House Minority Leader Brad Jones Casts 6,000th Consecutive Roll Call Vote

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) cast his 6,000th consecutive roll call vote this week, as the Massachusetts House of Representatives debated a series of proposed rules changes for the 2015-2016 legislative session.

Members filed 44 proposals to amend the internal House rules and another 14 amendments to the Joint rules governing the House and Senate, with 20 of
the amendments subject to a recorded roll call vote.  The 6,000^th roll call vote cast by Representative Jones – part of an unbroken string of votes dating back to March of 1994 – was in support of a proposal by Representative Paul Frost (R-Auburn) requiring all tax increases to be subject to a two-thirds roll call vote and prohibiting any tax increases from being considered less than 30 days before the deadline for filing nomination papers for the next biennial state election. The amendment failed on a vote of 34-121.

“I am truly honored and humbled to continue to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of the 20^th Middlesex District,” said Representative Jones.  “The residents of North Reading, Reading, Lynnfield and Middleton have placed their trust in me as their elected representative, and I can think of no better way to uphold that trust than to ensure that their voices are heard on each and every roll call vote that is taken in the House.”

Among the other votes cast by Representative Jones this week were one in support of allowing two members to request a roll call vote on legislation pending before a committee and another requiring all committee votes to be posted online within 48 hours.  Representative Jones and the House Republican Caucus have long championed similar measures to promote more openness and transparency in the Legislature.

Representative Jones’ long-running streak of not missing a roll call, which dates back to when he was first sworn in to office, currently stands at 6,015 votes cast.

House Minority Leader Brad Jones’ Statement on Charlie Baker Being Sworn-In as Governor of MA

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to Charlie Baker (pictured at left) being sworn-in as Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

“Today’s swearing-in of Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito is an extremely momentous occasion for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With a combined vision of making Massachusetts great, the residents and small businesses of this state will only benefit from the guidance and leadership of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

Governor Baker’s outlook for Massachusetts is one of optimism and promise. His aggressive plan to create jobs and deliver a world-class education to children across the state is the exact tone and direction that this state’s residents so desperately need and want from the incoming administration.

While the coming days are undoubtedly a time for ceremony and celebration, my House Republican colleagues and I look forward to working with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to support and advance their agenda in the House of Representatives.”

Rep. 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 seventh term as Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

“As we embark upon the 189^th Biennium of the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am pleased to announce my re-election as Leader of the House Republican Caucus,” said Representative Jones. “Having the resounding support of the largest House Republican Caucus in my tenure as Minority Leader means a tremendous amount to me, and I thank my colleagues for their continued confidence in my ability to lead our Caucus.”

While Representative Jones anticipates a busy legislative agenda, he remains focused on working with the incoming Baker Administration to advance an agenda that residents and small-businesses from the Berkshires to the outer Cape and Islands and points in between, regardless of party affiliation, can all agree upon – making Massachusetts great.

“The swearing-in of Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito is an extremely momentous occasion for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With a combined vision of making Massachusetts great, our state will only benefit from the guidance and leadership of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones. “Governor Baker’s outlook for Massachusetts is one of optimism and promise. His aggressive plan to create jobs and deliver a world-class education to children across the state is the exact tone and direction that this state’s residents so desperately need and want from the incoming administration.”

Jones, a North Reading native, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994.  This past November he was elected to his eleventh term representing the 20^th Middlesex District on Beacon Hill and continues to maintain his perfect voting record.  Representative Jones has cast 5,995 consecutive roll call votes and hasn’t missed a single vote in his nearly 21 years in the Legislature.