Barbara L'Italien, Democrat, incumbent
Andover
Age: 49
Social worker, state representative 2003-present; vice-chair of House Committee on Ways and Means
Married, husband Kevin Hall, four children: Rudy, Allie, Samantha and Andrew
Universal health-care plan YES. Mass. has achieved near universal coverage and some small business cost containment measures have occurred but more cost management needs to happen.
Charter schools NO. Not under the current funding mechanism as it penalizes the sending public school system. I did vote for expansion of charter schools in failing districts in the Education Reform Bill and had provisions added to require that charter schools recruit and retain special education students.
Quinn Bill (officers' education)
NO. College degrees should be a job requirement without incentive pay.
Pro-life or pro-choice? Pro-Choice. Pregnancy prevention should be a priority so that the need for abortion is rare.
Death penalty?
NO. Specific cuts?
Mass. has closed a cumulative budget gap of over $10 billion in the past 22 months through cuts (earmarks and programs/staffing); consolidations (merger of Mass. Turnpike and Highway). I would look for further savings from GIC/plan design; the probation department and renegotiation/consolidation of leased space.
One big idea
Implementation of my Autism Medical insurance law, effective Jan. 1, 2011, will save Mass. money immediately in Early Intervention and will drive down education costs (in and out of district) as children will have had access to treatments to manage behavior and communication. Savings will likewise occur throughout Human Services.
Would you have given Lawrence the ability to borrow money this year?
Lawrence
No. I voted against the Lawrence borrowing bill as a fiscal control board was not included. Lawrence's fiscal issues are long-term and systemic and I thought that board oversight could make the tough decisions necessary (like union contract renegotiations) to get Lawrence on a path to long-term solvency.
