Sunday, July 5, 2009

Governor Patrick Hints at Desire for Progressive Tax

MassGOP to Patrick and Murray: Show Us What You Paid?


BOSTON - Yesterday our tax-happy Governor Patrick expressed interest in bringing a progressive tax to Massachusetts after his first term.

In an interview with State House News, Governor Patrick said:

"What we have in Massachusetts is a number of wealthy people who would be willing to contribute more - not all of them, but certainly have the capacity to contribute more - to relieve some of the pressure on the working poor."

Yet citizens already have the option to pay a voluntary higher income tax rate of 5.85 percent rather than 5.3 percent, and not shockingly, they do not want to pay more taxes.

According to a Boston Herald report, only .04% of Massachusetts taxpayers in 2008 chose to pay the voluntary rate of 5.85 percent. Only 802 individuals out of 2.1 million think this is a good idea.

In a statement today, MassGOP Communications Director Tarah Donoghue said:

"We want to know if Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray paid the voluntary income tax rate of 5.85 percent. How much of the Governor's book advance will go towards the working poor? The fact is, Governor Patrick is out of touch and just can't get enough of taxing citizens of the Commonwealth."

"Donkey of the Week"

Barn Yard Behavior by Massachusetts Democrats...Every Wednesday!

BOSTON - Today Rep. Kevin Murphy has the distinct honor of being named the "Donkey of the Week" by the MassGOP.

Rep. Murphy has a conflict of interest problem...

According to an article in the Lowell Sun, in addition to being a full time legislator, he is also a lawyer who represents union clients in contract negotiations with the City of Lowell. So he can vote on funding for public agencies--and at the same time represent his clients who are seeking a piece of that funding.

Several public-sector organizations are part of Rep. Murphy's client base at his $100,000 per year Chelmsford law office.

For example, Rep. Murphy represents the bus driver's union in Lowell, which is in contract re-negotiation talks with the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA.) The LRTA receives a quarter of its operating budget from state funding--which Rep. Murphy gets to vote on.

He even represented Lowell's four assistant school superintendents in contract renegotiations-one of which was his wife. (For which Rep. Murphy secured a $10k raise two years before his wife's contract expired.)

And how is this not a conflict of interest?

According to Beacon Hill Democrats, the Ethics Reform Bill is the answer. The Bill is certainly a step in the right direction and tightens some loopholes. Yet the Ethics Bill does not change the conflict-of-interest statute that Rep. Murphy has repeatedly violated.

More importantly, the Ethics Bill does not change the behavior of irresponsible and unethical Democrat lawmakers.

For more on Rep. Murphy's barnyard behavior, click here.


MassGOP to Governor Patrick: Stop the Disappointment

BOSTON - In a YouTube video message today, MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour called attention to Governor Patrick's disappointing and ineffective leadership in Massachusetts.

Today at 4 pm, Governor Patrick will increase the sales tax by a whopping twenty-five percent, and raise taxes in the Commonwealth by a billion dollars--after Republican lawmakers suggested a billion dollars in reforms.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Thursday, June 25, 2009

MassGOP: Only Voters Can Clean Up the Mess on Beacon Hill

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Republican Party today issued a statement following the passage of the Ethics Reform Bill. Although the Bill is a step in the right direction and tightens some obvious loopholes on Beacon Hill, the MassGOP points towards the ballot box as the only real solution to restoring good, efficient government in the Commonwealth.

Mass GOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said: "No amount of reform is going to remove the ethical cloud hanging over Beacon Hill Democrats. While legislators have been investigated, indicted and arraigned on various federal and state criminal charges, too many of their fellow Democrats have enabled their bad behavior or looked the other way. The solution to the problem is to elect more Republicans to restore a two-party balance on Beacon Hill. The solution is not passing new laws, the solution is electing new lawmakers. The Republican Party welcomes honest, ethical citizens to run with us to unseat entrenched Democrats who have failed our state."

In Case You Missed It!

Rep. Perry: Another Process Concluded Behind Closed Doors

Perry Disappointed by Manner In Which Ethics Bill Developed

BOSTON - In a statement yesterday, Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) expressed his disappointment with the process of drafting the Ethics Bill which was released yesterday.

Perry was selected to serve on the Conference Committee on the pending Ethics Reform Bill. Perry was among three members from the House of Representatives and three Senate members to serve on this Conference Committee which is charged with ironing out the differences between the different reform bills. In addition to this appointment, Perry also serves as the Ranking Member on the House Ethics Committee.

"With all the ethical scandals involving elected officials on Beacon Hill, citizens have lost a great deal of trust and confidence in their government. I viewed my role in this Conference Committee as making certain that any approved Bill has real and meaningful reforms. Disappointingly for the last nine days, there has been zero opportunity to meaningfully participate in the development of the Bill," said Representative Perry from the State House.

Perry added: "As a Republican Legislator in Massachusetts, many times my point of view does not prevail. I will review the Bill this evening [Weds] and make my decision whether or not I can support the Bill. I will only support the Bill if it offers meaningful reform. Equally concerning than the substance of the proposal, which I was not allowed to review before the press conference, is the process which the Bill was developed."

"The culture of Beacon Hill politics, even when developing an Ethics Bill, remains one of backroom deals where only a couple members of one political party have a say," said Perry.

Contact: Ben Nugent 617-722-2800, x 8743

Q: How Can Governor Patrick Save 15,000 Jobs

A: Veto the Budget

MassGOP Calls on Gov. Patrick to Veto Tax-Filled Budget, Relieve Burden on Families

BOSTON - The MassGOP called on Governor Deval Patrick to veto the proposed state budget and save more than 15,000 jobs jeopardized by a slew of increased taxes. Such substantial taxes will cripple Massachusetts businesses and force families to dig deeper to subsidize waste and mismanagement in state government.

"Passing this budget would be like laying-off the entire town of Northborough, and that would be unacceptable and devastating to those workers and their families. This state is spending millions on a handful of life sciences jobs, but the Democrats think nothing of taxing to death 15,000 jobs," said Jennifer Nassour, Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party. "Governor Patrick can either increase the state's unemployment rate by signing the budget, or he can veto this disappointing and toxic plan, and spare working families from the misery of losing their jobs and paying more in taxes on everyday items."

The FY10 budget passed by Beacon Hill Democrats raises taxes by nearly a billion dollars, and proposes an outrageous 25 percent increase in the sales tax, as well as a laundry list of additional taxes and fees on hard-working citizens. The passage of a 25 percent increase in the sales tax and the removal of the sales tax exemption on alcohol will collectively destroy 15,000 jobs in Massachusetts, according to combined estimates from the Beacon Hill Institute and the Massachusetts Package Stores Association.


15,000 jobs vs. 950 jobs:

While 15,000 jobs face elimination, the Commonwealth has spent $46 million in the past 12 months to create a relatively paltry 950 jobs in the life sciences sector, according to numbers from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. That amounts to a taxpayer investment of more than $48,000 per job.

In May of 2009, 282,618 workers, or 8.2 percent, were unemployed in Massachusetts. Adding 15,000 to that total would increase the unemployment rate to about 8.7 percent.

In Case You Missed It!

Boston Herald Editorial: "Load Gets Heavier"
June 22, 2009

Union organizers issued an ugly warning to lawmakers last week: Vote for the transportation reform bill, and you will pay. It was, in Beacon Hill terms, a "labor vote."

Well, it seems beyond time for taxpayers to start using the same bare-knuckled approach.


"Vote for a state budget that raises taxes by $1 billion amid the worst economic crisis in decades and you will pay, big-time." It's a taxpayer vote.

