MassRoots

Governor Patrick Hints at Desire for Progressive Tax

2009-07-05T10:58:00.001-04:00

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"

2009-07-05T10:40:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-05T10:37:00.002-04:00

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

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

2009-06-25T20:43:00.000-04:00

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!

2009-06-25T20:42:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-25T20:40:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-06-25T20:35:00.001-04:00

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.

Nassour Names Donoghue as MassGOP Communications Director

2009-06-16T11:32:00.000-04:00

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

2009-06-16T11:21:00.008-04:00

Newsletter of the Massachusetts Republican Party

June 12, 2009

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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

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RNC Chairman Michal Steel Announces Appointments

2009-06-16T11:19:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-16T11:15:00.003-04:00

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."

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

2009-06-09T11:36:00.003-04:00

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."

The Activist

2009-06-05T19:09:00.005-04:00

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!

2009-06-05T18:59:00.004-04:00

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!

2009-06-05T18:57:00.000-04:00

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

2009-06-05T18:56:00.000-04:00

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

2009-06-05T18:55:00.000-04:00

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

2009-06-05T18:53:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-05T18:52:00.000-04:00

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

2009-06-05T18:50:00.003-04:00

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."

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

2009-05-27T17:51:00.000-04:00

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."

Keller Departing MassGOP for Lazio Committee

2009-05-26T11:03:00.000-04:00

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

2009-05-26T10:51:00.003-04:00

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

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

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-05-22T06:41:00.001-04:00

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)

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-05-19T22:57:00.001-04:00

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

2009-05-19T22:54:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-19T22:36:00.006-04:00

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

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-05-16T21:15:00.001-04:00

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

Young Professionals Summer Kickoff

2009-05-13T21:02:00.002-04:00

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

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-05-12T10:34:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-12T10:31:00.004-04:00

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)

News from the Massachusetts Republican Party

2009-05-12T10:21:00.004-04:00

May 8, 2009

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

Join with the MassGOP and RNC Chairman Michael Steele on June 3rd!

I'm pleased to announce that the date for our annual Lincoln Reagan Reception has been set, and our special guest will be Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele! The recipient of this years Lincoln Reagan Award is Ambassador Christopher Egan. The Shamie Memorial Award for Grassroots Efforts will be awarded to Susan Blais and Howard Bibeault of the Attleboro Republican City Committee.

I hope you can attend this special event with me on Wednesday, June 3rd. Chairman Steele is a proven leader who will bring the Republican Party back in Massachusetts and in America. If you're interested in attending, please contact our finance director, Lyndsay Jones, at ljones@massgop.com or at (617) 523-5005 x234.

This will be a great event and I hope to see you there!

Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party

PS - Click Here to watch Chairman Steele speak the day he was elected RNC Chairman

What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party needs 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 the following days:

Wednesday, May 13th
Thursday, May 14th
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 today that "Governor Deval Patrick in recent weeks approved state union contracts that grant 7 percent raises to tens of thousands of employees over the next three years, but, with the ink barely dry, the deteriorating economic forecast has already forced him to seek concessions.
The four-year contracts call for no raise in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, and only 1 percent next year. But starting in July 2010, state workers would get a 3 percent raise, followed by another 3 percent increase the following year."

It's nice to know that, while over 500,000 Americans lost their jobs last month, state workers are still receiving raises. How about no raises, or even pay cuts, Governor Patrick?

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

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

MassGOP Lincoln Reagan Reception

2009-05-10T07:00:00.004-04:00

The Honorable Jennifer A. Nassour, Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party, cordially invites you to attend the Second Annual

Lincoln Reagan Reception

Special Guest

Republican National Committee Chairman
The Honorable Michael Steele

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Boston Park Plaza Hotel
50 Park Plaza at Arlington Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116

4:30 pm Private Roundtable
5:30 pm Chairman's Reception
6:00 pm Award Reception

R.S.V.P. by May 27th -- 617-523-5005 ext. 234
or LJones@MassGOP.com

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-05-10T06:59:00.000-04:00

Free cars for poor fuel road rage
The Boston Herald, 5/7/09
By Hillary Chabot

Gov. Deval Patrick's free wheels for welfare recipients program is revving up despite the stalled economy, as the keys to donated cars loaded with state-funded insurance, repairs and even AAA membership are handed out to get them to work.

But the program - fueled by a funding boost despite the state's fiscal crash - allows those who end up back on welfare to keep the cars anyway.

"It's mind-boggling. You've got people out there saying, 'I just lost my job. Hey, can I get a free car, too?' " said House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading).

The Patrick administration decided last month to funnel an additional $30,000 to the nearly $400,000 annual car ownership program.

The program, which is provided by the State Department of Transitional Assistance, gives out about 65 cars a year, said DTA Commissioner Julia Kehoe.

The state pays for the car's insurance, inspection, excise tax, title, registration, repairs and a AAA membership for one year at a total cost of roughly $6,000 per car.

The program, which started in 2006, distributes cars donated by non-profit charities such as Good News Garage, a Lutheran charity, which also does the repair work on the car and bills the state.

Kehoe defended the program, saying the state breaks even by cutting welfare payments to the family - about $6,000 a year.

"If you look at the overall picture, this helps make sure people aren't staying on cash assistance. It's a relatively short payment for a long-term benefit," Kehoe said.

But Kehoe admitted about 20 percent of those who received a car ended up back on welfare, and while they lose the insurance and other benefits, they don't have to return the car.

"Given the state's fiscal condition, paying for AAA and auto inspection costs is outrageous," said Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield). "There are so many families out there trying to deal with layoffs and pay cuts. You have to wonder what the state's priorities are at this point."

Applicants for cars must have a job or prove they could get one if they had the car in order to qualify. Once they have the wheels, they must send DTA their pay stubs to prove they are employed.

To get the cars, they must be unable to reach work by public transportation and have a clean driving record. The program is only available to families on welfare with children.

Kehoe said the bulk of cars go to places with less public transportation, such as Fitchburg, New Bedford and Lowell.

"I can't believe there are no restrictions on how they use the car," Jones said. "I just don't see this as a core function of government."

Click Here For The Article Link

News From The Massachusetts Republican Party

2009-05-05T13:32:00.006-04:00

May 1, 2009

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

"Foot In Mouth Disease"
The Boston Globe, 4/30/09

On Monday, the Democrat Party voted overwhelmingly to raise the sales tax by 25%, a tax hike that threatens to put families in the poorhouse and small businesses out of business.

As we said to you earlier this week, Governor Patrick deserves zero credit for threatening to veto this tax. If he had his way, we'd have the highest gas tax in the nation. I went on New England Cable News yesterday and made the exact same point.

Again, tell your friends and neighbors: this is NOT a debate over the sales tax, this is a debate over WHICH tax. We need to spread the word far and wide!

Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party

What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party first wants to extend a big thank you to our friends over at the Western Massachusetts Republican Club. Chairman Kevin Jourdain was kind enough to extend an invitation to MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour earlier this week, and we had a great time on our visit. Nearly 100 committed Republicans filled the dining room at the Wherehouse? in Holyoke - the crowd was great!

Republican Whip Congressman Eric Cantor visits Massachusetts!

On Monday, May 11th, Republican Whip Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia will be hosting a fundraiser for the Massachusetts Republican Party! To find out more information, please contact Finance Director Lyndsay Jones at ljones@massgop.com or at (617) 523-5005 x234. Congressman Cantor is considered a rising star nationally by the Republican Party and is leading the fight in Congress against President Obama's tax-and-spend liberal agenda. We hope to see you there!

In The News From This Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour appeared on "BroadSide with Jim Braude" on NECN this week to discuss the sales tax hike, and how to bring the Massachusetts Republican Party back in to power in the Commonwealth.

Click Here To Watch The Whole Interview

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party is no longer soliciting resumes for summer internships. Thank you for all who applied. Please keep your comments and inquiries coming to info@massgop.com.

As always, we are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005.

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

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-05-05T13:21:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

"I hope he doesn't appoint Deval Patrick. Deval Patrick is a mediocre lawyer. He's a mediocre Governor, mediocre lawyer...he would not be one of these enduring types. That would be a crony appointment that might make it through the Senate because the Democrats will have 60 votes, but it would not serve the interests of the country, or the interests of Barack Obama's legacy to appoint his buddy, who is just not a great lawyer."
- Harvard Law School's Alan Dershowitz on Governor Patrick's potential as a Supreme Court Justice, MSNBC, 5/1/09

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Nassour Calls On Aloisi To Disclose Past Legal Work

2009-05-05T13:18:00.002-04:00

GOP Chairman Says Refusal To Talk "Unacceptable"

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party issued the following statement today calling on Patrick Transportation Secretary James Aloisi to disclose all of his past legal work with state transportation projects he now oversees.

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "In the interest of transparency, Secretary Aloisi should disclose all of his past legal work with transportation projects throughout Massachusetts immediately. It is unacceptable that a transportation secretary, whose involvement with the cost overruns at the Big Dig is well known, refuses to discuss his past legal work which may pose a conflict of interest with his job managing billions in transportation spending."

When Will Jim Aloisi Disclose His Past Legal Work On State Transportation Projects?

Today, the Boston Globe reports that legal bills of Patrick Administration secretary James Aloisi are the subject of a federal audit: Before James A. Aloisi Jr. became transportation secretary in January, his legal practice was involved with transportation agencies across the state. Now, some of his private sector legal bills are part of a federal audit that is holding up one of Western Massachusetts' most significant transportation projects, raising conflict-of-interest questions as the state works to move the project forward. (Boston Globe, 5/1/09)

Globe: "Aloisi's involvement with this long-stalled project highlights his many ties to the transportation system he now monitors.": Aloisi's involvement with this long-stalled project highlights his many ties to the transportation system he now monitors. In his current role, Aloisi works closely with the Federal Transit Administration on funding issues, as well as with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, which is overseeing the project and was the subject of the audit. And the state's executive office of transportation, prior to Aloisi's tenure, has directly spent millions attempting to get Union Station planned and built. (Boston Globe, 5/1/09)

Aloisi told the Boston Globe in January that he may have to recuse himself from some policy decisions because of financial ties between the turnpike authority and his previous employer: Governor Deval Patrick's new transportation secretary has acknowledged he may have to recuse himself from some policy decisions because of the extensive financial ties between his former law firm and the agencies he is now being asked to overhaul. That firm, Goulston & Storrs, where James A. Aloisi Jr. was a partner, collected $2.8 million from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and $1.6 million from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority over the past five years, Aloisi's spokesman disclosed in response to written questions from the Globe last week. Aloisi, now chairman of both agencies, declined to be interviewed yesterday. Neither Aloisi nor his spokesman elaborated on which decisions, if any, he may have to avoid. But significant limits in his participation could jeopardize his ability to direct a complicated and controversial transportation reorganization that has become a top priority on Beacon Hill. In his new job, which he assumed last week, he is expected to lead Patrick's push to restructure and bail out the bureaucracies that run roads, tunnels, bridges, subways, buses, trains, and airports. (Boston Globe, 1/22/09)

Jim "Big Dig" Aloisi - Patrick's Transportation Secretary Has A Long History With The Big Dig

The Boston Herald reported that Aloisi is a long time Big-Dig insider, and was also the chief defender of James Kerasiotes, who was fired for concealing cost overruns: Because of his familiarity with the project's inner workings, Aloisi has remained involved in the Big Dig as an outside legal consultant - work for which he has billed the state more than $3 million. He was also the chief defender of former Big Dig Boss James Kerasiotes, who was fired for concealing billions of dollars in cost overruns. (Boston Herald, 12/14/06)

The Associated Press also noted that Aloisi was an advisor to former Turnpike chief Matt Amorello: He also helped advise former Turnpike Chairman Matthew Amorello in the wake of last July's fatal accident in one of the Big Dig tunnels, helping convince Amorello his legal options were running out in the face of efforts by Gov. Mitt Romney to oust him. Amorello eventually resigned. (Associated Press, 12/14/06)

The Worcester Telegram and Gazette Editorialized that Aloisi presided over "a golden age of patronage, waste, abuse and political manipulation.": When word got out that lawyer James A. Aloisi Jr., a well-wired mover and shaker in Democratic politics, was being considered for the position of state transportation secretary in the Patrick administration, reporters' questions focused on his billing for legal work relating to the Big Dig. Far more troubling is his record at the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.As general counsel, he and former chairman Allan R. McKinnon presided over a golden age of patronage, waste, abuse and political manipulation. (Telegram and Gazette, 12/17/06)

The Boston Herald reported that Aloisi received a state pension while consulting for the Turnpike authority as recently as last year: New transportation secretary James Aloisi has made big money off the Big Dig debacle, rolling up in the past two years nearly $1 million in his law firm's consulting fees from the Turnpike Authority while taking a $31,000 a year pension from the state agency. Critics blasted the transportation chief - who was profiting as a consultant from the $22 billion boondoggle as recently as last year - for taking $343,000 in pension payments while also working for the state...Aloisi, who's been on the new job for four days, worked for the state and the Turnpike Authority for almost 18 years combined, and began taking early retirement in 1996. Shortly afterward, he went to work for the now defunct law firm Hill and Barlow, which was a Big Dig consultant. Aloisi also collected consulting fees when the Turnpike later hired his firm Goulston and Storrs, taking in a total of $3 million off the project. (Boston Herald, 1/15/09)

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-05-05T13:16:00.001-04:00

Deval Patrick hires more pals
Reform-preaching gov adds 3 to plum posts
The Boston Herald, 5/1/09

By Dave Wedge

Gov. Deval Patrick - pushing new taxes and preaching reform - continues to practice old-style patronage politics, handing his campaign manager's sister a plum six-figure gig and hiring her close pal to an $83,000-a-year post.

Patrick, whose job approval rating has plummeted in the wake of a string of hiring controversies, gave his former campaign manager - and current state Democratic Party chairman - John Walsh's sister Patty Vantine a $105,000-a-year position at the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Vantine, a former bean counter for the state Democratic Party, had been making $85,000 working in the human resources division.

The Herald also has learned that Patrick hired Martina Jackson, a longtime campaign supporter and member of the Democratic State Committee, as the $65,000-a-year communications director for the Department of Elder Affairs.

Walsh said of his sister: "Patty is qualified for the position and was selected for the position after applying on her own."

Vantine, who has donated $1,200 to the governor since 2005, didn't wait long to make her mark, swiftly hiring her pal, Kathleen Reilly, as a DCR "fiscal officer."

Reilly, who lives near Vantine in their hometown of Abington, formerly worked in state government but had been a stay-at-home mom before landing the $83,000 post.

Reilly is also a Patrick supporter, donating $500 in 2006.

Jackson, who formerly served as director of the nonprofit Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty, has donated $750 to Patrick since 2005, records show.

Patrick this week has clashed with legislative leaders, slamming their plan to hike the sales tax, instead calling for a higher gas tax and other "targeted" increases. He also blasted lawmakers for dragging their feet on ethics, pension and transportation reforms.

"I feel very, very strongly about this reform agenda, and if we can't get it by conversation, we'll have to turn up the volume," Patrick said.

DCR Commissioner Rick Sullivan called Vantine and Reilly "highly qualified and hardworking" and said, "They are valued members of the team at DCR."

Sullivan said Vantine has 20 years of experience and received the "well-deserved" position in July "while retaining her duties as human resources director."

Elder Affairs spokesman Juan Martinez said Jackson "serves an important role," coordinating the state's Grandparents Commission and organizing community events.

The governor has come under fire for hiring a Milton neighbor to a $120,000 state job, four administration officials to six-figure posts at quasi-public agencies, and two staffers to high-paying jobs at the cash-strapped Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

Patrick also took a major political hit after tapping Sen. Marian Walsh for a $175,000 quasi-public-agency gig, which she later rejected.

The governor suffered yet another blow when it was revealed that the sister of his transportation czar, Jim Aloisi, had a $60,000-a-year do-nothing State House post.

Click Here For The Article Link

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-30T06:42:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

"If we put in more people down here, for every dollar we put in, we get nearly $10,000. We can solve all of our financial problems. I'm going to offer a further amendment that we put $10 million in here. We can relish a billion dollars. Are you listening to me Mr. Speaker? I can't believe what this office does. This is unbelievable."

- Rep. Angelo Scaccia (D-Boston), in response to Rep. David Linksy's (D-Natick) suggestion that for each dollar spent on Governor Patrick's Washington DC Office, Massachusetts receives $10,000. A GOP Amendment to eliminate the funding was rejected by the Democrat Party 49-107.

Source: House Session, State House News Service, 4/28/09 (Subscription Required)

Fight the Sales Tax!

2009-04-28T21:41:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, the Democrat Party voted overwhelmingly to raise the sales tax by 25%.

This tax hike will hurt small businesses and working families even more than the Democrat liberal tax-and-spend policies have already. Click here to see if your Representative voted to hike the sales tax by 25%.

