Sheriffs to Join Legislative Leaders at State House Press Conference

In case you missed it, Republican and Democratic legislative leaders will join Sheriffs Lewis G. Evangelidis, Thomas M. Hodgson, and Joseph D. McDonald for a press conference tomorrow in Room 222 of the State House at 11am.

The press conference comes on the heels of a series of scheduled meetings in Washington, D.C. between the three Massachusetts Sheriffs and senior immigration officials from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the federal program Secure Communities. In collaboration with federal immigration officials, the Sheriffs from Worcester, Bristol and Plymouth counties will be announcing a number of alternative initiatives and reforms that they will be enacting to address the public safety issues of identifying and removing criminal aliens from their jurisdictions.

The legislative attendees will also address the recent filing of bi-partisan legislation calling for a number of sweeping immigration reforms.

2011 GOP Jobs Tour - Bridgewater

In case you forgot, tonight marks the third stop on the 2011 GOP Jobs Tour. All are invited to join hosts Angelo D'Emilia (R-Bridgewater) and Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth) for an evening of conversation with local business leaders and Chamber of Commerce members.

Announced during a press conference at the State House, the Massachusetts House Republican Caucus will embark on a six-week Jobs Tour. The Tour will make initial stops in 7 communities across the Commonwealth, with additional dates and stops forthcoming.

Joining Republican legislators at the Tour stop in Bridgewater will be invited members from the business community, local and regional Chambers of Commerce, and Representatives Geoff Diehl (R-Whitman), Daniel Webster (R-Pembroke), Shaunna O'Connell (R-Taunton) and Keiko Orrall (R-Lakeville).

Details for tonight's event in Bridgewater are as follows:

September 27, 2011
Memorial Building
25 South Street
Bridgewater, MA 02324
7:00-8:30pm

Residents who are unable to attend the forum are still encouraged to email massgopjobs@gmail.com with ideas and insight. For more information on the 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour, please contact your local Republican lawmaker or follow us on twitter: @GOPJobsTour.

2011 GOP Jobs Tour - Agawam

In case you forgot, tonight marks the second stop on the 2011 GOP Jobs Tour. All are invited to join hosts Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick), Donald Humason (R-Westfield) and Todd Smola (R-Palmer) for an evening of conversation with local business leaders and Chamber of Commerce members.

Announced during a press conference at the State House, the Massachusetts House Republican Caucus will embark on a six-week Jobs Tour. The Tour will make initial stops in 7 communities across the Commonwealth, with additional dates and stops forthcoming.

Joining Republican legislators at the Tour stops will be invited members from the business community, and local and regional Chambers of Commerce.

Details for tonight's event in Agawam are as follows:

Monday, September 26, 2011
Agawam Senior Center
954 Main Street
Agawam, MA 01001
6:30-8:00pm

Residents who are unable to attend the forum are still encouraged to email massgopjobs@gmail.com with ideas and insight. For more information on the 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour, please contact your local Republican lawmaker or follow us on twitter: @GOPJobsTour.

Keiko Orrall Prevails…

In case you missed it, Keiko Orrall won the special election in the 12th Bristol District yesterday against Democrat Roger Brunelle.

Keiko Orrall’s victory is a testament to her hard work, passion, and perseverance. We would like to congratulate Representative-elect Orrall. Additionally, we look forward to welcoming her to the Republican caucus, and working with her on not only issues that face the 12th Bristol District, but those that face the Commonwealth as a whole.

2011 GOP Jobs Tour - Gardner

In case you forgot, tonight marks the first stop on the 2011 GOP Jobs Tour. All are encouraged to join hosts Richard Bastien (R-Gardner) and George Peterson (R-Grafton) for an evening of conversation with local business leaders, Chamber of Commerce members, and Representatives Sheila Harrington (R-Groton) and Kimberly Ferguson (R-Holden).

Announced during a press conference last week at the State House, the Massachusetts House Republican Caucus will embark on a six-week Jobs Tour. The Tour will make initial stops in 7 communities across the Commonwealth, with additional dates and stops forthcoming.

Joining Republican legislators at the Tour stops will be invited members from the business community, and local and regional Chambers of Commerce.

Details for tonight's event in Gardner are as follows:

Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Mount Wachusett Community College
Commons Area
444 Green Street
Gardner, MA 01440
6:00-8:00pm

Residents who are unable to attend the forum are still encouraged to email massgopjobs@gmail.com with ideas and insight. For more information on the 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour, please contact your local Republican lawmaker or follow us on twitter: @GOPJobsTour.

Special Election - 12th Bristol District

In case you forgot, today is the special election for a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

In the race for the 12th Bristol District, Republican Keiko Orrall is facing off against Democrat Roger Brunelle for the seat left vacant when Stephen Canessa resigned earlier this year.

Representative Shaunna O'Connell and U.S. Senator Scott Brown to Conduct Veterans Forum

State Representative Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton), recently announced that she and other local representatives will be hosting a veterans forum for United States Senator Scott Brown on September 26th at the VFW on Ingell Street in Taunton.

“I am pleased that Senator Brown is coming to Taunton to speak with veterans. Veterans issues continue to be a priority for Senator Brown,” O’Connell said.
“Since being elected to office, I have worked hard to create a two-way dialogue with Taunton residents and their elected officials. This forum will give Taunton veterans direct access to their U.S. Senator. I encourage all veterans and Gold Star families from the greater Taunton area to join me at this important forum.”

The forum will be Monday, September 26th from 2:30 to 3:30pm at the VFW, 82 Ingell Street, Taunton. It will be a relaxed conversation between Brown and area veterans. All veterans and Gold Star families are welcome to attend.

