"This
is the most serious economic situation in my lifetime," says the
Senator. "People have no idea. There are still state funded programs
that are asking for money. They don't realize that there is absolutely
no money to get out there."

Galluccio predicts that truly
difficult times are still ahead of us, and that the general public will
begin to feel the ramifications of the current state of the economy
over the next year as the middle class is more harshly affected.

"Poor
people know how to be poor. The working class that is suffering is
doing what they've always done. It's the middle class families that
will be affected over the next year that have the most to lose," says
the Senator.

Galluccio expresses very little patience for
exhaustive discussion about the current economic crisis. He aims to
effectively problem-solve and takes issue with legislators and pundits
that focus on the severity of the situation. "I can't sit around and
talk about the problems we're facing for hours. I want to talk about
what we are going to do about them and how we're going to make the
programs work with less money." The Senator believes that these are the
times in which legislators and activists have to get creative in order
to keep our communities moving.

Galluccio, a first term State
Senator, former mayor of Cambridge and long-time City Councilor in
Cambridge, is now the Chair of the Joint Committee for Higher
Education. This is an appropriate appointment for Galluccio after
chairing the Cambridge School Committee from 2000 to 2002. Galluccio's
sincere affection for and dedication to the school systems of
Massachusetts and the children within it is evident.

Massachusetts
has made education funding the top priority in discussions over the
budget and state funded programs so that education and the public
school system will remain level, while most other programs will suffer.
Galluccio anticipates that many social services and community programs
will lose all funding due to the deficit, and there will be cutbacks in
the fire and police departments all over the state.

The state
is also receiving a significant amount of money from the Stimulus
package, however Galluccio says that the stimulus money will be used
primarily to back up programs that are already struggling severely.
"The [stimulus] money will help. Don't get me wrong. But it won't dig
us out. It will backfill," Galluccio says, and hopes that it will
potentially provide the Massachusetts government with a little
breathing room.

The Senator supports the proposed sales tax
increase as well as increases in meal, gas and hotel taxes. "We should
have raised the gas tax six months ago," Galluccio says, "back when gas
prices were so low that I was walking away from the station wondering
what to do with all the money in my pocket."

Galluccio realizes
that Somerville residents have much different needs than those of
Western Massachusetts. "If you so much as breathe 'gas tax' in
Springfield, people will go crazy." Learning to legislate alongside
senators from all corners of the state has been a learning experience
for the Senator and it is something he has tenaciously and
enthusiastically applied himself to.

Galluccio is no stranger to
tenacity. Much of his political and professional careers result from
his willingness to apply himself whole-heartedly to a task,
communication with those around him, and little fear of rejection.
Galluccio conducted his first political campaign for city councilor
while in his first year at Suffolk Law School, which he lost. He has
lost several campaigns throughout his career, which have only propelled
him to try harder.

Galluccio was encouraged by a guidance
counselor to apply to college and for financial aid when he was
accepted to Providence College. This encouragement, which Galluccio
admits changed his life, is the origin of his affection and
appreciation for teachers, guidance counselors and those that shape the
lives of students and kids.

While focusing on his job as an
elected official and governing throughout the current economic crisis,
Galluccio still finds time to coach youth football and to spend time
with kids. "There is no bull with kids. It's refreshing."