Senator Nuciforo describes his bill to prevent unfair mortgage lending practices in the Commonwealth.
From 1997 to 2007, Nuciforo served as State Senator for the cities and towns of the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin region in western Massachusetts. For ten years, Nuciforo worked with local officials in the 48 cities and towns of the district, and with many other business and community leaders, in addressing the issues important to western Massachusetts residents. From health care to economic development to environmental protection, Nuciforo served as an advocate for local governments, cultural organizations and public school systems.
Below is a partial list of Nuciforo’s accomplishments while serving in the State Senate:
Health Care
- Supported and voted for Chapter 58, the landmark Health Care Reform Act of 2005.
- Voted to control costs in MassHealth, including co-payments for health care services.
- Worked in Senate to secure Critical Access Hospital funding for Berkshire County’s main health care system.
Seniors
- Supported local option Property Tax Exemptions and Property Tax Deferrals programs for senior homeowners.
- Voted for increasing Work-Off Limit and Circuit Breaker eligibility for seniors.
- Voted for full funding of the Prescription Advantage Program.
- Supported MassHealth Long Care options Program.
- Lead effort to insure Berkshire County retains an Aging Services Access Point.
- Supported legislation to increase benefits and give property tax relief to older veterans.
Consumer Protection & Civil Rights
- Sponsored legislation that protects consumers against unfair and deceptive practices in the securities industry.
- Co-Sponsored legislation to protect homeowners from excessive rates and fees in connection with home mortgage loans.
- Awarded Legislator of the Year by the Massachusetts Equal Justice Coalition for work to enhance legal and financial planning for low-income Massachusetts residents.
- Supported marriage equality for all Massachusetts residents.
- Voted to provide buffer zone around family planning clinics to protect access for women and their family members.
Economic Development
Gov. Jane M. Swift and Senator Nuciforo present a check in the amount of $2.5 million to promote the restoration of the Colonial Theatre.
- Lead the fight in the Senate to secure $6 million in funding for the Colonial Theater in downtown Pittsfield.
- Sponsored successful budget amendment to fund a “brownfield” cleanup of the former GE property in Pittsfield.
- Secured $500,000 in state funding to remediate the former Photech Mill in Williamstown.
- Lead effort in Senate to secure funding for roof repairs at the Berkshire Museum, restoration efforts at the Mohawk Theater in North Adams, restoration of the historic Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, and the Pittsfield Downtown Cinema Project.
- Secured an $11 million bond authorization to fund improvements to the Pittsfield municipal airport.
- Secured state funding to support the Inter-Modal Surface Transportation Center in downtown Pittsfield.
- Secured state funding for Streetscape Improvements for Downtown Pittsfield.
- Sponsored Artist Enterprise Zone legislation to support the growth of artist gallery and living spaces in downtown Fitchburg and Pittsfield.
- Secured $2.5 million in transportation funding for the “gateway” road improvements on Rte 7 in Pittsfield.
Education
- Supported full funding for Regional School Transportation in ten consecutive state budgets.
- Voted for Kindergarten Development Grants to allow full-day kindergarten class in public school throughout Massachusetts.
- Voted for increased funding for Regional Public Libraries.
- Supported effort in the Senate to reform the School Building Assistance Program, which upon passage allowed public school districts to access state support for the construction and renovation of school buildings.
- Supported funding for the Berkshire Compact program under the guidance of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams.
Support for Cities and Towns
Senator Nuciforo joins other community and business leaders to support retraining programs for manufacturing workers at General Dynamics Defense Systems in Pittsfield.
- Led effort in the Senate to increase funding for state “payments in lieu of taxes” PILOT program.
- Sponsored legislation to gain funding for North Adams Water Filtration Plant.
- Sponsored amendment to make improvements to Small Town Road Assistance Program.
- Voted to support funding for housing options for seniors, low-income residents and veterans in Lee, Williamstown, Lenox and other communities.
Public Safety
- Supported the creation of a state Anti-Gang Initiative, which included a statewide Witness Protection Program, and $11 million dollars to fund programs for local communities to address Gang and Youth Violence.
- Worked in the Senate to pass funding for the State Police “Directed Patrol” program, and secured a $50,000 grant for “Directed Patrols” for the City of Pittsfield.
- Voted to create and fully fund a comprehensive DNA data base system for convicted felons.
- Strong supporter of funding for the Community Policing Program to support small municipal police forces in Massachusetts.
- Voted for legislation supported by the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association allowing law enforcement officers to carry stun guns.
- Voted to expand the duties of the Executive Office of Public Safety to include Homeland Security issues.
Environment
Senator Nuciforo joins Commissioner of Environmental Management Peter C. Webber, District Attorney Gerard Downing, and members of MassPIRG to the kick-off of the Common Ground Initiative, promoting the protection of state forests and parks from polluters.
- Co-Sponsored legislation establishing Old Growth Forest protected reserves in Massachusetts.
- Supported and voted for the landmark Environmental Bond Bill.
- Voted for legislation that requires residential and commercial appliances to meet minimum energy efficiency standards.
- Sponsored legislation to protect the environmentally sensitive Otis Bog.
- Supported legislation that provided funding of the Riverway Protection Program.
- Strong supporter and advocate of the Massachusetts Green Budget Proposal.
- Secured in the Senate $21.3 million dollars in the legislative bond bill for Historic Parkway Project at Mt. Greylock State Reservation.
- Sponsored legislation to update the Massachusetts Bottle Bill.
- Named 2005 Legislator of the Year by the Environmental League of Massachusetts.
