As they say, Maria Talks speaks for itself - so badly that 63 State Reps (33 Democrats and 30 Republicans) have sent a letter to Governor Patrick.
Please check the list. If your State Rep signed, please thank him or her - either at home or at the State House. Phone numbers are here. http://www.malegislature.gov/People/House
Also, call the Governor to urge him to take action. You say you have already called? That call was about the MCFL letter. This is about the legislators' letter. 1-888-870-7770
You may wonder if MCFL has heard from the Governor. We plan to follow up, but let us just say it is a blessing that these responsible State Reps. got involved. They have the power and the purse strings.
You may also wonder why all the signatories are Representatives. They were in session this week for the budget and the Senate was not. At least one Senator, Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) sent an individual letter.
Text of Letter and List of Legislators Who Signed On In Opposition to the Website:
April 28, 2011
His Excellency Deval L. Patrick
Massachusetts State House
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Governor Patrick,
We are writing to you to ask for your assistance in addressing a matter of profound concern to us relative to the website www.mariatalks.com, which was highlighted in a recent Boston Herald story.
It is our understanding that the website was created and maintained by the AIDS Action Committee through an annual grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The website, targeted at teenagers, uses graphic and inappropriate language to describe various sexual activities. Further, the website describes abortion in an insensitive manner and advises how to circumvent parental notification requirements.
A review of the Facebook fan page for this website raises serious questions regarding the use of tax dollars to advocate for or against public policy. In a fiscal climate where the Executive Office of Health and Human Services has faced many cuts over the past few years, we find it disturbing that some must endure cuts to basic services in favor of funding a grant that is being used in such a controversial manner.
We would emphasize that this is not a debate over the pro-choice and pro-life position on the topic of abortion, as we represent a spectrum of viewpoints on that issue, but rather the necessity of funding this website in a time of scarce resources as well as the manner in which the website is constructed.
While we understand that teenagers may have questions about sexual education, we believe the Commonwealth should uphold a level of appropriateness in the way we interact with our youth. This website uses language that crosses the line.
As a bipartisan group of members of the House of Representatives, we strongly urge you to make immediate, substantive content changes to the website or to eliminate funding and assist in the removal of www.mariatalks.com from the internet.
We would be happy to meet with you to discuss this issue in greater detail and we look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
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Signed April 28, 2011 Letter to Governor Opposing
MariaTalks.com Website
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Title
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First
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Last
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Party
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Home City
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Rep.
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Paul
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Adams
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R
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Andover
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Rep.
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James
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Arciero
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D
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Westford
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Rep.
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Brian M.
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Ashe
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D
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Longmeadow
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Rep.
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Demetrius
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Atsalis
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D
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W. Hyannis
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Rep.
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Bruce J.
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Ayers
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D
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Quincy
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Rep.
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Jay
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Barrows
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R
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Mansfield
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Rep.
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Carlo
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Basile
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D
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East Boston
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Rep.
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Richard
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Bastien
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R
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Gardner
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Rep.
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Matthew
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Beaton
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R
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Shrewsbury
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Rep.
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Nicholas
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Boldyga
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R
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Southwick
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Rep.
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Michael D.
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Brady
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D
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Brockton
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Rep.
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Thomas
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Calter
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D
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Kingston
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Rep.
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Nick
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Collins
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D
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South Boston
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Rep.
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Edward
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Coppinger
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D
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West Roxbury
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Rep.
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Geraldine
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Creedon
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D
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Brockton
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Rep.
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Mark
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Cusack
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D
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Braintree
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Rep.
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Linda
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Dean-Campbell
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D
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Methuen
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Rep.
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Vinny M.
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deMacedo
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R
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Plymouth
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Rep.
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Angelo
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D'Emilia
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R
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Bridgewater
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Rep.
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Marcos
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Devers
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D
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Lawrence
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Rep.
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Geoff
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Diehl
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R
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Whitman
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Rep.
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Stephen
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DiNatale
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D
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Fitchburg
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Rep.
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James J.
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Dwyer
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D
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Woburn
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Rep.
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Ryan
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Fattman
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R
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Sutton
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Rep.
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Kimberly
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Ferguson
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R
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Holden
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Rep.
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John
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Fernandes
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D
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Milford
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Rep.
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Michael
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Finn
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D
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West Springfield
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Rep.
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John P.
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Fresolo
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D
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Worcester
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Rep.
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Paul K.
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Frost
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R
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Auburn
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Rep.
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Colleen M.
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Garry
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D
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Lowell
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Rep.
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Susan W.
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Gifford
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R
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Wareham
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Rep.
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Thomas A.
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Golden Jr.
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D
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Lowell
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Rep.
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Sheila
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Harrington
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R
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Groton
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Rep.
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Carlos
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Henriquez
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D
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Boston
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Rep.
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Bradford R.
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Hill
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R
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Ipswich
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Rep.
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Russell
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Holmes
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D
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Mattapan
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Rep.
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Steven
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Howitt
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R
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Seekonk
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Rep.
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Donald F.
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Humason
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R
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Westfield
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Rep.
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Randy
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Hunt
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R
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East Sandwich
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Rep.
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Bradley H.
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Jones
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R
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North Reading
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Rep.
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Kevin
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Kuros
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R
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Uxbridge
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Rep.
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Steven
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Levy
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R
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Marlborough
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Rep.
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Marc
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Lombardo
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R
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Billerica
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Rep.
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James
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Lyons, Jr.
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R
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Andover
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Rep.
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James R.
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Miceli
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D
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Wilmington
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Rep.
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David M.
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Nangle
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D
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Lowell
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Rep.
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Harold P.
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Naughton Jr.
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D
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Clinton
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Rep.
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Shaunna
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O'Connell
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R
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Taunton
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Rep.
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George N.
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Peterson Jr.
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R
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Grafton
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Rep.
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William J.
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Pignatelli
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D
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Lenox
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Rep.
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Elizabeth A.
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Poirier
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R
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North Attleboro
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Rep.
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Angelo
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Puppolo
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D
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Springfield
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Rep.
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John H.
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Rogers
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D
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Norwood
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Rep.
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Dennis
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Rosa
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D
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Leominster
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Rep.
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George
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Ross
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R
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Attleboro
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Rep.
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Angelo M.
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Scaccia
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D
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Boston
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Rep.
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Todd M.
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Smola
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R
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Three Rivers
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Rep.
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Joyce A.
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Spiliotis
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D
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Peabody
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Rep.
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Walter F.
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Timilty
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D
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Milton
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Rep.
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James E.
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Vallee
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D
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Franklin
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Rep.
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David
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Vieira
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R
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E. Falmouth
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Rep.
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Daniel K.
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Webster
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R
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Pembroke
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Rep.
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Donald
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Wong
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R
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Saugus
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