House Minority Leader’s Statement on Senate Republicans’ Transportation Finance Bill

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to the release of the Senate Republican Caucus’ transportation finance bill:

“I commend Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and the Senate Republican Caucus for proposing innovative and creative solutions aimed at addressing the Commonwealth’s transportation finance dilemma – without raising any taxes, fees, or fares.

In their comprehensive proposal, the Senate Republicans delineated a number of targeted proposals that deserve serious dialogue and discussion. By approaching increased revenue without burdening the taxpayers, Senator Tarr and his caucus have illustrated that broad-based tax increases don’t have to be a forgone conclusion.

I look forward to the Senate conducting a lively, fact-based debate on the Senate Republican Caucus’ alternative plan.”

House Minority Leader’s Statement on Release of House Fiscal Year 2014 Budget

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

“I appreciate the work done by Chairman Dempsey and the House Committee on Ways and Means on the House Fiscal Year 2014 budget. The proposed budget contains some positive aspects - as it attempts to tackle issues of waste, fraud and abuse in state government.

The budget presented to the Legislature includes significantly less spending then Governor Patrick’s budget proposal and takes a targeted approach at reforming aspects of the current paradigm of state government. However, the plan offered today relies too heavily on revenue found in the recently passed transportation finance bill, and House Republicans will continue to oppose this fiscally irresponsible approach.

As the budget process begins, the Republican Caucus looks forward to the opportunity to offer targeted amendments which seek to protect Massachusetts’ taxpayers during these unpredictable economic times.”

House Republicans Vote Against $500 Million in Tax Increases

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R- North Reading), Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk), ranking Republican on the Joint Committee on Transportation, and Representative Peter Durant (R-Spencer) were joined by the House Republican Caucus in voting against a Democratic-led transportation finance proposal which contained $500 million in tax increases.

“By electing to raise taxes in the Commonwealth, Democrats on Beacon Hill have indicated their willingness to help fund Governor Patrick’s legacy project,” said Representative Jones. “Unfortunately, despite the House Republican Caucus’ proposal of an alternative transportation finance plan – free from any statewide tax increases – the residents of Massachusetts are on the verge of having to pay for the third major tax increase since Governor Patrick was sworn into office.”

House Bill 3382, An Act Relative to Transportation Finance, endorsed by both House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, contains tax increases which will affect the everyday lives of Massachusetts’ hardworking taxpayers. House Democrats were successful in their plan to increase the state’s gasoline tax and tobacco tax, thereby ignoring the Commonwealth’s residents, many of whom continue to struggle to make ends meet.

The Commonwealth’s small business community will not be immune to the wide-reaching tax proposal passed by Democratic majority. Higher taxes on certain software services and increased tax rate for utility companies will not only stifle our state’s entrepreneurs, but will have a trickle-down effect on residents and ratepayers alike.

“It was disappointing that when the Legislature was presented with the Republican Caucus’ tax-neutral plan, it was arbitrarily discarded in favor of raising taxes,” said Representative Howitt. “By choosing to utilize a tax and spend approach, the plan endorsed by House Democrats will lead to further economic hardships for our state’s individuals and families.”

Continuing their advocacy for Massachusetts’ taxpayers and small businesses, the House Republican Caucus offered a transportation finance proposal which raises the necessary revenue to solve the state’s transportation finance dilemma while refraining from raising any additional revenue.

In addition to offering an alternative plan, the Republican Caucus offered amendments which would, in part, repeal both the Pacheco Law and eliminate pricey Project Labor Agreements. Had they been adopted by the Democratic majority, the Commonwealth stood to save millions of dollars each year – money which would be directed to fund transportation and infrastructure projects around Massachusetts.

“Our constituents truly believe in the ‘reform before revenue’ mantra that focused the last transportation debate. They believe it is more than a meaningful slogan, but a call to fundamentally change the way we operate to ensure that all tax dollars are spent effectively and efficiently,” said Representative Durant. “Unfortunately, several Republican sponsored reforms, intended to build-on and improve the reforms from 2009, were not adopted by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle.”

