GOP Leaders: Patrick Just Doesn't Get It

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei issued the following statement in reaction to various components in Governor Patrick’s recently filed supplemental budget.

The ink isn’t even dry on the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, and already Governor Patrick is proving once again that not only are his priorities incredibly misplaced, but his words don’t match his actions.

Families and businesses across the Commonwealth are struggling, teachers and police are facing layoffs, but don’t worry, the Governor plans to restore funding to his Washington, D.C. office. In addition to wasting $400,000 of taxpayer money on this luxury, Governor Patrick also plans to renew a controversial tax credit that is used as an incentive to attract Hollywood filmmakers. This is just another example in the laundry list of misplaced priorities in the Governor’s agenda. He has no problem signing a dramatic 25% increase to the state’s sales tax which will not only harm hardworking families, but will also drive businesses out of the Commonwealth at the cost of thousands of jobs.

And just to add insult to injury, Governor Patrick has hinted that a gas tax may be “necessary” to continue funding essential services to the Bay State’s residents. The Republican Caucus offered hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings this budget season, most of which were rejected by our Democratic colleagues. We will not allow the public to be fooled by all of the reform talk coming out of the corner office. Yes, some reforms have been accomplished, but we still have a long way to go.