Representative deMacedo Appears on NECN’s “Broadside”

In case you missed it, Representative Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth) recently appeared on Broadside with political analyst Warren Tolman (D).

Representative deMacedo joined host Jim Braude to provide insight into a host of political issues including Governor Patrick’s pick for interim senator and the upcoming US Senate special election.

To view the entire segment play the video posted below.

 

House Minority Leader’s Statement on Governor Patrick’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Proposal

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today after receiving a copy of the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget proposal.

“It is with great trepidation that I begin my preliminary examination of the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget proposal.

As laid out in the days leading up to the release of the Governor’s FY14 budget recommendations, Governor Patrick is ready to implement a tax and spend approach that will not benefit anyone other than the legacy of the Patrick/Murray Administration. At a time when Beacon Hill needs to advocate for the reform of state spending and financial savings, Governor Patrick has once again prioritized his legacy over the needs of the Commonwealth’s residents.

Furthermore, contrary to the Governor’s belief that the structural deficit is gone, it is alive and well, and this budget only perpetuates it. The Administration’s method of reckless taxation as a means towards revenue, while tapping into the ‘Rainy Day’ fund, is both shortsighted and extremely irresponsible. I encourage Governor Patrick himself to engage the Commonwealth’s residents in the factual debate that he so desperately wants to conduct.

This year’s budget is not one to be taken lightly and the Legislature will be forced to grapple with the many fiscal constraints facing Massachusetts. However, what should not be lost in budgetary line items or sound bites are the real concerns and desires of the taxpayers.”

Representative Brad Hill: Treating Kids As Kids In Justice System

In case you missed it, Representative Brad Hill (R-Ipswich) recently penned an op-ed for the Gloucester Times about the reverse effects of trying juveniles, charged with minor crimes, as an adult.

In an effort to put young adults on a course toward producing citizenship, and away from a life of crime, Representative Hill has filed a bill that will place 17-year-olds charged with petty crimes in juvenile jurisdiction.

Click here to read the op-ed in its entirety.

House Republican Caucus Proposes Alternative Rules Package

In an ongoing attempt to stimulate an open and accountable state government, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R- North Reading) and the entire House Republican Caucus have proposed an alternative set of rules and regulations which will govern the House of Representatives during the 188th Session of the Great and General Court.

“The citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deserve a legislative body that maintains a high standard of openness and accountability,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones. “This alternative rules package demonstrates the House Republican Caucus’ commitment to changing what has long been accepted as the status quo on Beacon Hill.”

Highlights of the House Republican Caucus’ proposal include:

• Speaker Does Not Vote: Prohibits the Speaker from voting, except in the case of a tie. This proposed rule change will help to ensure that the members are free to vote according to their own opinions.

• Increased Access for Media: Opens the formal session of the House of Representatives to media outlets. This proposed rule change would ensure media access to House proceedings in a timely manner.

• Supermajority Needed to Increase Taxes or Withdraw from “Rainy Day” Fund: Requires all tax increases or withdrawals from the “Rainy Day” fund receive the support of two-thirds of the members. This proposed rule change would ensure broad-based support for any increase in state revenue or removal of money from the state’s savings account.

• Committees Elect Own Leadership: Empowers committee members to select their own chair, vice-chair, and ranking minority member. This proposed rule change will ensure that committees can operate independently of leadership.

• Full Explanation of Earmarks: Requires the sponsor of every legislative earmark - appropriations for projects that are not part of an agency’s request - file a form with the House Clerk explaining the purpose of said earmark. This proposed rule change will ensure that the taxpayers are aware of various local earmarks that are awarded during both the budget and supplemental budget process.

• Committee Roll Calls to be Made Public: Requires that the results of all committee polls be made available to the public. This proposed rule change will improve transparency by allowing the public to view how committee members vote on bills reported favorably from any legislative committee.

