This panel will facilitate the development of affordable homes by identifying barriers that limit housing production and increase costs. In addition, Cellucci announced he will file several bills to increase the housing supply, including two introduced last session. The first proposal makes 1,000 acres of underutilized state-owned land and vacant buildings available to build new housing. In addition, Cellucci will file new legislation to provide financial assistance to cities and towns who increase their residential stock and to protect existing rental housing through rent escrow. They also need to know they will have access to quality health care.
Health care is important to the well-being of our families.
Promising to continue his work with the Health Care Task Force established last spring to do a comprehensive review of the health care industry, Cellucci pledged financial relief to health-related institutions. Recognizing the financial pressure hospitals are under to provide care to the uninsured, he committed to file legislation to give direct aid to the hospitals to support them in their important mission. Also, Cellucci announced a new temporary loan fund to stabilize financially troubled health care facilities. In the Administration's budget, he will propose new funding for community-based health care providers, with more than half of the money directed to support the elderly population. To ensure state government can keep up with the global economy and technological demands of the new millennium, Cellucci appointed a cross-section of public and private sector individuals to build new online services to make government more accessible to the people.