Merry Christmas!

From all of us here at The Capitol View, we'd like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

We'd also like to extend our thoughts and prayers to all of our service men and women serving at home and abroad who will not have the opportunity to celebrate with their loved ones.

House Minority Leader’s Statement on President Obama’s Nomination of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to news that President Obama will nominate Senator John Kerry to serve as Secretary of State:

“Senator John Kerry has a long record of public service on behalf of Massachusetts and its residents. Furthermore, he is a distinguished United States veteran and is an honorable individual. I thank him for his service to the Commonwealth and I wish him the best of luck as he embarks on this new chapter in his life.

With the senior-Senator from Massachusetts being tapped to serve as Secretary of State, it is my sincere hope that no further public or private consideration is given to changing the law in Massachusetts as it pertains to appointing an interim United States Senator. Senator Kerry’s nomination, and all but certain confirmation, sets in motion a law that was last changed in 2009. Regardless of the merits of the way the law was crafted, it is the law and to change it to benefit any one party or individual would be wrong.”

Tragedy in Connecticut

We are deeply saddened by today’s horrific news about the loss of life in Newtown, CT. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the all those impacted by today’s tragedy. In this time of grief for the friends of families of those who lost loved ones, we extend our sympathies and condolences.

House Republicans Weigh In On Shake-up Within the Patrick Administration

In case you missed it, Governor Patrick announced a major reconfiguration of high-ranking personnel within his administration. One of those changes included Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Secretary of Health and Human Services. The departure of Dr. Bigby comes after House Republican Leadership called on Governor Patrick to request her resignation.

The complete breakdowns of the changes in the Administration are as follows:

Executive Office of Health and Human Services

OUT: Dr. JudyAnn Bigby
IN: John Polanowicz – President of St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

OUT: Marybeth Heffernan
IN: Sherrif Andrea Cabral – Suffolk County Sherrif

Executive Office of Education

OUT: Paul Reville
IN: Matt Malone – Superintendent of Brockton School System

Executive Office of Administration and Finance

OUT: Jay Gonzalez
IN: Glen Shor – Executive Director of Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority

Yesterday, Representatives Betty Poirier (R-North Attleboro) and Brad Hill (R-Ipswich) weighed in on the reconfiguration within the Administration as well as Secretary Bigby’s departure.

Click on the links below to see the interviews in their entirety.

FOX-25 News - Governor Patrick Announces Cabinet Shake-Ups



WHDH-TV -

Gov. Patrick Cabinet shakeup

House Minority Leader’s Statement on Reconfiguration Within the Patrick Administration

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Patrick’s announcement of the departure of four high-ranking officials within his administration:

“The changes announced by Governor Patrick are in part a normal by-product of an administration entering its seventh year in office. Longevity, coupled with the fatigue that can impact high-level and high-profile appointments, often leads to the natural desire to pursue other career opportunities.

I am extremely pleased that the Governor heeded the call of House Republican’s and is starting anew at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. New leadership at this Secretariat is critical in assessing the totality of the situation at both the Dr. William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute and the New England Compounding Center. However, coming to terms with the tremendous financial costs and human toll of these two scandals remains paramount. Today we are taking the first step in a very long and expensive process to restoring the trust and confidence that Massachusetts residents have in this administration.”

House Republican Leadership Renews Call for Secretary Bigby to Resign

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to the Boston Herald’s report that Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Secretary of Health and Human Services, waited 7 months before launching an investigation into drug sample tampering at the Dr. William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute:

“After reading the revelations in today’s Boston Herald, it is clear that Secretary Bigby does not possess the ability, nor inspire the confidence of the public, necessary to lead the Executive Office of Health and Human Services going forward. As a result, we are renewing our call for Governor Patrick to ask for Dr. JudyAnn Bigby’s resignation, immediately.

The fact that it took Secretary Bigby seven months to launch a full review investigation is both reckless and irresponsible. Poor management has allowed these problems to escalate, and it will take a strong and effective manager to solve them. While we recognize that Dr. Bigby holds a deep knowledge in the health care field, her delayed response time demonstrates a lack of management skills required for this daunting task.

The Patrick Administration has made it clear over the past couple of weeks that they are capable, albeit reluctantly, to ask for the resignation of individuals within their administration that have breached the public’s trust. This situation is no different.”

Representative Donald Wong Appears on FOX-25 News

In case you missed it, Representative Donald Wong (R-Saugus) made an appearance on the FOX-25 Evening News.

Representative Wong was featured in a story on whether or not Massachusetts’ laws against sex offenders are tough enough. The question comes in response to the recent news of a level one sex offender in Wakefield allegedly committing horrific crimes against children as young as eight days old.

To view the entire segment, play the video posted below.


Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Happy Hanukkah

From all of us here at The Capitol View, we wish you and your family a very Happy Hanukkah!

During this time of joy and celebration we'd also like to extend our thoughts and prayers to all of our service men and women serving at home and abroad who will not have the opportunity to celebrate with their loved ones.

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”

Seventy-one years ago today, the American Army and Navy base in Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. More than 2,000 Americans were killed and another 1,000 were injured. Today, on December 7th, we remember and honor those military men and women who lost their lives on that Sunday morning many years ago.

On this Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, all of us here at The Capitol View want to offer our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. We thank you and we continue to honor you.