• Expedited Process for Local Bills: Creates a new process by which local bills may be passed, including: requiring committees to report local bills favorably within 45 days; and establishing an expedited, non-controversial calendar. The proposed rule change will accelerate the current the timeframe required to adopt local, non-controversial legislation.

• Local Aid Promise: Requires that the Legislature adopt a local aid resolution by March 15th of every year. This resolution will outline the minimum levels of Chapter 70 and unrestricted general government aid to be appropriated to cities and towns. This proposed rule change will ensure that local municipalities have better information by which to set their local budget.

• Empowering the Public at Legislative Hearings: Designates thirty minutes of each committee hearing for testimony from legislators. Should legislators fail to testify during the 30 minute window, they must wait their turn with other members of the public. This proposed rule change would ensure that the general public will not be forced to wait on legislators to testify out of turn.

• House Republican Ethics Package: Rewrites the existing Code of Ethics based on the best practices and procedures of other states and the National Conference of State Legislators. This proposed rule change will ensure the implementation of new ethical guidelines on the following issues: procurement of services by the Legislature; job recommendations by elected officials; sexual harassment and discrimination; lobbying and lobbyists; and the actions and conduct of the members.

The proposal, announced today by House Republicans, will be filed and debated during the next formal session of the House.

Representative Jones Appears on NECN’s “Broadside”

In case you missed it, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) recently appeared on Broadside.

Representative Jones joined host Jim Braude to provide his reaction to the Patrick Administration’s announcement that they plan to raise the state income tax from 5.25% to 6.25%. The North Reading lawmaker also weighed in on Patrick/Murray Administration  asking Massachusetts’ taxpayers to pay for their lackluster legacy

To view the entire segment play the video posted below.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, let us all pause for a moment to express our gratitude to a man who contributed so much to our society – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Though his life was tragically cut short, his dream lives on in all of us.

"Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. August 28, 1963

House Minority Leader Brad Jones: Massachusetts’ Taxpayers Being Asked to Pay for Patrick/Murray Administration’s Lackluster Legacy

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) joined Representative George Peterson (R-Grafton), Brad Hill (R-Ipswich), Betty Poirier (R-North Attleboro), and Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth) in issuing the following statement tonight in response to Governor Patrick’s announcement during the State of the Commonwealth address that he will seek to increase the state’s income tax from 5.25% to 6.25%:

“Tonight’s State of the Commonwealth address is a clear indicator that the Patrick/Murray Administration is asking Massachusetts’ taxpayers to pay for their lackluster legacy.

The fiscal deficit facing the Commonwealth did not happen overnight, nor is it the result of the previous year. While this is a problem that has festered throughout the six years that Governor Patrick has been in office, the Patrick/Murray Administration’s proposals perpetuate the same old tired tax and spend strategy that helped create this mess. This approach is both reckless and irresponsible.

The economically devastating tax increase announced in Governor Patrick’s address this evening is a complete reversal from his empty campaign promises of seven years ago. Having been swept into office on the promises of no new taxes and a decrease in property tax, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor have instead championed three massive tax increases and stood by as the average property tax bill has increased by nearly $1,000. The Patrick/Murray tax proposal, if passed, would represent one of the largest tax increases in the history of the Commonwealth, as well as the largest expansion of the state’s government we have seen. By masking a tax increase with a marginal reduction in the state’s sales tax, this administration has only further muddied the water for residents and businesses alike.

Governor Patrick’s grandiose plan to seek billions of dollars in additional revenue, ultimately increasing taxes for Massachusetts’ residents, makes clear that reform before revenue is not only dead, but for this administration was never more than a convenient catchphrase. As opposed to viewing the Bay State’s residents as a never-ending revenue stream, we must reprioritize how best to spend the taxpayer’s dollar. The fiscal restraint being practiced by the residents of the Commonwealth must also apply to those of us on Beacon Hill.

Neither the residents nor the economy of the Commonwealth can afford the Patrick/Murray legacy project that these massive tax increases represent - and quite frankly they should not be expected to either.