Having passed the House, the transportation finance package goes before the State Senate for consideration.

House Minority Leader’s Statement on House of Representatives’ Adoption of $500 Million in Tax Increases

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement last night in response to the House of Representatives’ vote to approve $500 million dollars in tax increases:

“Tonight’s vote to increase taxes in Massachusetts represents an unfortunate turning point for our state’s hardworking taxpayers. By electing to raise taxes in the Commonwealth by $500 million, Democrats on Beacon Hill have indicated their willingness to help fund Governor Patrick’s legacy project.

Unfortunately, despite the House Republican Caucus’ proposal of an alternative transportation finance plan – free from any statewide tax increases – the residents of Massachusetts are on the verge of having to pay for the third major tax increase since Governor Patrick was sworn into office.

While the plan adopted by the House of Representatives might not be as costly as the Governor’s $1.9 billion proposal, neither piece of legislation is fiscally responsible, and both will have detrimental impacts on the Commonwealth’s taxpayers.”

Representative Peter Durant Appears on the FOX-25 Morning News

In case you missed it, Representative Peter Durant (R-Spencer) made an appearance on the FOX-25 Morning News to discuss the House Republican Caucus’ transportation finance proposal.

Yesterday, House Republicans unveiled an alternative transportation finance plan – free from any statewide tax increases. Unlike proposals offered by the Governor and Democratic leadership which rely heavily on tax revenue, the Republican Caucus’ plan will dedicate a portion of new tax revenue growth to be allocated to transportation needs. Additionally, the comprehensive transportation finance package will, in part, repeal both the Pacheco Law and eliminate pricey Project Labor Agreements. In doing so, the Commonwealth is poised to save millions of dollars each year – money which stands to fund transportation and infrastructure projects around Massachusetts.

To view the segment in its entirety, play the video posted below.

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House Republicans Propose Transportation Finance Bill

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R- North Reading), Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk), ranking Republican on the Joint Committee on Transportation, and Representative Peter Durant (R-Spencer) are joined by their House Republican colleagues in proposing an alternative transportation finance bill – free from any statewide tax increases.

  “The House Republican Caucus has repeatedly stated that transportation is a core government function, and agrees that there is a daunting problem looming before our transportation agencies,” said Representative Jones. “However, through the targeted use of surplus revenue and meaningful cost-saving reforms, the Commonwealth will be able to provide a transportation system that its citizens have come to expect – and deserve.”

The plan, offered by the House Republican Caucus, comes on the heels of transportation finance proposals submitted by Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray as well as Governor Deval Patrick’s plan of close to $2 billion in additional revenue. However, unlike previous proposals which rely heavily on tax revenue, the legislation offered by House Republicans forgoes any attempt to raise taxes on Massachusetts’ residents.

To solve the Commonwealth’s transportation finance dilemma, the House Republicans’ plan will dedicate a portion of new tax revenue growth to be allocated to transportation needs. Additionally, the Republican Caucus’ proposal will create a new budgetary benchmark to maintain the revenue stream.

“This is a well thought out approach which will strike a balance between Massachusetts’ budgetary needs and the needs of the state’s transportation system,” said Representative Howitt. “The House Republicans’ plan provides the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority the necessary financial support without placing a revenue strain on the state’s hardworking taxpayers.”

While the House Republicans appreciate the value of budgetary growth, the Caucus also understands that reforms within the current paradigm of state government are necessary. As such, the comprehensive transportation finance package will, in part, both repeal the Pacheco Law and eliminate pricey Project Labor Agreements. In doing so, the Commonwealth is poised to save millions of dollars each year – money which stands to fund transportation and infrastructure projects around Massachusetts.

“State government desperately needs to take a ‘reform before revenue’ approach when it comes to solving Massachusetts’ transportation deficiencies,” said Representative Durant. “By eliminating archaic government practices, the Commonwealth stands to save millions of dollars, which can in turn be used to improve the state’s transportation system.”