It's true, the Legislature's budget-writers had a miserable task: To balance the state budget at a time when revenues have gone "poof!" And there are some concessions to sanity in the final budget approved Friday - no income tax hike, the eventual elimination of the bloated Quinn Bill, a requirement that state workers contribute more for their health insurance.

A related transportation reform bill (we're told) will deliver savings. Even with the new revenue, spending will be reduced and there will be layoffs, especially at the municipal level.

But when it comes to the revenue side of the ledger, well, lawmakers have opted to settle for the low-hanging fruit.

The sales tax (also applied to restaurant meals) will go up by 25 percent, to 6.25 percent. New Hampshire, here we come!

We will now pay a tax on the tax already applied to a six-pack or bottle of wine purchased at a package store.

Cities and towns will have the option of raising the local hotel tax up to 6 percent and the meals tax to as much as 7 percent. Gee, wonder if any of them will accept that offer?

And if you're a satellite TV subscriber you'll now be taxed to ensure "equity." Nantasket beach-goers will even pay $4 extra on parking fees to help Hull pay for public safety calls.

These are dark days. But revenues will rebound. Experience tells us, though, that these new taxes will be with us forever.

Finally it's worth noting that a Senate effort to make it easier to privatize state contracts - lifting the cap on an eligible project's value from $200,000 to $2 million - was reduced to $500,000. Serious about reform? It wouldn't seem so.

Yes, this was a taxpayer vote. And the taxpayers lost.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Nassour Names Donoghue as MassGOP Communications Director

Strategist Takes Critical Role in Delivering Republican Message

Boston, MA - Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Nassour today announced Tarah Donoghue as the team's Communications Director.

Donoghue is a Massachusetts native, and previously served as spokeswoman for former First Lady Laura Bush. She joins the MassGOP from the public relations firm Gibraltar Associates in Washington, D.C.

Returning to her home state, Donoghue looks forward to promoting the Republican message of lower taxes and effective government. "I'm excited to join the MassGOP team and engage in aggressive and serious debate," Donoghue said. "Momentum is shifting in Massachusetts-the Democrat's culture of corruption and wasteful spending has to stop."

Donoghue graduated cum laude from Georgetown University with a B.A. in Government and Art History.

Beginning today, media inquiries may be directed to Tarah Donoghue at:

tdonoghue@massgop.com
Office: (617) 523-5005, x245

The Activist

Newsletter of the Massachusetts Republican Party

June 12, 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Edition

What we're doing
How you can help




Action Alert
Hold Your Lawmakers Accountable


In the wake of the indictment of ex-Democrat House Speaker Sal DiMasi and three co-defendants, Massachusetts Republicans have a great opportunity.

Will you help us seize it?

Together, we need to expose the Democrats who supported Sal DiMasi and who accepted campaign money from DiMasi's three co-defendants. It is critically important that the newspapers and the voters in your area know the truth about the local Democrat legislators.

Here's how you can help. Look at the list of legislators below to see if your local lawmakers took any money from one or more of DiMasi's co-defendants. Then write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and expose his or her connection to the players at the center of the House scandal. If you are the chair of a city, town or ward committee, consider writing a press release from your committee, with the same message, and send to your local media.

Mass GOP Executive Director Nick Connors last week emailed you a list of Democrats who voted in January to re-elect DiMasi as speaker, only to see him resign under a dark cloud. Note in your letter or press release if your local lawmakers voted for DiMasi as well.

Please, express your anger and frustration with the corruption on Beacon Hill as only you can, but if you need some help, here are some points you might make:

- Our legislators took campaign donations from one or more of ex-Speaker Sal DiMasi's co-defendants, according to public records at the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Legislators who took campaign donations from one or more of the three co-defendants should purge the money from their campaign accounts. A donation of the money to charity would make some good come from this sorry scandal.

- Legislators should be held accountable for their coziness to lobbyists and special interests, and for their vote for corrupt leadership. Their closeness to one or more of the co-defendants and their blind loyalty to DiMasi contributed to the situation.

- Urge people to run for office and bring new leadership to Beacon Hill. The entrenched Democrats have been there too long. They are more worried about their own interest than the public's interests. Voters need to restore strong two-party government in Massachusetts.

I need you to lend your voice to deliver this important message. We must inform voters of the actions of their legislators, and we must encourage good candidates to run to bring good, efficient government to the Bay State.


Thank you in advance for your help, and please send a copy of your letter to jennifer@massgop.com. I can't wait to read it!

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman

























What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAVE THE DATE: July 26th. The Mass GOP Summer BBQ is planned for July 26th at the Hudson Elks. We'll be sending more details soon, so save the date and plan on a great family event.

DAY OF SERVICE: Mass GOP staff and interns gathered at DeFilippo Park in the North End to rake, sweep and clean up as part of the Massachusetts Republican Day of Service. Thanks to all who participated.



















How You Can Help
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005 or email us at info@massgop.com.












Quick Links
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MassGOP.com - Our Website
RedMassGroup.com - Online community for Massachusetts Republican activists
Scaling The Hill - Blog for the GOP Senate Caucus - Sen. Richard Tisei, Republican Leader
The Capitol View - Blog for the GOP House Caucus - Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Republican Leader



Get in touch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party
85 Merrimac St., Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
info@massgop.com
(617) 523-5005

The Honorable Jennifer A. Nassour, Chair - jennifer@massgop.com

State Party Staff:

Executive Director Nick Connors - nick@massgop.com
Finance Director Lyndsay Jones - ljones@massgop.com
Finance Operations Brett Kasper - bkasper@massgop.com
Operations Director Kaitlyn Greeley - kgreeley@massgop.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RNC Chairman Michal Steel Announces Appointments

to RNC Ethics Committee

WASHINGTON - Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele today announced the new Chairman and members of the RNC Ethics Committee. Illinois National Committeeman Pat Brady will Chair the committee. Chairman Steele released the following statement on the RNC Ethics Committee.

"As part of my campaign pledge to bring greater transparency to the RNC, I am pleased to announce these RNC members as my appointments to the RNC Ethics Committee. I look forward to working with these exceptionally qualified men and women to bring about an era of openness at the RNC," said RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

RNC Ethics Committee Chairman

Pat Brady, Illinois National Committeeman

RNC Ethics Committee Members

Linda Ackerman, California National Committeewoman
Tom Ross, Delaware Republican Party Chairman
Betsy Werronen, District of Columbia National Committeewoman
Sue Everhart, Georgia Republican Party Chairman
Norm Semanko, Idaho Republican Party Chairman
Jennifer Nassour, Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman
Keith Butler, Michigan National Committeeman
Ginny Haines, New Jersey National Committeewoman
Kevin DeWine, Ohio Republican Party Chairman
Bruce Hough, Utah National Committeeman

Purge Beacon Hill

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Republican Party today issued a list of all legislators and constitutional officers who accepted money from ex-Speaker Sal DiMasi's co-defendants, calling on them to purge the cash from their campaign accounts. The Mass GOP also called on the Office of Campaign and Political Finance to launch an investigation into all legislators who took more than $200 from indicted lobbyist Richard McDonough, which is a violation of campaign finance laws.

In addition, the Mass GOP urged Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo to return expensive cigars and flowers sent to them as gifts by Governor Deval Patrick, despite state law prohibiting elected officials from receiving a gift worth $50 or more.

Mass GOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said: "The Democrats are frantically trying to pass reform and ethics legislation to repair their image after indictments in the House and Senate. Now we see the legislators and the governor cannot even follow the laws we already have that limit gifts and money from lobbyists. The solution to the problem with Massachusetts government is not new laws, the solution is new lawmakers."


Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Mass GOP to Patrick: Refund $10,000 from Cognos

Boston - The Massachusetts Republican Party today called on Governor Deval Patrick to return $10,000 from Cognos ULC for the 2007 Patrick Murray Inauguration. The Cognos cash arrived three months before Patrick would sign a bond bill in March that paid for an ill-gotten $13 million contract later given by the Patrick-Murray Administration to the software company.

Mass GOP Executive Director Nick Connors said: "The Governor is asking the citizens to believe his Administration was simply an unwitting participant in this scheme, but the fact he received $10,000 from Cognos to pay for his inaugural parties raises serious questions. Governor Patrick should refund the donation from Cognos immediately or explain to us why it is proper to keep money from a company at the center of this corruption scandal."

Last week, the Mass GOP urged Patrick to clear the air by launching an inquiry into his Administration's role in the House-for-sale scandal and release the findings. The Obama Administration followed such a course in detailing White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuels's dealings with Illinois Governor Blagojevich.

A January 12, 2007, press release from the Patrick-Murray Inauguration Committee listed Cognos as a $10,000 donor.

The Boston Globe reported reported March 10, 2008:


1. "Cognos was recommended as the winning bidder in May (2007). But the procedures for picking a contractor - including establishing selection criteria, advertising for bidders on the Internet, and determining how the state would use the software - were not even certified by the state comptroller until July."


2. "Language authorizing the purchase was tucked into an 'immediate needs' bond bill, which was filed in the House on March 14, 2007. It flew through the House and Senate in one week and was signed by Patrick on March 23, 2007. By contrast, there are several bond bills filed last year that are still languishing in the Legislature."

Friday, June 5, 2009

The Activist

Newsletter of the Massachusetts Republican Party


June 5, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Edition

What we're doing
In the news from this week
How you can help



In the wake of House-for-Sale Scandal

Steele joins Mass GOP
call for good, effective government


What a week to be a Republican in Massachusetts. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele delivered an impassioned speech to a roomful of Republicans gathered in Boston for the annual Lincoln Reagan Awards ceremony.

Across the Boston Common, the Democrats were displaying for all the voters the arrogance and greed that has corrupted their leadership. Ex-House Speaker Sal DiMasi was federally indicted for taking payments to influence the awarding of a state contract. The House-for-Sale Scandal will reverberate for months to come until voters have a chance to clean house in November 2010.

The people of Massachusetts are crying out for good, effective government, and it is the Massachusetts Republican Party that is going to deliver solutions with our pro-taxpayer, smaller government message and by fielding a strong group of candidates.

Chairman Steele implored Massachusetts Republicans to work together and promote the party as standing for good, effective government. He told us to be aggressive and tough in battling our Democrat opponents. And that is exactly what we are going to do.

Earlier this week, Nick Connors, the Mass GOP executive director, sent an email to all our activists. Nick asked them to look at the list of 135 House Democrats who voted in January to re-elect DiMasi as speaker. If an activist's representative voted for DiMasi, Nick asked that the activist write to his or her local paper and expose the House Democrat for taking part in choosing corrupt leadership over the best interests of the citizens.

Many activists have answered Nick's call. Brett Schetzsle of Beverly wrote a great letter headlined: What does Rep. Grant think of DiMasi now? My thanks to Brett and all of you who have taken the time to write. If you have not yet, please do.

If you haven't yet, I urge you to take the time write your local newspaper. We must hold the Democrats accountable. Please, help spread the word about the misdeeds of Democrat representatives and why we need to return a healthy two-party system to Beacon Hill.

If we are going to rebuild our party, success will start at the grassroots. On Wednesday, the Mass GOP honored two of our very best activists, Susan Blais and Howard Bibeault, co-chairs of the Attleboro Republican City Committee, with the Shamie Memorial Award for Grassroots Efforts.

Howard and Susan share a remarkable dedication to the city committee, which is strong and active in the community. They have a vision for what the committee means to their city. The committee's website says: "We do our best to contribute to our community and participate to ensure that public discourse is healthy. Our democracy works best when more than one party is represented. We endeavor to have a viable two-party government so that we ALL can benefit from our great Democracy."

That is such an inspirational message, it's no wonder potential candidates seek out Howard and Susan for the wisdom they offer on how to run successful campaigns. Howard and Susan are so well respected across Massachusetts that they are regularly invited to conduct training sessions with other city and town committees.

And Howard and Susan are not content with today; they are focused fostering tomorrow's leaders. The Attleboro Junior Republican Club is open to Attleboro's youth. Started in 2007, the club offers its members the opportunity to learn about local government and politics, while creating a social atmosphere.

In addition, the Mass GOP honored Ambassador Christopher Egan with the Lincoln Reagan Award for his service to our nation and the Republican Party. Chris served as co-chairman of the highly successful 2006 Victory Fund and is a great leader in our party.

Finally, I attended the Connecticut Republican Party's annual award dinner Thursday night, where former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich was the keynote speaker. I'm looking forward to a strong working relationship with Connecticut GOP Chairman Chris Healy, who was kind enough to attend our Lincoln Reagan event Wednesday. I hope to build cooperative network to strengthen all the New England Republican committees.


Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman


What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAVE THE DATE: July 26th. The Mass GOP Summer BBQ is planned for July 26th at the Hudson Elks. We'll be sending more details soon, so save the date and plan on a great family event.

INTERNS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The Mass GOP office is full of activity with an influx of 32 college interns who will be offering their time, energy and skill to the Mass GOP for the summer. The interns are assisting in all aspects of the operation, from fundraising to communications.

The experience they gain at the Mass GOP will benefit them in the future, and hopefully, many will go on to staff Republican campaigns across Massachusetts.


In The News From This Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charges met with shock, dismay, hope
State Rep. John P. Fresolo, D-Worcester, who said he was not surprised by the alleged corruption detailed in the indictment, said yesterday he never trusted Mr. DiMasi. "He had trouble telling people the truth. He didn't always speak the truth to people," Mr. Fresolo said. "I felt that firsthand every time he dealt with me. He didn't tell me the truth. So it doesn't surprise me," he said of the indictment.

DiMasi gets the chill on Beacon Hill
The state's Republican party has slammed DiMasi's former supporters in several statements, accusing them of having "enabled the corruption of state government."
DiMasi was the third speaker in a row to receive federal indictments from the job.
"House Democrats have a pattern of extremely poor judgment when choosing leaders," said state GOP chairman Jennifer Nassour."

For lawmakers, 'another black stain for Beacon Hill'
Meanwhile, Massachusetts Republicans vowed to use DiMasi's departure as a campaign theme by "making household names out of the 135 Democrats who voted to reelect Sal DiMasi as speaker in January."


"Every House member who supported DiMasi will be called out for endorsing his corrupt leadership," said Mass GOP chairwoman Jennifer A. Nassour. "It is time, once again, to clean up the mess on Beacon Hill by electing new legislators who are committed to small government, lower taxes, and finally ending the culture of corruption and waste."



Making the case for Beacon Hill reform
The state Republican Party is seeking to take advantage of the indictment and put the spotlight on Democrats like Bowles and D'Amico who voted for DiMasi.

"While the federal government seeks to hold Sal DiMasi accountable, we will seek to hold accountable the 135 Democrats who ignored the obvious scandal and re-elected him as speaker in January," Republican Chairwoman Jennifer Nassour said in a press release.

"Every House member who supported DiMasi will be called out for endorsing his corrupt leadership," she said. "It is time, once again, to clean up the mess on Beacon Hill by electing new legislators who are committed to small government, lower taxes and finally ending the culture of corruption and waste."


How You Can Help
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005 or email us at info@massgop.com.