###

House and Senate Minority Leaders to Respond to State of the Commonwealth Address

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R–North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester) will hold a joint media availability directly following Governor Deval Patrick’s State of the Commonwealth address.

Representative Jones and Senator Tarr will be on hand to offer the Republican Caucus’ rebuttal to Governor Patrick’s speech.

The media availability will be held tonight (Wednesday) outside of the House Chamber immediately following the State of the Commonwealth address.

House Republicans Elect Leadership Team

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) is pleased to announce that the House Republican Caucus has elected their leadership team for the 188^th Session of the Great and General Court.

Veteran legislators George N. Peterson, Jr. (R-Grafton), Bradford Hill (R-Ipswich), Elizabeth A. Poirier (R-North Attleboro), and Viriato deMacedo (R-Plymouth) were selected by House Republicans to join Representative Jones in leading the caucus for the 2013-2014 legislative session.

“The team assembled by House Republicans has years of invaluable public service to offer,” said Representative Jones.  “This upcoming session will be extremely difficult as the Commonwealth faces numerous challenges, especially when it comes to the state’s finances. I look forward to joining the members of the leadership team in offering creative and fiscally responsible solutions to ensure that Massachusetts is a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

While the leadership team anticipates a busy legislative agenda, they join their Republican colleagues in remaining focused on economic recovery, fiscal responsibility, and creating an open and accountable state government.

 “The Republican Caucus is ready to get to work on behalf of the residents of the Commonwealth,” said Assistant Minority Leader George Peterson. “The next two years will be full of tough decisions as the Legislature is poised to tackle some of Massachusetts’ most pressing issues. I am confident that House Republicans will approach each and every day and issue with confidence, integrity and fiscal prudence. ”

 Recognizing the need for a coherent and responsible solution to the Commonwealth’s fiscal shortcomings, House Republican’s enter the upcoming session with constructive ideas and innovative approaches towards repairing Massachusetts’ financial situation.

 “House Republicans are committed to bringing forth common-sense solutions to dealing with the state’s fiscal challenges,” said Vinny deMacedo, Ranking Republican on House Ways and Means. “Beacon Hill has to start living within its means, just as the taxpayers of the Commonwealth are forced to do in their own personal lives. It remains the desire of the Republican Caucus that Democratic legislators once again renew their pledge from the two previous sessions - refrain from any statewide tax or fee increases.”

House Republicans Advocate for Increased Accountability Statewide

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) today announced that the House Republican Caucus will file legislation which will close an ongoing loophole in the state’s campaign finance laws.

In response to a gap in campaign finance laws which fails to address candidates at the town or city level who neglect to comply with certain reporting requirements, House Republicans have proposed extending laws which currently apply only to candidates for state office to include those running for positions at the municipal level.

  “Accountability in government is paramount at all levels,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones. “All elected officials in Massachusetts need to be held to the highest standard; it is, after all, what the residents expect. Our intention in filing this legislation is to ensure that any candidate, regardless of the office they seek, is in full compliance with all campaign finance laws.”

Under current law, the Office of Campaign and Political Finance can only block candidates running for state or county office from appearing on a ballot should they refuse to disclose a legally required campaign finance report. Given the law’s omission of municipal elections, candidates for city or town offices with unresolved campaign finance violations legally cannot be barred from appearing on the ballot. The legislation proposed by House Republicans would remove this loophole by extending the law to all elections in the Commonwealth, including municipal elections.

House GOP Members React to “Missing” Welfare Recipients

In case you missed it, State Representatives Brad Jones (R-North Reading), Betty Poirier (North Attleboro), and Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton) recently weighed in on Massachusetts’ inability to locate 19,000 welfare recipients.

Representative Jones spoke with the Boston Herald, Representative Poirier was interviewed by NECN reporter Alison King, and Representative O’Connell appeared on Fox News’ show On the Record to provide insight into the recent revelation that the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is unable to account for the whereabouts of 19,000 recipients of taxpayer-funded transitional assistance.

