Happy New Year!  I am so ready for 2010!

2009 was a year marked with incredible transitions. I began my state senate career in the back drop of an historic national election, followed by a horrendous impeachment trial, coupled with a  state budget meltdown in the face of  world wide economic collapse. People lost jobs, families lost their homes, and everyone lost faith in government.

But there are some things I know for sure:

Bad times are cyclical.

Remember the 80’s and 18 percent interest rates? Are you old enough to remember gas rationing lines and Viet Nam?  I know times are hard right now, but we need to start preparing for the recovery. Understanding the past is the key to not repeating it.  The future is too important and our children need us to get this right.  Let’s work together to get ready. We will  come out of this.

It is in times like this when the goodness of people shine.

The neighbors who take in the family who just lost their home.  The woman who finds donations from anywhere and everywhere to make sure homeless vets have a Christmas meal.  The shelter working on skeleton staff who still find a way to save a battered woman and her children.  I believe in people and every kindness I’ve seen through the bad times reinforces that.

I know that all of our fear and uncertainty about the future  won’t disappear with the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2010.  But I believe that politics is the art of the possible and there is no limit to what we can do when we work together.

I wish you and everyone you love the very best in 2010.   Here’s to the Possibilities!

Warmly,

Senator Toi Hutchinson