State Rep. Winslow Looks Back on First Six Months in Office

State Representative Daniel Winslow said he has learned much over the course of his first six months in office, and he expressed optimism about the future.

Winslow, who was elected to office in November, has proposed numerous measures he said would stimulate the economy in the Commonwealth.

"I've been working on proposals to help job creation," he said. "I've tried to have laser-like focus on that."

He said he believed the legislature has not worked enough on that problem.

"I'm surprised that, at a time when unemployment is creeping upwards, there's no crisis to create jobs," he said. "The Republican caucus is going to be emphasizing job-growth strategies."

Winslow said he felt there have been some successes in the legislative session this year.

"We've had some early victories with the budget," he said. "The Republican caucus proposed, and the legislature approved, a $65 million increase in local aid to offset the drop in aid."

He also spoke of other efforts to prevent an increase in taxes and revise the legislature's code of conduct.

One of the things that's surprised him the most, he said, was the infrequency of House sessions.

"Sometimes, it's two or three times a month," he said.

Though the session has had its share of pleasant and unpleasant surprises, Winslow said he may be thinking about more than one term, though he noted that he had not made a decision yet.