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."
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Mass GOP: Geithner Offers No Help to Struggling Massachusetts Families, Businesses
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Keller Departing MassGOP for Lazio Committee
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Edition
What we're doing
In the news from this week
How you can help
"Irrelevant"
-Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth)
"Irrelevant"
That's what DEMOCRAT Senate President Therese Murray called Governor Deval Patrick this week.
While the Democrats fight among themselves, they are not accomplishing anything for Massachusetts except higher taxes and wasteful spending. Their bickering and backbiting means only that the taxpayers are losing.
Thank you so much to those of you who donated in response to my email earlier this week about fighting the sales tax. It means a lot to me when I see activists like yourself donate because your efforts are critical to the future of the Republican Party here in Massachusetts.
In other news, I wanted to commend Senate Republican Leader Richard Tisei, who also called the Governor irrelevant this week. "I have been here since Gov. Dukakis, and I cannot recall a governor marginalizing himself so much," Tisei said. "He's erratic. I have never seen a governor become more irrelevant than this governor and his administration have. He ran around the state for a year and a half talking about transportation, he didn't file a bill. He's never filed a pension reform bill. A lot of what you're seeing is a charade. Disappointing to me because I had high hopes we were going to be able to stop the sales tax increase."
I couldn't agree more. We're making great strides towards 2010.
Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.
Yours in Victory,
Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party
What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) The Massachusetts Republican Day of Service is coming up! Join us in volunteering to clean up Massachusetts. My staff and I will be cleaning up DeFilippo Park in the North End along with my staff. If you're in the Boston area, come and join me! We will meet at the Party Headquarters (85 Merrimac Street, Suite 400) at 10:30am. Please contact Kaitlyn Greeley at Kgreeley@massgop.com or at (617) 523-5005 X248 with any questions.
We're asking all of our Republican Town Committees to join in! RTCs all over Massachusetts will be getting involved in local projects by cleaning up parks and focusing on the environmental needs of their local community.
If you're already in an RTC, please be sure to put together a plan and share it with us. Fill out the form located at http://www.massgop.com/dayofservice.aspx.
The Massachusetts Republican Day of Service is a great way for us to demonstrate the value our party places in public service. We hope you join us in encouraging fellow Republicans and others to help clean up Massachusetts!
2) We still have space available at our annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner on June 3rd featuring RNC Chairman Michael Steele! Contact Lyndsay Jones if you're interested or if you know someone who is. This promises to be an exciting event!
The Massachusetts Republican Party still could use your help to get the word out about our Lincoln Reagan Reception - can you volunteer your time to make calls on our behalf? Please RSVP to help out by sending an email to ljones@massgop.com
In The News From This Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another week, another example of pension abuse. This week, it's Democrat State Senator Ken Donnelly of Arlington (Pictured, left). The Boston Herald's Howie Carr reported this week that Senator Donnelly gets "$51,187 a year from the Arlington Retirement Board. Not too shabby, especially when you add in the fresh $61,440 he's collecting as successor in the state Senate to Jim Marzilli."Howie calls him the "Big Dipper". We prefer "Double-Dipping Donnelly." What do you think?
Keep sending your examples of government waste to MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller at bkeller@massgop.com. We've been getting great tips!
It's time we take back Beacon Hill - forward this newsletter to everyone you know!
