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Advocate for the Mentally Ill |
As the first ever House Chair of the Joint Committee on
Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Representative
Balser leads efforts to expand access to treatment for mental illness
and addictions. Click here for the 2005-2006 report of the Committee. |
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Advocate for the Environment |
As
Chair of the Open Space Subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Local
Affairs (1999-2004), Representative Balser advocated for the preservation of
publicly protected open space. The first report, entitled "New
School Construction and the Loss of Article 97 Land"
was issued in March, 2000 and is available as a PDF
file. She issued a follow-up report in 2005, which is also available
as a PDF
file. She was recognized for
her efforts with awards from the Newton Conservators
and the
Environmental League of Massachusetts. |
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Advocate for Equal Rights
A
leading advocate for gay marriage, Representative Balser was profiled
by the Boston Globe following the March 11th, 2004 Constitutional
Convention. Representative Balser received an
"A" from the Boston Phoenix for her speech during the debate
on gay marriage at the earlier Constitutional Convention in February 2004.
Here's what the Boston
Phoenix had to say at the time, when giving her an A rating for her
speech:
"Separate
but equal is not a part of civil rights, it is a violation of civil
rights," Balser
said near the beginning of
one of the most thoughtfully constructed and argumentative speeches of the
day. She pierced the argument that
marriage has been hetero for millenia with the magnificent observation that "we
have a historic opportunity to
expand our definition of love and marriage." She read from an American
Psychological Association report to
refute arguments that same-sex marriage is bad for children. She spoke of other
movements for equality that
had faced opposition. In scope, language, and passionate delivery, Balser’s
speech may have been the best of
the day.
Advocate for the Disabled |
Representative Balser has been a leading advocate for
human services throughout her legislative tenure. During the fiscal
crisis, she fought against funding cuts to programs that serve the
most vulnerable. Here, she was speaking to a large rally outside
the State House led by the ARC of Massachusetts.
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Advocate for Seniors |
Representative Balser has always fought for seniors in her district. In the FY09 House budget, Representative Balser succeeded in expanding the scope of the Elder Home Care program to include mental health services. At right, Representative Balser addresses a rally in support of the Equal Choice Law - legislation Representative Balser supported that allows seniors who receive long term care benefits form MassHealth to choose home care rather than residential nursing care if they choose. |
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