2nd Democrat Runs For 11th Plymouth

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Brockton City Councilor-at-large Robert F. Sullivan has announced his candidacy for State Rep. of the 11th Plymouth District.
Sullivan, a Democrat, is seeking the position being vacated by Geraldine Creedon, who announced earlier this month she would not seek reelection.
Sullivan is the second candidate from the Democratic Party to announce a run for Creedon's seat. Claire Cronin, a Brockton lawyer and Easton resident, launched her candidacy a few weeks ago. Sullivan has served as a city wide councilor-at-large since 2006, and was unanimously elected to the position of City Council President in 2008.
Sullivan was born and raised in Brockton and was a resident of Easton from 2001-2003. He attended Brockton public schools and graduated from Brockton High School in 1988.
He graduated from Boston College with a bachelor's in political science and obtained his law degree from the New England School of Law.
Sullivan went on to earn his master's in business administration from Boston College. Sullivan lives in Brockton with his wife, Maria (Luizzi) Sullivan, and their two children.
Sullivan, an attorney, small business owner, and town counsel for Randolph.
He said in a prepared statement his experience and leadership qualities, coupled with his legal training and business background, all strengthen his qualifications as a candidate for state representative.
Sullivan’s other political experiences consist of interning with former Massachusetts Congressman Brian J. Donnelly in Washington D. C. and at the Massachusetts State House with former State Senator Michael C. Creedon.
He also served as Chief Legal Counsel to the Joint Committee on Election Laws for the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
He is an elected member of the Brockton Democratic City Committee and a member of the Plymouth County Democratic League.
In addition, he volunteers as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton.
He said in the statement he has city experience, town experience, and State House experience.
Sullivan said he has the background and knowledge needed to be an effective state representative who will respond to the needs and expectations of both Brockton and Easton residents.
Sullivan said he believes the upcoming election is about improving the economic, educational, environmental, and public safety conditions for the district.
Sullivan said he will be a strong advocate for the people of the 11th Plymouth District and asks the people of the 11th to support his candidacy for state representative.
His campaign Committee will host a campaign kick-off event in the near future.
If any residents of the district are interested in attending the event or working on his campaign, please contact the Committee to Elect Robert Sullivan at 508-846-1208.
Due to the recent state redistricting, the 11th Plymouth is now comprised of the following locations: the west and north sections of Brockton--all of Ward 1, Ward 3-D, and Ward 7-C and 7-D-and in Easton precincts 1-5.

Brown-Warren Disagree On Contraception Issue

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Republican U.S. Senator Scott Brown and his likely Democratic party opponent Elizabeth Warren are battling via commercials, media releases, and op-eds in news outlets over allowing contraception, abortion and other reproductive options as part of health insurance coverage for employees of Catholic hospitals, universities, schools and other institutions.

Here is what they are saying...... 

Elizabeth Warren's statement:
Consumer advocate and U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren in a statement released Feb. 15, said a Republican proposal that would allow any employer or insurance company to deny anyone access to any health service is irresponsible.
“This is a completely new attack that threatens everyone’s health care,” Warren said of the proposal, introduced by Senator Roy Blunt,(R-MO) and co-sponsored by Senator Scott Brown,(R-MA). "It is an irresponsible assault on the health care of every family in Massachusetts and around our country. I respect the solution President Obama provided last week that ensures that religious institutions are not forced to cover contraception but still makes sure women can get the health services they need. This new bill is not about any of that. This bill would allow any employer or insurance company to refuse to cover anyone for anything,” Warren said.
Warren said the Blunt-Brown bill is different from previous proposals, taking an extremely broad approach that allows any employer or insurance company to claim any objection and use it to deny any health insurance coverage to anyone, for any health service. The company needs to claim only that it has a "moral conviction," an expansive term that is not defined in the proposed legislation.
“Scott Brown is on the wrong side here, standing with Washington and Republican extremists and against the people of Massachusetts--our families, our seniors, and everyone who relies on health insurance to get the care they need,” Warren said.

“This is a critical issue and when he ought to be putting the people of Massachusetts first, he’s not.”
The amendment, supported by Brown, was introduced as President Obama offered a compromise to religious institutions that were uncomfortable with offering contraceptive and other health care coverage to their employees. Supporters of the amendment wrongly claim it writes the compromise into law. In fact, it would undermine health insurance and health care, especially recently passed reforms expanding coverage.
HERE'S WHAT SCOTT BROWN HAS TO SAY: The Brown campaign Thursday, Feb. 23 released the fifth edition of the Scott Brown Radio Report, entitled “Religious Freedom.”
The statewide radio ad began running Feb. 23.
"Senator Brown supports a conscience exemption from a new federal mandate that would force religious organizations to offer insurance coverage for practices that go against the teachings of their faith. This 60-second advertisement is part of a series of “Radio Reports” to be released by Brown during the course of the campaign.

A transcript of the ad is included below. To listen To Brown’s Radio Report, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09q0p2SudRA
If you would rather read what is said in the broadcast here is a copy of the script: “Hello, this is Scott Brown. Religious freedom has always been one of our most precious rights.
It’s what brought the Pilgrims to our shores hundreds of years ago – so they could freely practice their faith.
That’s why I’m concerned about a new federal mandate forcing religious organizations to offer insurance coverage for practices that go against the teachings of their church.
Such a requirement flies in the face of our basic American values of religious tolerance.
Like Ted Kennedy before me, I support a conscience exemption in health care for Catholics and other people of faith.
I believe it’s possible to provide people with access to the health care they want, while at the same time protecting the rights of Americans to follow their religious beliefs.
For me, the conscience exemption is a matter of fundamental fairness – and a right to be protected for all Americans, of every party and every faith.”

