Rush, Coppinger Recap 2011-2012 Statewide Legislature Accomplishments

The passage of a health care cost containment bill was highlighted by state Sen. Rush.

  Editor's note: State Sen. Mike Rush, D-West Roxbury, and state Rep. Ed Coppinger sent a recap of legislative accomplishments from the 2011-2012 legislative session. The Massachusetts House and Senate formal Legislature deadline for the session was July 31.  Read the two recent Q&A sessions with Rush and Coppinger by clicking on their hyperlinked names in this sentence. According to Rush, the bills enacted by both branches of the legislature denote a productive two-year session focused on job creation, economic development, and reform. Rush listed major policy items including: the passage of historic health care cost containment bill, strategically-focused economic development legislation, the legalization of casino gaming in the …

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Q&A: Sen. Rush Talks Driving on VFW Parkway, Redistricting, and Returning Military

Catching up with Rush after the rush of the July 31 legislative deadline session about local issues such as the dangers of driving on the VFW Parkway.

  State Sen. Mike Rush, D-West Roxbury, just finished up his first July 31 Legislative deadline as a senator, after previously being a state representative. Patch asked Rush about the July 31 deadline, local legislation and how redistricting affects his constituency. Patch: Before the July 31 Legislative session deadline, what legislation had your focus? Rush: During the 2011-2012 Legislative Session, the Legislature was extremely focused on issues influencing our state economy and continuing to nurture its recovery. We have identified and tackled obstacles to business growth to help grow our economy and create jobs, passing legislation to bolster our economic development, control our health care costs, tackle the high cost of energy, and …

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Q&A: Coppinger Talks Jobs, Health Care and Irish Social Club

"The economy and the cost of health care have been the issues I hear from my constituents about most," said State Rep. Ed Coppinger.

  State Rep. Ed Copppinger, D-West Roxbury, fielded questions from Patch about the Legislature's July 31 end of session deadline, what has had his focus on Beacon Hill and in West Roxbury.  Patch: Leading up to the July 31 Legislature end of session deadline, what legislation would you say has been your main point of focus? Coppinger: We are working on a number of bills before the July 31 deadline, including a jobs bill, health care cost control legislation, a bill to change how we sentence habitual offenders and legislation to make Massachusetts’ energy use greener, cheaper and more reliable. For West Roxbury-centric issues, I am working very closely with Senator (Mike) Rush on trying to pass legislation to grant the Irish Social Club a …

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Sen. Rush Votes For Three-Strikes Bill

Several Boston-area legislators voted against the legislation, saying the bill falls short on several counts.

  Although the habitual criminal bill, also called the "three-strikes bill" or "Melissa's Law," overwhemlingly passed both the House and Senate this week, with support by West Roxbury's legislators - some Boston-area legislators voted against what they called am imbalanced bill. The bill eliminates parole for felons convicted three times of one of 40 or so violent crimes, with at least one conviction having carried a minimum three-year prison term. It also reduces some mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses.  passed the House on Wednesday by a vote of 139-14 and the Senate Thursday by 31-7. Many of those voting against it are members of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus, who said the bill lacks evidence-based solutions, …

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Menino and Rush at July 4th Celebrations at Faneuil Hall

State Sen. Mike Rush joined Mayor Menino at Faneuil Hall on Independence Day before the fireworks.

  Did you know that since 1783, the City of Boston has concluded its Independence Day exercises at Faneuil Hall? From 1771 through 1872, the oration was delivered from the balcony of the Old State House in honor of the Boston Massacre. This year, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was joined by many people, including state Sen. Mike Rush, D-West Roxbury, in the Great Hall from Faneuil Hall. Rush spoke about how happy he was to be in Boston this July 4 compared to being in Iraq last year. Rush's speech focused on the history of Boston, America and the importance of Independence Day. This year's ceremony emceed by Colonel Gerard Wellman. Dana Whiteside sang the national anthem.

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Congressman Lynch Talks Senior Citizen Issues

Congressman Steve Lynch, state Sen. Mike Rush, and state Rep. Ed Coppinger, spoke at the Deutsches Altenheim home on Friday afternoon.

  Congressman Stephen Lynch joined West Roxbury residents state Sen. Mike Rush, and state Rep. Ed Coppinger, to speak about issues impacting senior citizens on Friday. Deutsches Altenheim hosted “Stand up for Seniors”, co-sponsored with AgeWell West Roxbury, and the West Roxbury Business and Professional Association. Lynch, D-9th, provided "a Washington update", discussing several issues that impact seniors. Lynch explained the logistics behind the Social Security COLA increases and the prospects for an increase in 2013. He also discussed Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan's, R-1st, budget plan which would fundamentally change Medicare, essentially turning it into a voucher system, said Lynch. The proposed changes, if passed, would shift …

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Photos: Sen. Rush Hands Out Balloons at Parkway Youth Soccer Family Day

Parkway Youth Soccer Family Day was this past weekend.

  Parkway Youth Soccer's annual Family Day is one of the best kid-friendly days in the Parkway.  Soccer games, moonbounces, face-painting, and even politicians handing out balloons. State Sen. Mike Rush, D-West Roxbury, was one of the politicians onhand, as he stayed cool under an overhang, handing out balloons to children.

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Photos: St. Theresa's 6th Graders Visit Sen. Rush at State House

State Sen. Mike Rush gave the sixth-grade class a tour of the State House on June 12, 2012, teaching them history along the way.

  On Monday, June 12, 2012, the sixth-grade class of St. Theresa School visited the State House, and met state Sen. Michael Rush, who gave the students an educational and trivia filled tour. "Senator Rush is a wonderful and entertaining historian, and during the tour he challenged the students with many perplexing questions. We thank Senator Rush for a great day!" said Laura Cloherty of St. Theresa's Development/Advancement Dept. The following photos were taken by Carolyn Chabot.

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Photos: 19th Annual Corrib Road Race

Roslindale's Ed Colvin, 19, took first place after finishing second the previous three years.

  "It's about time," remarked Ed Colvin, only 19 years old, after winning the 19th Annual Corrib Classic 5K Race on Sunday. While most runners were happy to get out on the course, Colvin had a mission to win, after finishing second, the previous three years. The Catholic Memorial alum came streaking down Lagrange Street with a 100-yard lead on the next runner to finish. "It was tough. I led most of it," said Colvin, who ran for Brandeis University as a freshman. After Colvin the rest of the more than 2,500 runners crossed the finish line and headed onto Billings Field to catch up with old friend, family, and enjoy a pony ride or two. After finishing, Allison MacDougall joined her husband Steve, and two kids, Ella, 6, and Sam, 4, who had …

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Photos: Memorial Day at The Gardens at Gethsemane

Photos from the 44th Annual Service held in West Roxbury on Monday morning.

  The West Roxbury Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2901 in West Roxbury celebrated the 44th Annual Memorial Day Service at the Gardens at Gethsemane on Monday morning. More than 300 attendees were addressed by keynote speaker state Sen. Mike Rush, D-Boston, a lieutenant in US Naval Reserves. The guest speaker was Maureen Dunn, the co-author of "Search for Canasta 404" and co-founder of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. Dunn's husband, US Naval Commander Joseph Dunn, was shot down over China in 1968 and was never found. 

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