Ratepayers and taxpayers alike have been buried by higher fees and taxes over the last four years and if Deval Patrick has his chance, they’ll get hit at least one more time. We’re talking about Cape Wind, a project sold to the general public has a way to go green but in reality the only green ratepayers will be seeing is their money going out the door!
Today’s Boston Herald featured a piece by Ted Kennedy, Jr. who is urging residents not to be tricked by the big promises being made with regard to Cape Wind. Among the many arguments made by Kennedy, one in particular stuck out – “Cape Wind — composed of unnecessary rate hikes, sweetheart deals and hidden costs — has been disguised by a clean, green energy cloak, camouflage enough to fool any environmentally conscious consumer into thinking that if it looks green, it must be good.” Kennedy goes on to say, “Cape Wind is a fiscal boondoggle — not a green-energy marvel.”
Click here to read a very compelling argument as to why Cape Wind must be defeated.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Jones: Patrick’s Unwillingness to take Responsibilityfor Welfare Abuses Indicative of Lackluster Leadership
BOSTON—House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. issued the following statement in response to Governor Patrick’s accusation that House Republicans are holding up a welfare bill for political purposes.
The people of Massachusetts are growing tired of Governor Patrick’s unwillingness to take responsibility for a single thing that goes wrong within state government.
Governor Patrick is perfectly happing touting his record of reform, many of which have been less than meaningful, on the campaign trail. However, the moment a negative story is written in the newspaper, he’s more than happy to point his finger at everyone else.
Just to set the record straight, my Republican colleagues and I, as well as many Democrats in the House, are frustrated with not only the sudden urgency of this bill, but also several provisions contained in the legislation. Governor Patrick’s bill, which has been sitting in the Committee on Third Reading since July 1st, does not tackle the issue of EBT cards being used to purchase lottery tickets or cash from EBT cards being used to purchase cigarettes or alcohol.
I have reached out to the Chairmen of the Ways & Means Committee and Third Reading to work to address this issue but neither has seen fit to get back to me on this issue. I take that as a strong signal that Democratic Leadership is not serious about passing meaningful reform. Instead, they want to pass a bill just for the sake of saying they did something.
The people of Massachusetts are growing tired of Governor Patrick’s unwillingness to take responsibility for a single thing that goes wrong within state government.
Governor Patrick is perfectly happing touting his record of reform, many of which have been less than meaningful, on the campaign trail. However, the moment a negative story is written in the newspaper, he’s more than happy to point his finger at everyone else.
Just to set the record straight, my Republican colleagues and I, as well as many Democrats in the House, are frustrated with not only the sudden urgency of this bill, but also several provisions contained in the legislation. Governor Patrick’s bill, which has been sitting in the Committee on Third Reading since July 1st, does not tackle the issue of EBT cards being used to purchase lottery tickets or cash from EBT cards being used to purchase cigarettes or alcohol.
I have reached out to the Chairmen of the Ways & Means Committee and Third Reading to work to address this issue but neither has seen fit to get back to me on this issue. I take that as a strong signal that Democratic Leadership is not serious about passing meaningful reform. Instead, they want to pass a bill just for the sake of saying they did something.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Minority Leader Appears on Howie Carr Show
House Minority Leader Brad Jones appeared on the Howie Carr Show the other day to discuss the upcoming election. Representative Jones also discussed the final gubernatorial debate, which was held Monday night.Click here to listen to the segment in its entirety.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Even the Boston Globe Agrees!
In case you missed it, the Boston Globe editorial page had a terrific piece today explaining how Massachusetts residents can help rebuild a two-party system. That’s right - the Boston Globe is encouraging Bay State residents to vote Republican on Tuesday. Why you ask? The Boston Globe says, “Having more Republicans in the Legislature will make Democrats more responsive, and diminish the power of Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, whose stranglehold on legislation can frustrate the best intentions of any governor.”
The editorial board also says, “There is a significant opportunity on Tuesday to promote sound tax policy, increase accountability, and restore some needed balance in both branches of the Legislature.”
We’ve been saying all along that the only way to change Beacon Hill is to change the faces. Kudos to the Globe for taking a page out of our memo!
