Rep. Brad Jones Re-Elected Minority Leader

Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) was recently re-elected by his Republican colleagues to serve a seventh term as Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

“As we embark upon the 189^th Biennium of the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am pleased to announce my re-election as Leader of the House Republican Caucus,” said Representative Jones. “Having the resounding support of the largest House Republican Caucus in my tenure as Minority Leader means a tremendous amount to me, and I thank my colleagues for their continued confidence in my ability to lead our Caucus.”

While Representative Jones anticipates a busy legislative agenda, he remains focused on working with the incoming Baker Administration to advance an agenda that residents and small-businesses from the Berkshires to the outer Cape and Islands and points in between, regardless of party affiliation, can all agree upon – making Massachusetts great.

“The swearing-in of Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito is an extremely momentous occasion for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With a combined vision of making Massachusetts great, our state will only benefit from the guidance and leadership of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones. “Governor Baker’s outlook for Massachusetts is one of optimism and promise. His aggressive plan to create jobs and deliver a world-class education to children across the state is the exact tone and direction that this state’s residents so desperately need and want from the incoming administration.”

Jones, a North Reading native, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994.  This past November he was elected to his eleventh term representing the 20^th Middlesex District on Beacon Hill and continues to maintain his perfect voting record.  Representative Jones has cast 5,995 consecutive roll call votes and hasn’t missed a single vote in his nearly 21 years in the Legislature.

House Minority Leader Brad Jones Offers Solution to Avoid Cuts to Unrestricted Local Aid

In an effort to avoid devastating cuts to unrestricted local aid to cities and towns across the Commonwealth, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) today announced that he will file legislation to offer a tax amnesty program for corporations. If approved by the Legislature, a corporate tax amnesty program will yield an estimated $15 to $20 million in overdue tax liabilities.

“Cities and towns should be the last place state government looks to cut costs,” said Representative Jones. “If approved by the Legislature, a corporate tax amnesty program will not only yield funds that may otherwise have been forgone, but also ensure that municipalities around the Commonwealth will not be forced to unfairly bear the burden of Governor Patrick’s poor budgeting practices.”

The effort to recoup otherwise forgone tax revenue from Massachusetts corporations comes on the heels of Governor Patrick’s announcement that he will seek to reduce unrestricted local aid to cities and towns by $25.5 million.

The tax amnesty program will be made available to businesses organized as corporations. Limited Liability Corporations, S-Corporations, Financial Institutions, and others will be able to settle long-outstanding tax liabilities without being assessed penalties. Corporations will have a designated two-month window to take advantage of the program.

Under a similar proposal offered by House Minority Leader Brad Jones during debate on the Fiscal Year 2015 state budget, the Department of Revenue has since collected $39 million in outstanding tax liabilities owed by taxpayers across the Commonwealth, with a final figure expected in the coming days.

House Minority Leader Brad Jones’ Statement on Charlie Baker Being Elected Governor of Massachusetts

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to Charlie Baker being elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

“I congratulate Charlie Baker on being elected the 72nd Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His vision for Massachusetts is one of optimism and promise, and the voters of this great state embraced both him and his plan to create jobs and deliver a world-class education to children across the Bay State. 

“In the same breath I acknowledge the campaign of Attorney General Martha Coakley. Her steadfast commitment to Massachusetts, and its people, is to be commended. 

“I look forward to working with Charlie in the House of Representatives to advance an agenda that residents and small-businesses from the Berkshires to the outer Cape and Islands and points in between, regardless of party affiliation, can all agree upon – making Massachusetts great.”

House Minority Leader’s Statement on the Passing of Mayor Tom Menino

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing Mayor Tom Menino, and I send my thoughts and prayers to his wife, children, grandchildren, and countless friends.

In a day and age when personal interactions with high-ranking public officials can be few and far between, Mayor Menino was a man of the people, and never forgot from where he came. From community gatherings to ribbon-cuttings, Mayor Menino truly embodied the spirit of Boston.

While 18 miles separated the communities in which we served, Mayor Menino had an uncanny way of always making Boston feel like home to me, and thousands of other visitors.

The legacy Mayor Menino has left behind is unparalleled, and the impact of his time in office will be endless. Thanks to his dedication and resolve, this city will forever be Boston Strong.”

We Remember...

Today, we gather as families, communities, and more importantly as Americans to remember those individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Let us never forget.

MEDIA ADVISORY - House Minority Leader to Convene Summit Regarding Influx of Immigration Detainees

In response to continued reports surrounding the Commonwealth’s involvement with immigration detainees being housed at facilities within Massachusetts, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) will convene a summit at the State House with members of law enforcement, local, state, and federal officials as well as state lawmakers to discuss this ongoing practice.