Quick Links
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MassGOP.com - Our Website
RedMassGroup.com - Online community for Massachusetts Republican activists

Scaling The Hill - Blog for the GOP Senate Caucus - Sen. Richard Tisei, Republican Leader
The Capitol View - Blog for the GOP House Caucus - Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Republican Leader




Get in touch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party
85 Merrimac St., Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
info@massgop.com
(617) 523-5005

The Honorable Jennifer A. Nassour, Chair - jennifer@massgop.com

State Party Staff:

Executive Director Nick Connors - nick@massgop.com
Finance Director Lyndsay Jones - ljones@massgop.com
Finance Operations Brett Kasper - bkasper@massgop.com
Operations Director Kaitlyn Greeley - kgreeley@massgop.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They Said It!

Sal's Pal Says DiMasi 'Had Trouble Telling People the Truth'


House Dems Claim Ignorance, but Coakley Exposed DiMasi Weeks Before House Vote


Boston - The 135 House Democrats who voted to re-elect Sal DiMasi as House speaker in January knew the now-indicted ex-rep was caught in a lie by Attorney General Martha Coakley in December. And at least one House Democrat now says he voted for DiMasi even though he admits the speaker "didn't always speak the truth to people."


Mass GOP Executive Director Nick Connors said: "The 135 House Democrats chose to re-elect Speaker DiMasi despite the mounting evidence of unethical conduct that was publicly known at the time. The House Democrats chose to circle the wagons and try to protect the now-indicted speaker instead of protecting the interests of the people of Massachusetts by choosing a new, ethical leader. The people of Massachusetts have been demanding good, effective government, and the Democrats have failed to deliver."

House Democrats Had Reason to Doubt DiMasi's Word


State Rep. John P. Fresolo, D-Worcester, says DiMasi had trouble with the truth:
"He had trouble telling people the truth. He didn't always speak the truth to people," Mr. Fresolo said. "I felt that firsthand every time he dealt with me. He didn't tell me the truth. So it doesn't surprise me," he said of the indictment.



"Charges met with shock, dismay," Telegram & Gazette, June 4, 2009.


Coakley's December indictment contradicted DiMasi's claims: Last April, DiMasi told the Globe that he didn't know that Richard Vitale, his longtime friend, personal accountant, and former campaign treasurer, represented the Massachusetts Association of Ticket Brokers. Neither he nor anyone on his staff ever discussed the group's interest in pending legislation, DiMasi said in an interview.

Then last month, Attorney General Martha Coakley indicted Vitale for violations of state lobbying and campaign finance laws. In the indictment, Coakley said Vitale communicated directly with DiMasi and his top lieutenant Thomas Petrolati, the speaker pro tempore.

Those two accounts simply do not add up.

"DiMasi's apparent deception," The Boston Globe, January 4, 2009

Yet, many Democrats still deny knowing anything:

Rep. Barbara L'Italien (D-Andover):
"There was absolutely no substantiation of anything (in January), and so I have to act with the facts that are presented before me," said State Rep. Barbara L'Italien, D-Andover, "and there were no facts, so I did cast my vote for Sal DiMasi." (http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_154212654.html)


Rep. Harriet Stanley (D-West Newbury): Rep. Harriett Stanley, D-West Newbury, said the media, not prosecutors, were leveling the allegations against DiMasi at the time of the vote to make him speaker for a third term. "You only can go on the information that you have at the time. It was a really tough vote," she said. (http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_154212654.html)


Rep. Barry Finegold (D- Andover): "If what happened yesterday came out three months ago, my vote would have been different," said Rep. Barry Finegold, D-Andover. (http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_154212654.html)


Rep. Dean Campbell (D-Methuen): "I'm constantly, as an elected official, confronted by innuendo upon which I do not base any of my votes," said Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, D-Methuen. Campbell said DiMasi "emphatically denied" the allegations prior to the vote to re-elect him. (http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_154212654.html)

Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston): State Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, who also voted to reappoint DiMasi, said, "The decision I made at the time was a thoughtful one. I made it based on the information available at the time. What I heard was rumor and innuendo." She added about the indictment, "As a legislator, it makes it harder for my constituents to trust that I'm working in their interests." (http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/state/x138098779/Local-rep-DiMasi-indictment-a-sad-way-to-end-a-good-career)

Rep. Denis Guyer (D-Dalton): Still, Guyer said he doesn't regret having voted for DiMasi for speaker. "When I voted for Sal DiMasi in January, it was rumor, it was speculation, it was speculative," Guyer said. "A lot of what we were hearing was in the media. I looked at Speaker DiMasi's record - a 30-year legislator." (http://www.wbur.org/2009/06/04/dimasi-reaction)

They Said It!

Governor Deval Patrick Dodges 'Fair Questions'

In an interview on WTKK-FM 96.9 with hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, Governor Deval Patrick refused to answer questions on what he knew about the House-for-sale scandal and when he knew it. Here is an excerpt from that interview.


Jim Braude: When was the first time you had any idea that DiMasi wanted Cognos? Did you ever speak to DiMasi about Cognos, and did you have any part in the final approval of Cognos getting this contract?

Governor Patrick: Those are all fair questions that I am not going to get into now because again, because I've, I've, we've been through all this with the FBI, and I fully expect, or at least I guess it's possible, that if this thing goes on, we may have to participate further, me and others on the uh on the team. I will tell you that the stuff that's in the indictment, my gosh, I certainly didn't know about that.

Braude: ... Did he at any point have a conversation with you, he - DiMasi - about his interest in Cognos getting the contract?

Patrick: Not so much Cognos, but I certainly knew he was interested in this software.

Braude: From him?

Patrick: Yeah.

Patrick Should Follow Obama's Example in Blago Case

Boston - Mass GOP Executive Director Nick Connors issued the following statement regarding restoring the public trust in state government.

Connors said: "The public's trust will not be restored until there is a full explanation of the role played by all public officials and employees in this House-for-sale scandal, and all we are hearing is a lot of 'no comments.' Governor Patrick should immediately launch an investigation into the role his top advisors played in this sordid affair and release the findings. Surely, he cannot object to following the example set by the Obama Administration in handling White House chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel's dealings with Illinois Governor Blagojevich."


Connors added: "The people of Massachusetts deserve good and effective government, and they will not see it as long as we have leaders who refuse to explain their actions and only attempt to enact meaningful reforms after serious corruption has been exposed."

House Democrats Accountable for Corruption

32 Democrats Hit the Trifecta - They Voted for Each of the Three Indicted Speakers

BOSTON - Of the 135 House Democrats who voted to re-elect Sal DiMasi as speaker in January, 32 had also supported the re-election Tom Finneran and Charlie Flaherty as speaker in the votes immediately prior to their federal indictments. And 42 voted for two of the three speakers before their indictments, according to a review of House roll call votes.

Of the 32 House Democrats, 23 are now in legislative leadership positions, entitling them to extra pay or power in the State House.

Mass GOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said: "House Democrats have a pattern of extremely poor judgment when choosing leaders, and it has hurt the people of Massachusetts who are saddled with higher taxes to pay for corrupt government. Every one of the 135 House Democrats knew of the multiple federal and state investigations into Speaker DiMasi, and yet they voted to re-elect him as speaker."

Nassour continued: "Everyone of these House Democrats enabled the corruption of state government, and they should have known better. They chose their own interests and special interests over the interests of their constituents. They have worn out their welcome on Beacon Hill, and if they don't leave on their own, I think voters will show them the door."

Mass GOP to Andover Democrat: Report the Abuse to Feds

Boston - Mass GOP Executive Director Nick Connors issued the following statement in response to House Democrat David Torrisi's comments in today's Boston Globe.