How You Can Help
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005 or email us at info@massgop.com.Quick Links
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MassGOP.com - Our Website
RedMassGroup.com - Online community for Massachusetts Republican activists
Scaling The Hill - Blog for the GOP Senate Caucus - Sen. Richard Tisei, Republican Leader
The Capitol View - Blog for the GOP House Caucus - Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Republican Leader
Get in touch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party
85 Merrimac St., Suite 400
Boston, MA 02114
info@massgop.com
(617) 523-5005
The Honorable Jennifer A. Nassour, Chair - jennifer@massgop.com
State Party Staff:
Executive Director Nick Connors - nick@massgop.com
Finance Director Lyndsay Jones - ljones@massgop.com
Finance Operations Brett Kasper - bkasper@massgop.com
Communications Director Barney Keller - bkeller@massgop.com
Operations Director Kaitlyn Greeley - kgreeley@massgop.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, May 22, 2009
MassGOP Research Briefing
Republican Senators Slam Governor Patrick During Budget Debate
Last night the State Senate voted unanimously for Governor Patrick to report on his plan to reduce his payroll: "Senators voted unanimously Wednesday to require Gov. Deval Patrick to report on "all action undertaken by the Executive Branch" this fiscal year and "those planned to be undertaken" next fiscal year "to reduce the costs of employee compensation." The move comes amid high-profile stories of Patrick aides' salaries, and hours after the News Service reported that Patrick called the Legislature's timing on raising the sales tax "thumbing our nose" at taxpayers. Democrats joined the Republicans in backing Sen. Bruce Tarr's amendment, and freshman Sen. Ben Downing spoke in favor, referencing Patrick's remarks. Senate Republicans turned some of their harshest language yet on Patrick, noting that Patrick was in Washington D.C. Tuesday and Atlanta Wednesday, and painting him as a disengaged, frequently absent governor." (State House News Service, 5/20/09)
Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester): "Madame President, this just in. A postcard from the governor! The Legislature are thumbing their nose at taxpayers. A postcard from Atlanta. While we are here working to resolve the worst fiscal crisis since the Depression, the governor points out that he is trying to turn up the heat on us. Then he accused us of disrespecting the voters. Apparently, you don't get a perspective on the State House until you are five hundred miles away."
Sen. Knapik (R-Westfield): "If the governor of this Commonwealth is not going to lead, then we have no choice but to lead. The vote you take. I'm flummoxed and flabbergasted and gobsmacked that a governor in your own party has the audacity to send this email. It's a virtual poke in the eye, which I don't think should be allowed to stand. We'll have to virtually poke him back in the eye, because he's never around. He has the equivalent of nearly six weeks vacation time. I'm sure some of it was spent writing the book, I'm sure it'll be in the bargain bin, 50 percent of 75 percent off."
Sen. Knapik (R-Westfield): "We could use him here today. I know there's a biotech thing going on, there's always a biotech thing going on somewhere. We need the governor in this state now to frame the future of this state. The previous speaker, whom I have great respect for and he was in elementary school when I was elected, he referenced the $1.9 billion estimate. Do you know today was the day we were supposed to see a revised budget? And where was the governor today? Atlanta. Yesterday? Washington, with a Supreme Court interview. This guy needs to be here. We need the leadership that he was elected to provide."
Sen. Knapik (R-Westfield): "We need a sympathizer in chief, a budgeter in chief, not someone who sends missives from 500 miles away."
Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Melrose): "As someone who led the debate against the sales tax, it would have been great to have the governor her, helping. If he feels it's such a terrible thing, I would have appreciated him here, standing with me. It was very disappointing."
Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Melrose): "I think people outside the building need to understand the charade that's going on. The governor has taxes he's proposed that dwarf yesterday's. Two most important days of his administration were the casino vote, when he was in New York shopping his book. The second most important day of his administration was yesterday, when the sales tax was brought up. If he really was against it, then he should have been here. Last week he was for it, today he's against it.
Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Melrose): "I have been here since Gov. Dukakis, and I cannot recall a governor marginalizing himself so much. He's erratic. I have never seen a governor become more irrelevant than this governor and his administration have. He ran around the state for a year and a half talking about transportation, he didn't file a bill. He's never filed a pension reform bill. A lot of what you're seeing is a charade. Disappointing to me because I had high hopes we were going to be able to stop the sales tax increase."
Source: Senate Session, State House News Service, 5/20/09 (Subscription required)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
MassGOP Research Briefing
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
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)
Total cost to taxpayers: $222,623
Last summer, the Boston Herald reported that U.S. Congressman William Delahunt collects a $57,623 pension on top of his $165,000 salary: "Turns out he's not alone among the Bay State's congressional double-dippers. U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt, who gets the same $165,000 federal paycheck, takes home an even larger state pension than Olver. A former cop and prosecutor, Delahunt gets $57,623 annually from the state treasury, records show." (Boston Herald, 7/20/08)
News from the Massachusetts Republican Party
May 15, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Edition
What we're doing
In the news from this week
How you can help
Let's Clean Up Beacon Hill!
We're all in favor of cleaning up the mess on Beacon Hill, but what about cleaning up the garbage in our neighborhoods? I've always said that Republicans should give back to the community, which is why I'm officially declaring Saturday, June 6th a Massachusetts Republican Day of Service!
Join us in volunteering to clean up Massachusetts. My staff and I will be cleaning up DeFilippo Park in the North End along with my staff. If you're in the Boston area, come and join me! We will meet at the Party Headquarters (85 Merrimac Street, Suite 400) at 10:30am. Please contact Kaitlyn Greeley at Kgreeley@massgop.com or at (617) 523-5005 X248 with any questions.
We're asking all of our Republican Town Committees to join in! RTCs all over Massachusetts will be getting involved in local projects by cleaning up parks and focusing on the environmental needs of their local community.
If you're already in an RTC, please be sure to put together a plan and share it with us. Fill out the form located at http://www.massgop.com/dayofservice.aspx.
The Massachusetts Republican Day of Service is a great way for us to demonstrate the value our party places in public service. We hope you join us in encouraging fellow Republicans and others to help clean up Massachusetts!
Keep sending your feedback to jennifer@massgop.com.
Yours in Victory,
Jennifer A. Nassour,
Chairman - Massachusetts Republican Party
What We're Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) Please join the Massachusetts Republican Party for a Young Professionals Summer Kickoff! Next week on Wednesday, May 20th, meet us at 6pm at Tia's on the Waterfront, located at 200 Atlantic Avenue. For more information, please contact our Finance Director, Lyndsay Jones, at ljones@massgop.com or at (617) 523-5005 X234.
2) We still have space available at our annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner on June 3rd featuring RNC Chairman Michael Steele! Contact Lyndsay if you're interested or if you know someone who is. This promises to be an exciting event!
The Massachusetts Republican Party still could use your help to get the word out about our Lincoln Reagan Reception - can you volunteer your time to make calls on our behalf? We will be running phone banks from our offices at 85 Merrimac St. in Boston for the Lincoln Reagan Reception from 6-8pm on Tuesday, May 19th. Please RSVP to help out by sending an email to ljones@massgop.com
In The News From This Week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Boston Globe reported on Tuesday that Governor Patrick takes about six weeks of vacation each year: "That stretch includes many of the 60 weekdays when his daily calendar was empty during his first two years as governor, indicating that he had no official activities scheduled on those days, according to a Globe review of his schedule. Patrick's staff points out that he is always on call and often makes official telephone calls or sends e-mails, even during his down time. Still, the vast majority of the blank weekdays on his calendar corresponded with the governor's known summer vacations in Richmond each year, which were described in press reports at the time or were clustered around holidays such as Christmas and long weekends. The empty pages reflect the equivalent of almost six weeks of vacation or other days containing no official activities per year, a benefit beyond the reach of ordinary workers."
Of course, Deval Patrick has a history of a abandoning Massachusetts during important events
In March, the State House News Service reported that, after announcing a gas tax hike, Governor Patrick left for a weeklong vacation in Jamaica. One Democrat told the Eagle Tribune in February that Governor Patrick also left the state for Washington after announcing his gas tax hike. And who could forget when Patrick left the state the day of the House vote on his failed Casino Bill...to sign a book deal.
There's more: While Massachusetts was under flood watch last year, Governor Patrick was in Miami, the Associated Press reported last march. And every time Governor Patrick travels, the taxpayers foot the bill: "on every occasion, Patrick is accompanied by a State Police contingent whose airfare, hotels, meals and overtime are charged to taxpayers," according to the Associated Press.
One question remains: How will Governor Patrick campaign for Governor and sell his book in 2010?
Keep sending your examples of government waste to MassGOP Communications Director Barney Keller at bkeller@massgop.com. We've been getting great tips!
It's time we take back Beacon Hill - forward this newsletter to everyone you know!
How You Can Help
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are looking for people who want to volunteer at our Boston HQ. If you are interested, please call us at (617) 523-5005 or email us at info@massgop.com.
Quick Links
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MassGOP.com - Our Website
RedMassGroup.com - Online community for Massachusetts Republican activists
Scaling The Hill - Blog for the GOP Senate Caucus - Sen. Richard Tisei, Republican Leader
The Capitol View - Blog for the GOP House Caucus - Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Republican Leader
Get in touch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Massachusetts Republican Party
85 Merrimac St., Suite 400
Boston, MA
02114
info@massgop.com
(617) 523-5005
The Honorable Jennifer A. Nassour, Chair - jennifer@massgop.com
State Party Staff:
Executive Director Nick Connors - nick@massgop.com
Finance Director Lyndsay Jones - ljones@massgop.com
Finance Operations Brett Kasper - bkasper@massgop.com
Communications Director Barney Keller - bkeller@massgop.com
Operations Director Kaitlyn Greeley - kgreeley@massgop.com
Saturday, May 16, 2009
MassGOP Research Briefing
"Make no mistake: If Beacon Hill policy makers don't get there on Pacheco and these important reforms during this fiscal crisis, they will never take place. And if not, lawmakers will be playing Pinocchio should they later claim they did everything possible to enact savings before finally turning to taxes."
- Boston Globe Columnist Scot Lehigh, 5/15/09
Reforms that lead to big savings
The Boston Globe, 5/15/09
By Scot Lehigh, Globe Columnist
OPEN YOUR Beacon Hill misfortune cookie, and here's the prophecy you'll find inside: Higher taxes are in your future.
Now, no one wants to dig deeper, particularly in tough times. But nor do I want to have elders lose their home care or developmentally disabled kids deprived of vital programs or teachers laid off.
So I would be willing to pay more, under the right circumstances.
However, citizens have every right to expect that state leaders have done everything they reasonably can to save public dollars first. And let's be clear: That condition has not yet been met.
What further should be done? Here are several obvious reforms that could lead to big savings.
First up, that lamentable Democratic gift to the public-employee unions known as the Pacheco law, which effectively ended the state's ability to contract with private firms for services they can deliver more efficiently than state workers. Although Senator Pacheco, the measure's proud papa, denies it, I have it on good authority that his signature "accomplishment" was thought up and written by lobbyists, then given to him to file. The Legislature passed it over a gubernatorial veto back in 1993, bringing the portcullis crashing down on Bill Weld's efforts to reap public savings by tapping the private sector.
Ever since, repealing Pacheco has been a reform that dare not speak its name. Not among Democrats, anyway.
But this year, Senate Republicans, who estimate the state could save $150 million to $300 million a year by aggressively contracting out, plan to try.
"If people are really serious about saving taxpayer dollars and making government more efficient, then we have to look at sacred cows like the Pacheco law," says Senate minority leader Richard Tisei.
Amen.
Here's a second sound idea Tisei is pushing: a fiscal year 2010 state hiring and salary freeze (including "step" increases), which he estimates would save about $140 million. Wage cuts have become commonplace in the private sector; that being so, surely the state can temporarily hold level public-sector wages.
"Most people would be shocked to know we haven't done that already," Tisei notes.
Next, it's time to do away with all so-called termination pensions, which let public employees of 20 years duration start collecting at least one-third of their salary upon losing their jobs, regardless of age. That counterproductive program should be low-hanging fruit.
The state also needs to grant cities and towns either the unrestricted authority to join the state's Group Insurance Commission or GIC-like ability to design their own health-insurance offerings. Currently, every change in local health-insurance plans has to be bargained with the local unions.
"There are a lot of communities that can't get the unions to agree even to increase a $5 co-payment for a doctor's visit," reports Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
The GIC, by contrast, sets co-pays and deductibles and other insurance plan features without having to bargain the changes. If the ability of municipalities to join the GIC weren't subject to a union veto or if they had similar plan-design power, the savings would be large.
Springfield saved $14 million to $18 million in just two years by joining the GIC, according to a new study by UMass-Boston's Collins Center for Public Management and Harvard's Rappaport Institute. A 2007 report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and the Boston Municipal Research Bureau estimated that if all municipalities joined the GIC, after 10 years the total annual savings could be as much as $2.5 billion. This simple safeguard would protect employees: local health-insurance plans would have to be at least as generous as those the GIC offers.
Asked about the municipal health insurance issue on Wednesday, Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos said the Senate would consider it later. Queried about repealing the Pacheco law, he replied: "We haven't got there yet."
Make no mistake: If Beacon Hill policy makers don't get there on Pacheco and these important reforms during this fiscal crisis, they will never take place. And if not, lawmakers will be playing Pinocchio should they later claim they did everything possible to enact savings before finally turning to taxes.
Click Here For The Article Link
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Young Professionals Summer Kickoff
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
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
MassGOP Research Briefing
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)
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)
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
Governor Patrick Has A History of Delay On Reform
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)
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Edition
What we're doing
In the news from this week
How you can help
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
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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
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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.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
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Sunday, May 10, 2009
MassGOP Lincoln Reagan Reception
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
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
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
News From The Massachusetts Republican Party
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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
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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
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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
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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
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
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."
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)
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
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