The editorial board also says, “There is a significant opportunity on Tuesday to promote sound tax policy, increase accountability, and restore some needed balance in both branches of the Legislature.”
We’ve been saying all along that the only way to change Beacon Hill is to change the faces. Kudos to the Globe for taking a page out of our memo!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Two Months - 24,000 Jobs Lost
Governor Patrick wants you to believe we are on the right track but in case you missed it, his Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts lost nearly 21,000 jobs in the month of September and revised a 2,100 August gain into a 3,000 job loss.
The Patrick/Murray spin masters like to tout the fact that the unemployment rate dropped and we are heading in the right direction. However, no amount of sugar-coated, happy talk by the corner office can convince the unemployed or those hanging on by a thread that we are on the right track. The numbers confirm we are going in the wrong direction.
The reality is more than 300,000 people have lost their jobs since Governor Patrick took office. Eliot Winer, the former chief economist for the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development told the Boston Herald he’s "concerned by the last two months’ cuts in payroll jobs and fears the recovery may be stalling.” He's not the only one concerned!
The Patrick/Murray spin masters like to tout the fact that the unemployment rate dropped and we are heading in the right direction. However, no amount of sugar-coated, happy talk by the corner office can convince the unemployed or those hanging on by a thread that we are on the right track. The numbers confirm we are going in the wrong direction.
The reality is more than 300,000 people have lost their jobs since Governor Patrick took office. Eliot Winer, the former chief economist for the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development told the Boston Herald he’s "concerned by the last two months’ cuts in payroll jobs and fears the recovery may be stalling.” He's not the only one concerned!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Foreclosures hit 10,000 for the Year
On the heels of a very bad job report, The Warren Group today announced that more than 10,000 homes have been seized by foreclosure this year in Massachusetts.
Though Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray would have you believe that Massachusetts’ economy is recovering at a rapid rate, they’d prefer you not pay attention to facts.
Here are the facts: 21,000 jobs lost in September, 10,000 foreclosures in Massachusetts this year, a $2.5 billion structural deficit going into FY12, hundreds of millions of dollars in local aid cuts and more than $1 billion in new taxes.
Anyone, other than those wearing rose colored glasses, think those facts indicate economic recovery?
Though Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray would have you believe that Massachusetts’ economy is recovering at a rapid rate, they’d prefer you not pay attention to facts.
Here are the facts: 21,000 jobs lost in September, 10,000 foreclosures in Massachusetts this year, a $2.5 billion structural deficit going into FY12, hundreds of millions of dollars in local aid cuts and more than $1 billion in new taxes.
Anyone, other than those wearing rose colored glasses, think those facts indicate economic recovery?
Jones: Patrick’s Rose Colored Glasses Ignores Real Pain
BOSTON—House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. issued the following statement in response to September’s job report released today by the Patrick-Murray Administration.
Once again, Governor Patrick is painting an unrealistic, rosy scenario while missing the headline in today’s job report. While Governor Patrick and his Administration are touting a declined unemployment rate, the corner office is choosing to refrain from discussing the big picture – which is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts lost nearly 21,000 jobs in September.
In fact, the numbers show his heralded gain of 2,100 jobs in August was actually a loss of 3,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, according to the press release distributed by the Executive Office of Workforce Development, state government actually grew in September by 400 jobs. If that isn’t a shining example of misplaced priorities by Governor Patrick, I don’t know what is.
Governor Patrick’s unwillingness to acknowledge the enormity of the economic crisis we are in is not only alarming, it is a sign that he is unfit to lead the state out of the dark days we are in now and into a brighter tomorrow.
The Governor likes to say he sees the people behind the numbers – except apparently when it comes to unemployment.
Once again, Governor Patrick is painting an unrealistic, rosy scenario while missing the headline in today’s job report. While Governor Patrick and his Administration are touting a declined unemployment rate, the corner office is choosing to refrain from discussing the big picture – which is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts lost nearly 21,000 jobs in September.
