Representative Donald Wong Appears on FOX-25 News

In case you missed it, Representative Donald Wong (R-Saugus) made an appearance on the FOX-25 Evening News.

Representative Wong was featured in a story on whether or not Massachusetts’ laws against sex offenders are tough enough. The question comes in response to the recent news of a level one sex offender in Wakefield allegedly committing horrific crimes against children as young as eight days old.

To view the entire segment, play the video posted below.


Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Happy Hanukkah

From all of us here at The Capitol View, we wish you and your family a very Happy Hanukkah!

During this time of joy and celebration we'd also like to extend our thoughts and prayers to all of our service men and women serving at home and abroad who will not have the opportunity to celebrate with their loved ones.

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”

Seventy-one years ago today, the American Army and Navy base in Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. More than 2,000 Americans were killed and another 1,000 were injured. Today, on December 7th, we remember and honor those military men and women who lost their lives on that Sunday morning many years ago.

On this Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, all of us here at The Capitol View want to offer our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. We thank you and we continue to honor you.

House Minority Leader Brad Jones: Supposed $9 Million Cut to Local Aid is Incorrect and Misleading

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to the incorrect and misleading claim by the Patrick Administration that they are only seeking to cut $9 million from local aid:

“Governor Patrick and his Administration are not being honest and upfront with the taxpayers of Massachusetts when announcing their reduction to unrestricted local aid, for a supposed total savings of $9 million. The fact of the matter is that Governor Patrick’s 9C plan removes nearly $38.5 million from municipal budgets.

In addition to the widely reported $9 million cut to Unrestricted General Government Aid, the Governor has gone ahead and reduced allotments for several other local aid accounts. These cuts are to vital programs such as Regional and Homeless Student Transportation and Special Education. Couple these reductions with an across the board cut to local aid, and the Governor’s actions could have a potentially disastrous effect on cities and towns statewide.

The Patrick Administration has accumulated an impressive record of cherry-picking numbers to suit their political purpose. At the very least, the Governor should be more forthright when making decisions that impact our local governments.”

Representative deMacedo Appears on NECN’s “Broadside”

In case you missed it, Representative Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth) recently appeared on Broadside with State Senator Brian Joyce (D-Milton). Representative deMacedo joined host Jim Braude to provide insight into the Patrick Administration’s announcement that they plan to cut $9 million in local aid to cities and towns.

To view the entire segment, play the video posted below.

 

House Minority Leader Brad Jones: State’s Current Fiscal Dilemma Should Slam Door on Talk of Tax Increases Once and For All

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Patrick’s comments on the impending ‘fiscal cliff’ while continuing to mull the prospect of tax increases in the Commonwealth:

“Based on the Governor’s comments yesterday, there should be no more talk of broad-based tax increases in the Commonwealth.

It is deeply concerning that while Governor Patrick issued a stern warning to members of Congress that going over the ‘fiscal cliff’ would burden all Americans with a tax increase that would be devastating, he continues to explore all options for a tax hike here in Massachusetts.

At the risk of being repetitive: the Commonwealth’s economy remains extremely fragile. Any statewide tax increase would be disastrous. Governor Patrick and Democratic leaders must recognize this fact, and if they don’t, Massachusetts may go over a ‘fiscal cliff’ of its own.”

House Minority Leader’s Statement on Governor Patrick’s Proposal to Cut Local Aid and Reduce Spending for Vital Services

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Patrick’s announcement that he plans to cut spending by $225 million and will seek the authority to cut local aid in order to address an estimated $540 million mid-year budget gap:

“The governor’s claim that he is seeking to cut local aid by only 1% is both incorrect and misleading. In fact, the totality of Governor Patrick’s 9C plan would remove nearly $35 million from municipal budgets, a far cry from the $9 million first reported by his administration. Unfortunately, some of these reductions would be to vital local aid accounts such as Special Education Circuit Breaker, Regional School Transportation, and Homeless Student Transportation.

Stagnant economic growth is not limited to national and state governments. Local cities and towns continue to feel the trickle-down effect of a worsening economy. Further paralyzing them through these cuts will only further aggravate the situation. Economic growth will, no doubt, continue to weaken as news of the impending “fiscal cliff” intensifies. Even if a compromise is reached before the end of the year, any mix of spending cuts and tax hikes, however small, will slow the economy even further.

What is abundantly clear is that the Legislature, including Governor Patrick, must exhaust all options for savings at the state level before placing the Commonwealth’s budgetary problems on our local municipalities. Cutting local aid must always be a last resort.”

Worcester Telegram and Gazette: Dr. Bigby Should Go

In case you missed it, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has joined House Republican leadership in their call for Governor Patrick to ask Secretary JudyAnn Bigby for her resignation.

In an editorial published this past Sunday, the Telegram and Gazette says in part, “Dr. Bigby no longer enjoys the confidence of lawmakers and the public necessary to carry out her duties. To find the easiest path to the reforms needed, Mr. Patrick should seek her resignation.”

As you remember, just last week House Republicans held a press conference to announce that they had sent a letter to Governor Patrick asking him to request Secretary Bigby’s resignation. The call for Dr. Bigby’s removal comes in direct response to the breach at the Dr. William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute by a rogue chemist which has led to the release of convicted felons, as well as the fungal meningitis outbreak at a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical compounding company, which has led to 36 tragic deaths and several hundred cases of serious illness.

Please see below to read the editorial in its entirety.
Telegram&GazetteEditorial - Bigby Should Go

House Minority Leader Brad Jones Appears on Keller @ Large

In case you missed it, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) appeared on Keller @ Large this past Sunday.

Representative Jones joined host Jon Keller to provide insight into the House Republican Leadership’s call for Governor Patrick to ask for the resignation of Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Secretary of Health and Human Services. The duo also touched upon instate tuition for illegal immigrants as well as the struggling economy both locally and nationally.

Click here to see the segments in their entirety.

House Republicans Reiterate Call for Secretary Bigby to Resign

In case you missed it, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Assistant Minority Leader George N. Peterson, Jr. (R-Grafton) made the media rounds last week to reiterate their call for Governor Patrick to ask for Secretary JudyAnn Bigby’s resignation.

As you may have heard, last week the entire Republican leadership team held a press conference calling for the resignation of Dr. Bigby, Secretary of Health and Human Services. The call for Secretary Bigby’s removal comes in direct response to the breach at the Dr. William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute by a rogue chemist which has led to the release of convicted felons, as well as the fungal meningitis outbreak at a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical compounding company, which has led to 36 tragic deaths and several hundred cases of serious illness.

Click below to see Representative Jones’ interview on the FOX25 Morning News.

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Click below to see Representative Peterson’s interview on NECN’s Broadside.