Connors said: "I am saddened, but not surprised to read Torrisi's comment that 5 percent of his colleagues behave in a manner that is reflective of the indictment against Sal DiMasi. I call upon Torrisi to immediately report to the U.S. Attorney's Office the 5 percent of House members he believes brazenly abuse their power."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's another black stain for Beacon Hill," said Representative David Torrisi, a Democrat from North Andover. "It's a brazen abuse of power that is not a real reflection of 95 percent of my colleagues."

"For lawmakers, 'Another black stain for Beacon Hill,'"
The Boston Globe, June 3, 2009

Mass GOP to Voters: Hold Accountable DiMasi's 135 Supporters

Democrats Re-Elected DiMasi Despite Scandal




BOSTON - In the wake of the indictment of the third consecutive Democrat House speaker, the Massachusetts Republican Party today pledged to begin cleaning up Beacon Hill by making household names out of the 135 Democrats who voted to re-elect Sal DiMasi as speaker in January.

Mass GOP Chairman Jennifer A. Nassour said: "The third consecutive indictment of a Democrat House speaker is a complete disgrace. While the federal government seeks to hold Sal DiMasi accountable, we will seek to hold accountable the 135 Democrats who ignored the obvious scandal and re-elected him as speaker in January. Every House member who supported DiMasi will be called out for endorsing his corrupt leadership. It is time, once again, to clean up the mess on Beacon Hill by electing new legislators who are committed to small government, lower taxes and finally ending the culture of corruption and waste."

Sex, Lies and Rep. Gloria Fox

Mass GOP Demands Answers from Patrick-Murray Administration




BOSTON - The Massachusetts Republican Party today called on the Patrick-Murray Administration to explain why a convicted murderer is now receiving preferential treatment after he was visited by State Rep. Gloria Fox, who according to the Boston Herald, smuggled the murderer's girlfriend into the prison.

Mass GOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said: "Aside from Representative Fox's troubling and bizarre actions, a more serious question is why the Patrick-Murray Administration transferred a convicted felon from high-security, solitary confinement to a medium-security private cell after the representative visited him for four hours. Why was this action taken? Who ordered it ? Why was standard prison policy ignored? What role did Representative Fox play in this action?"

Nassour continued: "Representative Fox owes the public an explanation for why she abused her authority as a legislator and lied to prison guards in order to get the murderer's girlfriend inside the prison to visit him. The people are sick and tired of elected officials abusing their powers to benefit special interests, and its just ridiculous when the special interest is a convicted murderer. "

Among the revelations in today's Herald:


"Using her State House-issued, all-access prison privileges, Fox, 67, visited convicted murderer Darrell Jones in the high-security segregation unit of the Old Colony Correctional Center with a woman the Roxbury Democrat claimed was her 'best aide,' two prison sources told the Herald."


"But Fox and the woman were bagged by a vigilant guard who recognized the 'aide' as Jones' girlfriend - a woman previously written up for engaging in prohibited 'sexual acts' in the visitor room with Jones."


"The day after Fox's bizarre visit on May 7, Jones was inexplicably transferred from solitary confinement in Bridgewater to a coveted single cell in the general population of medium-security MCI-Norforlk prison, sources said."

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Mass GOP: Geithner Offers No Help to Struggling Massachusetts Families, Businesses

BOSTON - The Mass GOP today dismissed the notion that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and the Obama Administration's $787 million spending spree have helped create jobs in Massachusetts or the nation.

MassGOP Executive Director Nick Connors said: "The reckless spending of the Obama Administration has not created the jobs that were promised, and Massachusetts is proof of that. Our unemployment rate is 8 percent and the only new jobs being created are in state government, which has added 2,000 new soft landings for Patrick-Murray Administration supporters. Families and small businesses in Massachusetts are hurting, and Governor Patrick and the Democrats are trying to squeeze even higher taxes out of them to fund pension abuse and do-nothing state jobs. If Geithner and Obama want to help the people of Massachusetts, they'll tell the Massachusetts Democrats to clean up Beacon Hill, and they will return the stimulus money to the taxpayers by lowering their federal taxes."

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Keller Departing MassGOP for Lazio Committee

Nassour Praises His Dedication

Boston, MA - Mass GOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour today announced Barney Keller is leaving his communications director position to serve on the gubernatorial committee of New York Republican Rick Lazio.

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "Barney served the Mass GOP with remarkable skill and dedication, and I am grateful to him for his work to promote the Republican message of lower taxes and smaller government in Massachusetts. Barney has been a great asset to me and my team, and I know he will prove equally valuable to the Lazio committee."

Keller's last day as communications director is today. Until the ongoing search for a new communications director is completed, the media should direct inquires to Executive Director Nick Connors either by telephone, 617-523-5005 x228, or by email, nconnors@massgop.com.

News from the Massachusetts Republican Party

May 22, 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Edition
What we're doing
In the news from this week
How you can help

"Irrelevant"
-Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth)




"Irrelevant"

That's what DEMOCRAT Senate President Therese Murray called Governor Deval Patrick this week.

While the Democrats fight among themselves, they are not accomplishing anything for Massachusetts except higher taxes and wasteful spending. Their bickering and backbiting means only that the taxpayers are losing.

Thank you so much to those of you who donated in response to my email earlier this week about fighting the sales tax. It means a lot to me when I see activists like yourself donate because your efforts are critical to the future of the Republican Party here in Massachusetts.

In other news, I wanted to commend Senate Republican Leader Richard Tisei, who also called the Governor irrelevant this week. "I have been here since Gov. Dukakis, and I cannot recall a governor marginalizing himself so much," Tisei said. "He's erratic. I have never seen a governor become more irrelevant than this governor and his administration have. He ran around the state for a year and a half talking about transportation, he didn't file a bill. He's never filed a pension reform bill. A lot of what you're seeing is a charade. Disappointing to me because I had high hopes we were going to be able to stop the sales tax increase."

I couldn't agree more. We're making great strides towards 2010.


Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party


What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) The Massachusetts Republican Day of Service is coming up! Join us in volunteering to clean up Massachusetts. My staff and I will be cleaning up DeFilippo Park in the North End along with my staff. If you're in the Boston area, come and join me! We will meet at the Party Headquarters (85 Merrimac Street, Suite 400) at 10:30am. Please contact Kaitlyn Greeley at Kgreeley@massgop.com or at (617) 523-5005 X248 with any questions.

We're asking all of our Republican Town Committees to join in! RTCs all over Massachusetts will be getting involved in local projects by cleaning up parks and focusing on the environmental needs of their local community.

If you're already in an RTC, please be sure to put together a plan and share it with us. Fill out the form located at http://www.massgop.com/dayofservice.aspx.

The Massachusetts Republican Day of Service is a great way for us to demonstrate the value our party places in public service. We hope you join us in encouraging fellow Republicans and others to help clean up Massachusetts!

2) We still have space available at our annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner on June 3rd featuring RNC Chairman Michael Steele! Contact Lyndsay Jones if you're interested or if you know someone who is. This promises to be an exciting event!

The Massachusetts Republican Party still could use your help to get the word out about our Lincoln Reagan Reception - can you volunteer your time to make calls on our behalf? Please RSVP to help out by sending an email to ljones@massgop.com

In The News From This Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another week, another example of pension abuse. This week, it's Democrat State Senator Ken Donnelly of Arlington (Pictured, left). The Boston Herald's Howie Carr reported this week that Senator Donnelly gets "$51,187 a year from the Arlington Retirement Board. Not too shabby, especially when you add in the fresh $61,440 he's collecting as successor in the state Senate to Jim Marzilli."