In fact, the numbers show his heralded gain of 2,100 jobs in August was actually a loss of 3,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, according to the press release distributed by the Executive Office of Workforce Development, state government actually grew in September by 400 jobs. If that isn’t a shining example of misplaced priorities by Governor Patrick, I don’t know what is.
Governor Patrick’s unwillingness to acknowledge the enormity of the economic crisis we are in is not only alarming, it is a sign that he is unfit to lead the state out of the dark days we are in now and into a brighter tomorrow.
The Governor likes to say he sees the people behind the numbers – except apparently when it comes to unemployment.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Welfare Abuses Outrageous and Result of Lackluster Leadership
By now, you’ve probably read the Boston Herald’s coverage of the outrageous abuse happening within the welfare system in Massachusetts. Late last week, the Herald reported, “That $392 million in welfare cash was given out in the form of Electronic Benefits Transfer cards that work like regular debit cards, allowing recipients to take out cash from ATMs and use it for whatever they want.” Some of this money was being spent on booze, lottery tickets and even on slot machines.
This lax oversight and waste of taxpayer dollars is a direct result of lackluster leadership in the corner office. This system needs to be reformed and unfortunately Democratic leadership on Beacon Hill, especially the Governor, isn’t willing to make the hard choices. One more reason to restore two party balance on Beacon Hill!
This lax oversight and waste of taxpayer dollars is a direct result of lackluster leadership in the corner office. This system needs to be reformed and unfortunately Democratic leadership on Beacon Hill, especially the Governor, isn’t willing to make the hard choices. One more reason to restore two party balance on Beacon Hill!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Governor Patrick Paving the Way for Progressive Income Tax
More tax talk from the tax hike Governor himself this week! In case you missed it, Governor Patrick’s been talking up the benefits of moving towards a progressive income tax system. Now, the Governor and his staff are saying that it is something he favors, but not an initiative he would take on if re-elected.
Sorry Governor – but no one’s buying what you’re selling! We’ve been duped before! Remember, when Governor Patrick was just “Candidate Patrick,” he insisted he would lower property taxes and had no interest in raising taxes. Fast forward a few years and as you know he’s raised taxes 8 times since being elected.
We’ve been fooled once, we can’t be fooled again. Democrats would like you to believe they have no intention to raise taxes – but we all know that will all change on November 3rd!
Sorry Governor – but no one’s buying what you’re selling! We’ve been duped before! Remember, when Governor Patrick was just “Candidate Patrick,” he insisted he would lower property taxes and had no interest in raising taxes. Fast forward a few years and as you know he’s raised taxes 8 times since being elected.
We’ve been fooled once, we can’t be fooled again. Democrats would like you to believe they have no intention to raise taxes – but we all know that will all change on November 3rd!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
More Democrat Disconnect!
In case you missed it, many Democrats have been out there in the press saying there is no appetite for new taxes. Well…what else are they going to say? Let us translate for you – when they say there’s no appetite for new taxes that is Beacon Hill doublespeak for – they won’t raise your taxes until November 3rd!
The failure to rule out a tax hike after 8 increases over the last few years in this economy shows just how disconnected Democrats on Beacon Hill truly are. The people of Massachusetts can’t afford any new or increased taxes – heck, they can’t even afford the current tax burden!
The failure to rule out a tax hike after 8 increases over the last few years in this economy shows just how disconnected Democrats on Beacon Hill truly are. The people of Massachusetts can’t afford any new or increased taxes – heck, they can’t even afford the current tax burden!
More Democrat Disconnect!
In case you missed it, many Democrats have been out there in the press saying there is no appetite for new taxes. Well…what else are they going to say? Let us translate for you – when they say there’s no appetite for new taxes that is Beacon Hill doublespeak for – they won’t raise your taxes until November 3rd!
The failure to rule out a tax hike after 8 increases over the last few years in this economy shows just how disconnected Democrats on Beacon Hill truly are. The people of Massachusetts can’t afford any new or increased taxes – heck, they can’t even afford the current tax burden!
The failure to rule out a tax hike after 8 increases over the last few years in this economy shows just how disconnected Democrats on Beacon Hill truly are. The people of Massachusetts can’t afford any new or increased taxes – heck, they can’t even afford the current tax burden!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
