Republican Leaders’ Statement on FY2011 Budget Signing

BOSTON – Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei and House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. released the following statement regarding Governor Deval Patrick’s signing of the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget:

“The Fiscal Year 2011 budget signed by Governor Patrick today is a testament to yet another missed opportunity by the Legislature and the Corner Office to implement real reforms in the way state government operates.

Once again, the budget relies heavily on the use of one-time revenues, including federal stimulus funding that will no longer be available next year. Governor Patrick has also failed to address the $160 million hole that has been created by Social Security reimbursements that have yet to be paid to the state, or to account for the $300 million hole created by a debt restructuring plan that is still waiting authorization by the Senate. In doing so, the Governor has simply pushed off the day of reckoning and has failed to address the serious financial crisis Massachusetts is now facing.

The state is facing a structural deficit of between $2 billion and $3 billion in Fiscal Year 2011. By taking a band-aid approach, the Governor and the Legislature continue to avoid making the tough decisions and adopting the fiscal discipline needed to rein in spending and dig the state out of its fiscal mess. This budget may be on time, but it is certainly not balanced and is anything but responsible.”

Assistant Minority Leader appears on Greater Boston

Assistant Minority Leader George Peterson appeared on Greater Boston with Emily Rooney last night. Peterson, a strong advocate for law abiding gun owners, discussed the Governor's gun legislation as well as his own.

Click here to watch the segment in its entirety.

Boston Globe: “Patrick finds time to finish memoir”

In case you missed it among the headlines about a looming budget deficit and continuing coverage on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, there was one glaring headline in today’s Boston Globe, Patrick finds time to finish memoir.

That’s right ladies and gentlemen, as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts grapples with a multi-billion dollar structural deficit and a nine percent unemployment rate, Governor Patrick has managed to find free time to finish his book. To top that off, according to the Globe, Governor Patrick “would probably embark on a book tour to promote what Random House hopes will be a bestseller. The governor said in his original book proposal that he would be “delighted to participate in a vigorous media campaign’’ and travel across the nation for book signings.”

Do you think his side kick Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray will take exception with this? Isn’t the role of Governor a full time job? Will Lieutenant Governor Murray ask Governor Patrick to give up the book or step down as governor?

Salem News: “Patrick needs to practice what he preaches”

In case you missed it, both the Salem News and the Lawrence Eagle Tribune ran editorials reinforcing our position that Governor Patrick should hand over any documents that were used in making the decision to cap insurance rates. In fact, the Eagle Tribune went as far as saying “If there are good reasons for a cap on rates, let everybody see them.”

Governor Patrick did respond to House Minority Leader Brad Jones letter requesting these documents, three weeks later. However, the Governor barely addressed the specific request and really said a whole lot of nothing.

Click here to the editorial that ran in both papers.

Editorial in the Boston Herald right on!

In case you missed it, the Boston Herald ran an editorial in today’s edition titled Deval Patrick’s bluff exposed. In reaction to Governor Patrick’s failed attempt to cap insurance rates, the Boston Herald calls the plan, “hideously cynical and highly politicized policy put at risk not just insurers, but the area’s hospitals, many of which face their own fiscal difficulties.”

Thank you, Boston Herald for agreeing with what we’ve been saying all along – this failed attempt was nothing more than an election year gimmick by the Patrick Administration to give the illusion that he is actually tackling the issue of rising health care costs. Of course, we all know that is not the case!

Click here to read the editorial in its entirety.

Jones: Governor Patrick must turn over documents relative to insurance rate cap decision

BOSTON—In light of yesterday’s Division of Insurance Administrative Appeals ruling against the Patrick-Murray Administration, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. today reiterated his call saying Governor Patrick must turn over all documents relative to his decision to attempt to cap insurance rates.

Nearly three weeks ago Representative Jones sent a letter to Governor Patrick asking that his Administration release any and all documents and correspondences that may have been used to help reach the decision to cap insurance rates. That letter went unanswered.

“I believe the general public legitimately deserves to know why Governor Patrick and his Administration made this choice,” said Representative Jones. “If there is actuarial evidence to support this policy Governor Patrick should be able to provide that documentation. If no such records exist, I am concerned political considerations may have clouded his judgment.”

Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation told the Boston Globe, “The Patrick administration’s actions were arbitrary and unfair.”

Widmer is not the only person to question Governor Patrick’s judgment. This story was first reported because of emails that surfaced with one Patrick Administration official saying the plan had “the potential for catastrophic consequences to our nonprofit health care industry.”

“Governor Patrick needs to release this information if he remotely cares about the issue of transparency in government and the integrity of the Patrick/Murray Administration.”

Governor Patrick playing politics with healthcare

BOSTON—House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. issued the following statement after hearing the Division of Insurance Administrative Appeals ruled against the Patrick Administration in the case of capping insurance premium rates.

This election year gimmick is perhaps the most transparent action Governor Patrick has made in his near four years in the corner office. Insurance premiums have been going up for years and Governor Patrick has failed to provide a comprehensive plan to address the true issue of rising health care costs for the citizens of Massachusetts.

Today’s ruling is further proof that Governor Patrick has no problem playing politics with healthcare. I commend the DOI Administrative Appeals for rejecting a proposal that at least one Patrick Administration official has dubbed a “train wreck.”

GOP Leaders: Lack of reforms in FY11 budget ‘disappointing’

Boston- House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei released the following statement today just hours after the budget conference committee released its report:

From day one, this budget process and the contents of the Fiscal Year 2011 budget have been a disappointment. From the lack of transparency and reform to the dependence on federal handouts, Governor Patrick and Democratic leaders on Beacon Hill have failed to craft a responsible and sustainable budget.

Governor Patrick released his budget proposal in January, relying on hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government and guaranteeing the money would be here shortly. Here we are, six months and $800 million later, and the FY11 budget is a mess due to the irresponsible decision to factor in federal money that Congress has yet to approve. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders took the Governor’s word to heart and made the same careless choices while crafting the House and Senate budgets.

House and Senate Republicans led the charge for reforms to assist the state’s taxpayers and local communities, but those reforms are nowhere to be found in the final budget. Local aid has been cut, services have been slashed, and the one tool that would allow cities and towns to rein in their health care costs and save $100 million – implementing health care plan design – has been taken away.

We, along with our Republican colleagues, will not be voting in favor of this budget and hope our friends across the aisle will join us in rejecting what is once again an unsustainable and irresponsible budget for the Commonwealth and its taxpayers.

Jones: Treasurer Cahill has a lot of explaining to do

BOSTON—House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. issued the following statement calling on Treasurer Tim Cahill to explain his hiring practices.

In a time where private companies are laying off workers and cutting operating budgets, Treasurer Tim Cahill appears to be padding the state payrolls with family, friends and contributors.

The decision to hire family members is further proof that his judgment skills are lacking. Treasurer Cahill needs to explain his hiring practices as I believe the general public deserves to know what standards candidates must meet when applying for a position in agencies and authorities that are under his control.

Minority Leader appears on the Charley Manning Show

House Minority Leader Brad Jones appeared on the Charley Manning show yesterday to discuss illegal immigration reform. As you know, the Senate adopted a number of refomrs while debating its budget back in May. This week, the conference committee is expected to report out the FY11 budget and Charley Manning is urging his listeners to contact the conferees to encourage them to keep the Senate language, or similar language, in the conference committee report.

Click here to listen to the discussion.