Howie calls him the "Big Dipper". We prefer "Double-Dipping Donnelly." What do you think?

Keep sending your examples of government waste to MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller at bkeller@massgop.com. We've been getting great tips!

It's time we take back Beacon Hill - forward this newsletter to everyone you know!

How You Can Help
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005 or email us at info@massgop.com.




Quick Links
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MassGOP.com - Our Website
RedMassGroup.com - Online community for Massachusetts Republican activists
Scaling The Hill - Blog for the GOP Senate Caucus - Sen. Richard Tisei, Republican Leader
The Capitol View - Blog for the GOP House Caucus - Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Republican Leader




Get in touch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party
85 Merrimac St., Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
info@massgop.com
(617) 523-5005

The Honorable Jennifer A. Nassour, Chair - jennifer@massgop.com

State Party Staff:

Executive Director Nick Connors - nick@massgop.com
Finance Director Lyndsay Jones - ljones@massgop.com
Finance Operations Brett Kasper - bkasper@massgop.com
Communications Director Barney Keller - bkeller@massgop.com
Operations Director Kaitlyn Greeley - kgreeley@massgop.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, May 22, 2009

MassGOP Research Briefing

In Case You Missed It!
Republican Senators Slam Governor Patrick During Budget Debate

Last night the State Senate voted unanimously for Governor Patrick to report on his plan to reduce his payroll: "Senators voted unanimously Wednesday to require Gov. Deval Patrick to report on "all action undertaken by the Executive Branch" this fiscal year and "those planned to be undertaken" next fiscal year "to reduce the costs of employee compensation." The move comes amid high-profile stories of Patrick aides' salaries, and hours after the News Service reported that Patrick called the Legislature's timing on raising the sales tax "thumbing our nose" at taxpayers. Democrats joined the Republicans in backing Sen. Bruce Tarr's amendment, and freshman Sen. Ben Downing spoke in favor, referencing Patrick's remarks. Senate Republicans turned some of their harshest language yet on Patrick, noting that Patrick was in Washington D.C. Tuesday and Atlanta Wednesday, and painting him as a disengaged, frequently absent governor." (State House News Service, 5/20/09)

Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester): "Madame President, this just in. A postcard from the governor! The Legislature are thumbing their nose at taxpayers. A postcard from Atlanta. While we are here working to resolve the worst fiscal crisis since the Depression, the governor points out that he is trying to turn up the heat on us. Then he accused us of disrespecting the voters. Apparently, you don't get a perspective on the State House until you are five hundred miles away."

Sen. Knapik (R-Westfield): "If the governor of this Commonwealth is not going to lead, then we have no choice but to lead. The vote you take. I'm flummoxed and flabbergasted and gobsmacked that a governor in your own party has the audacity to send this email. It's a virtual poke in the eye, which I don't think should be allowed to stand. We'll have to virtually poke him back in the eye, because he's never around. He has the equivalent of nearly six weeks vacation time. I'm sure some of it was spent writing the book, I'm sure it'll be in the bargain bin, 50 percent of 75 percent off."

Sen. Knapik (R-Westfield): "We could use him here today. I know there's a biotech thing going on, there's always a biotech thing going on somewhere. We need the governor in this state now to frame the future of this state. The previous speaker, whom I have great respect for and he was in elementary school when I was elected, he referenced the $1.9 billion estimate. Do you know today was the day we were supposed to see a revised budget? And where was the governor today? Atlanta. Yesterday? Washington, with a Supreme Court interview. This guy needs to be here. We need the leadership that he was elected to provide."

Sen. Knapik (R-Westfield): "We need a sympathizer in chief, a budgeter in chief, not someone who sends missives from 500 miles away."

Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Melrose): "As someone who led the debate against the sales tax, it would have been great to have the governor her, helping. If he feels it's such a terrible thing, I would have appreciated him here, standing with me. It was very disappointing."

Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Melrose): "I think people outside the building need to understand the charade that's going on. The governor has taxes he's proposed that dwarf yesterday's. Two most important days of his administration were the casino vote, when he was in New York shopping his book. The second most important day of his administration was yesterday, when the sales tax was brought up. If he really was against it, then he should have been here. Last week he was for it, today he's against it.

Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Melrose): "I have been here since Gov. Dukakis, and I cannot recall a governor marginalizing himself so much. He's erratic. I have never seen a governor become more irrelevant than this governor and his administration have. He ran around the state for a year and a half talking about transportation, he didn't file a bill. He's never filed a pension reform bill. A lot of what you're seeing is a charade. Disappointing to me because I had high hopes we were going to be able to stop the sales tax increase."


Source: Senate Session, State House News Service, 5/20/09 (Subscription required)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

MassGOP Research Briefing

In Case You Missed It!
Republican Leader Senator Richard Tisei
reads an Ode to Massachusetts Taxpayers

As delivered during the FY10 budget debate by Senator Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield):

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Then tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax, tax, tax, tax.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put words upon his tomb,
"Taxs drove me to my doom..."

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It's time to apply
The inheritance tax.


Source: Senate Republicans Blog "Scaling The Hill", 5/19/09

MassGOP Research Briefing

The Double Dip
Double Dipping Donnelly and Double Dipping Delahunt
are walking, talking reasons for pension reform...




Sen. Ken "Double Dipping" Donnelly (D-Arlington)
Total cost to taxpayers: $112,627

The Boston Herald reported on Sunday that Sen. Ken Donnelly (D-Arlington) collects a $51,187 pension on top of his $61,440 salary: "Sen. Kenneth J. "Double Dip" Donnelly of Arlington is an expert on pensions. Is he ever. He's such an expert he's grabbing $51,187 a year from the Arlington Retirement Board. Not too shabby, especially when you add in the fresh $61,440 he's collecting as successor in the state Senate to Jim Marzilli..." (The Boston Herald, 5/17/09)

Sen. Donnelly during the debate on pension reform: "We don't want to have to worry about ourselves in our old age": "We don't want to have to worry about ourselves in our old age. We want a good defined-benefit plan. The defined-benefit plan pays for itself. We will make sure people in retirement have money." (State House News Service, 3/31/09)

U.S. Congressman William "Double Dipping" Delahunt (D-Quincy)
Total cost to taxpayers: $222,623

Last summer, the Boston Herald reported that U.S. Congressman William Delahunt collects a $57,623 pension on top of his $165,000 salary: "Turns out he's not alone among the Bay State's congressional double-dippers. U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt, who gets the same $165,000 federal paycheck, takes home an even larger state pension than Olver. A former cop and prosecutor, Delahunt gets $57,623 annually from the state treasury, records show." (Boston Herald, 7/20/08)

News from the Massachusetts Republican Party

May 15, 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Edition
What we're doing
In the news from this week
How you can help


Let's Clean Up Beacon Hill!

We're all in favor of cleaning up the mess on Beacon Hill, but what about cleaning up the garbage in our neighborhoods? I've always said that Republicans should give back to the community, which is why I'm officially declaring Saturday, June 6th a Massachusetts Republican Day of Service!

Join us in volunteering to clean up Massachusetts. My staff and I will be cleaning up DeFilippo Park in the North End along with my staff. If you're in the Boston area, come and join me! We will meet at the Party Headquarters (85 Merrimac Street, Suite 400) at 10:30am. Please contact Kaitlyn Greeley at Kgreeley@massgop.com or at (617) 523-5005 X248 with any questions.

We're asking all of our Republican Town Committees to join in! RTCs all over Massachusetts will be getting involved in local projects by cleaning up parks and focusing on the environmental needs of their local community.

If you're already in an RTC, please be sure to put together a plan and share it with us. Fill out the form located at http://www.massgop.com/dayofservice.aspx.

