GOP Lawmakers Request Comprehensive Investigation

Republican Representatives Robert Hargraves (Groton) and Richard Ross (Wrentham) have requested that the House Post Audit and Oversight Committee launch a comprehensive investigation into the workings of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. The request comes just days after massive traffic backups on the Turnpike, which the agency attributes to staffing issues.

“Cash strapped drivers are having a hard enough time as it is,” said Representative Hargraves, the Ranking Republican on the Post Audit and Oversight Committee. “They are being bombarded with increased toll and tax proposals and yet when they drive on the turnpike, any resemblance of efficiency is lacking.”

Given the public’s demand for fiscal responsibility by its government and the Legislature’s mission to be good stewards of the public trust, Representatives Hargraves and Ross say the investigation should look into all issues related to staffing and funding. Additionally, the two Republicans say all policies that may be impeding the smooth flow of traffic and compromising the safety and satisfaction of drivers who use the Massachusetts Turnpike should be included in the investigation.

“It is incredibly audacious that the Governor thinks the taxpayers should contribute one more of their hard earned dollars to a broken system that is no longer working,” said Representative Ross. “If this investigation is indeed launched, I believe we will see example after example of waste and inefficiency and will further support the need to dissolve the Turnpike sooner rather than later.”

GOP Amendments Strengthen Pension Reform Bill

Amendments offered today by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and his Republican colleagues strengthened the pension reform bill that was taken up in the House today.

Representative Jones filed more than a dozen amendments and had half of them adopted. The following is a list of some of the amendments adopted:

1. Eliminate “23 and out.” MBTA employees can currently retire after working for 23 years, regardless of age. Under Jones’ amendment, workers must put in 25 years and must be 55 or older before retiring.

2. Calls for a defined contribution study. A special commission must study the costs, savings and benefits of moving new employees to a defined contributory retirement system, similar to a 401k.

3. Prohibit state contractors from simultaneously collecting a pension and paycheck from the state.

“No bill is ever perfect,” said Representative Jones. “However, with the adoption of several GOP amendments, the bill is stronger now than when we entered the chamber earlier this morning. Pension reform has long been the big elephant in the room and taking it on in the manner we did today is a major accomplishment. I am hopeful the final version will be as strong, if not stronger.”

Majority: Felons Deserve State Pensions

House Democrats once again rejected the opportunity to pass real reform during today’s pension debate. Republican lawmakers offered an amendment that would take away pension payments for those who have been convicted of a felony on or after the effective date of the legislation. During the debate one democratic lawmaker argued that if he made a mistake while perhaps in another state, he and his family shouldn’t be penalized! Since when is committing a felony a mistake? It is not only outrageous that this amendment was rejected, but incredibly hypocritical, considering it was a well known democrat who originally suggested the idea. Is it because it was offered by a republican that is was rejected? That is likely the case.

Apparently, real reform isn’t a priority of the Majority Party in the House. If it was, this amendment would have been unanimously adopted.

House Misses Out on Important Opportunity

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. released the following statement today moments after the House rejected several amendments, including one that would put an end to outrageous pork barrel spending.

House Democrats missed out on several important opportunities today as we negotiated the rules for this year’s budget deliberations. I, along with my Republican colleagues proposed a whole host of amendments that would have made the budget process more responsible and transparent. However, the Majority Party neglected those ideas in an alarming and swift manner.

The House rejected several GOP amendments including; banning budget earmarks, requiring amendments to feature summaries and fiscal notes, banning the use of consolidated amendments and prohibiting amendments that increase revenue, either through taxes or fees. In a time where families are being forced to significantly cut their spending habits, I would expect that the Legislature would be cognizant of the situation the Commonwealth is in and get its house in order sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, the tax and spend mentality is alive and well on Beacon Hill and until there is more of a balance in both chambers, one party control will continue unchecked.

Watch the Pension Reform Debate Live

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is taking up a pension reform bill today. The debate is expected to begin around 11:00am. Republican lawmakers have filed a number of amendments that will make the bill stronger.

Click here to watch your Republicans in action.

Need Any More Evidence?

If you weren’t on the roads this Easter Sunday, consider yourself lucky, because there were massive backups all over the Turnpike. And according to Pike Chief Alan LeBovidge, the traffic jams were your fault! That’s right, LeBovidge said yesterday that drivers need to take more responsibility and get Fast Lane transponders. The Boston Herald reports that several Mass Pike toll takers called out sick on the holiday, therefore leaving only one working cash lane at one of the many busy plazas. Apparently, the Turnpike is not allowed to call in employees to work overtime when workers call in sick. As if last weekend’s situation wasn’t bad enough, LeBovidge told the Herald commuters can expect more of the same on Memorial Day weekend.

Just more evidence supporting why the Turnpike needs to be dissolved.

Pension Reform Bill to be Debated Tomorrow

April is proving to be a busy month up here on Beacon Hill. The House has already taken up ethics and transportation bills, but tomorrow a pension reform bill will be debated on the House floor. The Republican Leadership Office plans to offer a number of amendments.

Here is a list of some of the amendments we will be offering and an explanation of what they do:

1. Takes away pension payments for those who have been convicted of a felony on or after the effective date of the legislation. The member loses his pension payments for the period of his incarceration and cannot at any time recover those lost payments.

2. Base pension payments upon the lifetime earnings of a member to ensure they receive a retirement allowance that is appropriate given their retirement contributions and service history. Currently, pension is based on a person’s highest three earning years. This amendment says the pension payments will be an average of the member’s salary history with the state.

3. Prevent individuals from receiving exorbitant retirement allowances, by prohibiting any retirement allowance from being more than four hundred percent of the average retirement allowance in the state. The average retirement allowance will be determined each year.

Be sure to visit www.thecapitolviewlive.com to watch the House debate live.

When Will it End?

Today's Boston Herald revealed what most of us already know. If you are a friend or supporter of Governor Patrick, chances are you have a high paying state job or are about to be tapped for one.

So the question is, when will it end? Families across the Commonwealth are facing tremendously tough times, they're cutting back on spending and being forced to significantly reduce their budgets. Why isn't our Governor doing the same thing? Candidate Patrick campaigned against "cronyism" on Beacon Hill and yet Governor Patrick seems to be handing out plum jobs left and right.

Click here to read yet another revealing article about the Patrick Administration.

Pension Reform Needed Now

The House recently passed a transportation reform bill, but next week lawmakers will take on pension reform. As if we needed more proof that the pension system is inefficient and wasteful, an article in today's Boston Globe offered further support to that argument.

According to the Globe, "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."

To add insult to injury, Massachusetts residents who depend on the MBTA for public transition found out today that service will be drastically cut due to a $160 million deficit.

Republican lawmakers will be offering a number of amendments to the bill next week. Be sure to check back on Tuesday to watch the House debate live right here.

Boston Herald Praises GOP Transportation Proposal

The editorial page of the Boston Herald today praised an amendment that was offered by the Republican Leadership Office during Tuesday's Transportation Reform debate. The proposal, which will pave the way to end the practice of paying MassHighway employees with borrowed money was adopted by the House unanimously. This amendment will transition employees' salaries from the capital budget to the operating budget and is projected to save the Commonwealth more than $500 million over the next 20 years.

Click here to read the full editorial in the Boston Herald.