House Minority Leader Brad Jones: Supposed $9 Million Cut to Local Aid is Incorrect and Misleading

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to the incorrect and misleading claim by the Patrick Administration that they are only seeking to cut $9 million from local aid:

“Governor Patrick and his Administration are not being honest and upfront with the taxpayers of Massachusetts when announcing their reduction to unrestricted local aid, for a supposed total savings of $9 million. The fact of the matter is that Governor Patrick’s 9C plan removes nearly $38.5 million from municipal budgets.

In addition to the widely reported $9 million cut to Unrestricted General Government Aid, the Governor has gone ahead and reduced allotments for several other local aid accounts. These cuts are to vital programs such as Regional and Homeless Student Transportation and Special Education. Couple these reductions with an across the board cut to local aid, and the Governor’s actions could have a potentially disastrous effect on cities and towns statewide.

The Patrick Administration has accumulated an impressive record of cherry-picking numbers to suit their political purpose. At the very least, the Governor should be more forthright when making decisions that impact our local governments.”

Representative deMacedo Appears on NECN’s “Broadside”

In case you missed it, Representative Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth) recently appeared on Broadside with State Senator Brian Joyce (D-Milton). Representative deMacedo joined host Jim Braude to provide insight into the Patrick Administration’s announcement that they plan to cut $9 million in local aid to cities and towns.

To view the entire segment, play the video posted below.

 

House Minority Leader Brad Jones: State’s Current Fiscal Dilemma Should Slam Door on Talk of Tax Increases Once and For All

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Patrick’s comments on the impending ‘fiscal cliff’ while continuing to mull the prospect of tax increases in the Commonwealth:

“Based on the Governor’s comments yesterday, there should be no more talk of broad-based tax increases in the Commonwealth.

It is deeply concerning that while Governor Patrick issued a stern warning to members of Congress that going over the ‘fiscal cliff’ would burden all Americans with a tax increase that would be devastating, he continues to explore all options for a tax hike here in Massachusetts.

At the risk of being repetitive: the Commonwealth’s economy remains extremely fragile. Any statewide tax increase would be disastrous. Governor Patrick and Democratic leaders must recognize this fact, and if they don’t, Massachusetts may go over a ‘fiscal cliff’ of its own.”

House Minority Leader’s Statement on Governor Patrick’s Proposal to Cut Local Aid and Reduce Spending for Vital Services

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Patrick’s announcement that he plans to cut spending by $225 million and will seek the authority to cut local aid in order to address an estimated $540 million mid-year budget gap:

“The governor’s claim that he is seeking to cut local aid by only 1% is both incorrect and misleading. In fact, the totality of Governor Patrick’s 9C plan would remove nearly $35 million from municipal budgets, a far cry from the $9 million first reported by his administration. Unfortunately, some of these reductions would be to vital local aid accounts such as Special Education Circuit Breaker, Regional School Transportation, and Homeless Student Transportation.

Stagnant economic growth is not limited to national and state governments. Local cities and towns continue to feel the trickle-down effect of a worsening economy. Further paralyzing them through these cuts will only further aggravate the situation. Economic growth will, no doubt, continue to weaken as news of the impending “fiscal cliff” intensifies. Even if a compromise is reached before the end of the year, any mix of spending cuts and tax hikes, however small, will slow the economy even further.

What is abundantly clear is that the Legislature, including Governor Patrick, must exhaust all options for savings at the state level before placing the Commonwealth’s budgetary problems on our local municipalities. Cutting local aid must always be a last resort.”

Worcester Telegram and Gazette: Dr. Bigby Should Go

In case you missed it, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has joined House Republican leadership in their call for Governor Patrick to ask Secretary JudyAnn Bigby for her resignation.

In an editorial published this past Sunday, the Telegram and Gazette says in part, “Dr. Bigby no longer enjoys the confidence of lawmakers and the public necessary to carry out her duties. To find the easiest path to the reforms needed, Mr. Patrick should seek her resignation.”

As you remember, just last week House Republicans held a press conference to announce that they had sent a letter to Governor Patrick asking him to request Secretary Bigby’s resignation. The call for Dr. Bigby’s removal comes in direct response to the breach at the Dr. William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute by a rogue chemist which has led to the release of convicted felons, as well as the fungal meningitis outbreak at a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical compounding company, which has led to 36 tragic deaths and several hundred cases of serious illness.

Please see below to read the editorial in its entirety.
Telegram&GazetteEditorial - Bigby Should Go

House Minority Leader Brad Jones Appears on Keller @ Large

In case you missed it, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) appeared on Keller @ Large this past Sunday.

Representative Jones joined host Jon Keller to provide insight into the House Republican Leadership’s call for Governor Patrick to ask for the resignation of Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Secretary of Health and Human Services. The duo also touched upon instate tuition for illegal immigrants as well as the struggling economy both locally and nationally.

Click here to see the segments in their entirety.

House Republicans Reiterate Call for Secretary Bigby to Resign

In case you missed it, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Assistant Minority Leader George N. Peterson, Jr. (R-Grafton) made the media rounds last week to reiterate their call for Governor Patrick to ask for Secretary JudyAnn Bigby’s resignation.

As you may have heard, last week the entire Republican leadership team held a press conference calling for the resignation of Dr. Bigby, Secretary of Health and Human Services. The call for Secretary Bigby’s removal comes in direct response to the breach at the Dr. William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute by a rogue chemist which has led to the release of convicted felons, as well as the fungal meningitis outbreak at a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical compounding company, which has led to 36 tragic deaths and several hundred cases of serious illness.

Click below to see Representative Jones’ interview on the FOX25 Morning News.

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Click below to see Representative Peterson’s interview on NECN’s Broadside.