Governor Patrick deserves zero credit for threatening to veto this tax. If he had his way, we'd have the highest gas tax in the nation, and higher taxes on candy, beer, meals, and hotels.

We need your help to get the word out: this is NOT a debate over the sales tax, this is a debate over WHICH tax.

Can you take five minutes right now and write a letter to the editor opposing a sales tax hike and the Governor's proposed gas tax hike?

We need grassroots supporters like you to cut through Governor Patrick's desperate political posturing. He wants people to think that he's opposed to higher taxes, but that's just not true!

Write a letter to the Editor today!
The Boston Globe - letter@globe.com
The Boston Herald - letterstoeditor@bostonherald.com
The Worcester Telegram - letters@telegram.com
The Patriot Ledger - editpage@ledger.com
The Metrowest Daily News - mdnletters@cnc.com
The Sentinel & Enterprise - Letters@SentinelAndEnterprise.com
The Lowell Sun - backtalk@lowellsun.com
The Eagle-Tribune - kjohnson@eagletribune.com
The Springfield Republican - http://www.masslive.com/contactus/
The Cape Cod Times - letters@capecodonline.com
The Berkshire Eagle - letters@berkshireeagle.com

Thanks for all your support.

Yours in Victory,
Barney Keller
MassGOP Communications Director

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-28T10:57:00.001-04:00

It's Funny How That Happened...Part 2!
A Poll Driven Governor Changes His Tune On Reform?

"Meaningless slogan"

-Governor Patrick's Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, on "reform before revenue". (State House News Service, 3/4/09)

"The Legislature, 42%; The Governor, 32%"

- Results of a poll question asking "Who do you trust more to solve the state's economic problems - the Governor or the Legislature?" (Suffolk University, 3/25/09)

"What we have right now is just not good enough."

-Governor Deval Patrick on the Transportation reform bills in the legislature, six weeks after his transportation secretary called "Reform before revenue" a "meaningless slogan."
(Boston Globe, 4/14/09)

Updated! Governor now claims he opposes sales tax without "reform."

"I've always been about reform before revenue, but it's more than that, it's change before revenue."

-Governor Deval Patrick today on why he threatened to veto a sales tax, despite his support of a gas tax.
(State House News Service, 4/27/09)

News From The Massachusetts Republican Party

2009-04-28T10:41:00.005-04:00

April 24, 2009

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

"Your Caption Here"

AFL-CIO Union Boss Robert Haynes speaks with a man in a Clown suit at a rally for The Boston Globe
State House News Service, 4/24/09

Send Your Best Ideas To Bkeller@MassGOP - Best Idea Wins A 1/6/11 Bumper Sticker!

Run, baby, run.

The opportunity is there for us. A recent Rasmussen poll pegged Democrat Governor Deval Patrick's approval rating at a anemic 34%. Even better, a 70% of voters believe that Massachusetts is on its way back to reclaiming the nickname "Taxachusetts."

I don't blame them. This week, we've heard rumblings that the Democrat Legislature is ready to hike the sales tax by 40%! We can fight back by offering the voters a choice in November. Do you know someone who is interested in running for office? Email our Executive Director Nick Connors at nick@massgop.com. My goal is to run as many Republican candidates as possible in November 2010, but I need your help to do it!

We just finished our final "MassGOP Grassroots Fourm." I've collected many great ideas and insights, and I'll be trying to put them to good use as we make strides towards victory in 2010.

Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party

What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're gearing up for a big fight over the Democrat Legislature's attempt to hike the Sales Tax by 40%. House Republicans are joining with the state's retailers at a monday press conference to oppose the sales tax increase.

You can help send the message to Democrats on Beacon Hill too. This is going to require a lot of grassroots mobilization on your part - here's how you can help:

1) Write Letters to the Editor

The Boston Globe - letter@globe.com
The Boston Herald - letterstoeditor@bostonherald.com
The Worcester Telegram - letters@telegram.com
The Patriot Ledger - editpage@ledger.com
The Metrowest Daily News - mdnletters@cnc.com
The Sentinel & Enterprise - Letters@SentinelAndEnterprise.com
The Lowell Sun - backtalk@lowellsun.com
The Eagle-Tribune - kjohnson@eagletribune.com
The Springfield Republican - http://www.masslive.com/contactus/
The Cape Cod Times - letters@capecodonline.com
The Berkshire Eagle - letters@berkshireeagle.com

Here are some talking points for you to use:

I oppose the 40% increase in the sales tax
State Government has grown too big and they spend too much
Since they haven't stopped the outrageous pension abuses, wasteful spending, and patronage hires, why should we have to pay more?
I'll be voting Republican in November to send someone fiscally responsible to Beacon Hill
Let us know when you write a letter! Send it to info@massgop.com

2) Contact your local legislator

Legislators listen when they hear from their constituents. Call the State House at (617) 722-2000 and ask to speak to your State Representative or State Senator. Let them know you oppose the 40% increase in the sales tax.

For a list of Representatives by city and town click here.

3) Donate to the MassGOP!

We're going to need all the help we can get to fight the special interests on Beacon Hill. Can you make a donation of $5, $10, or $25 to the Massachusetts Republican Party today? Every dollar you give helps us move towards victory in 2010, so please donate today!

In The News From This Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Turnpike-Fiasco news, the Boston Herald reported this week that "Frustrated Pike drivers plagued by traffic jams and potential toll hikes will face the additional insult of decaying roads and ramps after Patrick administration officials decided to block federal stimulus funds to the troubled roadway."

Great work - It's not like there's an impending toll hike or anything...

Got an example of government waste? Send it to MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller at bkeller@massgop.com.

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

How You Can Help
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party is no longer soliciting resumes for summer internships. Thank you for all who applied. Please keep your comments and inquiries coming to info@massgop.com.

As always, we are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005.

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

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

Moth Man

2009-04-28T10:37:00.001-04:00

Legislator Proposes Hikes In Income Taxes, Sales Tax, Control of Winter Moth

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party issued the following statement today revealing Rep. Matt 'Moth Man' Patrick's (D-Falmouth) alter-ego as a taxpayer villain. Matt 'Moth Man' Patrick has proposed to hike the income and sales tax while also spending $150,000 to 'control and eliminate' the winter moth.

MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller said, "It appears Matt 'Moth Man' Patrick is some kind of taxpayer villain who raises taxes by day and kills moths by night. Matt 'Moth Man' Patrick ought to 'control and eliminate' his outrageous earmark and the Legislature ought to swat his proposal to hike the income and sales tax."

Losing Your Job? At least Rep. Matt "Moth Man" Patrick (D-Falmouth) will take care of the Winter Moth for you

Rep. Matt Patrick has proposed spending "$150,000 to the University of Massachusetts Agricultural Department to continue a program to control and eliminate the Winter Moth worm." (Click Here To See Patrick's Earmark)

Rep. Matt Patrick has also proposed increasing the sales tax to 6% and the income tax to 6.3%. (Click Here To See Patrick's Amendment to raise the sales tax and to raise the income tax)

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-28T10:36:00.000-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

Email exchanges with Patrick's office reveal Wilkerson's tenacity
Commonwealth Magazine, Spring 2009
By Colman M. Herman

The federal affidavits filed in conjunction with the bribery investigation of former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson reveal how relentless she could be in pursuing policies and projects of interest to her alleged benefactors. Nowhere is that more evident than in her dealings over the years with Gov. Deval Patrick and his staff, according to emails obtained by CommonWealth from the governor's office under the state's Public Records Law.

"I had a less than pleasant meeting with Sen. Wilkerson today," writes Joan Wallace-Benjamin, the governor's former chief of staff, in a March 2007 email to other top administration officials, including David Simas, deputy chief of staff, and Michael Morris, director of government affairs. "You guys have got to keep her better informed and show her the respect to which she feels as a senator she is entitled."

Wallace-Benjamin goes on to say that Wilkerson is upset that she had not been invited to meetings on gaming that the governor had with legislators. "So please, David and team," Wallace-Benjamin implores, "call her, speak with her about her legislation and what she needs and wants from us and the governor. She also wants to meet with him.... This needs immediate action."

In the same email, Wallace-Benjamin laments that Wilkerson "admonished me that we have more (new) Republicans working on our agencies than African-Americans and the community is ripped! The Latino community is up in arms as well; and you all know we have received a binder of talent from the Asian community."

Wallace-Benjamin then lists 11 people she wants hired. According to public records, five of them are now on the state payroll.

Another email exchange in December 2007 about an awarding of federal justice assistance grants reveals how Wilkerson's tirades could ricochet with lightning speed through the Patrick administration. Layla D'Emilia-Shepherd of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security emailed Patrick's chief of staff, Doug Rubin, and two other officials after a phone call Wilkerson had with D'Emilia-Shepherd's boss, Secretary of Public Safety Kevin Burke. "Burke just got off [the] phone with Wilkerson," she writes. "She is pissed. Heads up."

Rubin apparently got an earful in person, since he later wrote back to D'Emilia-Shepherd: "She just left my office. You are right, she is upset."

The records also suggest Wilkerson was active in pushing for Columbus Center, a proposed development spanning the Massachusetts Turnpike in the South End. The chief developer of Columbus Center is Arthur Winn, who has admitted giving Wilkerson a $10,000 gift.

In a June 2007 email, an administration official refers to a call Wilkerson had made to Rubin and Morris asserting that the Columbus Center proposal "isn't moving fast enough." The next day, Morris emailed colleagues to express his concern. "Sen. Wilkerson just called me again to say she has not heard from anyone," Morris writes. "Can someone call her and give her an update? She is going to be with the governor tomorrow at a bill signing so I would like someone to reach out to her before she complains to him."

In another email, this one in January 2008 from Wilkerson to Morris, she blasts Burke for his handling of legislation dealing with criminal offender records. "This entire process and how it was handled by the secretary and his staff has been outrageous.... We were flat-out lied to," Wilkerson writes. "I am completely out of patience.... Unless and until you rethink the process, I am not interested in spending any more time trying to work with the administration."

She did, however. Patrick's records indicate that he met with Wilkerson twice more. In June 2008, for example, Wilkerson's chief of staff emailed Patrick's office asking for a meeting outside the State House. That meeting, which took place on June 25, dealt with Wilkerson's campaign, according to a Patrick spokesperson.

While Patrick's legal counsel has handed over about 45 documents to CommonWealth dealing with the administration's interactions with Wilkerson, he refused to release nine other records. On seven of them, he cited the Public Records Law's deliberative process exemption, which shields documents from public scrutiny that are part of an ongoing public policy development process. The two remaining documents were excluded under the claim of attorney-client privilege.

Patrick's lawyer also cited a previous Supreme Judicial Court decision that the governor has interpreted as exempting him entirely from the Public Records Law. Patrick's aides say he voluntarily complies with most records requests, but a recent review by CommonWealth of public records requests made to the governor found that it is not uncommon for him to withhold documents.

Last year CommonWealth ran a cover story on the weakness of the state's Public Records Law. (See "Paper Tiger," CW, Fall '08.) Rep. Antonio Cabral of New Bedford has filed legislation that would toughen the law in a few respects, but it does not address the issue of whether or not the governor is covered. (See "Rep. Cabral to Push Public Records Bill," CW, Winter '09.) Cabral is anticipating a hearing on his bill in a month or two. The legislation, Cabral says, could be folded into an ethics reform bill.

Click Here For The Article Link

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-28T10:32:00.001-04:00

FLASHBACK: Legislature Overwhelmingly Supported 2008 Sales Tax Holiday

Note:
The House voted 140-15 to enact 2008 sales tax holiday (Roll Call #440) (Click Here For Roll Call)
The Senate voted 31-6 to enact 2008 sales tax holiday (Roll Call #293) (Click Here For Roll Call)
Governor Patrick signed the 2008 sales tax holiday (Click Here To View Bill History)

Sen. President Murray called the sales tax holiday "welcome more than ever in this difficult economy.": "The sales tax holiday would be welcome more than ever in this difficult economy, providing consumers with some necessary relief while boosting sales and consumer confidence," Sen. President Therese Murray, SHNS, 6/12/08

Speaker DiMasi called it a "much needed boost to retailers": "For the past four years, thanks to the Legislature's economic stimulus bills, the sales tax holiday has served as a great incentive to consumers in Massachusetts and provided a much-needed boost to retailers in the otherwise slow sales month of August. There is no doubt this year that consumers need a break and that retailers need a shot in the arm. I believe the state can afford the sales tax holiday and I am going to encourage members to support it when we consider the bill - hopefully next week." - Former Speaker Sal DiMasi, SHNS, 7/18/08

Speaker DeLeo said it would bring "much-needed relief to the average shopper.": `Bottom line, I believe the state will lose money, but I also think this brings some much-needed relief to the average shopper,'' - Speaker Robert Deleo, Boston Herald, 7/22/08

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-28T10:30:00.000-04:00

Stimulus famine for Pike
Highway won't see dime of federal funds
The Boston Herald, 4/23/09
By Hillary Chabot

Frustrated Pike drivers plagued by traffic jams and potential toll hikes will face the additional insult of decaying roads and ramps after Patrick administration officials decided to block federal stimulus funds to the troubled roadway.

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Executive Director Alan LeBovidge was told by Transportation Secretary James Aloisi on Tuesday that the debt-riddled highway wouldn't get any of the $438 million in federal stimulus funding reserved for state transportation projects.

"Obviously we're disappointed because we could certainly use the money," said LeBovidge, who announced yesterday the department faces a $9.5 million deficit. "That's the way the cookie crumbles."

The decision means motorists who cough up cash daily to drive on the Pike will see $19.55 million in needed bridge and roadwork delayed, while the stimulus cash is awarded to untolled roads across the state.

"It's outrageous that the toll payer is left holding the bag here. This is federal money and everyone should benefit," said Pike board member Mary Connaughton. "I hope it's not a sign of things to come when the state takes over the Turnpike."

The bad news comes as LeBovidge took the blame again for the disastrous Easter traffic jam as he scrambled to bolster customer service yesterday. The embattled Pike chief delayed cutting 50 toll takers in an effort to ensure tollbooths will be fully staffed during the upcoming high-traffic holidays.

"We are focusing on customer service, and we will do everything to maximize that," LeBovidge said, after admitting he ignored warnings from his staff that his choice to reduce toll takers and overtime would create the Easter gridlock.

"I regret a lot of things," LeBovidge said when asked if he should have listened to his staffers. A full account of the decisions that led to the eight-mile backup is due tomorow.

Also yesterday, Turnpike board members voted to keep Fast Lane transponders free of charge at their morning meeting in Auburn, where they rehashed the preliminary details of the gridlock.

Pike officials reversed a policy cutting staff and overtime, and vowed to create staffing plans for holidays and weekends to avoid future tie-ups.

According to data provided by the Pike, drivers were backed up for eight miles at 6:52 p.m. April 12 and were still in bumper-to-bumper traffic for seven miles at 11 p.m.

As for the decision not to use stimulus dough for Pike repairs, Aloisi spokesman Colin Durrant said the toll road's projects were on a large list of needed fix-ups throughout the state, and there was limited cash. Basic Pike maintenance will continue.

Click Here For The Article Link

MassGOP Slams Democrat Tax Hikes

2009-04-28T10:26:00.001-04:00

Nassour To Legislature: Enough is Enough

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party issued the following statement today criticizing the Democrat budget amendments that raise taxes on the people of Massachusetts.

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "Families are struggling these days, and yet state government is still out of control. Last year, every Republican voted against an irresponsible Democrat budget that spent too much. With Republican leadership in the Massachusetts Legislature, we will restore fiscal discipline and relieve the crushing burden of high taxes on Massachusetts families."

