2005 Committee Assignments

Representative James B. Eldridge (D-Acton) received his committee assignments along with the rest of his colleagues on Monday, February 7th.  The two-term lawmaker will serve on the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business, the Joint Committee on Election Laws, and the Joint Committee on Public Service.

“I am very pleased to receive the committee assignments I have requested, in order to help carryout some of my legislative goals in the current House session, and best serve my constituents,” said Representative Eldridge. 

Eldridge was appointed to these committees in part because of his professional background in the issue areas focused on in each committee.  Before being elected to the House of Representatives in 2002, Representative Eldridge was a community economic development (CED) lawer in Lowell, helping to rehabilitate poor neighborhoods by encouraging home ownership, the creation of small businesses, and community groups to combat local problems.  Eldridge noted, “This experience will be very helpful to me on the Committee on Community Development and Small Business.” 

“This committee will allow the Legislature to focus on how to properly develop communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts while preserving community character,” Representative Eldridge emphasized.  “Equally important, the committee will spend time looking at government policies that can help small businesses thrive, as well as regulations that might stifle them.”

Representative Eldridge praised Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi (D-Boston) for his decision to reform legislative committees in a manner that includes creating a committee that is specifically dedicated to focusing on the small business community. 

In addition, Eldridge was re-appointed to the Committee on Election Laws, so that he may continue to focus on election reform.  Representative Eldridge is one of several lawmakers currently working on filing a public campaign finance reform bill that will be similar to the 1998 voter referendum “Clean Elections” law.  Eldridge was elected in 2002 as the only Clean Elections candidates in Massachusetts  In addition, Eldridge plans to focus his energies on increasing voter registration and participation by supporting such bills as same-day voter registration, instant-runoff voting, and reducing lobbyists’ influence on politicians. 

Finally, Representative Eldridge plans to use his appointment to the Committee on Public Service to be a major catalyst to the creation of a death benefit of the families of call or volunteer firefighters throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  The momentum towards the creation of such a benefit has increased since the death of Lancaster call firefighter Marty McNamara in December 2003.  Eldridge currently serves as a member of the Call/Volunteer Firefighters Survivors’ Pension Task Force that meets regularly in Lancaster.  “Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragedy to pass legislation that will prevent future ones, and I plan to advocate for legislation that fills this benefit gap on the Committee on Public Service.”