“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.