The Massachusetts Republican Day of Service is a great way for us to demonstrate the value our party places in public service. We hope you join us in encouraging fellow Republicans and others to help clean up Massachusetts!


Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party


What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) Please join the Massachusetts Republican Party for a Young Professionals Summer Kickoff! Next week on Wednesday, May 20th, meet us at 6pm at Tia's on the Waterfront, located at 200 Atlantic Avenue. For more information, please contact our Finance Director, Lyndsay Jones, at ljones@massgop.com or at (617) 523-5005 X234.

2) We still have space available at our annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner on June 3rd featuring RNC Chairman Michael Steele! Contact Lyndsay if you're interested or if you know someone who is. This promises to be an exciting event!

The Massachusetts Republican Party still could use your help to get the word out about our Lincoln Reagan Reception - can you volunteer your time to make calls on our behalf? We will be running phone banks from our offices at 85 Merrimac St. in Boston for the Lincoln Reagan Reception from 6-8pm on Tuesday, May 19th. Please RSVP to help out by sending an email to ljones@massgop.com

In The News From This Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Boston Globe reported on Tuesday that Governor Patrick takes about six weeks of vacation each year: "That stretch includes many of the 60 weekdays when his daily calendar was empty during his first two years as governor, indicating that he had no official activities scheduled on those days, according to a Globe review of his schedule. Patrick's staff points out that he is always on call and often makes official telephone calls or sends e-mails, even during his down time. Still, the vast majority of the blank weekdays on his calendar corresponded with the governor's known summer vacations in Richmond each year, which were described in press reports at the time or were clustered around holidays such as Christmas and long weekends. The empty pages reflect the equivalent of almost six weeks of vacation or other days containing no official activities per year, a benefit beyond the reach of ordinary workers."


Of course, Deval Patrick has a history of a abandoning Massachusetts during important events


In March, the State House News Service reported that, after announcing a gas tax hike, Governor Patrick left for a weeklong vacation in Jamaica. One Democrat told the Eagle Tribune in February that Governor Patrick also left the state for Washington after announcing his gas tax hike. And who could forget when Patrick left the state the day of the House vote on his failed Casino Bill...to sign a book deal.

There's more: While Massachusetts was under flood watch last year, Governor Patrick was in Miami, the Associated Press reported last march. And every time Governor Patrick travels, the taxpayers foot the bill: "on every occasion, Patrick is accompanied by a State Police contingent whose airfare, hotels, meals and overtime are charged to taxpayers," according to the Associated Press.


One question remains: How will Governor Patrick campaign for Governor and sell his book in 2010?


Keep sending your examples of government waste to MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller at bkeller@massgop.com. We've been getting great tips!

It's time we take back Beacon Hill - forward this newsletter to everyone you know!

How You Can Help
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005 or email us at info@massgop.com.





Quick Links
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MassGOP.com - Our Website
RedMassGroup.com - Online community for Massachusetts Republican activists
Scaling The Hill - Blog for the GOP Senate Caucus - Sen. Richard Tisei, Republican Leader
The Capitol View - Blog for the GOP House Caucus - Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Republican Leader



Get in touch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party
85 Merrimac St., Suite 400
Boston, MA
02114
info@massgop.com
(617) 523-5005

The Honorable Jennifer A. Nassour, Chair - jennifer@massgop.com

State Party Staff:

Executive Director Nick Connors - nick@massgop.com
Finance Director Lyndsay Jones - ljones@massgop.com
Finance Operations Brett Kasper - bkasper@massgop.com
Communications Director Barney Keller - bkeller@massgop.com
Operations Director Kaitlyn Greeley - kgreeley@massgop.com

Saturday, May 16, 2009

MassGOP Research Briefing

Reforms That Lead To Big Savings
"Make no mistake: If Beacon Hill policy makers don't get there on Pacheco and these important reforms during this fiscal crisis, they will never take place. And if not, lawmakers will be playing Pinocchio should they later claim they did everything possible to enact savings before finally turning to taxes."
- Boston Globe Columnist Scot Lehigh, 5/15/09

Reforms that lead to big savings
The Boston Globe, 5/15/09
By Scot Lehigh, Globe Columnist


OPEN YOUR Beacon Hill misfortune cookie, and here's the prophecy you'll find inside: Higher taxes are in your future.

Now, no one wants to dig deeper, particularly in tough times. But nor do I want to have elders lose their home care or developmentally disabled kids deprived of vital programs or teachers laid off.

So I would be willing to pay more, under the right circumstances.

However, citizens have every right to expect that state leaders have done everything they reasonably can to save public dollars first. And let's be clear: That condition has not yet been met.

What further should be done? Here are several obvious reforms that could lead to big savings.
First up, that lamentable Democratic gift to the public-employee unions known as the Pacheco law, which effectively ended the state's ability to contract with private firms for services they can deliver more efficiently than state workers. Although Senator Pacheco, the measure's proud papa, denies it, I have it on good authority that his signature "accomplishment" was thought up and written by lobbyists, then given to him to file. The Legislature passed it over a gubernatorial veto back in 1993, bringing the portcullis crashing down on Bill Weld's efforts to reap public savings by tapping the private sector.

Ever since, repealing Pacheco has been a reform that dare not speak its name. Not among Democrats, anyway.

But this year, Senate Republicans, who estimate the state could save $150 million to $300 million a year by aggressively contracting out, plan to try.

"If people are really serious about saving taxpayer dollars and making government more efficient, then we have to look at sacred cows like the Pacheco law," says Senate minority leader Richard Tisei.

Amen.

Here's a second sound idea Tisei is pushing: a fiscal year 2010 state hiring and salary freeze (including "step" increases), which he estimates would save about $140 million. Wage cuts have become commonplace in the private sector; that being so, surely the state can temporarily hold level public-sector wages.

"Most people would be shocked to know we haven't done that already," Tisei notes.
Next, it's time to do away with all so-called termination pensions, which let public employees of 20 years duration start collecting at least one-third of their salary upon losing their jobs, regardless of age. That counterproductive program should be low-hanging fruit.

The state also needs to grant cities and towns either the unrestricted authority to join the state's Group Insurance Commission or GIC-like ability to design their own health-insurance offerings. Currently, every change in local health-insurance plans has to be bargained with the local unions.

"There are a lot of communities that can't get the unions to agree even to increase a $5 co-payment for a doctor's visit," reports Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

The GIC, by contrast, sets co-pays and deductibles and other insurance plan features without having to bargain the changes. If the ability of municipalities to join the GIC weren't subject to a union veto or if they had similar plan-design power, the savings would be large.

Springfield saved $14 million to $18 million in just two years by joining the GIC, according to a new study by UMass-Boston's Collins Center for Public Management and Harvard's Rappaport Institute. A 2007 report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and the Boston Municipal Research Bureau estimated that if all municipalities joined the GIC, after 10 years the total annual savings could be as much as $2.5 billion. This simple safeguard would protect employees: local health-insurance plans would have to be at least as generous as those the GIC offers.

Asked about the municipal health insurance issue on Wednesday, Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos said the Senate would consider it later. Queried about repealing the Pacheco law, he replied: "We haven't got there yet."

Make no mistake: If Beacon Hill policy makers don't get there on Pacheco and these important reforms during this fiscal crisis, they will never take place. And if not, lawmakers will be playing Pinocchio should they later claim they did everything possible to enact savings before finally turning to taxes.

