Last modified: Monday, January 5, 2009 4:58 PM EST State Rep Bill Bowles New reps get quick start on tough decisions BY KELSEY ABBRUZZESE FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE Bill Bowles often gets teased when he talks about his new job as Attleboro's state representative. "People in Attleboro have sort of joked with me, saying, 'Are you sure this is the time you want to go?'" When the new Legislature meets next month, it will face a continuing budget crisis that threatens additional cuts in state spending, including the local aid upon which cities and towns like Attleboro rely. As a result, instead of having a few weeks to learn the ropes on Beacon Hill, this year's class of 18 freshmen legislators - all Democrats - will face important decisions from the beginning. Some see that as a good thing. "All the new legislators bring a new perspective," said Rep.-elect Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston. "We're very in touch with our districts through campaigns and we have a sense of what the public is feeling right now." "We'll be asking questions that other people in the building may see as self-evident," Dykema continued, "and that's helpful to the discussion." There are likely to be many questions on the issue of local aid. House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi recently told lawmakers to brace for a 5 percent to 10 percent cut. Rep.-elect Kate Hogan, D-Stow, described the economic climate as a sobering one. "The three issues are the economy, the economy, the economy," Hogan said. "People took a huge hit from the stock market." DiMasi's announcement was the latest in discouraging news about the state and national economy. Although Gov. Deval Patrick left local aid untouched in his October budget cuts, legislators will now have to find creative ways to raise revenue to protect local aid. "I've been straightforward with the people in my district - for the things I really care about, we're going to have to be in the defense position this year," said Sen. elect Sonia Chang-Diaz, D-Boston. This year's class of 18 new legislators - another three representatives are moving to the Senate - represents 9 percent of the Massachusetts Legislature. Massachusetts has a relatively low rate of turnover, with an average of 10 percent in the House and 15 percent in the Senate, according to the National Conference for State Legislatures. States such as Maine, Arizona, and Arkansas see more new faces each session, with House turnovers averaging 30 percent an election. States such as Illinois, Kentucky and Texas are lower, ranging from 8 percent to 9 percent. Many of the state's new legislators come to the Statehouse with governmental experience. Sen.-elect Michael Moore, D-Millbury, was a Millbury selectman; Bowles, a former Attleboro city councilor, served as chairman of the finance committee for six years of his 14 years on the council. He says the experience has prepared him for the budget debate. "I view it as an opportunity," Bowles said. "We're going to have some challenges, but in challenges opportunities present themselves and you can focus on what's really important." Rep.-elect Danielle Gregoire, D-Marlborough, comes well trained, having worked for almost five years as a legislative aide for Rep. Stephen Leduc, D-Marlborough, whose seat she will take in January. "It's a smooth transition, and I'm lucky to have that," Gregoire said. Despite the budget constraints, many of the new legislators have staked out issues for the session. Hogan wants to boost economic development by investing in the green economy. Though past lawmakers, such as Sen. Pam Resor, D-Acton, feared environmental issues would be the first to go in a budget crunch, Hogan believes the state must see green jobs as its future. "The economy will continue to shrink, the wealth of the middle class will continue to shrink, unless we do things to invest in the possibilities to expand our economy," Hogan said. "I think that's something that's lost in all this talk. "Everything is going to realign around the green economy. We're not going to know this world in 10 years," Hogan said. "This is our opportunity to have that wonderful impact on the 21st century." Dykema shares Hogan's priorities for environmental legislation. She, too, believes anything involving green issues or the environment is planning for the future. "Let's take the time now to do investigation so when people are ready to make investments, we're ready to do it smartly with the latest technologies," Dykema said. "The environment, to me, doesn't stand alone. We need to have an environmental filter on anything we do." Chang-Diaz has other ideas, such as reform of the criminal information system known as CORI. Since CORI issues often become "unnecessary barriers" to available jobs, she said, it becomes an economic issue. Chang-Diaz also said she would work to develop foreclosure protection and education funding. "In times like these, there's a unique opportunity to accomplish things that might not get as much attention, that don't come with big price tags but are effective," she said. "We're doing everything we can to protect services that we know are working and critical to basic health and safety." Moore also wants to focus on economic development. Moore said when he was campaigning, the price of fuel had skyrocketed and constituents worried about their job security. To combat those fears, Moore said he wants to work with local chambers of commerce to create new business initiatives, drawing companies to Massachusetts. "A lot of my focus during the campaign was looking at how government and business need to work together," Moore said. "I'm not going to have all the answers, but I'll go to the right individuals and organizations that can create initiatives." Like many members of the MetroWest delegation, Gregoire said she will be active in transportation issues, and like her fellow lawmakers, she said she will fight for local aid. "Coming in as new legislators, we really have to get a better grasp on what communities are looking for," Gregoire said. "I'm going to continue to meet with municipal leaders on that and what they're looking for from state government." In addition to vowing to fight for local aid, Bowles said he would like to see more money for education funding. With Massachusetts public schools ranked 37th in the nation and the state's public universities ranked 46th, he wants to see progress. This report was prepared for The Sun Chronicle by the Boston University Statehouse Program