Representative Winslow Appears on NECN’s “Morning Show” and the Jeff Katz Show

In case you missed it, Representative Dan Winslow recently made two media appearance to discuss expanded gaming legislation and an amendment which he filed that would lay the groundwork to bring internet poker to Massachusetts.

Yesterday, Representative Winslow was a guest on NECN’s “Morning News” where he joined co-anchor Steve Aveson to discuss expanded gaming and his proposed amendment. To view the entire segment play the video posted below.

Later on in the morning, Representative Winslow was on-air with Jeff Katz on Talk 1200. Click here to listen to the segment in its entirety.

2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour Announced

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) along with the entire House Republican Caucus today announced the launch of the 2011 GOP Jobs Tour.

Announced today during a press conference at the State House, the Massachusetts House Republican Caucus will embark on a six-week Jobs Tour. The Tour will make initial stops in 7 communities across the Commonwealth, with additional dates and stops forthcoming.

“The 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour will give residents across the Commonwealth a chance to share their expectations and concerns with elected officials relative to the job climate in Massachusetts,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “I encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to have a candid discussion with Republican lawmakers about how we can improve the large and small business climate here in the Bay State.”

With the state’s unemployment rate hovering around 7.6% and the national unemployment rate holding steady at 9.1%, the Republican Caucus will provide businesses and constituents with a platform to propose ideas for improving the job climate in the Bay State.

“Job growth primarily comes from small businesses, and it is very important for public policy leaders to go out and hear from Main Street employers and from local Chambers of Commerce about the impediments to growing new jobs,” said Jon B. Hurst, President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.

“We will certainly be promoting these important forums to our members and asking them to be ready to discuss their needs in order to survive, thrive and grow in the future.”

Joining Republican legislators at the Tour stops will be invited members from the business community, and local and regional Chambers of Commerce.

“The creation and sustaining of jobs is a critical issue for every citizen in our state, and we need to explore every avenue for economic growth,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “No effort to do so would be complete or effective without listening to the wisdom that comes from the front lines of our economy, on the main streets and downtown centers of our cities and towns and employers across the state.”

Details for the 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour stops are as follows:

September 20, 2011
Mount Wachusett Community College
Commons Area
444 Green Street
Gardner, MA 01440
6:00-8:00pm

September 26, 2011
Agawam Senior Center
954 Main Street
Agawam, MA 01001
6:30-8:00pm

September 27, 2011
Memorial Building
25 South Street
Bridgewater, MA 02324
7:00-8:30pm

October 3, 2011
Attleboro High School
Mini Auditorium
100 Rathbun Willard Drive
Attleboro, MA 02703
6:00-9:00pm

October 3, 2011
Andover Public Library – Memorial Hall
2 North Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
6:30-9:00pm

October 3, 2011
Sutton Senior Center
19 Hough Road
Sutton, MA 01590
7:00-8:30pm

October 4, 2011
Sandwich Town Hall – 2nd Floor
130 Main Street
Sandwich, MA 02563
7:00-8:30pm

Residents who are unable to attend the forum are still encouraged to email massgopjobs@gmail.com with ideas and insight. For more information on the 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour, please contact your local Republican lawmaker or follow us on twitter: @GOPJobsTour.

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Republican Lawmakers to Hold Press Conference

Republican lawmakers, led by House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R–North Reading), will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the launch of the 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour.

Kicking off September 20th in Gardner, the Tour is designed to provide businesses and constituents with a platform to propose ideas of how the Republican Caucus can assist in improving the job climate in Massachusetts. With initial stops in seven communities across the Commonwealth, it is the hope of the House Republican Caucus that the 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour will help provide real-life insight and feedback regarding the Bay State’s current 7.6% unemployment rate. Joining Republican members along the Tour will be local business leaders and representatives from Chambers of Commerce.

Representative Jones will be joined at the press conference by members of the House Republican Caucus as well as Jon Hurst, President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.

The press conference will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:00 a.m. outside of Room 124 in the State House.

House Minority Leader’s Statement on the Sentencing of Former Speaker Sal DiMasi

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. issued the following statement today in response to the sentencing of Former Speaker Sal DiMasi:

“Today is yet another dark day for politics in Massachusetts. With Sal DiMasi now the third Speaker of the House in a row to be convicted in a federal court, the taxpayers of the Commonwealth can see just how deeply a culture of corruption has been cultivated on Beacon Hill.

Perhaps our greatest cause for concern is adequately captured by Judge Mark Wolf when he noted that, inexplicably, certain individuals both on Beacon Hill and around the Commonwealth remain steadfast that Sal DiMasi has done nothing wrong.

The public’s trust in their elected officials has been, and continues to be, put to the test. It is my hope that today’s sentencing marks the beginning of the end. No longer will corruption and public mistrust have a home in the State House.”

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House Minority Leader’s Statement on Appeal of Cape Wind – National Grid Contract

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. issued the following statement today in response to an appeal currently before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court regarding a contract for Cape Wind to sell half of its power to National Grid:

“Once again we find the Patrick Administration making costly decisions with their hearts, and not their heads. We have been down this path before with Evergreen Solar, and we are about to head down this same dead-end path with Cape Wind and National Grid.

It is a sincere fear of mine, that if this decision is not overturned by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, it will lay the framework for a very dangerous and costly precedent here in the Commonwealth.

Gone are the days of sweet-heart, closed door negotiations. Instead, we need to foster an environment of open door, competitive bidding on contracts that have direct, and potentially significant impacts on the wallets of the residents of Massachusetts.”

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