House Republican Caucus’ Transportation Finance Proposal

House Republicans to Offer Alternative Transportation Finance Plan

House Republican lawmakers, led by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones (R–North Reading), Representative Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk), ranking Republican on the Joint Committee on Transportation, and Representative Peter Durant (R-Spencer) will hold a press conference this afternoon to unveil the House Republican Caucus’ transportation finance plan.

The plan, offered by House Republicans, comes on the heels of transportation finance proposals submitted by Speaker DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray as well as Governor Patrick’s plan of close to $2 billion in additional revenue. However, unlike previous proposals which rely heavily on tax revenue, the legislation offered by the Republican Caucus forgoes any attempt to raise taxes on Massachusetts’ residents.

Representatives Jones, Howitt, and Durant will be joined by members of the House Republican Caucus.

The press conference will be held this afternoon (Thursday) at 1:30 p.m. outside of Room 124 in the State House.

House Republicans: Tax Increases Represent Wrong Track

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R- North Reading), Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk), ranking Republican on the Joint Committee on Transportation, and Representative Peter Durant (R-Spencer) issued the following statement in response to the transportation finance proposal offered by Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray:

“While the Speaker and Senate President’s proposal is dramatically smaller than the plan advanced by Governor Patrick, we join our House Republican colleagues in taking issue with the fact that broad-based tax increases are still being proposed as a means to solving the Commonwealth’s transportation financing needs.

By seeking to raise five separate taxes, the Speaker and Senate President have sent a clear indication that they believe they have exhausted all options when it comes to reforming our state’s transportation system. House Republicans don’t believe this to be true – in fact we believe numerous other areas of savings still exist.

Furthermore, with the white smoke having risen from the transportation financing conclave, we reiterate our call for Speaker DeLeo to conduct a public hearing on his proposal. Any piece of legislation that seeks to raise $500 million in new revenue must be put through the rigors of public review.”

Special Elections – 12th Essex and 28th Middlesex Districts

In case you forgot, today is the special election for two seats in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

In the race for the 12th Essex District, Republican Leah Cole is facing off against Democrat Beverley Griffin Dunne and Independent Dave Gravel for the seat left vacant when Representative Joyce Spelliotis passed away late last year.

The other special election contest being held today is in the 28th Middlesex District for the seat vacated by Stephen “Stat” Smith. The race for this seat finds Democrat Wayne Matewsky facing off against Independent candidates Dennis Gianatassio and Rosa DiFlorio. Rounding out the field is write-in candidate John Hanlon.

To find out where you vote, please click here.

What They’re Saying: “Call For More Hearings On Transportation Is A Move In Right Direction”

In case you missed it, last week House Minority Leader Brad Jones was joined by his colleagues on the Joint Committee on Transportation, Representative Steven Howitt and Peter Durant, in calling on Speaker Robert A. DeLeo to conduct a public hearing on his soon-to-be-released transportation financing bill.

Unfortunately House Democrats nixed the idea of a public hearing on their plan saying, in part, “As these matters continue though the legislative process, they will continue to benefit from open discussion and debate in both the House and Senate."

However, this past weekend various media outlets around the state weighed in on this topic. The resounding consensus – a public hearing on the Speaker’s transportation plan should be held.

Boston Herald: “But the fact that Democratic leaders in the House are dismissing calls for a public airing of their tax-and-transportation plan — the one they’ll draft behind closed doors — is another sad statement about the way business is conducted on Beacon Hill.” (Boston Herald Editorial - “Hearing On Tax Hikes,” The Boston Herald, March 31, 2013)

Taunton Daily Gazette: “Partisan political polling is not a proper substitute for legislative hearings.” (Taunton Daily Gazette Editorial – “Our View: Hunting For Answers From Beacon Hill,” Taunton Daily Gazette, March 30, 2013)

Commonwealth Magazine: “One man’s transparency fantasy land is another man’s daymare. Holding public hearings on the Speaker’s transportation finance plan is politically dangerous for Beacon Hill leaders.” (Commonwealth Magazine – “Transportation Transparency Fantasy Land,” Commonwealth Magazine, March 29, 2013)