"The Terrible 22" - 22 Budget Amendments That Raise Taxes On Massachusetts Families

Kocot, Peter V. (D-Northampton) - Has filed an amendment to add a 3% local option meals tax (Amendment #26)

Kocot, Peter V. (D-Northampton) - Has filed an amendment to add a 5% sales tax to services including email, Internet sales, online banking (Amendment #28)

Clark, Katherine M. (D-Melrose) - Has filed an amendment to add the "beer tax" (Amendment #131)

Bowles, Bill (D-Attleboro) - Has filed an amendment increasing the state room occupancy tax rate 1% and increasing the state meals tax 1% (Amendment #201)

Scaccia, Angelo M. (D-Boston) - Has filed an amendment to add a 1% meals tax (Amendment #225)

Scaccia, Angelo M. (D-Boston) - Has filed an amendment to add a 2% meals tax (Amendment #226)

Sanchez, Jeffrey (D-Boston) - Has filed an amendment that levies a 10% sales tax on non-nutritious foods collected monthly by the Department Of Revenue, an $8 per gallon sold levy on wholesale dealers, and 80 cent levies on powdered soft drinks and liquid soft drinks sold (Amendment #348)

Moran, Michael J. (D-Boston) - Has filed an amendment to tax non-profit organizations at a rate of 25% of the commercial real property rate (Amendment #413)

Hecht, Jonathan (D-Watertown) - Has filed an amendment that expands the definition of smokeless tobacco products, increases taxes on smoking tobacco at 90% of the wholesale price of tobacco products, and increases the tax rate on smokeless tobacco from 25% to 45% (Amendment #499)

Atkins, Cory (D-Concord) - Has filed an amendment to increase the sales tax on candy, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages (Amendment #521)

Khan, Kay (D-Newton) - Has filed an amendment to add a 5% tax on alcoholic beverages purchased from a liquor store (Amendment #534)

Wolf, Alice K. (D-Cambridge) - Has filed an amendment to increase the retail excise tax to 7% (Amendment # 561)

Malia, Elizabeth A. (D-Boston) - Has filed an amendment to eliminate the sales tax exemption on Alcohol (Amendment #584)

Patrick, Matthew (D-Falmouth) - Has filed an amendment to increase the income tax from 5.3% to 6.3% (Amendment #635)

Patrick, Matthew (D-Falmouth) - Has filed an amendment to increase the state sales tax to 6% (Amendment #639)

Brownsberger, William N. (D-Belmont) and Peisch, Alice H. (D-Wellesley) - Have filed amendments eliminating the exemption for gasoline and special fuels from the tax on sales of certain tangible and personal property (Amendment #659 and #835)

Khan, Kay (D-Newton) - Has filed an amendment to increase the gas tax by 29 cents to 50 cents per gallon (Amendment #676)

Balser, Ruth B. (D-Newton) - Has filed an amendment to allow local option 3% meals tax and up to a 6% rooms tax (Amendment #698)

Balser, Ruth B. (D-Newton) - Has filed an amendment to increase the state sales tax from 5% to 6% (Amendment #699)

Sciortino, Carl M., Jr. (D-Somerville) - Has filed an amendment to removes exemptions on classifications of corporations that will effectively require more businesses to be subject to the corporate excise tax of 10.5% (Amendment #712)

Sciortino, Carl M., Jr. (D-Somerville) - Has filed an amendment to increase the state sales tax by 2% (Amendment #717)

Walz, Martha M. (D-Boston) - Has filed an amendment that increases the state gas tax by 25 cents to 46 cents per gallon effective July 1, 2009. Pegs future increases to inflation. (Amendment #892)

Source: House Budget Site

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-21T13:11:00.001-04:00

Rasmussen: 65% Disapprove Of Patrick Job Performance
57% "Not Likely" To Vote For Patrick Again

"Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, embroiled in a budget crisis like many state chief executives these days, may need to be thinking about another line of work. Just 33% of Massachusetts voters say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for the Democratic incumbent if he seeks reelection in 2010. Nineteen percent (19%) say they're not very likely to do so, and 38% say they aren't likely at all to vote for Patrick, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Bay State voters. One-third of the state's voters (34%) now approve of the job Patrick is doing as governor, including only eight percent (8%) who Strongly Approve." (Rasmussen Reports, 4/21/09)

Rasmussen Poll conducted 4/16/09, 500 Likely Voters, MOE 4.5%

Q: How would you rate the job Deval Patrick has been doing as Governor... do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he's been doing?

8% Strongly approve
26% Somewhat approve
26% Somewhat disapprove
39% Strongly disapprove

Total Approve: 34%
Total Disapprove: 65%

Q: How likely is it that you will vote for Deval Patrick for Governor in next year's gubernatorial election?

13% Very likely
20% Somewhat likely
19% Not very likely
38% Not at all likely

Total Likely: 33%
Total Not Likely: 57%

Q: Who did a better job as Governor - Deval Patrick or Mitt Romney?

32% Deval Patrick
49% Mitt Romney

Source: Rasmussen.com

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-21T13:10:00.001-04:00

Can DeLeo Control His Members?
Democrat State Rep. Yells At Speaker DeLeo, Then Secures Votes Against His Budget

On Wednesday, Rep. Christopher Fallon was "jabbing [DeLeo] in the chest" over funding cuts to the Quinn Bill: A painful no-new-taxes budget purged of earmarks and pet projects has infuriated some House lawmakers - prompting at least one violent outburst against new House Speaker Robert DeLeo this week. State Rep. Christopher Fallon (D-Malden) exploded at DeLeo during a Wednesday evening fund-raiser in Stoneham - jabbing him in the chest with his finger because he was upset that $50 million for the controversial Quinn Bill was cut, according to two lawmakers who attended the event. "He was really screaming, and he went right at (DeLeo)," said one lawmaker who requested anonymity, adding that onlookers were "horrified." (Boston Herald, 4/18/09)

On Monday, The Boston Globe reports that 81 members have signed up to back restoration of funding to the Quinn Bill: Massachusetts police unions have won enough early support in the House to restore $50 million to the budget and protect generous pay bonuses for police officers who hold college degrees, securing a potential victory even as groups representing the homeless and disadvantaged struggle for funding. Police already have at least 81 representatives signed up to back their cause, a majority of the 160-member House, assuring a win during next week's budget debate unless House leaders try to reverse the tide...House members who signed on to two amendments to restore the money said the full range of police compensation and education incentives needed to be protected during a recession. "I don't know if you can emphasize enough the impacts of having an educated police force," said Representative Christopher G. Fallon, a Malden Democrat and lead sponsor of the amendment to restore funding. (Boston Globe, 4/21/09)

GOP Selects Worcester For 2010 Convention

2009-04-20T18:47:00.001-04:00

Convention To Showcase Grassroots, Stimulate Economy

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party announced today that they will hold their 2010 convention in Worcester at the DCU Center. The convention will take place on April 16th and April 17th. Thousands of delegates and guests from across Massachusetts are expected to attend. The party convention will serve to nominate Republican candidates for statewide office, adopt the party platform, and showcase the ideals and leadership of the Massachusetts Republican Party.

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "I am excited to have our 2010 convention in the great City of Worcester. I want to thank Convention Site Selection Committee Chairman Jeanne Kangas and everyone on the committee for their hard work in finding a great location. Worcester and the surrounding area is not only a great place to live, but it also contains strong Republican grassroots, and I am confident that our convention will showcase our strengths and will demonstrate to the Commonwealth why taxpayers benefit from strong Republican leadership on Beacon Hill. The Massachusetts Republican Party is blessed to have dedicated and impassioned activists and principles that ring true and clear with Massachusetts voters. In Worcester, we will continue to grow this party from the grassroots up, building a strong base from which we can launch winning campaigns."

Worcester City Manager Michael V. O'Brien said, "We are very pleased that Worcester was chosen as host of the 2010 Massachusetts Republican State Convention. The strengths of the Commonwealth are represented in Worcester in so many ways, and we are honored to have the opportunity to showcase our City's vibrancy, eclectic restaurants, cultural attractions, and neighborhoods. Worcester promises to deliver an exciting and unique experience for all."

Holding the convention in Worcester will infuse up to $100,000 in direct spending into the local economy, according to Patrick Lynch, executive director of Destination Worcester, a group that serves as Worcester's primary destination marketing organization, promoting Worcester as a meeting and event destination.

Destination Worcester Executive Director Patrick Lynch said, "Destination Worcester was very happy to hear from the Republican Party on their selection of Worcester for their 2010 convention. These types of events produce media attention and ancillary events that increase the economic impact within the community."

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-20T18:46:00.000-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

Jim Aloisi less that masterful
Boston Herald, 4/19/09
By Dave Wedge

Gov. Deval Patrick's transportation czar, Jim Aloisi, is under intense fire from angry commuters and taxpayers - and he may also have angered another potent group: Harvard University alums.

Aloisi's bio, posted on state Web sites, lists him as having a "Master of Liberal Arts from Harvard University." But he obtained his degree through the Harvard Extension School, an offshoot of the Ivy League college that has open enrollment and is widely viewed as a separate, less prestigious entity.

The discrepancy has caused similar headlines in the past, including in 2005, when teen pop star Hillary Duff claimed she was taking classes at Harvard but was actually at the Extension School.
Other pols are keenly wary of the difference. State Rep. Bradley H. Jones (R-N. Reading) lists on his bio that he received his degree from Harvard Extension School.

Aloisi's spokesman, Colin Durrant, said of the flap: "I can confirm he did receive his master in liberal arts from the Extension School at Harvard University, so as far as the bio is concerned it is a master from Harvard University."

Tell that to Hillary Duff . . .

Click Here To Read The Whole Article

News From The Massachusetts Republican Party

2009-04-19T07:04:00.007-04:00

April 17, 2009

In This Edition

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

Boston Herald, 4/15/09

I hope that you had an enjoyable holiday weekend with friends and family...when you weren't stuck in a massive backup caused by the arrogance of the Patrick-Murray Administration.

To make matters worse, budget season is upon us, and I'm sure many of you are hearing of the potential for massive tax hikes to stave off spending cuts. Recently, the Patrick-Murray administration announced millions of dollars in more cuts to balance a budget that every Republican legislator voted against.

These spending cuts are tough medicine forced on the public by the failure of the Governor and the Legislature to lead on reform. Sadly, under the current Beacon Hill leadership, the only way we will see smaller, more efficient government is when the flow of tax dollars is reduced either through a tough economy or tax cuts. The Democrats and Governor Patrick don't understand the plight of Massachusetts families, because if they did, their slogan would be 'reform, not revenue.' Instead, we have a Legislature incapable of passing real reform, a Governor insistent on raising taxes, and leaders who have lost the public trust.

In other news, six "MassGOP Grassroots Fourms" are now complete with only one left! I've collected many great ideas and insights from those of you who came out to the first six, and I hope that you will join me in Boxborough for the last one (of this series at least!).

Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party

What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We hope you can join us for our last MassGOP Grassroots Forum in Boxborough next Thursday? The MassGOP Grassroots Forums are bringing together people from across the Commonwealth to share their ideas and thoughts on how to elect more Republicans, organize at the local level, and work collaboratively on grassroots initiatives. We want to thank everyone who joined us in Andover and Wrocester!

As part of the MassGOP Grassroots Forums, the Massachusetts Republican Party is also launching a Charitable Service Program. The Party asks that every attendee of each regional forum bring an item that will be donated directly to the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Siters (BBBS).

Below is the details for the last forum in Boxborough - with any questions please contact Kaitlyn Greeley at kgreeley@massgop.com.

Forum #7
Thursday, April 23rd, 7pm-9pm
Boxborough Town Hall
29 Middle Road
Boxborough

Attendees are asked to bring school supplies, books, or arts and crafts for BBBS.

In The News From This Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Turnpike-Fiasco news, NECN had a great story this week demonstrating how the Patrick administration intentionally caused the back up at the tolls.

And if you didn't believe already that there's still waste to be cut from state government, check out this story about a double-dipping ex-Democrat lawmaker.

Got an example of government waste? Send it to MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller at bkeller@massgop.com.

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

How You Can Help
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party is no longer soliciting resumes for summer internships. Thank you for all who applied. Please keep your comments and inquiries coming to info@massgop.com.

As always, we are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005.

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

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-19T07:01:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!
Senator Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield) on the Easter Sunday Toll Backup

"The reason they did it was to scare people into supporting a 19-cent or 29-cent - whatever it is - gas tax. It crossed the line when you're playing with people's lives."
- State House News Service, 4/16/09

Click Here To Read The Whole Article

On Rebuilding The Party

2009-04-15T22:16:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends,

Since late January, I have been privileged to be chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party and to work every day with activists and State Committee members who are devoted to the growth and success of our party. Together, we share a common goal of strengthening the Massachusetts Republican Party around the core principles of limited government, individual responsibility, and personal freedoms. I am writing this note after hearing and reading some of the recent discussion circulating about our Party.

Many of you have read my interview with Bay Windows and some good conservatives have expressed their concern with the tone and texture of my remarks regarding the importance of social issues in our political dialogue and debate. I welcome this discussion. Unlike the Democrats, we can have these opinions and free exchanges. As a married mother of two children, I am very aware of the importance of promoting and supporting strong families in every aspect of their lives. I do take issue with the public airing of our differences that do little but serve a narrow interest and give comfort to the liberal Democrats who are more than eager to promote an agenda outside mainstream of Massachusetts values.

My public comments in many venues express a desire to focus our party on the core principles and issues which unite all Republicans and provide a positive message to un-enrolled voters and many moderate to conservative Democrats. The strength of a majority party lies in strong agreement on what matters most to better the lives of all. For Massachusetts Republicans it is freedom from government, to keep more of our hard earned wealth, to demand reform and choices in our schools, to maintain public order and to provide for those in true need. Many of the social issues are critical to this discussion, but not at the exclusion of what unites us all.

As your chairman, I have worked to promote this agenda and keep our door open to anyone who shares our desire to make Massachusetts great again, and we will if we stand together on what unites us as Republicans and not demand loyalty tests or ideological measurements.

I look forward to working with all Republicans throughout the Commonwealth to form a winning team. We cannot afford to be delayed or sidetracked by differences. If we have them, let’s talk. I am ready to do that and move our shared values and agenda forward to all Massachusetts voters.

The discussion reminds me of past challenges the party faced, in particular, by Ray Shamie, Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party from 1986 to 1990. Mr. Shamie was undeniably one of the best leaders to serve our party, and if you haven't already, I recommend reading an excellent book, "Time for a Change: The Return of the Republican Party in Massachusetts.”

The book is essentially a biography of the MassGOP during much of Shamie's tenure, and it illustrates how he led the party to electoral success. In 1990, under Ray’s leadership, Republicans won 17 State Senate seats. We won nearly 50 House seats. We won the Governor’s Office. We won the Treasurer’s Office.

Simply put, Ray Shamie was a winner.

But even Shamie had his doubters. His strong conservative beliefs worried some of the party's most active members. In fact, according to the book, in 1990, “White House aide Andrew Card said he was initially concerned about the effect of Shamie’s tenure on the Party. Card said candidly he did not see any place for himself in a party run by Shamie, though he would wait and see.” Essentially, future White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card thought Shamie was too conservative.

Shamie recognized this perception and sought early to address it.

“This new Republican Party can continue to have its differences, but we must still work together,” he said.

At the time, Joe Malone said, “Shamie’s victory was a sign that a new generation had emerged in Republican politics, one more interested in winning elections than breaking out the heavy artillery for a shootout in the lifeboat.”

The book recounts Shamie's leadership at the contentious 1990 State Convention. The passage that has particular relevance today as our party seeks to halt years of decline, runs from pages 220-221, with emphasis added by me:

“The convention was designed to be a hotly contested display of unity, but the threat of internecine warfare lurked around every corner. What Party leaders feared most was a bloody floor fight over some extraneous issue that would detract from the convention’s guests of honor: the statewide candidates. The most likely source of a firefight was abortion. The Party had done its best over the preceding year to the contain the issue. Early in the campaign, Shamie had taken the statewide candidates aside and asked that they not pillory one another on the abortion issue. Whatever short-term gain the tactic might achieve during the primary, it would work against the Party as a whole in the general election by obscuring Republican strengths, said Shamie.

"Acting against his own personal convictions on the subject, Shamie fought to keep the Party neutral. Shamie had strong pro-life sentiments, but he would not allow the official Party to become ensnared in an issue that already deeply divided its members. Candidates and Party members would be free to follow their conscience without interference from the Chairman. Abortion was a deeply personal decision and it was not the place of the Party to speak on a subject for which no consensus existed among its members, said Shamie.”

I ask you to compare the above paragraph from "Time for a Change" to the following quote that has been the focus from the Bay Windows article:

"To me social issues are personal issues. Those are personal views, and we are not legislating here - at least I am not legislating anyone's personal views," said Nassour. "I have no personal agenda I'm trying to push through other than electing Republicans."

Unfortunately, I never met Ray Shamie, but from all I've read and heard from his friends and colleagues, I could do a lot worse then to try to follow his example. That said, I remain 100% committed to electing Republicans. I welcome pro-traditional marriage Republicans, as I do pro-gay marriage Republicans to the Republican Party. I welcome pro-life Republicans as well as pro-choice Republicans, to the Republican Party.

Like Ray Shamie, I recognize that our strength lies in building on the principles upon which we agree and not bickering over those where consensus is unreachable. I will never apply litmus tests to Republican candidates or officeholders, instead I will invite them to take their case to the voters and do so passionately.

I got involved with the Republican Party because I believe in limited government, individual responsibility, and personal freedom. Today, I reaffirm all those beliefs. Election Day is November 2, 2010, and there's lots of work ahead.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer Nassour
Chairman
Massachusetts Republican Party

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-15T22:13:00.002-04:00

On Tax Day: A List Of Taxes Proposed By Governor Patrick

Gas Tax
Increase by .19 cents to make it the highest in the nation.

Meals tax
Increase the statewide meals tax by 1 percentage point, to 6 percent, which would raise $125 million for next fiscal year. Also give municipalities the option to raise the tax by an additional 1 percentage point, to 7 percent.