WHAT: Summit Regarding Influx of Immigration Detainees in Massachusetts (closed press)

WHERE: Office of House Minority Leader Brad Jones – State House Room 124

WHEN: July 24, 2014 at 10:00am - media availability directly following

WHO: Confirmed attendees include:

The Honorable Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), House Minority Leader
The Honorable Bradford Hill (R-Ipswich)
The Honorable Elizabeth Poirier (R-North Attleboro)
The Honorable Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth)
The Honorable Randy Hunt (R-Sandwich)
The Honorable David Vieira (R-Falmouth)
The Honorable Donald Wong (R-Saugus)
The Honorable Judith Flanagan Kennedy, Mayor, City of Lynn
The Honorable Thomas M. Hodgson, Bristol County Sheriff
The Honorable Joseph McDonald, Plymouth County Sheriff
John Polanowicz, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
James E. Brown, Acting Deputy Field Office Director DHS/ICE/ERO Boston Field Office
Todd Thurlow, Assistant Field Office Director DHS/ICE/ERO Boston Field Office
Peter Meier, Chairman, Bourne Board of Selectmen

House Minority Leader to Convene Summit Regarding Influx of Immigration Detainees

In response to continued reports surrounding the Commonwealth’s involvement with immigration detainees being housed at facilities within Massachusetts, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) will convene a summit at the State House with members of law enforcement, local officials, and state lawmakers to discuss this ongoing practice.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing the effects of this national immigration crisis unfold here in the Commonwealth,” said State Representative Brad Jones. “Now more than ever, it is imperative that we as public officials determine the full ramifications that the lack of responsible federal action will mean for taxpayers, public safety, public health, and any other state resources.”

The debate surrounding the housing of immigration detainees in Massachusetts was sparked yet again this week as the Obama Administration made a formal request of Governor Patrick that the Commonwealth look into the feasibility of housing unaccompanied minors, who have entered the United States illegally, at facilities within the Bay State. The request, which comes on the heels of numerous reports of the federal government’s transportation of illegal immigrants to two aviation facilities within Massachusetts, further exacerbates the need for the gathering of officials.

The meeting, to be held at the State House, will bring together local and public safety officials who are directly impacted by this ongoing surge of immigration detainees, with federal officials overseeing the movement of those individuals who have entered the United States without proper permission or paperwork. With numerous red flags having been raised over the past few weeks, lawmakers and local officials alike find it imperative that basic questions regarding these ongoing practices be answered.

“I’m glad that Representative Jones is calling an Immigration Detainee Summit to make clear the need to deal with the surge in immigration issues that require our attention,” said Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson.

The meeting, to be held on Thursday, July 24, 2014, will include Bristol County Sherriff Thomas Hodgson and Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy. Lawmakers have contacted United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement about sending a representative to the roundtable discussion.

Letter to Governor Patrick Regarding Flights with Immigration Detainees Arriving at Massachusetts Airports

His Excellency Deval L. Patrick, Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
State House, Room 105
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Governor Patrick:

On behalf of the Republican Caucus, I write you today as the result of numerous media reports surrounding the Commonwealth’s involvement with the federal government in the transportation of illegal immigrants to two aviation facilities within Massachusetts – Hanscom Air Force Base and Logan International Airport.

As reported over the past few weeks, and confirmed by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, flights with immigration detainees are arriving at airports within Massachusetts and the individuals aboard are then being transferred to Department of Homeland Security facilities. This raises numerous red flags, and it is imperative that basic questions regarding this ongoing practice be answered. When we are able to provide the residents and taxpayers of the Commonwealth with responses to the following questions, we as lawmakers will be better suited to determine how best to proceed.

• To what extent, if any, did your administration have prior knowledge of the practice of immigration detainees being flown to Massachusetts and then transferred to Department of Homeland Security facilities?

• For how long has the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement been arranging the transfer of detainees to Massachusetts?

• What information, if any, does your administration have on the parameters of the program and the potential impacts it may have on the cost and delivery of services through the myriad of programs that comprise the Commonwealth’s safety net?

• Does the Commonwealth have any oversight of this ongoing practice?

• What, if any, state resources are being utilized to support this program, and if any, at what cost to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth?

• After being transferred to Department of Homeland Security facilities, are the immigration detainees remanded to the custody of the federal government, or are they released pending their deportation hearing?

I would be happy to meet with you to discuss this issue in greater detail, and I look forward to your timely attention to this extremely pressing issue.

Sincerely,

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
House Minority Leader

House Minority Leader Brad Jones’ Statement on Ruling of Supreme Judicial Court Regarding Parole Supervision for Sex Offenders

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) issued the following statement today in response to the ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court pertaining to community parole supervision for life for sex offenders:

“With today’s ruling, the Supreme Judicial Court has found the current structure of community parole supervision for life for sex offenders to be unconstitutional. While holding the current method to be unconstitutional, the Court left the door open for a legislative solution. 

The decision presents a real public safety concern that needs to be addressed through swift and decisive action by the Legislature. It is my intention to file legislation to effectively carry-out the purpose of the original statute within the framework of the Constitution.”

70th Anniversary of D-Day

On this, the 70th anniversary of the Allied forces storming the beaches of Normandy, we wish to remember all of the brave soldiers who lost their lives fighting to ensure the freedoms of others.

June 6, 1944 is a day that will not soon be forgotten. The military engagement that occurred on this day has long been considered the turning point of World War II in the European theater. Soon after the landing in Normandy, troops left France and continued on through Europe and into Germany. The United States military liberated millions while toppling the Nazi regime. Currently, there are more veterans of the historic D-Day invasion than any other engagement in WWII.

Today, and every other day, we wish to remember the sacrifices and the commitment of the men and women who have served, and continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces.