The official website of the Governor of Massachusetts

Office of the Governor

Email & Bookmark


Daily Update 9/11: Remembering 9/11

Get the Daily Update and other notifications by following us:

Twitter icon on Twitter 
 via RSS | What is RSS?

Friday, September 11, 2009

 

Today: Friday, September 11, 2009

 

  • This morning Governor Patrick posted a blog in which he remembered the sons and daughters of our Commonwealth and the thousands of others who were lost in the tragedy of September 11, 2001. The Governor is participating in a service activity organized by The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, Inc., Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund and Homes for Our Troops. He is writing letters to our servicemen and women that will be included in care packages.  Read the full blog here.

 

  • This morning, Lieutenant Governor Murray participated in a 9/11 observation ceremony at the State House Lawn and then attended the 9/11 Commemoration Observation and announced Marie Conley as the recipient of the Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery. Read more here.

 

In the Press:

 

Lieutenant Governor Murray speaks at the 9/11 Commemoration Observation and announces the recipient of the Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery at the State House this morning.

 

  • Commitment to Health Care Cost Savings – Governor Patrick is committed to bringing down health care costs for small businesses and has asked members of his cabinet to submit recommendations to help employers achieve cost-savings. Current law prohibits small businesses from negotiating as a group for lower insurance rates.  In a conference call with reporters yesterday, Governor Patrick expressed his support for the President’s plan for national health care reform and reiterated his commitment to reducing the financial burden for the state’s small businesses. Read more in the Boston Globe.

 

 

  • U.S. Senate Interim Appointment – Yesterday, President Obama echoed Governor Patrick’s call to Massachusetts lawmakers, urging them to grant the Governor the power to appoint an interim senator before the January election for Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat.  President Obama and the Governor both believe it is crucial for Massachusetts to be fully represented by having two voices in the U.S. Senate. Read more in the Boston Herald, in the State House News, on WCVB, or in the Associated Press.

 

  • Preserving our Natural Resources – This week, almost $4.5 million in federal funding was given to the Department of Conservation and Recreation in order to fight the devastating effects of the Asian Longhorned Beetle in central Massachusetts. Efforts to restore the impacted areas will begin in the fall and are expected to be a two-year project: “Fighting the Asian Longhorned Beetle has cost Worcester and neighboring communities thousands of trees. With these federal funds, we will begin to restore the shade and natural beauty that comes from tree-lined streets and yards,” said Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray. Read more in the Worcester Telegram.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

 

  • Shark Research – Division of Marine Fisheries biologist Greg Skomal discussed the electronic tagging of five great white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod this week on The Today Show, which featured new video footage taken by a documentary film crew. The tags – which will release from the sharks, float to the surface, and transmit accumulated data in January – will aid Skomal’s federally funded research on great white sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, which have never before been tracked with electronic tags. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, who accompanied Skomal on Saturday, discussed the shark tagging effort and what we will learn from it last night on Greater Boston with Emily Rooney.

 

This Week:

 

  • On Tuesday, the Patrick Administration announced the creation of the Foster Child Bill of Rights to ensure that foster children across Massachusetts are treated with respect and actively included in the decisions that affect their lives. Learn more.

 

  • On Tuesday, Governor Patrick asked U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to issue a disaster declaration in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester counties for agricultural production losses suffered due to this summer’s abnormally cool and rainy weather. Learn more.

 

  • On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Murray testified in support of legislation granting the Governor the authority to make an interim appointment to the United States Senate this afternoon at the State House.

 

  • On Wednesday, Governor Patrick declared today Video Game Innovation Day in Massachusetts. Massachusetts, a world leader in technological innovation, is home to one of the largest and most diverse clusters of video game companies and talent in the country, generating over $3 billion in sales in 2008. Learn more here.

 

  • Yesterday Governor Patrick joined the White House and other Democratic governors on a conference call to support President Obama’s health care push. The call included White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle.