Monday, July 1, 2013

House Minority Leader Brad Jones’ Statement on Enactment of Fiscal Year 2014 Budget

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to the enactment of the Fiscal Year 2014 budget by the House of Representatives:

“The Fiscal Year 2014 budget, as enacted by my Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives, is an unsupportable proposal that is predicated on massive tax increases that have yet to be finalized.

Listening to today’s brief debate on the House floor, I fail to see a plausible reason for the need to raise taxes on Massachusetts’ hardworking taxpayers when the Democratic majority continually touts the increased amount of resources within the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

I am equally as disappointed that the House of Representatives has squandered yet another opportunity to reform the taxpayer-funded welfare benefits system. While two important provisions were included in the recently enacted spending plan, the budget passed by the House does not go nearly far enough in ensuring that Electronic Transfer Benefits are reserved for those who truly need them. As such, the House Republican caucus looks forward to continuing our advocacy for meaningful welfare reform.”