Hotel tax
Increase the statewide hotel tax by 1 percentage point, to 6.75 percent, which would raise $24 million next fiscal year. Also give municipalities the option to raise the tax by an additional 1 percentage point, to 7.75 percent.

Alcohol, soda, and candy tax
Eliminate a tax exemption on sales of alcohol, soda, and candy. Currently food sold outside of restaurants is exempt from the state's 5 percent sales tax; the governor wants to eliminate that exemption for certain items. For next fiscal year, the move would raise $150 million, $121.5 million of which would go to state coffers and $28.5 million to a fund used to build public schools. The proposal would have raised $24 million this year if the Legislature had implemented it by April 1.

RMV fees
Increase a variety of fees that residents pay when they go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. All told, $74.5 million would be raised for during the next fiscal year. It would have raised $18 million this year, if the Legislature had implemented it by April 1.

Telecommunication tax
Eliminate a tax exemption for telecommunications companies, which would raise about $52 million.

Bottle deposit fees
The state's 5-cents -per-container charge on carbonated sodas, beer, and malt beverages would be expanded to also include noncarbonated beverages like sports drinks, water, and juices. It would raise $20 million in state revenue for next fiscal year.

Source: Boston Globe, 4/15/09; Published Reports

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-04-15T22:08:00.002-04:00

What If Massachusetts had it's own Mastercard Commercial?

Total cost to replace 17 "sick" toll takers
$4,488

New hire Trellis Stepter, as "manager of special projects"
$90,000

New hire Robert Rooney, as "assistant chief engineer"
$122,000

Governor Patrick trying to use a traffic jam on the Turnpike to justify a massive gas tax hike?
Priceless

Background Information

The Masspike could have spent $4,448 to replace the 17 missing toll-takers: The Pike would have shelled out $33 an hour to the toll takers to replace the 17 that called in sick or didn't show up Sunday, he said. Overall, 167 were scheduled to work, which LeBovidge called sufficient. (Boston Herald, 4/15/09)

No money for toll-takers, but plenty for the politically connected: The soon-to-be-defunct Turnpike Authority, which is poised to foist painful toll hikes on motorists, has quietly put at least two new high-priced staffers on its payroll - both of them retreads from the state transportation department, the Herald has learned. The two staff members were shuffled over from the executive office of transportation within the last three months, even as administration officials were telling lawmakers the Pike was in desperate need of cash. ``I find no excuse whatsoever to be hiring at the Pike unless there is a justified emergency,'' said Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). ``The last thing we should do is burden this agency with more expenses.'' Trellis Stepter, who earned $84,000 as a legislative agent for former Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen, was hired as a $90,000-a-year manager of special projects shortly after Cohen stepped down in January. Robert Rooney, a former $123,000-a-year deputy secretary of public works in the transportation office, is now a $122,000-a-year assistant chief engineer with the Pike. (Boston Herald, 3/17/09)

Governor Patrick thinks this justifies a higher gas tax: Patrick labeled the delays ''unfortunate,'' adding, ''It upsets me, too.'' But rather than apologizing, both he and LeBovidge said Massachusetts residents and the state's all-important tourists should understand these latest annoyances only illustrate the severity of the state and Turnpike's financial distress. And, the governor declared, that means the public should not only support his overhaul package, but his gas tax hike. ''I mean, there are real consequences and hardship caused by the fiscal situation, and in the case of the Turnpike, it is part of what we have been trying to explain to people why we need both the reforms and the new revenue,'' the governor said. (The Associated Press, 4/15/09)

Nassour: It's Reform, NOT Revenue

2009-04-14T17:31:00.000-04:00

GOP Says Governor and Democrat Legislature have no plan for reform

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party today issued the following statement in response to Governor Patrick's statements on the fiscal situation of Massachusetts.

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "These spending cuts are tough medicine forced on the public by the failure of the Governor and the Legislature to lead on reform. Sadly, under the current Beacon Hill leadership, the only way we will see smaller, more efficient government is when the flow of tax dollars is reduced either through a tough economy or tax cuts. The Democrats and Governor Patrick don't understand the plight of Massachusetts families, because if they did, their slogan would be 'reform, not revenue.' Instead, we have a Legislature incapable of passing real reform, a Governor insistent on raising taxes, and leaders who have lost the public trust."

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-14T17:24:00.001-04:00

It's Funny How That Happened...A Poll Driven Governor Changes His Tune On Reform?

"Meaningless slogan"

-Governor Patrick's Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, on "reform before revenue". (State House News Service, 3/4/09)

"The Legislature, 42%; The Governor, 32%"

- Results of a poll question asking "Who do you trust more to solve the state's economic problems - the Governor or the Legislature?" (Suffolk University, 3/25/09)

"What we have right now is just not good enough."

-Governor Deval Patrick on the Transportation reform bills in the legislature, six weeks after his transportation secretary called "Reform before revenue" a "meaningless slogan."
(Boston Globe, 4/14/09)

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-14T17:17:00.002-04:00

Do the Democrats on Beacon Hill have the credibility to reform state government?
Part 2: The Democrat Legislature

House Speaker Robert DeLeo let politics influence spending

Democrat House Speaker Robert DeLeo was notorious for "DeLeo Dollars", or wasteful spending doled out to lawmakers to score political points: State senators are blasting millions of dollars in proposed pet projects as ``DeLeo Dollars'' - political handouts by a top House lawmaker maneuvering to succeed embattled House Speaker Sal DiMasi. House Ways and Means chairman Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) is jockeying for votes with House Majority Leader John Rogers in hopes of eventually replacing DiMasi, who has been unable to halt the lobbying despite assertions he intends to stay put. DeLeo's powerful committee has steered through tens of millions of dollars for local projects in a spending plan that relies on withdrawing about $600 million from the state's rainy day fund. Among scores of pet projects included: $300,000 for parking lots in Holbrook; $200,000 for community events in Springfield; $200,000 for Boston Symphony Orchestra renovations; and $200,000 for a performing arts center in Great Barrington. (Boston Herald, 5/23/08)

Democrat Senator Michael Morrissey said politics entered DeLeo's spending decisions: ``There was another dynamic going on in the House (budget debate), and that is the potential for a speaker's fight,'' said state Sen. Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy). ``Some of that may have entered into the (spending) decisions that were made.'' (Boston Herald, 5/23/08

Questionable jobs the norm in the Legislature

The House employed a $60,000 chief of staff that "had no staff and reported to no one" for six months: Her title was chief of staff, but she had no staff and reported to no one. That did not prevent Carol Aloisi from collecting a $60,000 State House salary for six months, until a state representative found her - literally - sitting in his new office and put her to work. (Boston Globe, 3/17/09)

The House kept 11 members of former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi on the payroll for months, at a cost of $14,000 a week: Eleven staff members of former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi have continued collecting state paychecks and health benefits even though DiMasi resigned under a cloud in January and they have no clearly defined responsibilities at the State House, state officials said.The arrangement demonstrates how staff members of top lawmakers are sometimes treated more favorably than other state workers whose jobs are eliminated. Several staff members for House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran, who also resigned amid allegations of ethics violations, were kept on the state payroll for up to four months after he stepped down as speaker, according to House personnel records. Taxpayers have been paying more than $14,000 a week to keep DiMasi's former aides on the state payroll. The staff members include DiMasi's former chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, policy aides, his former press spokesman, and lower-level administrative secretaries. (Boston Globe, 3/19/09)

Former State Representative Anthony Verga was made a $40,000-a-year "senior administrative aide to the clerk's office," just before Speaker DiMasi left office: Anthony Verga, the only member of Salvatore DiMasi's former Massachusetts House leadership team to be beaten in last year's elections, was appointed to a taxpayer-financed position by the former speaker before he resigned. As he was leaving office after seven two-year terms, the 73-year-old Verga was given the $40,000-a-year position as "senior administrative aide to the (House) clerk's office, effective Jan. 7," Seth Gitell, press secretary for Robert DeLeo, the new speaker of the House, said yesterday in response to a query from the Times. (Gloucester Daily Times, 3/5/09)

Speaker DeLeo's leadership team contains representatives with tax or other financial problems

Post Audit and Oversight Vice-Chair Rep. Benjamin Swan (D-Springfield): Owed $20,000 in back taxes. (Springfield Republican, 2/9/09)

State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Vice-Chair Rep. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer): Failed to file income taxes in 2002 and 2003 and defaulted on a $1,955 Sears credit card bill. (Telegram and Gazette, 10/27/06)

Third Division Chair Rep. Byron Rushing (D-Boston): Failed to file his state income taxes in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 2002. (Boston Herald, 3/10/05)

The Legislature has little credibility on budget cuts

The Legislature claimed it would "cut" its budget by $9.1 million, but in reality simply drew on a reserve fund: The Legislature, for example, promised to cut $9.1 million in spending in October and last week said it would cut another $1.6 million. Legislative officials were unable to document exactly where the $10.7 million in total savings will come from, but it appears a large chunk of the money will come from reserve accounts. In essence, the Legislature will draw down money it has put aside for future spending needs rather than actually cutting its budget. (Commonwealth Magazine, 1/20/09)

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-14T17:11:00.002-04:00

Do the Democrats on Beacon Hill have the credibility to reform state government?
Part 1: Democrat Governor Deval Patrick

For Governor Patrick, "Veto" is a four letter word

Governor Mitt Romney vetoes over four years: $877,260,675
Governor Deval Patrick vetoes over two years: $163,238,370
Governor Deval Patrick pace for four years: $326,476,740
Difference: $550,783,935

Source: www.mass.gov/legis
Governor Patrick's was fiscally irresponsible from the beginning

Governor Patrick restored $383,000,000 in 9C cuts made by Governor Romney: Gov.-elect Deval Patrick pledged Wednesday to restore $383 million slashed by Gov. Mitt Romney last month..."Overwhelmingly, these broad-based cuts ... have a serious impact on thousands of Massachusetts residents who have planned for the relief and relied upon the services these programs provide," Patrick said in a statement. (Sentinel & Enterprise, 12/28/06)

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom: "If Deval Patrick restores those cuts it's going to make it that much harder to achieve balance in 2008.": Restoring the cuts will cost residents for years to come, argued Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom Wednesday. He said $252 million of the money Patrick replaces in the budget will be a recurring cost. "This isn't just about 2007, it's also about 2008," Fehrnstrom said. "If Deval Patrick restores those cutsit's going to make it that much harder to achieve balance in 2008." (Sentinel & Enterprise, 12/28/06)

In June of 2008, Governor Patrick hiked his own offices line item by 80%, including $3 million for a program to pay people to volunteer, and $450,000 for a Washington, D.C. Office: Despite a slumping economy and looming budget crunch, Gov. Deval Patrick has hiked his office budget by an astonishing 80 percent, adding questionable new staff positions like "director of grassroots governance" and pumping millions into an extravagant "civic engagement" program.Patrick's office budget has skyrocketed to $9 million this fiscal year, a boost of nearly $4 million from fiscal 2007, Republican lawmakers said. Much of the increase is due to a $3 million appropriation for Patrick's new Commonwealth Corps, a volunteerism program aimed at promoting "civic engagement" across the state.Patrick has also increased spending by hundreds of thousands of dollars on internal staff.Among the new positions and their salaries:Director of grassroots governance: $50,000Grassroots goverance liaison: $39,000Director of new media and online strategy: $68,000.What's more, Patrick is spending more than $450,000 on an office in Washington, D.C., to help lure federal dollars to fund Medicaid, transportation, housing and other priorities.(The Boston Herald, 5/23/08)

Governor Patrick has a history of giving jobs to his friends, but not to the taxpayers

One month ago, Gov. Deval Patrick tried to appoint Sen. Marian Walsh to a $175,000 a year job: "Outrage is sweeping Beacon Hill after Gov. Deval Patrick quietly slipped a $175,000 plum job to a political pal while squeezing taxpayers to pay more for less from the debt-ridden state government.Asking citizens to fork over 19 cents more per gallon at the gas pump while bracing for cuts of cops and teachers, Patrick awarded supporter Marian Walsh the pricey plum as assistant executive director of the state's Health and Educational Facilities Authority." (Boston Herald, 3/13/09)

The job Sen. Walsh was appointed to had been vacant for 12 years: "The job has
been vacant for 12 years. The appointment of Walsh, 54, a Democratic state senator from
West Roxbury, was revealed amid news of a $1 billion state deficit while Patrick continued
his vacation in Jamaica."(Boston Herald, 3/13/09)

In February of 2008, Governor Patrick nominated his political ally, former State Senator Cheryl Jacques, to be a Judge on the Industrial Accidents Board.

Democrat Governor's Councilor Mary-Ellen Manning called her unqualified: "Workers' compensation isn't a field to be trifled with...To suggest anybody can do it is insulting to lawyers who care about workers' compensation and care about the rights of workers and employers." (Eagle-Tribune, 3/20/08)

In October of 2008, Governor Patrick claimed he would cut 1,000 jobs from state government...: "Governor Deval Patrick is planning to announce this afternoon that 1,000 jobs will be eliminated and at least $700 million will be cut from the budget." (Boston Globe, 10/15/08)

Governor Patrick: "This is going to cut muscle": "This is not about, you know, cutting
so-called fat. This is going to cut muscle, because the scale of the issue requires that.
We're going to feel it in services, we're going to see a smaller work force." (Boston Globe,
10/15/08)

...But Governor Patrick had already added 2,000 new jobs, even in the face of a $1 billion deficit: "Gov. Deval Patrick has added almost 2,000 new workers to the state payroll in the past year even as he warns of dire budget cuts in the face of a $1 billion deficit, a Herald review shows." (Boston Herald, 8/25/08)

And less than two weeks after Governor Patrick said he would "cut" 1,000 jobs, Patrick hired his neighbor and campaign contributor to a $120,000 a year job: "As Gov. Deval Patrick grapples with layoffs and budget deficits, he has hired a close neighbor in Milton to be the state's $120,000 director of real estate services, the Herald has learned. Attorney and real-estate consultant Dana Harrell, 60, a frequent contributor to Patrick's campaign coffers, was introduced Oct. 27, less than two weeks after Patrick announced 1,000 jobs would be lost to the state's $1.4 billion budget crunch. Harrell lives less than a quarter mile from Patrick." (Boston Herald, 12/29/08)

Governor Patrick thinks stories about waste are "trivial"

Governor Patrick called the purchase of a Cadillac as his official vehicle "trivial":

The Boston Herald: Patrick strongly defended his choice of vehicles yesterday, saying it was a "trivial'' decision that draws far more attention from the media than it does from ordinary citizens. ``But for your collective appetite for this, I don't think most people pay attention to what I ride in,'' Patrick told reporters. (Boston Herald, 2/17/07)

The Lowell Sun: First there was the million-dollar gala. Then there were the helicopter rides. Now Gov. Deval Patrick's latest extravagance is on staff for his wife. The state has hired a $72,000-a-year chief of staff whose job is to schedule Diane Patrick's public appearances and media availabilities, The Eagle has learned. Diane Patrick's aide also gets a slice of office space in the governor's third-floor suite. ...Add to that royal image a brand new Cadillac DeVille which Patrick bought to replace one of the Ford Crown Victoria's used by his state police security detail to drive him around. The black luxury car sports tinted windows, seat warmers, and is being leased at $1,166 per month. A defiant Patrick laughed off the flashy purchase, saying he's using tax dollars wisely. "Have a good look at the budget, see the choices we have made, see the investments we intend to make to move Massachusetts forward, and make judgments on the basis of the big and hard decisions and not the small trivial ones," Patrick urged taxpayers. (Lowell Sun, 2/17/07)

Governor Patrick also called other recent stories of government waste "trivial":

Gov. Deval Patrick said Thursday recent stories about costly jobs for legislators, relatives of Cabinet members and administration employees are "trivial" and won't distract him from his focus on big issues. The governor, a one-time attorney, told reporters he has tried to learn how to focus on the meaningful, but "I sometimes feel like I'm in a profession now where that is completely upside down." In one example, Patrick said he was concentrating on a comprehensive overhaul of the state's transportation system. "That's going to make a difference economically, in terms of quality of life, long after I have left this job," he said. Patrick engineered a $175,000 state agency job for Sen. Marian Walsh. The sister of Transportation Secretary James Aloisi worked for six months as chief of staff in an office with no employees. And the Massachusetts Turnpike recently added two $100,000 employees despite a restriction on hiring only "critical" workers. Meanwhile, the state's unemployment rate rose to 7.8 percent last month. (Associated Press, 3/20/09)

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-14T17:08:00.000-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

Taxpayers to foot bill for defense of Cahill, officials say

The Boston Globe, 4/14/09
By Frank Phillips

Massachusetts taxpayers will pay up to $300,000 for outside lawyers to defend a federal civil suit against state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill because the state attorney general's office declined to handle the case, citing potential conflicts with two state investigations, according to officials involved in the case.

The state Lottery Commission, which is led by Cahill, this month authorized hiring the two law firms, Proskauer Rose LLP and Mintz Levin, to fight a $20 million suit brought by a Rhode Island-based gaming firm, Bingo Innovative Software.

Bingo Innovative Software is alleging that Cahill and Lottery director Mark J. Cavanagh conspired in a "pay-to-play" scheme in which a national competitor, Scientific Games, was awarded lottery contracts as a result of its fund-raising activities for Cahill.

Typically, the attorney general's civil division represents state officials who are sued over their official actions. But in this case, the outside law firms were required because two state investigations into the contracting process could end up in Attorney General Martha Coakley's office, the sources said.

The Ethics Commission is investigating Cahill's role in awarding a 2004 contract for scratch tickets to Scientific Games. And Secretary of State William F. Galvin is reviewing the possible lobbying activities of Cahill's close friend and associate, Thomas F. Kelly, who was secretly paid by Scientific Games to help it win the contract. Either of those probes could result in a referral for prosecution to Coakley.

Coakley's office declined to comment on its reasons for not accepting the case.

Cahill's top deputy, who has described Bingo Innovative Software's suit as "absurd" and "frivolous," said in an e-mail that it is not unusual for the treasurer's office to seek private legal representation.

"We often use outside counsel or special assistant attorneys general in unique and complex cases. This qualifies as both," said Grace Lee, the first deputy treasurer. The treasurer's office oversaw the procurement for the legal work. "We will seek to recoup all legal fees on behalf of the Commonwealth, upon the resolution of this case."

Cahill's defense is being handled by a four-member team at the New York-based Proskauer Rose. It is led by former attorney general Scott Harshbarger, whose rate is set at $500 an hour, according to its contract with Cahill's office. Cavanagh is represented by the Boston firm Mintz Levin, which is charging up to $484 an hour for two partners and an associate, according to the firm's contract.

The hourly rate for the lawyers who head the attorney general's litigation divisions is $49.

Cahill's legal costs are more expensive than some other outside legal work for the state. For example, with the consent of Coakley's office, the Secretary of State's securities division recently paid $300 an hour for a Boston firm, Sloane & Walsh, to represent it in court appearances on a Bernard Madoff-related case.

The legality of the Lottery Commission's vote to pay up to $300,000 for Cahill and Cavanagh's legal bills is being challenged by Bingo Innovative's lawyer, Lee Blais. He filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission, saying the two men's activities cited in the suit were not within the scope of their official duties, so taxpayers are not liable for their legal bills.

The treasurer's aides said the activities were in his official capacity. Lee, the deputy treasurer, dismissed the allegation as a maneuver to "bolster a meritless case." She said it "reflects at best a limited understanding of the law, and at worse an unethical attempt to leverage and politically pressure the state treasurer" to give Bingo Innovative a contract.

The suit poses potentially serious political problems for Cahill as he begins to lay the groundwork to run for governor next year. His legal team last week filed motions to dismiss the suit. But if it does proceed, the discovery process alone would include witnesses testifying in depositions under oath and the production of internal documents that could prove embarrassing or politically damaging.

A central issue in the litigation will be his relationship with Kelly, one of his chief fund-raisers and closest friends. Kelly collected about $200,000 over a five-year period from Scientific Games, which had hired him to help them land the lottery contract. At the same time, Kelly was under contract with Bingo Innovative to help the firm win lottery work, even when the two were bidding on a project to create an electronic bingo game.

The Globe reported last month that an investigator from the state Ethics Commission who collected internal e-mails, campaign finance reports, and other documents recently interviewed Cahill about his decision to award Scientific Games the largest share of the work to produce scratch tickets. His decision was made against the advice from his senior staff that the company's role be cut back.

Click Here For The Article Link

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-10T20:41:00.001-04:00

They Said It!

"I got one issue, man. Getting re-elected."
- Anonymous Freshman Democrat Lawmaker, State House News Service, 4/10/09

Weekly Roundup: Battles Worth Fighting
State House News Service, 4/10/09
By Jim O'Sullivan

...

All the "revenue solutions" Patrick and several lawmakers have proposed scare the daylights out of lawmakers, who hear from constituents who are behind in mortgages, watching their life savings evaporate, and can't go to the library after work because the state is cutting funding. What many say they're not hearing are pleadings with Beacon Hill to raise taxes, even as House leaders make noise about inflicting monumental cuts. November 2010 is 19 months and hundreds of legislative votes away, but it feels a lot closer.

"I got one issue, man," said one freshman lawmaker. "Getting re-elected."
...

Click Here To Read The Whole Article (Subcription Required)

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-04-10T20:39:00.001-04:00

"Every time you think you've heard them all, you find something else. You can't blame people for thinking there's a tremendous amount of waste layered in throughout state government."
- Senator Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield), The Boston Globe, 4/10/09

MBTA rehired retired officials
4 got contract on top of pension
The Boston Globe, 4/10/09
By Andrea Estes, Globe Staff

Four MBTA officials who retired under the agency's generous pension plan were then rehired under contracts to do their old jobs, earning large consulting checks even while they continued to receive their full pension payments, according to public records.

One of the officials worked as a government affairs coordinator and legislative liaison, a job that put him in close contact with lawmakers including House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. The others were a commuter rail construction manager, an agency lawyer, and a workforce manager.

This week, the MBTA said it will eliminate the consulting contracts for the four employees - Dino DiFronzo, James Eng, Maryellen Boyle, and Mary Skerry - after the Globe made inquiries about their status. None of the officials responded to requests for comment yesterday.

The T said it will allow the contracts to expire without renewal after Secretary of Transportation James A. Aloisi Jr. requested the action in a memo Tuesday to the MBTA's general manager, Daniel A. Grabauskas. Both officials declined requests for interviews.

"You and I are in agreement that as we are engaged in an historic effort to implement important reforms in our transportation world, this practice should end, and any employment contracts should be terminated where MBTA retirees are accepting retirement benefits," Aloisi wrote to Grabauskas.

The arrangements were revealed as overhauling pensions has become a dominant issue on Beacon Hill. The Senate passed a package of changes last week, and the House is poised to take it up next week. Governor Deval Patrick has also made pensions a major priority in the first few months of the legislative session.

Lawmakers and the governor have particularly targeted the MBTA's pension system, which allows employees to retire and begin collecting benefits with just 23 years of service. That MBTA retirement policy has allowed many relatively young employees to retire and then start a second career.

Retirees from other agencies in state government who are rehired by a public agency are prohibited from making more in combined pension and salary than the salary of their original job. Among those who are collecting MBTA pensions and public salaries under the looser MBTA rules is James Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, who makes $276,000 while drawing an MBTA pension of more than $70,000. The Globe reported on that arrangement in 2007.

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the four officials were hired back as consultants because they had special skills. Eng, for example, oversaw the construction of the Greenbush line and was uniquely qualified to see the project to its conclusion, he said. Skerry, an administrative coordinator who handles payroll matters for the Transit Police, was asked to return to work last year to fill in when the department's only payroll worker was out for an extended period.

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, who has been a vocal critic of the MBTA pension system, was unaware the MBTA allowed its retirees to come back as consultants.

"Is there no end to the indignity?" he said. "I'm speechless. It's amazing. It's the entitlement and the creativity. And it's all done out of public view. They have done these things for years with a wink and a nod of the Legislature."

DiFronzo, who served as a liaison between the MBTA and the city and the Legislature, was a frequent visitor to DeLeo's office when DeLeo was chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and also to the office of DeLeo's predecessor as House speaker, Salvatore F. DiMasi.

DeLeo spokesman Seth Gitell said of DiFronzo: "When he had business up at the State House, he would stop by."
Since DiFronzo's retirement in February 2007, his earnings have gone far beyond what he made as the MBTA's project coordinator.

After retiring from his $87,259-a-year job once he reached 23 years of service, he began collecting a pension of just under $50,000. He was immediately rehired on a contract that last year paid him $78,338 in addition to his pension. The total of $128,353 was $41,094 more than he made when he worked full time, according to figures provided by Pesaturo. Meanwhile, his job description was almost identical to what he was doing before he retired.

Eng, the construction director for the Greenbush commuter line, retired in 2004 with a pension of $60,000 after 25 years. Last year he was hired on a consulting contract to continue overseeing the project and made a total of $220,665 - $123,275 more than he made while working full time.

Boyle worked as an assistant general counsel at the MBTA until she retired in 2002 after 23 years of service. She came back to work immediately, to "provide legal advice, review draft and final leases," and generally practice real estate law "as it relates to the business interest of the MBTA," according to the contract description. Between her pension and her consulting contract, Boyle last year made $75,203 - slightly more than she was making while a $68,238-a-year full-time lawyer for the agency.

Skerry retired as the $52,982 coordinator of workforce planning after 24 years in March of last year, qualifying for a $31,437 pension. After being rehired last May, she earned $49,103 last year.

Senator Richard R. Tisei, Republican from Wakefield, called the postretirement contracts "just another way to game the system.

"Every time you think you've heard them all, you find something else," he said. "You can't blame people for thinking there's a tremendous amount of waste layered in throughout state government."

Click Here For The Article Link

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-04-10T20:37:00.000-04:00

$3m from federal stimulus to pave Hanscom for corporate jets
The Boston Globe, 4/8/09
By Andrew Ryan

The federal stimulus package has landed at Hanscom Field with $3 million to repave two taxiways for corporate jets.

The award is less than one-third of the $9.7 million the state requested when it submitted a list of "shovel-ready" projects ripe for stimulus money. The $3 million will be used to repave two taxiways, instead of the three described in the original pitch, which noted that corporate jets rely on the airfield in the heart of a high technology and business corridor.

"Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act we are creating jobs in Massachusetts and across the country while investing in the long-term safety and economic vitality of our airports," US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said a statement released by the White House.

Massport, which operates Hanscom and submitted the request, said the funds will be used to refurbish taxiways M and G, which have not been rehabbed since 1980 and 1981, respectively, according to spokesman Richard Walsh. Although Hanscom is home to 60 corporate jets, it is a general aviation airport used by other private planes, the military, and student pilots at its two flight schools. The repaving of the taxiways will benefit everyone, Walsh said.

"To say that it is for corporate or any single category is an oversimplification," Walsh said.

Several state lawmakers opposed the project, including Representative Jay R. Kaufman, a Democrat from Lexington, one of the towns bordering Hanscom. Kaufman told the Globe in March that using federal stimulus money for this project "reinforces bad corporate behavior, not good corporate behavior."

Click Here For The Article Link

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-10T20:34:00.001-04:00

They Said It!

"The Governor's sitting on about $800 million. We have no indication that any of that money is coming our way. He gave money to...places like Wellesley and Belmont, but not to the city of Boston."
-Mayor of Boston Thomas Menino, WCVB-Ch. 5, 4/8/09

Mayor: No 'Magical' Way To Save 212 Teachers
Menino Outlines Budget Cuts
WCVB-Ch. 5, 4/8/09
By Janet Wu

...

Menino also voiced displeasure with Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday, criticizing the Patrick administration's distribution of federal education funding in the state."The Governor's sitting on about $800 million," said Menino. "We have no indication that any of that money is coming our way. He gave money to...places like Wellesley and Belmont, but not to the city of Boston."

...

Click Here To Read The Whole Article

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-10T20:31:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

"Now that he has been caught, he has couched it as an issue of reform."
-Former HEFA Board Chairman on Governor Patrick's plan to install Sen. Marian Walsh in a $175,000 a year patronage job, The Boston Globe, 4/9/09

Bid to merge agencies called into question
The Boston Globe, 4/9/09
By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff

On the heels of his politically damaging attempt to install a political ally in a high-paying job at a state bonding agency, Governor Deval L. Patrick is now maneuvering to combine the agency with another state authority.

The governor's goal is to merge the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority with the much larger Massachusetts Development Finance Agency.

In a letter to HEFA board chairman Allen Larson, Patrick instructed him to complete the merger over the next few months.

Advocates for HEFA say the move is a power grab by the governor and is being undertaken without public notice or serious study of the implications. The charge is denied by the administration, which says the concept has long been under consideration.

"I am counting on you and the board to pursue that goal and specifically to complete a merger with MassDevelopment before July 1," he told Larson, a political ally whom he installed on the board.

The letter, which has been obtained by the Globe, is dated the same day, March 31, that state Senator Marian Walsh bowed to a public outcry and decided to abandon her quest for a $120,000 job at HEFA as its assistant executive director.

Larson, a Patrick loyalist who worked closely with the governor's staff to engineer Walsh's hiring, would not embrace the call for a merger. He said the agency and its board would "look at that" and advise the governor on its findings.

"The governor can count on us to look at it and give it us our best recommendations," Larson said. "That is all I can say. We will get the right data and analysis."

The two agencies have overlapping operations to provide tax-exempt bond financing for state educational institutions and nonprofit cultural institutions. HEFA also issues bonds for hospitals. Advocates for keeping them separate say competition allows those institutions to bid for lower financing costs.

Critics of a merger say Patrick's strong language in instructing Larson to complete a merger by a certain date conflicts with the legislative intent to insulate HEFA and other quasi-public authorities from political and gubernatorial interference.

"They would be creating a political boondoggle, wiping out all the efficiencies that HEFA has," said David Hannan, a former authority board chairman. "If there is a merger, HEFA will be gone, it will become just another state agency."

Hannan also decried the lack of public debate on a merger. And he accused the governor of trying to paper over his failed effort to give Walsh a job with a flimsy policy initiative.

"The governor has chosen to attack this in secret," he said. "Now that he has been caught, he has couched it as an issue of reform."

But the governor's aides said the idea had been in the works before the Walsh episode.
The governor's aides concede there has been no detailed plan outlining the need for a merger, but they insist it would streamline the state's exempt financing operations and allow for expanding financing to some of the state's less wealthy nonprofits.

Patrick and his aides have insisted that Walsh, an early Patrick political supporter, had been hired to oversee a merger between HEFA and MassDevelopment.

But e-mails obtained by the Globe show that Larson's description of Walsh's role to the authority board - as well as the minutes of the board meeting at which she was hired - only mentions her role as reaching out and coordinating operations with MassDevelopment, not merging the two agencies.

Click Here For The Article Link

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-10T20:27:00.001-04:00

Research Briefing
Missed Opportunities For Reform In House Transportation Bill

Missed Opportunities for Reform

Rep. Jones (R-North Reading) amendment #60: This amendment prohibits the Transportation and Infrastructure Authority of DOT from exploring or collecting tolls on any roadway that is currently not tolled without the express authorization of the legislature. This amendment would provide extra protection to the toll-payers. Rejected by the Democrat Party

Rep. Polito (R-Shrewsbury) amendment #39: Would have required that any toll increase to the Mass Turnpike west of route 128 not be collected without the express authorization of the legislature. This amendment would provide extra protection to the toll-payers. Rejected by the Democrat Party

Rep. Jones (R-North Reading) amendment #67: Would have directed 5% of the yearly capital budget be set aside to assist in refinancing existing debt at the Turnpike and MBTA. Rejected by the Democrat Party

Setting the stage for higher gas taxes

Rep. Peisch (D-Wellesley) amendment #148: Would require that any fee or toll charged on or a road, highway, tunnel or bridge be used for infrastructure purposes in the region from which it was collected. Thus, any future tolls may not be enough to properly fund debt service, setting the stage for the gas tax hike. Adopted by the Democrat Party

Source: House Journal, 4/7/09

Nassour Statement on House Transportation Bill

2009-04-10T20:25:00.001-04:00

Nassour Says "Reform" Still Rearranging Deck Chairs On Titanic

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party today issued the following statement in reaction to the House version of "Transportation Reform" that passed yesterday:

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "I was pleased to see that many Republican amendments that saved the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars were included in the House version of the transportation bill. Massachusetts Republicans are committed to real reforms, not just platitudes and empty rhetoric."

"Unfortunately, this is still a bad bill. I share the concerns of many that this bill falls woefully short of eliminating waste and inefficiency in state government. How many patronage and duplicate jobs, if any, will be eliminated under this bill? What guarantees do the taxpayers outside of Boston have that they will not be hit with higher tolls in the future? While we should be consolidating agencies as much as possible, this Democrat bill appears to mainly rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. I urge the conference committee to follow the leadership of the Republican legislators in enacting even more reforms so we can end discussion of a gas tax hike once and for all," concluded Nassour.

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-10T20:22:00.001-04:00

FLASHBACK:
Governor Deval Patrick Endorsed Dianne Wilkerson In 2008 Democrat Primary

Note: Today, former State Senator Dianne Wilkerson was indicted on 23 new corruption charges.

Script: Hi, this is Governor Deval Patrick calling.

I'm calling to remind you about the Democratic Primary election coming up on Tuesday September 16th.

And I'm particularly calling to ask you to support Dianne Wilkerson, and this is why:

She's an experienced leader on Beacon Hill who works hard on the issues that matter most to the residents of her district.

Her passion and know-how continues to deliver results for the people of Boston everyday.

Your vote counts, to me and to her.

On Tuesday, September 16th, come to the polls and participate in shaping the future of your government.

Cast your vote for Dianne Wilkerson for State Senator on Tuesday September 16th.

Thank You.

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO OF GOVERNOR PATRICK ENDORSING DIANNE WILKERSON

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-10T20:19:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!
Rep. Joseph Wagner on Toll Hikes

"The closer you bring the decision-making about revenues to the Legislature, the more difficult it's going to be to actually get the job done.""
- Rep. Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation, explaining why he opposes an amendment offered by Rep. Karyn Polito (R-Shrewsbury) that would require requiring legislative sign-off on any future toll increases

State House News Service, 4/7/09

Click Here For The Article Link (Subscription Required)

MassGOP Newsletter, 04/03/09

2009-04-04T07:21:00.003-04:00

News From The Massachusetts Republican Party

April 3, 2009

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

"This absurd process has taught us, once again, that we cannot rely on the Patrick Administration to seek real, meaningful reform on Beacon Hill."
- Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Nassour

Dear Fellow Republican,

The Massachusetts Republican Party stood up for the taxpayers by protesting the creation of a patronage job for a supporter of Governor Patrick, and we are pleased that Senator Walsh has done the right thing by refusing the appointment. This absurd process has taught us, once again, that we cannot rely on the Patrick Administration to seek real, meaningful reform on Beacon Hill.

We're continuing our focus on rooting out waste and inefficiency throughout government in order to relieve the tax burden on working families. Thousands of people lost their jobs last month, and I believe strongly that Governor Patrick should work as hard at creating jobs for those people as he did at creating a job for a political ally.

In other news, four "MassGOP Grassroots Fourms" are now complete. As I've traveled the Commonwealth, I've met many passionate individuals like you who are committed to taking back Beacon Hill. If you haven't already attended one, I hope you'll consider joining me and my staff. We just saw what can happen when the voice of the taxpayers is heard on Beacon Hill. Let's harness that energy.

Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party

What We're Doing

When The Massachusetts Republican Party announced it would hold six regional MassGOP Grassroots Forums to rebuild and unify the party, we received such an overwhelming response that we have added another forum to the schedule. The MassGOP Grassroots Forums are bringing together people from across the Commonwealth to share their ideas and thoughts on how to elect more Republicans, organize at the local level, and work collaboratively on grassroots initiatives. We want to thank everyone who joined us last Saturday in Plymouth and Fall River, and all of you who saw us in Dedham on Monday!

As part of the MassGOP Grassroots Forums, the Massachusetts Republican Party is also launching a Charitable Service Program. The Party assks that every attendee of each regional forum bring an item that will be donated directly to the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Siters (BBBS).

Below is the schedule for upcoming forums - with any questions please contact Kaitlyn Greeley at kgreeley@massgop.com.

Forum #5
Monday, April 13th, 7pm-9pm
Memorial Hall Library
2 North Main Street
Andover

Attendees are asked to bring games and puzzles or books for BBBS.

Forum #6
Wednesday, April 15th, 6pm-8pm
PNI Club
290 Millbury Street
Worcester

Attendees are asked to bring school supplies, books, or arts and crafts for BBBS.

Forum #7
Thursday, April 23rd, 7pm-9pm
Boxborough Town Hall
29 Middle Road
Boxborough

Attendees are asked to bring school supplies, books, or arts and crafts for BBBS.

In The News From This Week

This week, Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Nassour appeared on NECN to discuss how much damage has been done to the administration of Governor Patrick by his recent misteps.

In addition, Democrat Charley Murphy of Burlington, the chair of the House Ways and Means committee, was asked whether or not Massachusetts can beat the recession without raising taxes. He replied: "Yes. Next question." according to the State House News Service. Let's hold him to that. As the budget comes through the State House, call your State Representatives and let them hear your voice! Your efforts can make a difference for the people of Massachusetts.

Got an example of government waste? Send it to MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller at bkeller@massgop.com.

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

How You Can Help

The Massachusetts Republican Party is still soliciting resumes for summer internships. If you know of a hard-working, Republican-minded college student who wants to get Massachusetts back on track, then have them send their resume to info@massgop.com.

As always, we are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005.

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

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-04T07:12:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!
Bad Form For Reformer

"This affair was a telling glimpse into the inner workings of the Patrick administration. And the truth is, what it revealed was not pretty. The machinations were ridiculous. The attempts to justify paying her top dollar were pathetic, and the outright lying about how it all came to pass was nauseating."- Adrian Walker, The Boston Globe, 4/3/09

Bad Form For Reformer
The Boston Globe, 4/3/09
By Adrian Walker, Globe Columnist

The more I hear politicians tell me that I am cynical the more cynical I risk becoming.

State Senator Marian Walsh invoked the new favorite term of scorn in stepping down from the post she never held at the Health and Educational Facilities Authority. In a cynical world, she lectured, people reach cynical and mean conclusions about the motives of wonderful public servants like her.

Her patron, Governor Deval Patrick, has long ascribed cynicism to anyone who wonders about some of his more curious decisions. A cynic, apparently, is anyone who doesn't recognize the brilliance of his every decision.

This fiasco was like Christmas for cynics. First, the governor appoints a crony - pardon me, an "early supporter" - to a job that has to be redefined for her to appear qualified. The administration spins a series of tales, all of them now discredited, about how Walsh came to be HEFA's ideal savior. As the tales unravel, the public predictably rebels. I would call the public reaction sensible, not cynical.

If Walsh had any grace or common sense, she would have resigned long before she did. A real friend - as opposed to a political ally - would have concluded long before Walsh did that she was causing her friend more trouble than this appointment was worth.

But both she and the governor apparently concluded that this was just another storm they could ride out. Not true.

It was painful, at the governor's town hall meeting last week, to listen to his attempt to justify this appointment. The best he could manage, in the end, was that Walsh was a good person who would be judged by her performance.

The thing is, nobody ever said she wasn't a good person. Frankly, I have no idea whether she is a good person. I just know no one ever made a halfway persuasive argument for why she should be placed in this long-vacant job, for a ridiculous amount of money.

This affair was a telling glimpse into the inner workings of the Patrick administration. And the truth is, what it revealed was not pretty. The machinations were ridiculous. The attempts to justify paying her top dollar were pathetic, and the outright lying about how it all came to pass was nauseating. (E-mail can be a devastating thing.)

Oddly, the governor still thinks they just should have handled it better, as if the substance of the move itself wasn't part of the problem. He also made the giggle-inducing comment that if HEFA doesn't straighten up, he will just send over another "change agent." To which the only response is: How much will you try to pay that person?

Patrick, like other governors before him, is understandably upset about barely-accountable authorities that have helped make a mess of transportation and other issues. But he will have a far harder time now selling himself as a change agent, to use his term. He will regret turning reform into a punch line.

In truth, the notion that HEFA was a hotbed of problems was never asserted, as far as I can tell, until Walsh wanted a job. Suddenly, it lacked transparency, was inefficient and duplicative.

When the $175,000 the administration wanted to pay Walsh prompted outrage, it was suddenly time to review all those out-of-control salaries at the authorities. I'm cynical enough not to hold my breath waiting for anyone's salary to get reduced.

Supposedly this is all trivial, just a bump on the road for the administration. Perhaps it will turn out to be that.

But the part of this that isn't trivial is the march it represents away from the values he espoused during the campaign. A year ago, Patrick was being bashed for refusing to "get" the State House; now it seems he has absorbed its culture to a fault.

At the risk of sounding cynical, it is more than a little dispiriting to see him become the embodiment of everything he proclaimed to oppose.

Click Here For The Article Link

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-04-02T17:04:00.002-04:00

Governor Patrick STILL Can't Admit His Aides Set Walsh's Salary
Repeated denials show an administration against reform, transparency

"That is not my understanding."

- Governor Deval Patrick, when asked if his administration set Sen. Marian Walsh's $175,000 a year salary
The Eagan and Braude Show, WTKK-96.9FM, 4/2/09

Governor Patrick denied before his aides set Sen. Walsh's Salary

WCVB's Janet Wu: Do you accept the fact that you misjudged the salary issue, regardless of the job issue?

Governor Deval Patrick: "I didn't set the salary."

The Boston Globe's Frank Phillips: Who set the salary?

Governor Deval Patrick: "I think the HEFA board did."

Source: State House News Service video of Governor's Press Conference, (13:47 mark of video), 3/31/09

But the Boston Globe reported that "the salary level of $175,000 originiated with the administration": Contradicting a series of steadfast denials, internal e-mails show that Governor Deval Patrick's top aides controlled the appointment of state Senator Marian Walsh to a high-paying job at a state authority, from setting her salary to crafting her job description.They also provided the agency's talking points for the news media in an attempt to quell a public uproar...The salary level of $175,000 originated with the administration, the e-mails indicate. They also show that Rubin drafted Walsh's job description. Patrick's press office wrote the script for public statements by the agency. On the weekend before the Patrick-controlled HEFA board unanimously approved Walsh's appointment as assistant director, Larson asked Gonzalez to justify why the Democratic lawmaker should be paid more than $128,500. That was the amount that a Burlington-based consulting firm, The Survey Group, reported as the average market base pay for the position. Larson asked Gonzalez to contact Rubin for backup information that would support a $175,000 salary. "Generally, it's lower than the $175,000 figure," Larson wrote to Gonzalez, referring to the consultant's survey of pay at other government agencies. "It would be helpful if Doug or others could send along some comparables so that we have substantive justifications." (Boston Globe, 3/28/09)

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-02T16:58:00.002-04:00

In Case You Missed It!
The Real HEFA Mess

"The arrogance of this administration is boundless. And the Walsh appointment - well, it was just small change."
- Editorial, The Boston Herald, 4/2/09

The real HEFA mess
The Boston Herald, 4/2/09
Editorial

Now that Sen. Marian Walsh will once again be devoting her energies to serving the people of her district (unless they come to their senses some November and toss her out), we can focus on the real issue raised by her aborted appointment to HEFA (the Health and Educational Facilities Authority).

There is a larger money grab at stake here - far larger than the $175,000 salary Walsh won't be getting.

In a burst of rare candor - at least for this gang - the governor's chief of staff Doug Rubin talked about that agenda on BlueMass Group, a blog fancied by liberal Democrats. Rubin offered a spirited defense of Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to merge HEFA with MassDevelopment, which also provides subsidized loans to similar institutions.

Here is the key phrase in Rubin's commentary:

"The merger of MDFA and HEFA will allow us to more effectively leverage their expertise and resources [emphasis ours] in a coordinated effort to support our broader economic recovery initiative."

That's Rubin-speak for the fact that the two agencies, once merged, will have the power to collect larger fees from the nonprofits they serve and "we will be able to make important investments with these additional revenues."

Ah, yes, investments - like maybe more six-figure jobs for political hacks!

HEFA has already turned over $2 million to the state for a health care grant program, according to board chairman Allen Larson. No doubt a worthy cause, but it amounts to taking from nonprofit public entities to give to other causes the Patrick administration deems worthy.

Rubin figures the merger will squeeze about $6 million more a year out of those same nonprofits (by eliminating the competition between HEFA and MassDevelopment).

Answering Rubin on the blog was Paul Levy, CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, who wrote that the competition between the two agencies has caused both "to sharpen their pencils and otherwise consider the interests of their nonprofit clients. Why would we want to eliminate healthy competition like that?"

Why indeed!

Furthermore, Levy notes, "I do not recall that the hospitals, colleges and cultural institutions have been asked about this proposed reorganization."

Well, when guys like Rubin know they've right, why ask? Why have a health debate?

The arrogance of this administration is boundless. And the Walsh appointment - well, it was just small change.

Click Here For The Article Link

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-04-02T16:55:00.002-04:00

Deval Patrick's hackapalooza
Four Patrick administration staffers land in big-bucks gigs
The Boston Herald, 4/2/09
By Hillary Chabot

Gov. Deval Patrick has stashed four staffers in big-bucks jobs at several of the quasi-public agencies he is now vowing to reform - including one post worth a jaw-dropping $190,000 a year, the Herald has learned.

Patrick ordered up a probe of salaries at quasi-public agencies last week as taxpayer outrage peaked over his tapping of Sen. Marian Walsh for a long-vacant $175,000-a-year post with the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

But four Patrick administration staffers have landed at quasi-public agencies:

Pat Cloney, a former director under Patrick's administration at the Massachusetts office of business development, as the $190,000-a-year interim executive director at a newly created agency called the Clean Energy Center.

Michael Morris, Patrick's legislative liaison, as the $119,000a-year public relations director at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

Edwin Carr, former chief of staff at the economic development department, as the $110,000-a-year executive director at the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment.

Chuck Anderson, who served as Patrick's policy director, as a $95,000-a-year senior adviser with the Massachusetts Technology Collaboration.

"I guess the dirty little secret in Massachusetts is that these quasis aren't independent at all. They are very much taking their cues from the governor's office," said Sen. Richard R. Tisei (R-Wakefield). "These are plum patronage positions that the governor has at his disposal."

Walsh, a Patrick political backer, abandoned her post Tuesday.

Administration officials defended the other appointments.

Cloney was appointed to his post at the Clean Energy Center in December. Created as part of the Green Jobs Act in 2008, the agency authorizes state grants for non-profits working on clean-energy technology.

There were no other candidates for the position, said Robert Keough, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and Cloney was selected by a board including key Patrick Cabinet members.

Cloney's position was created by the Legislature, but the statute, which Patrick signed in 2008, did not specify the salary.

Cloney worked previously as vice president at Susquehanna Capital Management, where he managed four portfolio companies, and as a partner at Clear Power Ventures, where he focused on early stage energy.

At the MWRA, administration officials noted that Morris is paid thousands less than the previous public relations director. Officials called Carr's business development appointment a lateral move. The salary is equal to Carr's former post.

At MassTech, spokeswoman Emily Dahl said the agency received "zero pressure from the governor's office to hire Mr. Anderson. He has a unique combination of state policy experience and expertise in international law. He was perfect for this job and we are lucky to have him."

Click Here For The Article Link

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-02T16:51:00.000-04:00

In Case You Missed It!
Sen. Marian Walsh on the conduct of the Patrick Administration in appointing her to a $175,000 patronage job

"How they did it, Jim, would not necessarily be the way I would conduct myself, but that is for them to answer."
- NECN, 4/1/09

NECN's Jim Braude: "But they misrepresented what their role was, is that not a fair statement? Based on these emails we saw on Saturday?"

Sen. Marian Walsh (D-West Roxbury): "What I feel is that a Governor should be able to govern and maximize the opportunity of each of the entities within state government. And doing that by having your own team that share your values, want to open it up, have it more transparent, expand programming, makes sense to me. How they did it, Jim, would not necessarily be the way I would conduct myself, but that is for them to answer. I'm responsible for my conduct."

Click Here To Watch The Whole Interview

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-01T13:16:00.002-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

House Ways and Means Chairman Charley Murphy (D-Burlington) on whether or not Massachusetts can beat the recession without raising taxes.

"Yes. Next question."

- State House News Service, 3/31/09

On Monday night, Murphy was asked at a Kennedy School of Government forum whether the state could endure the fiscal crisis without raising taxes. "Yes," Murphy replied immediately. "Next question." (SHNS, 3/31/09)

Click Here To Read The Whole Article (Subscription Required)

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-01T11:39:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

The Boston Globe On The Walsh Hiring

"At every level - substantively and strategically - the Walsh appointment was wrong from the start. No one from the governor's staff ever explained why a position that went vacant for 12 years should now be filled by Walsh, a sharp, gutsy politician who nonetheless lacked expertise in capital bond financing. No one, including Patrick, understood the symbolism of wiring a $175,000 job for an early political supporter."
- The Boston Globe, Editorial, 4/1/09

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-04-01T10:50:00.001-04:00

Even Governor Patrick Can't Admit His Aides Set Walsh's Salary
Repeated denials show an administration against reform, transparency

WCVB's Janet Wu: Do you accept the fact that you misjudged the salary issue, regardless of the job issue?

Governor Deval Patrick: "I didn't set the salary."

The Boston Globe's Frank Phillips: Who set the salary?

Governor Deval Patrick: "I think the HEFA board did."