Click Here For The Article Link

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Young Professionals Summer Kickoff

Please join
Jennifer Nassour
Chairman
Massachusetts Republican Party


with Host Committee

CJ Brucato, III
Gordon Carr
Francis Cueto
Vincent DeVito
Joe DiStasio
Stephen Doody
Jamie Dunbar
Robert Eno
Tara Esfahanian
Geoffrey Grove
Dan Haley
George Hardiman
Amber Hillman
Matt Keswick
Matt Lebretton
Melissa Lucas
Peter Manderino
Paul Meaney
Lauren Mikels
Matt Mincieli
Mike Motzkin
Bruce Nilson
Chanel Prunier
Brett Schetzsle
John Sivolella
Rich Wheeler
Brad Williams

for a
Young Professionals
Summer Kickoff


Tia's on the Waterfront
200 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02110

Wednesday, May 20th
6 pm - 8 pm

$75 - Sponsor
$150 - Patron
$250 - Vice Chair
$500 - Chairman

Please RSVP to LJones@MassGOP.com or
617-523-5005 ext. 234

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

MassGOP Research Briefing

When Does He Work?

Governor Patrick Has A History Of Out Of State Trips, Leaving During Important Events

When Does He Work?


Today, the Boston Globe reported that Governor Patrick takes about six weeks of vacation each year: That stretch includes many of the 60 weekdays when his daily calendar was empty during his first two years as governor, indicating that he had no official activities scheduled on those days, according to a Globe review of his schedule. Patrick's staff points out that he is always on call and often makes official telephone calls or sends e-mails, even during his down time. Still, the vast majority of the blank weekdays on his calendar corresponded with the governor's known summer vacations in Richmond each year, which were described in press reports at the time or were clustered around holidays such as Christmas and long weekends. The empty pages reflect the equivalent of almost six weeks of vacation or other days containing no official activities per year, a benefit beyond the reach of ordinary workers. (Boston Globe, 5/12/09)


The Traveling Governor: Deval Patrick has a history of a abandoning Massachusetts during important events


In March, the State House News Service reported that, after announcing a gas tax hike, Governor Patrick left for a weeklong vacation in Jamaica: "Gov. Deval Patrick will leave behind the chilly environs of the Bay State Saturday, heading for a Jamaican vacation, his office said Monday. Patrick will travel with family and friends, a spokesman said, spending the week in Jamaica before returning Friday." (SHNS, 3/3/09)

One Democrat noted that Governor Patrick also left the state for Washington after announcing his gas tax hike: "He's taking a lot of heat from Republicans for his proposed 19-cent hike in the gas tax, but at least one influential Democrat from the region is also less than impressed with Gov. Deval Patrick's leadership style. This person noted that just like a year or so ago when he skipped town as the House was about the debate the casino gambling bill, Patrick beat feet for Washington immediately after releasing the details of his latest transportation financing scheme. Upon his return the governor issued a new ultimatum: More gas tax money or higher tolls. Take it or leave it." (Eagle Tribune, 2/27/09)

Governor Patrick also left the state the day of the house vote on his failed Casino Bill: "Governor Deval Patrick traveled to New York last week to shop a proposal for an autobiography among New York publishing houses, departing the state to pursue the book contract just hours before the House voted down his high-profile casino legislation on Beacon Hill. Disclosure of the trip's purpose cleared up a mystery that has lingered since last Thursday, when Patrick aides said he had left Boston on unspecified personal business and repeatedly and firmly declined to discuss any details." (Boston Globe, 3/28/08)

While Massachusetts was under flood watch last year, Governor Patrick was in Miami: "While most of Massachusetts was under a flood watch this weekend, Gov. Deval Patrick was far from the gloom of his home state. Instead, he was in Miami, addressing the "Political OutGiving" conference of gay and lesbian fundraisers." (AP, 3/8/08)

Every time Governor Patrick travels, the taxpayers foot the bill: "While aides defend the travel, saying it is occurring for official reasons, on Patrick's personal time or to benefit Obama and not his own political ambitions, this weekend's trip shows how the lines often blur. And on every occasion, Patrick is accompanied by a State Police contingent whose airfare, hotels, meals and overtime are charged to taxpayers." (AP, 3/8/08)


Travel Alert: How will Governor Patrick campaign for Governor and sell his book?


Governor Patrick plans a nationwide "vigorous media campaign" in 2010 to sell his autobiography: The Globe reported details yesterday from a 65-page pitch letter that led to his $1.35 million advance last week from a Random House imprint. When the book is published in 2010, Patrick is planning a "vigorous media campaign," a nationwide book-signing tour, multiple speaking engagements, and efforts to persuade big corporations to buy the book in bulk. (The Boston Globe, 4/5/08)

MassGOP Research Briefing

Reform Delayed

Governor Patrick Has A History of Delay On Reform

It took Governor Patrick 16 months to file a transportation reform bill

In October 2007, Patrick's Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen said that the toll hike to $1.25 at Allston-Brighton and Weston and $3.50 at the Ted Williams and Sumner tunnels was in only a short-term solution: "Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen, who is chairman of the turnpike board, said the toll hike was only a short-term solution in anticipation of Patrick's proposed reforms, including a merger of the Turnpike Authority with the state Highway Department." (AP, 10/4/07)

Secretary Cohen called for reform "within the next year": "If a comprehensive reform of transportation does not occur within the next year that refinances the Big Dig debt, the bond covenant that we inherited will force us to come back and seek additional toll revenues,' Cohen said at the meeting." (AP, 10/4/07)
Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth): "We haven't received a transportation plan from the governor, but the Legislature will be ready to work on the proposal once it is filed." (AP, 10/4/07)


In December of 2008, legislators asked for Governor Patrick's transportation plan:

State Senator Steve Baddour (D-Methuen): "Isn't the time now to say to the board that we shouldn't go forward with a dramatic increase, that this is the time to do the minimum needed to meet the bond requirements," said Baddour, who also expressed frustration about the pace of getting a reform package to lawmakers. "We've been talking about comprehensive reform for a long time but we still haven't seen the details," he said. (AP, 12/10/08)

Sixteen months after Secretary Cohen called for reform "within the next year", Governor Deval Patrick filed a transportation reform package. (Boston Globe, 2/20/09)

Governor Patrick announced the creation of a pension reform commission...six months after the deadline

On March 22nd, Governor Patrick proposed a several pension reforms: Governor Deval Patrick laid out a series of proposed reforms to state and municipal pension systems yesterday, even though he and legislative leaders acknowledged that they are not likely to bring immediate relief to the state's budget crisis. They are needed, however, to restore public confidence in state government, he said. (Boston Globe, 3/23/09)

Governor Patrick: "It's plain to us and plain, I think, to everybody, that the abuses and loopholes in the system are discrediting the system and distracting from the good work of state government and, frankly, just making everybody mad," Patrick said in an afternoon press briefing at his State House office. "That has to end, and it has to end now." (Boston Globe, 3/23/09)


But the State House News Service reported that the pension reform commission was established six months after the deadline: The pension reform commission Gov. Deval Patrick touted with fanfare Sunday came six months after a statutory deadline for the panel's establishment. (SHNS, 3/26/09)

Governor Patrick also failed to produce a report on efficiency: Despite a recent focus on cutting state spending, budget balancing and reforming inefficient government practices, Patrick, who in January termed this a season of reform, has also failed to produce a legally required report on government-wide efficiency efforts. (SHNS, 3/26/09)

As of last week, Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) noted that Governor Patrick "never filed a pension bill.": Lawmakers have spent the early part of the two-year legislative session crafting bills to revise transportation bureaucracy, pension and ethics laws, with the vast majority of other legislation still awaiting public hearings. Murray noted that Patrick "never filed a pension bill" and that officials from his transportation department were actively collaborating with lawmakers on a compromise transportation bill. (SHNS, 4/28/09)