Patrick To Discuss Black History In Brockton Thursday

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Gov. Deval Patrick will spend the morning Thursday with Brockton area seniors and residents at Caffrey Towers when the governor and others salute the “pillars” of African-American history during a breakfast for seniors and members of the South Shore community in Brockton.
The event will take place Thursday, Feb. 16 at Caffrey Towers in Brockton at 755 Crescent St.
The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. with light refreshments and followed at 10 a.m. by a program centered around contributions by African-Americans and their role in history and the community.
From 11:15 a.m. to Noon seniors and members of the public in attendance will have the opportunity to take part in a roundtable discussion about issues in Brockton, the region and anything people may ask the governor.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray will also attend the Caffrey Towers event following his attendance at Brockton's Shaw's Center for the "Brownfields Roundtable," a discussion with participants about economic issues in the region.
Numerous city and state officials are expected to attend Thursday's Caffrey Towers event, including Mayor Linda Balzotti.
The Caffrey Towers event is open and free to the public.
The Caffrey Towers stop in Brockton is part of Patrick's Black History month tour across the state to celebrate and discuss the achievements of African-Americans and spread the history of those who fought for freedom.
Patrick's history tour began Friday, February 3 when Patrick joined hosts Callie Crossley and Phillip Martin on WGBH TV’s “Basic Black” for a live discussion on Black History Month and the administration's agenda to promote jobs, education, health care and public safety.
His next event will be in Springfield, Feb. 23. when Patrick is expected to speak at a panel discussion about the legacy of African-American leaders from the past, present and future.

U.S. AGs Settle With Banks Over Foreclosures

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--State Attorney General Martha Coakley and Attorneys General from across the country have entered into a $25 billion nationwide state-federal settlement over unlawful foreclosures, that is expected to bring an estimated $318 million dollars in assistance to Massachusetts borrowers.
The agreement, according to a prepared statement from Coakley's office, will settle many claims made as part of Coakley’s lawsuit against the five banks filed on December 1, 2011. 
In Massachusetts, this agreement provides for immediate relief and a “carve out” to the agreement to allow her office to continue to pursue further relief in the courts against the banks over two Massachusetts-specific issues. 
Those claims include initiating foreclosures without holding the actual mortgages--so-called “Ibanez” violations--and allegedly corrupting the land recording system through the use of the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS).
The agreement will settle all other claims made as part of Coakley’s lawsuit against the five banks filed on December 1, 2011.
Attorneys General from 49 states have agreed to join the settlement announced today, Feb. 9 in Washington, D.C.
The banks will provide an immediate infusion of millions of dollars in relief for struggling homeowners.
It also allows the Attorney General’s Office to continue to pursue claims against the banks for initiating illegal foreclosures in the state and corrupting the land court system.
Through this national state-federal agreement, five major lenders are expected to provide approximately $14.6 million in cash payments to Massachusetts borrowers, $257 million worth of mortgage relief, and a direct payment of more than $46.5 million to the Commonwealth that will be used to assist homeowners.  The agreement settles allegations of widespread use of fraudulent documents by Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Ally Financial.
Massachusetts estimated total share of the settlement is $317,915,272:

• Massachusetts borrowers will receive an estimated $224,000,819 in benefits from loan term modifications and other direct relief.
• Massachusetts borrowers who lost their home to foreclosure from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2011 and suffered servicing abuse would qualify for $14,625,790 in cash payments to borrowers.
• The value of refinanced loans to Massachusetts underwater borrowers would be an estimated $32,729,601

Information for Consumers:
Because of the complexity of the mortgage market and this agreement, which will span a three-year period, in some cases participating mortgage servicers will contact borrowers directly regarding loan modification options. 
However, a first step for borrowers should contact their mortgage servicer to obtain more information about specific loan modification programs and whether they qualify under terms of this settlement.
The first step consumers should take is to contact their mortgage servicer to obtain more information about specific loan modification programs and whether they qualify under terms of the state-federal settlement: 
Hotlines:
Bank of America: 1-877-488-7814
Citi: 1-866-272-4749
Chase: 1-866-372-6901
GMAC: 1-800-766-4622
Wells Fargo: 1-800-288-3212
More information can be found on the state-federal settlement at the websites below:
http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/www.HUD.govwww.justice.gov
Consumer who may have additional questions about the settlement, have issues or concerns dealing with their mortgage servicer or other concerns can submit a complaint online, email agocs@state.ma.us, or call the Attorney General’s Office at 617-963-2170.
More detailed information about the mortgage settlement is available here .
Since 2007, Coakley has been a national leader in addressing the foreclosure crisis by holding banks and investment giants accountable for their role in the economic downturn. 
Her office has already recovered more than $600 million in relief for Massachusetts homeowners and investors. 
Coakley’s office has ongoing investigations into the foreclosure crisis and will continue additional efforts to stabilize the housing market in Massachusetts.
More information about Attorney General Coakley's initiative to address the foreclosure crisis is available.