Source: State House News Service video of Governor's Press Conference, (13:47 mark of video), 3/31/09

But the Boston Globe reported that "the salary level of $175,000 originiated with the administration": Contradicting a series of steadfast denials, internal e-mails show that Governor Deval Patrick's top aides controlled the appointment of state Senator Marian Walsh to a high-paying job at a state authority, from setting her salary to crafting her job description.They also provided the agency's talking points for the news media in an attempt to quell a public uproar...The salary level of $175,000 originated with the administration, the e-mails indicate. They also show that Rubin drafted Walsh's job description. Patrick's press office wrote the script for public statements by the agency. On the weekend before the Patrick-controlled HEFA board unanimously approved Walsh's appointment as assistant director, Larson asked Gonzalez to justify why the Democratic lawmaker should be paid more than $128,500. That was the amount that a Burlington-based consulting firm, The Survey Group, reported as the average market base pay for the position. Larson asked Gonzalez to contact Rubin for backup information that would support a $175,000 salary. "Generally, it's lower than the $175,000 figure," Larson wrote to Gonzalez, referring to the consultant's survey of pay at other government agencies. "It would be helpful if Doug or others could send along some comparables so that we have substantive justifications." (Boston Globe, 3/28/09)

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit

2009-04-01T10:47:00.001-04:00

Why Can't Patrick Aides Admit They Set Walsh's Salary?
Repeated denials show an administration against reform, transparency

Patrick's Communications Director Joe Landolfi says the "final decision" to set Sen. Walsh's salary came from HEFA Chairman Allen Larson: Walsh said Tuesday that the board had decided on the salary level. The Boston Globe over the weekend published reports that Patrick administration officials had worked behind the scenes to engineer the Walsh appointment, including proposing her salary level. Patrick communications director Joe Landolfi said Tuesday, "The final decision relative to the salary was made by, as far as I know, Chairman [Allen] Larson." (State House News Service, 4/1/09)

More Landolfi: A series of e-mails published over the weekend between the governor's staff and HEFA board members revealed that HEFA Chairman Allen Larson asked the administration to justify the $175,000 salary after a Burlington-based consulting firm, The Survey Group, reported the average pay for her position to be closer to $128,500. Both Patrick and Walsh insisted yesterday that HEFA set the salary. Joe Landolfi, the governor's communications director, said Patrick's office participated in the discussions, but did not make the final decision on whether to offer Walsh the job or the generous $175,000 salary. (Lowell Sun, 4/1/09)

But the Boston Globe reported that "the salary level of $175,000 originiated with the administration": Contradicting a series of steadfast denials, internal e-mails show that Governor Deval Patrick's top aides controlled the appointment of state Senator Marian Walsh to a high-paying job at a state authority, from setting her salary to crafting her job description.They also provided the agency's talking points for the news media in an attempt to quell a public uproar...The salary level of $175,000 originated with the administration, the e-mails indicate. They also show that Rubin drafted Walsh's job description. Patrick's press office wrote the script for public statements by the agency. On the weekend before the Patrick-controlled HEFA board unanimously approved Walsh's appointment as assistant director, Larson asked Gonzalez to justify why the Democratic lawmaker should be paid more than $128,500. That was the amount that a Burlington-based consulting firm, The Survey Group, reported as the average market base pay for the position. Larson asked Gonzalez to contact Rubin for backup information that would support a $175,000 salary. "Generally, it's lower than the $175,000 figure," Larson wrote to Gonzalez, referring to the consultant's survey of pay at other government agencies. "It would be helpful if Doug or others could send along some comparables so that we have substantive justifications." (Boston Globe, 3/28/09)

GOP Stood With The People Against Walsh Appointment

2009-04-01T10:40:00.001-04:00

Nassour Says Sorry Affair Shows Patrick Is No Reformer

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party today issued the following statement in response to news that Sen. Marian Walsh is removing her name from consideration for a $175,000 a year patronage job created for her by Governor Patrick.

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "The Massachusetts Republican Party stood up for the taxpayers by protesting the creation of a patronage job for a supporter of Governor Patrick, and we are pleased that Senator Walsh has done the right thing by refusing the appointment. This absurd process has taught us, once again, that we cannot rely on the Patrick Administration to seek real, meaningful reform on Beacon Hill. Unbelievably, Governor Patrick still contends HEFA set the proposed salary at $175,000, when emails from his own staff clearly show a Governor's Office determined to give Senator Walsh a $100,000 pay raise."

"Attention should now be turned to rooting out waste and inefficiency throughout government in order to relieve the tax burden on working families. Thousands of people lost their jobs last month, and I call on the Governor to work as hard at creating jobs for those people as he did at creating a job for a political ally," concluded Nassour.

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-04-01T10:35:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

What They're Staying About The Stimulus

House Speaker Robert Deleo (D-Winthrop)
"This money, while a blessing, also creates a giant gap in local and state budgets when it inevitably dries up... Massachusetts cannot become captive to onetime revenue."
- Robert Deleo, Remarks to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, 3/31/09

Jeffrey Simon, Gov Deval Patrick's "Stimulus Czar"
"The federal estimate of 79,000, we really don't know what's behind that, we just plain don't"
- The Associated Press, 3/27/09

Phil Lemnios, Hull Town Manager
"It's ridiculous... If there's a formula that says the students in Wellesley are in greater need than the students in Hull, then there's something wrong with the formula. There's something fundamentally wrong.'' - The Boston Globe, 3/20/09

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit: "Patrick aides directed hiring"

2009-04-01T10:10:00.002-04:00

Contradicting a series of steadfast denials, internal e-mails show that Governor Deval Patrick's top aides controlled the appointment of state Senator Marian Walsh to a high-paying job at a state authority, from setting her salary to crafting her job description.

-The Boston Globe, 3/28/09

Patrick aides directed hiring
Set Walsh's salary, wrote job description
E-mails detail their level of involvement
The Boston Globe, 3/28/09
By Frank Phillips

Contradicting a series of steadfast denials, internal e-mails show that Governor Deval Patrick's top aides controlled the appointment of state Senator Marian Walsh to a high-paying job at a state authority, from setting her salary to crafting her job description.

They also provided the agency's talking points for the news media in an attempt to quell a public uproar."I'm going to send you a proposed job description from [Patrick chief of staff Doug Rubin] soon," Patrick senior adviser Jay Gonzalez told the two top officials at the Massachusetts Health and Education Facilities Authority in a March 11 e-mail.

As of late this week, one of those officials, HEFA chairman Allen Larson, continued to say that the push to hire Walsh came from the authority.

"I would deny that," he said when asked if the Patrick administration engineered the hiring. "We have been looking for the additional staff expertise since I got on the board. We have been working with the administration to figure that out. But I do not consider this an orchestrated matter."

The e-mails indicate, however, that Larson and his staff worked closely with Gonzalez, Patrick's undersecretary of administration and finance, in the days leading up to the board's decision on March 12 to hire Walsh as a $175,000 a year assistant executive director. (After Patrick's action kicked up a political firestorm, Walsh requested this week that the salary be reduced to $120,000.)

The e-mails were released to the Globe after a public records request.

The salary level of $175,000 originated with the administration, the e-mails indicate. They also show that Rubin drafted Walsh's job description. Patrick's press office wrote the script for public statements by the agency. On the weekend before the Patrick-controlled HEFA board unanimously approved Walsh's appointment as assistant director, Larson asked Gonzalez to justify why the Democratic lawmaker should be paid more than $128,500. That was the amount that a Burlington-based consulting firm, The Survey Group, reported as the average market base pay for the position.

Larson asked Gonzalez to contact Rubin for backup information that would support a $175,000 salary."Generally, it's lower than the $175,000 figure," Larson wrote to Gonzalez, referring to the consultant's survey of pay at other government agencies. "It would be helpful if Doug or others could send along some comparables so that we have substantive justifications."

There is no e-mail that describes how the administration responded, but other documents show that after the board vote, the agency's executive director, Benson Caswell, wrote Walsh offering her the job at the $175,000 salary. Another document shows Walsh's total salary package, which includes retirement benefits and healthcare coverage, would have totaled $242,442.

The appointment, coming amid talk of tax and toll hikes, has generated public anger directed at Patrick, who ran for election in 2006 as a reformer vowing to end patronage hiring on Beacon Hill. In the face of the criticism, Patrick has said the deputy director job at HEFA needed to be filled, even though it has been vacant for 12 years.

Patrick's director of communications, Joseph Landolfi, said yesterday in response to the evidence in the e-mails that Patrick's staff acted appropriately. He said the contacts involved "personnel decisions with chairman Larson that related to HEFA's role in supporting the governor's economic development agenda."

The e-mails about the salary also contradict statements from Walsh, a West Roxbury Democrat and one of Patrick's earliest political supporters. Walsh said this week that the authority had proposed the $175,000 salary after looking at the compensation levels of other, similar agencies.

"They made the offer based on a due diligence," she said after announcing she wanted the salary reduced to $120,000 in wake of the public outrage over her appointment.

The records also reveal that Gonzalez needed clearance from the governor's senior staff on several of the major issues.

The day before the board meeting where Walsh was formally selected, Gonzalez told Caswell that Rubin would create the job description that would be presented to the board. Caswell had already written and sent to Gonzalez a two-page job description for an assistant executive director. But that job description outlined duties that included working to develop new projects and procure new financing, expertise that Walsh did not possess.

The revised description, which is one paragraph, focused her duties on government-relations work, including merging the agency with the Massachusetts Development Authority, and not on tax exempt capital financing.Gonzalez also edited a draft e-mail that Larson wrote for board members, telling them that Walsh had been "nominated" for the job and that her hiring would be taken up at the Thursday meeting.

"I think this is great," Gonzalez told Larson late Sunday afternoon after reading his final draft of the statement. "I have forwarded it on to a couple of others internally and asked them to get back to me by the end of the day today if they have any concerns."

As the story of Walsh's appointment unfolded, the governor's press operation was in close touch with Liam Sullivan, who handles media relations for the authority.

On the day the board voted to hire Walsh, Patrick's deputy press secretary, Rebecca Deusser, e-mailed Sullivan directing him to release a joint statement by Larson and Caswell praising Walsh as highly qualified for the job. Deusser had written most of the two-sentence statement.

Sullivan was also in constant touch with Patrick's press office, getting approval for talking points for dealing with reporters and providing it with information on press inquiries he was getting. Landolfi said his press office became involved the day the board hired Walsh. The "sole purpose" he said was to coordinate "who responds to various media inquiries ensuring that responses were accurate."
...
Click Here To Read The Whole Article

MassGOP Newsletter, 03/27/09

2009-03-28T08:25:00.008-04:00

News From The Massachusetts Republican Party

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

Dear Fellow Republican,

Massachusetts Republicans have an incredible opportunity in the coming months. The people of the Commonwealth have made their voices heard through a new poll that states that a majority of people want to replace the extreme liberal Governor Deval Patrick with someone else. To add insult to injury, a plurality of people trust the legislature more than the Governor to deal with the economic crisis. The Democrat legislature is about as credible on the economy as Bernard Madoff is on investing.

The opportunity is there for us to make gains this coming election year. That's why it is so important for you to partner with me in growing the grassroots of the Massachusetts Republican Party. Earlier this week, I traveled to a well attended "MassGOP Grassroots Fourm" in West Springfield. There, we discussed different ways to grow the party and traded ideas and strategies. One gentleman made this great point: we can't look back in the rear-view mirror any longer. It's time to move the MassGOP forward.

I hope you'll consider attending a future forum with me and my staff. The opportunity is there for us. We must take advantage of it.

Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.

Yours in Victory,

Jennifer A. Nassour
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party

What We're Doing

As part of the MassGOP Grassroots Forums, the Massachusetts Republican Party is also launching a Charitable Service Program. The Party asks that every attendee of each regional forum bring an item that will be donated directly to the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS).

Below is the schedule for upcoming forums - with any questions please contact Kaitlyn Greeley at kgreeley@massgop.com.

Forum #2

Saturday, March 28th, 10am-12pm

Plymouth Memorial Hall

83 Court Street

Plymouth

Attendees are asked to bring games and puzzles or arts and crafts for BBBS.

Forum #3

Saturday, March 28th, 1pm-3pm

Elks Lodge

4500 North Main Street

Fall River

Attendees are asked to bring games and puzzles or arts and crafts for BBBS.

Forum #4

Monday, March 30th, 7pm-9pmThe Endicott Estate

656 East Street

Dedham

Attendees are asked to bring school supplies or books for BBBS.

Forum #5

Monday, April 13th, 7pm-9pm

Memorial Hall Library

2 North Main Street

Andover

Attendees are asked to bring games and puzzles or books for BBBS.

Forum #6

Wednesday, April 15th, 6pm-8pm

PNI Club

290 Millbury Street

Worcester

Attendees are asked to bring school supplies, books, or arts and crafts for BBBS.

In The News From This Week

"The Truth Behind The Triviality". That was the title of a great Op-Ed by Health and Education Facilities Authority vice chairman Marvin Gordon and former executive director Robert J. Ciolek on the subject of the patronage hiring of Gov. Patrick's friend Sen. Marian Walsh to a $175,000 a year job. The best line comes at the end, where Gordon and Ciolek write that: "In the end, it all comes down to money - not principle, not public policy, and certainly not reform. It is often said that actions speak louder than words, but sometimes words are far more illuminating than actions. In this instance, the governor's version of "transparency" is really a smoke-and-mirrors clouding of the public's view of the political version of trivial pursuit."
The governor has yet to back off the appointment.

Got an example of government waste? Send it to MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller at bkeller@massgop.com.

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

How You Can Help

The Massachusetts Republican Party is still soliciting resumes for summer internships. If you know of a hard-working, Republican-minded college student who wants to get Massachusetts back on track, then have them send their resume to info@massgop.com. As always, we are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005.

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

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-03-28T08:21:00.001-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

A "Trivial" Stand

"Patrick called the public furor over Walsh's hiring 'trivial' -- so trivial that her salary was reduced $55,000. It would have been fun to see what he would have done in the aftermath of a "trivial" Boston Tea Party."

- The Lowell Sun, 3/27/09

A "Trivial" Stand
The Lowell Sun, 3/27/09
Editorial

Give Gov. Deval Patrick credit. He came to his senses after a rising crescendo from the public and members of both political parties criticized his appointment of a friend -- state Sen. Marian Walsh -- to a previously unnecessary $175,000 a year government job.

The first-term Democrat sought -- and received -- permission from Walsh to cut her salary to a measly $120,000 a year to work for the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority. Walsh fills a plum post that went unfilled for 12 years by Republican governors, who obviously realized how useless the job was to the state's effectiveness.

But now, with the state's jobless level reaching 9 percent and a fiscal 2010 budget gap widening to nearly $4 billion, Patrick sees the necessity for Walsh's expertise even though others saw little benefit from the post when the cupboard was full of dough.

It's good to see the governor thinking about our best interests in this time of fiscal crisis. Maybe this is his idea of state stimulus: hiring political friends and padding the state payroll to get things back on track.

Patrick called the public furor over Walsh's hiring "trivial" -- so trivial that her salary was reduced $55,000. It would have been fun to see what he would have done in the aftermath of a "trivial" Boston Tea Party.

Click Here For The Article Link

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit: "Deval Patrick's Caddy shaft"

2009-03-28T08:17:00.001-04:00

Today, the Boston Herald reports that Massachusetts paid $14,958 to keep Governor Patrick's Cadillac: As Gov. Deval Patrick faces driving criticism for a long road of bad political turns, taxpayers are still paying for the original dent to his image - the Cadillac DTS. The state paid $14,958 last month to keep the governor's official 2007 Cadillac because the vehicle's two-year lease had run out, a Patrick aide confirmed last night. That amount is on top of the $16,080 taxpayers covered for the 24-month lease and another $11,909 Patrick himself pitched in for the payments to blunt criticism. "The lease for the vehicle was expiring and could not be extended," said spokesman Kyle Sullivan. (Boston Herald, 3/27/09)

Flashback: Governor Patrick called the purchase of a Cadillac as his official vehicle "trivial":

The Boston Herald: Patrick strongly defended his choice of vehicles yesterday, saying it was a "trivial'' decision that draws far more attention from the media than it does from ordinary citizens. ``But for your collective appetite for this, I don't think most people pay attention to what I ride in,'' Patrick told reporters. (Boston Herald, 2/17/07)

The Lowell Sun: First there was the million-dollar gala. Then there were the helicopter rides. Now Gov. Deval Patrick's latest extravagance is on staff for his wife. The state has hired a $72,000-a-year chief of staff whose job is to schedule Diane Patrick's public appearances and media availabilities, The Eagle has learned. Diane Patrick's aide also gets a slice of office space in the governor's third-floor suite. ...Add to that royal image a brand new Cadillac DeVille which Patrick bought to replace one of the Ford Crown Victoria's used by his state police security detail to drive him around. The black luxury car sports tinted windows, seat warmers, and is being leased at $1,166 per month. A defiant Patrick laughed off the flashy purchase, saying he's using tax dollars wisely. "Have a good look at the budget, see the choices we have made, see the investments we intend to make to move Massachusetts forward, and make judgments on the basis of the big and hard decisions and not the small trivial ones," Patrick urged taxpayers. (Lowell Sun, 2/17/07)

Governor Patrick also called recent stories of government waste "trivial":

Gov. Deval Patrick said Thursday recent stories about costly jobs for legislators, relatives of Cabinet members and administration employees are "trivial" and won't distract him from his focus on big issues. The governor, a one-time attorney, told reporters he has tried to learn how to focus on the meaningful, but "I sometimes feel like I'm in a profession now where that is completely upside down." In one example, Patrick said he was concentrating on a comprehensive overhaul of the state's transportation system. "That's going to make a difference economically, in terms of quality of life, long after I have left this job," he said. Patrick engineered a $175,000 state agency job for Sen. Marian Walsh. The sister of Transportation Secretary James Aloisi worked for six months as chief of staff in an office with no employees. And the Massachusetts Turnpike recently added two $100,000 employees despite a restriction on hiring only "critical" workers. Meanwhile, the state's unemployment rate rose to 7.8 percent last month. (Associated Press, 3/20/09)

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit: "Patrick Late In Launching Pension Panel, Fails To Submit Efficiency Report"

2009-03-26T21:00:00.005-04:00

Characterizing a publicly funded Cadillac and $175,000 patronage job as "trivial" while also advocating the highest gas tax in the nation shows how out of touch Governor Patrick is with the struggles of working families.
The Massachusetts Republican Party highlights examples of waste, patronage and inefficiency in state government in an ongoing series we call "Deval's 'Trivial' Pursuit."

