterday passed House bill 4213, creating the Nantucket Sewer Act,
which will provide more adequate sewer development and planning on the
island.
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Senator Robert O’Leary
Reads to Young Children at Bass River Pediatric Associates in South
Yarmouth in Support of Reach Out and Read
October 2 - Research shows program in which doctors
distribute books at checkups improves language development, a critical
component of school readiness.
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Senator O’Leary Announces
Passage of Nantucket Sewer Act
September 29 - Bill allows for efficient sewer planning; potential for increased local aid.
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Senator
O'Leary Appointed to Governor's Energy Task Force
July 30 - Governor Patrick formed a task force to develop and implement solutions to the sky high energy costs.
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Senator
Robert O’Leary Votes for Protection and Enhancement of State
Recreational Land
July 29 - $1.7 billion authorized for land
conservation and state park infrastructure.
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Senator
Robert O’Leary Approves Same Day Voter Registration
July 29 - New legislation will allow registration on
election day.
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Governor
Patrick Announces $26.7 Million For Community Improvement Projects
Throughout Massachusetts
July 25 - Three Cape and Island towns to receive federal
community development block grants.
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Senator O’Leary
Votes for Sales Tax Holiday
July 22 - August 16th & 17th set for tax exemption
weekend.
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Senator O’Leary
Votes to Expand State Oral Health Care Services
July 22 – The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation that creates a
new category of “public health dental hygienists” within the
Department of Public Health to reduce oral health disparities throughout
the state and provide equitable services for all residents.
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Senator
O’Leary Votes to Aid Communities in Water Protection
July 1 - Senator O’Leary voted today to aid community efforts to
clean up excess nutrients from inadequately treated waste water.
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Murray and O’Leary
announce Senate Approval to Overhaul Homeowners Insurance Market,
Provide Rate Relief for Coastal Residents
July 1- Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) and
Senator Robert O’Leary (D Barnstable) announced today that the Senate
on Tuesday approved legislation that will set new standards for the
homeowners’ insurance market and reduce the burden of soaring costs
for coastal residents.
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Engrosses Island Housing Banks
June 25 - The housing banks will be funded by a one percent transfer fee on real estate transactions to be paid by the seller. |
House Passes Turner Bill For Dennis
June 24 – The House passed to be engrossed House
3153, An Act Establishing the Caleb Chase Trust Fund Revenue Fund
in the Town of Dennis, which Rep. Turner (D-Dennis) filed
and was co-sponsored by Senator Robert A. O’Leary
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Senator
O’Leary Votes to Reform Massachusetts Energy Policy
June 24 - Senator O’Leary voted on Tuesday to pass a sweeping
energy reform package that focuses on promoting and developing
energy efficiency and renewable energy across the Commonwealth. |
Cape
Cod Museum of Fine Arts Receives $38,000 in Cultural Facilities
Grant Funding
June 12 - The Cape Cod Museum of Fine Arts has received a capital grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, run the by the Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment, for the amount of $38,000. |
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Cod Repertory Theatre Inc. Receives $150,000 in Cultural
Facilities Grant Funding
June 12 - Funding will be used for renovating and restoring the Crosby Cape House which will supply the theatre with available onsite housing for actors and staff during their performance season. |
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O’Leary Approves Landmark Life Sciences Bill to Secure
Massachusetts as Leader in Biotech Industry
June 12 - $1 billion package encourages job
growth; establishes world’s largest stem-cell bank. |
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Patrick
and O'Leary Request Intervener Status: Massachusetts Public
Systems vs. ISO New England Inc.
May 29 - State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D-Falmouth) and Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D-Cumaquid) have filed as interveners to a complaint filed with FERC by the Massachusetts Public Systems
(MPS) against ISO New England.
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Senate Funding Secured For Mass. Family Networks
May 23 - A vital program that provides family support services was rescued today by the Massachusetts State Senate after $5.4 million was added to the state budget.
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Cape
and
Islands
Receive Over $500,000 in Renewable Energy Grants
April
30 - Several
Cape
and
Islands
organizations, schools and towns have received grants from the
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) Renewable Energy
Trust Fund.
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Aquinnah
Public Library Receives $50,000 In Emergency Grant Funding
April 30 - The Aquinnah Public Library has received an emergency grant from Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund, run the by the Secretary of State, for the amount of $50,000.
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Senator O’Leary Requests Investigation of On-Going Costs of Running the Mirant Canal Plant
April 16 - Today, Senator Robert A. O’Leary, along with several other Senators from Southeastern Massachusetts sent a letter to the Chairman of the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee, Senator Marc Pacheco, requesting an investigation of the cost to rate payers of the continued operation of the Mirant Canal Plant.
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Senator O’Leary Votes for Stronger Life Sciences Industry in the Commonwealth
March 21 - Senate bill seeks transparency and oversight of
taxpayer-funded grants and activities; distributes incentives widely to help invigorate economically-distressed areas.
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Supplemental Budget Passes House and Senate to Keep Busses Running
March 10 – The Massachusetts House and Senate passed a supplemental budget which included $6,025,239 for Regional Transit Authorities across the Commonwealth.
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Senator O’Leary Encourages Seniors to File Taxes to Access Economic Stimulus Payments and Senior Circuit Breaker
February 28 - Under the Federal Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, more than 130 million American households will receive economic stimulus payments beginning in May.
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Senator
O'Leary to Assist Seniors With Circuit Breaker Tax Refunds
February 20 - Senator Robert O’Leary will be visiting the Wellfleet Senior Center on Friday, February 29th 2008, to inform seniors about possible tax deductions through the Commonwealth’s circuit breaker tax credit.
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Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Receives $600,000 MA Cultural Facilities Grant
February 14 - MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council today announced that Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT) will receive $600,000 as part of the latest round of grants from the MA Cultural Facilities Fund.
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Higher
Education Bond Bill Advances
February 14 - The Joint
Committee on Higher Education has given a favorable report to a
redrafted version of the higher education bond bill filed by Governor
Deval Patrick.
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Murray and O’Leary Congratulate Cape Cod Community College on the Approval of $2.433 Million Grant to Install a Wind Turbine
February 2 - Cape Cod Community College received a $2.433 million grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to install a 600kW wind turbine project.
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Senator O’Leary Votes for Energy Reform
January 1 - Senate’s GREEN Act promotes renewable
resources and energy efficiency.
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