Sign up for Newsletter
Job Listings Newsletter
To get an occasional newsletter about job opportunities, send an email to
Stay Connected
Issues
Legislative Accomplishments
An Act further regulating municipal animal control
This bill was passed and signed into law by the governor in 2012. It modernizes animal control law in Massachusetts by:
Updating statutory language to reflect the transition to home rule.
Updating animal fees and fines relating to animal offenses.
Standardizing (in most cases reducing) the holding period for stray animals.
Creating a fund to provide for low cost spay/neuter surgery.
Prohibiting inhumane methods of euthanasia for dogs and cats.
Legislative Accomplishments
An Act to increase routine screening for HIV
This bill was passed and signed into law by the governor in 2012.
It enables patients to obtain an HIV test more easily by providing informed verbal consent. Existing patient protections would be preserved. The bill also ensures that physicians provide their patients with the option of HIV testing, and that they refer HIV positive patients to services. Medical insurance providers are now required to cover the cost of HIV testing under existing plans.
Education
STAND Referendum Question
An organization, Stand for Children, the state unit of a national organization, filed signatures for a complex ballot question in 2012 which would have made major changes in how teachers are evaluated, assigned, and fired. Their proposal had a misleading title: An Act to Promote Excellence in Public Schools. I’d suggest it be named An Act to Buy off Billionaire Bullies.
I was upset at the amount of money they were spending on paid signature gatherers, full page ads in local newspapers, and nine lobbyists this year. (Last...
Paid Sick Days
Business Fact Sheet
An Act Establishing Earned Paid Sick Time
Improving Workforce Productivity and the Public Health
Thanks to the input of small business owners, the Paid Sick Days bill has been revised to promote a better work environment and bottom line, while protecting working families and the public health.
Changes to the Bill[1] Addressing the Concerns of Business Owners:
· Seasonal employers are exempt from the bill.
· Employers with fewer...
Paid Sick Days
Fact Sheet on Revised Bill
An Act Establishing Earned Paid Sick Time
Balancing the Needs of the Business Community and Workers
While Saving Money and Reducing the Spread of Disease
More than half of Massachusetts private sector workers cannot take any sick time to care for a sick child or elderly parent.
Nearly 1 million Massachusetts private sector jobs (over one-third of our workforce) lack a single guaranteed paid sick day.
Nearly 50% of all emergency room...
Transportation
Current Proposals for MBTA and their impact
MBTA Fare and Service Changes takes you to several documents, including an overview of the proposals, an impact analysis of the two proposals, and the public meeting presentation.
Bus Ridership in 2010 will allow you to see the number of boardings for each line.
Perhaps the most comprehensive listing of information and analysis is on the Dukakis Center's website.
Transportation
Resources to Learn about Transportation Finance
As we face a serious crisis in MBTA service and fares, it's important to understand how we got here and what some possible solutions are. Here are links to a several reports with analyses and proposals.
Perhaps the most comprehensive compilation of information is on the Dukakis Center's website.
The Cambridge Planning Department listed most of the proposed long-term solutions to transportation financing. I'd add the idea of a tax on parking lots.
The Globe had an excellent update on the hearings and on the debt issue.
Another good...
Education
Testimony on Proposed Somerville Progressive Charter School
December 14, 2011
To the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
My name is Pat Jehlen. I’m the state senator for the Second Middlesex District and Senate Vice-Chair of the Committee on Education. Before I was a legislator, I was a School Committee member for 16 years. I’m the mother of three Somerville High School graduates. My two granddaughters go to the Healey...
Education
How Pension "Reform" affects new teacher recruitment
On September 15, 2011, the Senate voted to "modernize" the state pension system. It raised the retirement age for all future employees and eliminated some provisions that have been subject to abuse. For example, pensions will be based on the previous five years' pay, rather than the previous three years', to prevent "spiking," or someone taking a much higher position for just a few years ostensibly just to boost the pension.
The reason action was taken very quickly this fall was because the rating agencies threatened...
Education
Wall Street Journal reports on Testing Companies
Teachers are put to the test
By STEPHANIE BANCHERO And DAVID KESMODEL
As millions of teachers head back to school, many will be facing a new kind of report card that judges them based on how much they help students improve on standardized tests. Stephanie Banchero has details on The News Hub.
MADISON, Wis.—Teacher evaluations for years were based on brief classroom observations by the principal. But now, prodded by President Barack Obama's $4.35 billion Race to the Top program, at least 26 states have agreed to judge teachers...
Education
My testimony on proposed teacher evaluation regulations June 2011
note: after a lot of comment, the final evaluation regulations were much improved, but some of my comments remain relevant.
My main points: It's an expensive, unfunded mandate; there are costs in learning time and equity; benefits are questionable at best.
State Senator Patricia Jehlen
2nd Middlesex District
Medford, Somerville, Winchester and Woburn
Chair, Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
Vice Chair,Joint Committee on Education
To the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education:
Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the draft...
Education
Recruiting Teachers
There's a big focus on improving the teaching corps by evaluating current teachers.
Half of all new teachers leave within 5 years.
Perhaps we should think more about recruiting and training talented and committed professionals.
Here's an op ed from the New York Times.
The High Cost of Low Teacher Salaries
By DAVE EGGERS and NÍNIVE CLEMENTS CALEGARI
Published: April 30, 2011
WHEN we don’t get the results we want in our military endeavors, we don’t blame the soldiers. We don’t say, “It’s these lazy soldiers and...
Economic Development
Tax Incentives
In 2008, Massachusetts passed the “Life Sciences Bill" to spend a billion dollars over 10 years on life sciences. While others argued that we would never consider such a commitment in good times, I believed that we can’t afford to spend so much on one sector, especially in bad times. These are some of my concerns.
Governing magazine in January published these two paragraphs, which could serve as the executive summary of my argument:
"Tax incentives have long been endorsed as the highway to prosperity -- attracting...
Economic Development
Casino Report 2010
This is part of my newsletter from last year, discussing some of my concerns.
Costs will Outweigh Benefits
I voted against expanded gambling because I'm convinced the costs will outweigh the benefits.
There has been no neutral analysis of the costs and benefits of expanded gambling. The governor, House and Senate all commissioned studies at state expense, but all were by firms with gambling ties, and all asked only about benefits. (Connecticut asked one of those firms to study both costs and benefits; some of the results are in this...
Budget
2012 Budget Overview
As debate on the Senate budget began, I spoke about the ongoing deficit situation and our inability to fund programs that our constituents value. Here' are some of my remarks:
There will be real pain in many communities and families as – despite our efforts -- cuts continue in human services, public health, environmental safety, higher education, local aid and more.
It is a tribute to the skill and compassion of this chairman, his predecessor, and the Senate President that the pain has often been invisible to the general public....
Paid Sick Days
1000 Voices Video
In this video I explain some reasons I support paid sick days legislation.
Seniors
Video of Home Care visit
This video is about a morning I spent with a home care worker caring for a 102 year old woman.