Peterson: Major Reforms in House Transportation Bill

Assistant Minority Leader George N. Peterson, Jr. released the following statement in regard to the passing of the Transportation Reform bill.

The House took tremendous steps last night in reforming what has been a very inefficient transportation system. The Legislature is often criticized for being all talk and no action; however, nothing could be further from the truth in last night’s showing of true bipartisanship.

The bill passed last night will dissolve the Turnpike Authority, transfer MBTA employees over to the GIC for health care and eliminate the so called 23 and out rule that currently allows MBTA workers to retire with full pensions at a very young age. These reforms combined with a number of others is expected to save the Commonwealth anywhere between $2 and $4 billion over the next twenty years.

Additionally, I am very proud of one specific GOP amendment offered in the House last night that will allow the state to pay Mass Highway employees through the state’s operating budget. Currently, the salaries of those employees are paid using borrowed money, a practice that even the Governor has called a “budgeting gimmick.” This particular amendment will likely save Massachusetts upwards of $500 million.

There is a time and a place for partisan politics, and last night’s transportation debate was neither. I hope the efforts of the House will go a long way in restoring the public’s confidence in its elected officials.

Staff Profile: Melissa Cavanaugh, Legal Counsel

Melissa Cavanaugh, Minority Leader Brad Jones’ Legal Counsel has spent much of her adult life working at the State House. In fact, Cavanaugh began working in the Republican Leader’s office as an intern back in 2000. Intrigued by government and law, the North Andover native went on to attend law school at Suffolk University, where she graduated with a JD in 2006.

Cavanaugh’s experiences on Beacon Hill range from being an intern for now retired Representative Mary Rogeness to being an office assistant while attending law school full time. Now, the married attorney conducts legal research on various issues of concern to the Minority Leader and the caucus. When the House isn’t in session, you can find Melissa reading and analyzing pieces of legislation filed by other members. She offers a legal interpretation of the language to the Minority Leader and in some cases she throws in her own opinion on a particular issue. Additionally, Cavanaugh researches and drafts legislation in the areas of Public Safety, the Judiciary, and Ethics. Because of her legal expertise, she played a significant role during the Joint and House Rules Debate and Ethics Legislation. A jack of all trades, she also works with the Budget Director and Policy Analysts to analyze the state budget.

Cavanaugh says her father, who is a small business owner is the kind of person she thinks about when reflecting back to why she got involved in state government. She says she always noticed the impact of government, both good and bad, on the lives of hard-working citizens. Cavanaugh wanted to get involved to hopefully impact the lives of those hard-working citizens, like her dad, in a positive way. As far as her education is concerned, she went to law school because she felt that it would give her the tools necessary to help people in ways that they simply cannot help themselves.

In Case You Missed It: Jones Appears on the Michael Graham Show

House Minority Leader Brad Jones appeared on the Michael Graham show, just hours before the House took up a comprehensive transportation reform bill. An amendment offered to the bill quickly became a source of controversy yesterday as a Democratic representative made a proposal that would make it easier for illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

Click here to hear the discussion between Jones and Graham.

GOP Caucus Pleased Their Message of Reform Resonated in the House

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. released the following statement today in response to the passing of the Transportation Reform bill:

While my Republican colleagues and I don’t necessarily always see eye to eye with our Democratic counterparts in the House on the role of government, we all agree that providing an efficient transportation system is not only a priority but a necessity. Today, our message of reform first resonated in the House and the proof is in the passing of this Transportation Reform Bill and the adoption of many GOP amendments.

Included in those adopted amendments is a proposal that would save the Commonwealth hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 20 years. The effort paves the way for the Commonwealth to pay Mass Highway employees through the state’s operating budget as opposed to the current practice of using borrowed money to fund salaries. The Transportation Finance Commission recently dubbed a very similar proposal as the second largest identified reform.

As these reforms are put into place, we hope that any further discussion of increasing revenue will be taken off the table, as we must give time for these changes to be implemented. The many problems facing the state’s transportation system did not happen overnight, and unfortunately, they will not disappear that quickly either. We must allow these reforms an opportunity to succeed. Today, Republicans and Democrats alike worked in a bipartisan manner to restore the public’s confidence in the Legislature’s ability to put the needs of its constituents before party politics.

The bill passed today by the House and the Senate’s bill passed last month will now go to conference committee. I hope the final version will maintain the tough language and comprehensive reforms proposed by both Chambers.

Transportation Reform Bill Up for Debate in the House

The Transportation Reform bill is up for debate in the House today. GOP lawmakers have filed a number of amendments that will protect taxpayers and tollpayers. All together, 200 amendments were filed and the debate is expected to be thorough and comprehensive.

Click here to watch your Republicans in action.

Jones to Appear on Michael Graham Show

House Minority Leader Brad Jones will be appearing on the Michael Graham show this morning at approximately 11:10am.

Click here to listen to his appearance live on 96.9 WTKK.

GOP Lawmakers Looking Out for Taxpayers

The Massachusetts House of Represenatives will today debate a piece of legislation relative to transportation reform.

GOP lawmakers have filed a number of amendments that would protect Massachusetts taxpayers and their wallets specifically. However, Representative Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland) filed an amendment that would make it easier for illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses.

Click here to read what House Minority Leader Brad Jones had to say about the amendment.

Hardship Listening Tour Still Making an Impact

The Hardship Listening Tour wrapped up last week and yet the GOP-sponsored tour is still making an impact.

Click here to read a new article from Nashoba Publishing.

Boston Globe Questions Patrick's Actions

The backlash continues today over Governor Patrick's botched handling of the Senator Marian Walsh fiasco. The Boston Globe's Adrian Walker questions the Governor's actions, saying, "this fiasco was like Christmas for cynics."

Senator Walsh was originally offered a $175,000 a year salary for a position at HEFA that has been unfilled for more than 10 years. This decision was not received well by the public or the press. A week later, amid a storm of controversy, Walsh's salary was reduced to $120,000 a year. Still, the public outrage continued. So, needless to say Senator Walsh has decided to take her name out of the running, however the controversy seems to continue on.

Click here to read Walker's piece in today's Globe.

Transit Reforms Overdue

Assistant Minority Whip Elizabeth Poirier, Represenatives Jay Barrows and Richard Ross and Senator Scott Brown wrote a guest column, which was published in the Attleboro Sun Chronicle today.

Click here to read what the GOP lawmakers have to say about transit reform.