Patrick Late In Launching Pension Panel, Fails To Submit Efficiency Report
State House News Service, 3/26/09
By Michael Norton and Gintautas Dumcius

The pension reform commission Gov. Deval Patrick touted with fanfare Sunday came six months after a statutory deadline for the panel's establishment.

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

The state budget Patrick signed in July 2008 required the administration by September 2008 to convene a special commission to examine public employee pension contribution rates, benefits, portability and cost-of-living adjustments. Patrick said Sunday that the panel, which must report its findings and any legislative recommendations by July 1, will hold its first meeting at the end of this month and touted its importance, but administration officials did not mention that the panel was six months late in getting started.

State law also requires the administration to deliver a report to the Legislature every other year on Executive Branch proposals and accomplishments in the area of management efficiencies. That report was due to the Legislature in December 2008, but has not been submitted.

Administration officials in January said they couldn't locate the efficiency report, required under Chapter 7 of the General Laws, and on Monday confirmed that it had not been submitted. "We don't have a physical report," said Cyndi Roy, spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance (A&F).

Click Here To Read The Whole Article (Subscription Required)

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-03-26T20:54:00.002-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

Governor must stop playing us for suckers

"The state faces a $1.1 billion budget deficit this year and $3.5 billion in anticipated spending cuts to start the next fiscal year. The governor says the situation is so dire we need to pay more taxes and expect less in services.It is hard enough that this message comes amid record unemployment and foreclosure rates. It's harder still when it comes amid news the governor is using taxpayers' money to line the pockets of friends and supporters and then scoffing when criticized for it.Raises and do-nothing jobs may be a common way of doing business on Beacon Hill but they're toxic assets in our book. And they should be toxic in the governor's book as well."

- The Patriot Ledger, 3/26/09

Governor must stop playing us for suckers
The Patriot Ledger, 3/26/09
Editorial

Gov. Deval Patrick has lost sight of the very message of voter empowerment that swept him into office 26 months ago and needs to get back on track.

His recent words and actions have so damaged his standing that even legitimate reform efforts look like sleights of hand timed to distract us from his serial insensitivity to the principles of those who elected him.

We deserve better.

The state faces a $1.1 billion budget deficit this year and $3.5 billion in anticipated spending cuts to start the next fiscal year. The governor says the situation is so dire we need to pay more taxes and expect less in services.

It is hard enough that this message comes amid record unemployment and foreclosure rates. It's harder still when it comes amid news the governor is using taxpayers' money to line the pockets of friends and supporters and then scoffing when criticized for it.

Raises and do-nothing jobs may be a common way of doing business on Beacon Hill but they're toxic assets in our book. And they should be toxic in the governor's book as well.

After all, he promised not to play these games.

Patrick says he is focused on long-term solutions and dismisses complaints about his recent spending as "trivial." That's wrong.

His approval rating has reached a record low of 28 percent and these mistakes threaten to rob him of the political capital he needs to affect change. What the governor seems to have forgotten is that as much as we want a solid manager to guide us through this crisis, we need an inspired leader.

And there's nothing inspirational about feeling like the person you've chosen to guard your money and interests puts patronage before principles; that the candidate who lifted an electorate on symbols now appears blind to their significance; or that someone who seemed to connect with the common man can't cope with anything less than a Cadillac.

The governor campaigned on hope and inspiration and vowed to resist the trappings of power. But less than a month after taking office he created a $72,000-a-year job for the co-chairman of his election campaign.

Early indications that he was out of touch with voters who supported his grassroots campaign might have been dismissed as the mistakes of a neophyte settling into his first elected office. But this pattern of tone-deaf politics is like a recurring rash and it needs immediate attention.

Whether it's his own inability to recognize why it's wrong or a problem with those advising him, change must come.

We cannot afford for the governor to fail at our greatest hour of need.

"We didn't build up this grassroots just to win an election," Patrick said on Election Night in 2006. "We built up the grassroots to govern in a whole new way, to make change real, and lasting, and meaningful."

It is imperative he acknowledge the damage his recent actions have done to that ideal and commit to changes in both attitude and conduct that shows he not only knows what it means to manage but also what is required to lead.

Click Here For The Article Link

Deval's "Trivial" Pursuit: "Let no tax go unextracted"

2009-03-26T20:45:00.008-04:00

Let no tax go unextracted

Boston Globe, 3/26/09

By Kevin Cullen, Globe Columnist

In these parlous times, it is extremely comforting to know that while some AIG executives are busy counting their bonuses and Jim Aloisi's sister is busy counting sheep, the super sleuths at our crack Department of Revenue have been able to track down a scurrilous deadbeat who goes by the name of Fran Dalton.

Fran Dalton, enemy of the state, is 80 years old, and if she makes 81, she'll be lucky. She is badly stooped and uses something she fashioned out of a tree branch as a cane. She used to weigh 160 pounds, but is now a wispy 115. She has a bad heart and every imaginable ailment known to octogenarians. Despite all this, or maybe because of all this, she insists on smoking.

"It is my one and only pleasure," she says. "I don't have much time left in this world."

But before she departs this world, the state agency is determined to make Fran Dalton cough up 91 bucks and change, the amount its bureaucrats say Fran Dalton cheated the state out of by buying cigarettes from a mail-order company.

Fran Dalton, a retired artist, survives on about $600 a month, checks from Social Security, and the Veterans Affairs Administration. She lives in a small, subsidized apartment in Newburyport. The next-to-last time she bought a carton of Lucky Strikes, it cost something like 60 bucks, and that was in New Hampshire.

"Every cigarette I have, it's a joy," she says. "It calms me. It soothes me. But I couldn't afford them."

Someone told her about a cigarette company run by Native Americans in New York that was selling by mail at discount prices. She got the telephone number and ordered five cartons of the cheapest ones they had: nonfilter Senecas, at $14.89 a carton.

"They're not bad," Fran Dalton said. "They taste a lot like Luckys."

The Seneca tribe that runs the company doesn't have to pay or collect taxes on products it sells. But its salespeople send information about their customers to various states, which is why Fran Dalton got a letter from the Department of Revenue the other day demanding $91.58. The notice said that if she doesn't pay up by April 6, the state will add interest and penalties.

Well, they can start calculating, because Fran Dalton won't be paying.

"I don't have much money, but it's really not about the money. It's about the principle," she said. "I had no idea I was being taxed. And . . . the tax amount is outrageous."

There is, in fact, some microscopic print on the bottom of Fran Dalton's invoice from the SmartSmoker company that says, "The purchaser is responsible for payment of any state, local, or excise tax." Fran Dalton said she never saw that disclaimer, and even if she had seen it she wouldn't have been able to read it. Her eyes, like everything else, aren't what they used to be.

Massachusetts is adamant about collecting these taxes, and you can see the point. After all, we need every penny we can get to give legislators the raises they orchestrated for themselves, not to mention the 14 grand we need each week to pay members of Sal DiMasi's old staff, who are busy these days doing their best impression of Carol Aloisi. Times are tough, the government tells us, and there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Yesterday, Fran Dalton was sitting in the Salvation Army building in Newburyport, having, well, a free lunch.

"The churches take turns on different days," she said. "Wednesdays, they serve lunch here."

So, if anybody from the state is looking to pinch the dangerous, seditious, and defiant Fran Dalton, she'll be easy pickings any Wednesday, around noon, at the corner of Water and Fair streets. You can't miss her. She's the one smoking Senecas.

Nassour Congratulates Tim Cahill

2009-03-26T20:44:00.000-04:00

Poll Shows People Are Tired Of Ethical Lapses, Waste

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party today issued the following statement in response to a Suffolk University/WHDH poll that shows that most voters, despite having no idea who he is, would vote for State Treasurer Tim Cahill over Governor Deval Patrick.

MassGOP Chairman Jennifer Nassour said, "I congratulate Gubernatorial Front Runner Tim Cahill on his new status - certainly he needed some good news. This poll shows the people of Massachusetts are tired of the ethical lapses and waste in state government. The Massachusetts Republican Party stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of the Commonwealth in believing we need to clean up the mess on Beacon Hill by cutting spending, ending no-show jobs and lowering taxes."

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-03-26T20:39:00.003-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

"The Truth Behind The Triviality"

"In the end, it all comes down to money - not principle, not public policy, and certainly not reform. It is often said that actions speak louder than words, but sometimes words are far more illuminating than actions. In this instance, the governor's version of "transparency" is really a smoke-and-mirrors clouding of the public's view of the political version of trivial pursuit."

- Health and Education Facilities Authority vice chairman Marvin Gordon and former executive director Robert J. Ciolek, The Boston Globe, 3/26/09

The truth behind the triviality
The Boston Globe, 3/26/09
By Marvin Gordon and Robert J. Ciolek

In recent statements about a lucrative $175,000 position for Senator Marian Walsh, Governor Deval Patrick characterized critics as harping on a "trivial" matter. The announcement yesterday that the pay would be cut to $120,000 shows that the governor's tuning fork has finally alerted him to public outrage. Still, the appointment is outrageous.

Walsh, who was named assistant executive director of the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority, has no experience in the world of bond finance. She would be filling a position that is vacant, purposeless, and unneeded. In order to pay her salary, the authority may charge it to the nonprofits it serves, or reduce its charitable facility grants to various Commonwealth Health Centers serving our needier citizens. The authority's board of directors knows this, but its duty to the institutions it serves is apparently trumped by its fealty to the governor. Patrick should withdraw his support and the board should - in a more public manner than its last vote - rescind the offer of employment, which will send an important message to the institutions, the bond rating agencies, and the marketplace that prices HEFA bonds.

The Health and Educational Facilities Authority was created 40 years ago to assist Massachusetts nonprofit institutions, such as hospitals, colleges, health clinics, and cultural groups, in accessing the tax-exempt bond market. The purchase of these bonds by private investors permits the institutions to build dormitories, hospital facilities, and museums, and to acquire capital equipment.

The basis for establishing the authority as an independent entity was the Legislature's understanding that it could perform the work and meet the requirements of the federal tax code at no cost to taxpayers. And while the staff of the authority is small - only 15 - its bond issuances are large, given the significant number of nonprofits in the state. To put it in perspective, there are about 8,000 entities with the power to issue tax-exempt bonds, and the Health and Educational Facilities Authority last year ranked sixth nationwide. Issuing bonds is what it does. And, it does it well.

But, the present situation at the authority is of deeper concern. The governor's plan is to put the authority out of business by folding it into another state authority, the Massachusetts Development Finance Authority.

The Development Finance Authority is an agency within the Office of Administration and Finance and, although legally independent, it is structurally much less independent than the Health and Educational Facilities Authority. With overlapping power to issue tax-exempt bonds for certain nonprofit institutions, the two authorities compete for clients. This competition provides a benefit to those nonprofit entities, in that each authority competes with the other by reducing fees for bond issuances by hundreds of thousands of dollars.So why would the governor now want to force a merger? The Development Finance Authority, as the governor's development agency, has been asked to be many things to many people. And it needs funding to do those things, preferably money not from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By becoming the only issuer of bonds, the Development Finance Authority would be able to end competition and, in all likelihood, raise the fees paid by hospitals, clinics, and colleges for bond issuances. Worse, it could raid funds controlled by the Health and Education Facilities Authority for millions of dollars, currently held in Trust for the benefit of charitable tax-exempt institutions. It is our hope that the charities division of the attorney general's office reviews such an effort.

At its last meeting, the Board of Health and Education Facilities Authority voted to create a committee "to reach out to (MDFA), to identify efficiencies and cost savings that might be gained by working together." That is code for putting the Health and Education Facilities Authority out of business. It is instructive that no one from any nonprofit institution to our knowledge has yet to be asked to serve on that committee. These issues are being kept out of the public view.

In the end, it all comes down to money - not principle, not public policy, and certainly not reform. It is often said that actions speak louder than words, but sometimes words are far more illuminating than actions. In this instance, the governor's version of "transparency" is really a smoke-and-mirrors clouding of the public's view of the political version of trivial pursuit.

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2009-03-25T13:27:00.001-04:00

MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-03-25T13:22:00.004-04:00

They Said It!

HEFA Vice-Chairman Marvin Gordon On Governor Deval Patrick's Appointment Of Sen. Marian Walsh (D-West Roxbury)
"To me, it almost smells of Watergate."- New England Cable News 3/24/09

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MassGOP Research Briefing

2009-03-25T10:59:00.003-04:00

In Case You Missed It!

Cahill says ethics smears are no 'coincidence'

It was less than three weeks ago that Cahill told The Patriot Ledger he "definitely" plans to run if Gov. Deval Patrick's performance comes up short.

Cahill said Tuesday he believed the news leak about the confidential ethics inquiry was a deliberate attempt to smear him and place an ethics cloud over any gubernatorial bid.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that these stories came out when they did," he said.

"I fully expect these types of stories to keep coming up." -State Treasurer Tim Cahill (D-Quincy)

The Patriot Ledger, 3/25/09

Cahill says ethics smears are no 'coincidence'
Leak of confidential ethics inquiry into Lottery contracts won't derail plans to challenge for governor
The Patriot Ledger, 3/25/09
By Nancy Reardon

A state ethics inquiry into contracts awarded by State Treasurer Timothy Cahill hasn't slowed his plans to run for governor, the Quincy Democrat said.

Cahill said he is cooperating with a preliminary inquiry by the state Ethics Commission, which he confirmed is looking into his decision to award a $21 million state contract for Lottery scratch tickets to Scientific Games Corp. of New York.

The commission does not comment on investigations, which are confidential.

It was less than three weeks ago that Cahill told The Patriot Ledger he "definitely" plans to run if Gov. Deval Patrick's performance comes up short.

Cahill said Tuesday he believed the news leak about the confidential ethics inquiry was a deliberate attempt to smear him and place an ethics cloud over any gubernatorial bid.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that these stories came out when they did," he said. "I fully expect these types of stories to keep coming up."

Cahill reiterated his statement that he had no idea his friend and political supporter, Thomas Kelly, of Quincy, had received about $132,000 in consulting fees from Scientific Games at the time the state contracts with the company were approved.

"I didn't know anything about that," he said. "I wasn't aware of anything he was doing on my behalf."

Cahill described his relationship with Kelly - who lives two doors from him on a Quincy street - as a "neighbor and family friend."

The two men have known each other for more than 15 years, since Cahill moved into the neighborhood in the early 1990s, the treasurer said.

Kelly could not be reached for comment.

They've also shared similar career paths; Kelly was a deputy treasurer under former state Treasurer Robert Crane.

They are also both defendants in a lawsuit filed in December by Bingo Innovative Software, a Rhode Island company that alleges the two engaged in a "civil conspiracy" to steer business to Scientific Games.

According to U.S. District Court documents, Bingo Innovative claims Cahill and Kelly carried on a "pay to play" scheme, where Scientific Games was rewarded for campaign contributions to the state treasurer.

Cahill told the Patriot Ledger on Tuesday that he's never operated under any "quid pro quo" system.

"People are free to contribute to any campaign and free not to," he said. "It does not affect anything."

Ethics reform is a hot issue on Beacon Hill this week, with the House expected to vote Thursday on a bill that toughens lobbying laws and campaign finance rules. Legislators have framed the bill as necessary to restore public confidence.

Cahill said he doesn't expect the ethics inquiry would shadow him on the campaign trail, and he spoke in favor of ethics reform.

"I'm in favor of any expanding or tightening of the ethics rules," he said, adding he would "run a high-minded campaign, the way I've always done it."

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