As you may remember, this egregious misuse of taxpayer dollars came to light through a voter information effort led by the Commonwealth at a cost of $274,000. In reaching out to a reported 477,000 welfare recipients with the hope of obtaining new voter registration, 19,000 “Return to sender, address unknown” envelopes started to appear in the DTA’s mailbox.

Click here to view Representative O’Connell’s segment with Greta Van Susteren in its entirety.

Play the video below to watch Representative Poirier's interview on NECN



See below to read Representative Jones' comments to the Boston Herald in their entirety.
Governor Vows Review of Welfare Clients

Return to Sender

In case you missed it, another agency under that watch of Governor Deval Patrick has been found asleep at the wheel. This time it’s the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and their inability to account for the whereabouts of 19,000 recipients of taxpayer-funded transitional assistance.

Today’s Boston Herald reports that this egregious error was brought to light, inadvertently, through a voter information effort led by the Commonwealth at a cost of $274,000. In reaching out to a reported 477,000 welfare recipients with the hope of obtaining new voter registration, 19,000 “Return to sender, address unknown” envelopes started to appear in the DTA’s mailbox.

In a lackluster statement from the DTA, the agency says “DTA is in the process of contacting those clients for which a forwarding address was provided to verify their addresses, as a change of address might impact their eligibility.” What their response fails to address are their plans for those recipients for whom they didn’t receive forwarding address information. Whether or not they continue to receive their direct-deposit assistance checks is the million dollar question - literally.

Massachusetts’ residents have every right to question the Patrick Administration as to whether or not their tax dollars are being spent wisely. As such, the House Republican Caucus has, and will continue to, lead the charge for substantive reform to the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system in Massachusetts. However, we cannot do it alone. Democrats on Beacon Hill must start engaging Republicans in targeted measures aimed at fixing the Commonwealth’s EBT system.

Representative Brad Jones Re-Elected Minority Leader

Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) was recently re-elected by his Republican colleagues to serve a sixth term as Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

“I am very grateful that my Republican colleagues have given me the opportunity to continue serving as House Minority Leader,” said Representative Jones. “This upcoming session will be extremely difficult as the Commonwealth faces a myriad of challenges, especially when it comes to the state’s finances. I look forward to joining my Republican colleagues in not only playing a significant role in helping to reform the way state government delivers services, but also in offering creative and fiscally responsible solutions.”

While Representative Jones anticipates a busy legislative agenda, he remains focused on economic recovery, fiscal responsibility, and creating an open and transparent state government.

“The Republican Caucus intends on coming out of the gate focused on getting Massachusetts moving in the right direction,” said Jones. “One way we intend on doing that will be to argue against the ongoing and increasing clamor on Beacon Hill about the need for a statewide tax increase. I strongly encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to think twice about those plans, as any tax hike would only diminish the Bay State’s opportunity for any sort of substantive and sustained economic recovery.”

With the state’s unemployment rate continually hovering around 6.6%, the focus on Beacon Hill needs to be on turning around the Commonwealth’s economic climate. Representative Jones and House Republicans will once again offer an innovative approach to fostering economic growth within the Commonwealth.

“We hope the entire Legislature will join us in making returning Massachusetts’ residents and small businesses to solid ground a top priority in the upcoming session,” said the House Minority Leader. “House Democrats cannot continue to defer targeted measures at reducing unemployment until the very last minute, as was the case last session.”

Furthermore, the North Reading lawmaker says protecting local aid needs to be at the top of the priority list this legislative session.

“Local cities and towns continue to feel the trickle-down effect of a worsening economy,” said Representative Jones. “Further paralyzing them through cuts to local aid will only further aggravate the situation. The Legislature must first 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.”

Jones, a North Reading native, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994. This past November he was elected to his tenth term representing the 20th Middlesex District on Beacon Hill and continues to maintain his perfect voting record. Representative Jones has cast 5,490 consecutive roll call votes and hasn’t missed a single vote in his nearly 19 years in the Legislature.