Ross Named to Gaming Policy Advisory Board

Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Ross (R-Wrentham) was appointed this week to the Gaming Policy Advisory Committee by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).

“I am looking forward to beginning my work as a member of this committee,” said Senator Ross. “I understand that expanded gaming will have drastic effects on local communities and on public safety in the Commonwealth. I hope to use this position as a means of addressing citizens’ concerns with expanded gaming, and ensuring that all decisions made truly promote the public good.”

The committee is charged with advising the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on various policy matters and establishing subcommittees to examine community mitigation, addiction services and public safety. The subcommittees will be developing recommendations for regulations the Gaming Commission may use in addressing the effects of expanded gaming on the Commonwealth. While the Gaming Commission will take the Committee’s recommendations under advisement, they are not binding.

In addition, each region in which a casino will be established may establish a local community mitigation advisory committee, which shall work closely with the subcommittee on community mitigation. These local committees will advise the subcommittee on such matters as the impact of gaming establishments on the host and surrounding communities. A member of each local committee will also be represented on the subcommittee on community mitigation.

The Gaming Policy Advisory Committee will also advise the Gaming Commission as it develops its annual research agenda focusing on the social and economic effects of expanded gaming in the Commonwealth and the scientific study of gambling.

Senate Passes Knapik Adoption Bill, 36-0

The Senate yesterday unanimously approved an adoption bill sponsored by Senator Michael R. Knapik (R-Westfield). The bill allows the siblings of an adopted person (including half siblings and stepsiblings) to request information on the identity of the adoptee, provided their biological parents are both deceased and the person requesting the information is at least 18 years old. The bill also requires the adopted person to consent in writing to the release of the information, but if the adoptee is under the age of 21, the adoptive parents must provide written consent before any information can be released by the placement agency.

“This is a small but important adjustment to our state’s adoption law” Knapik said. “If passed, Massachusetts will join 38 other states in providing a legal avenue for siblings to request this information. I think it is vital to provide this option to all parties involved, including biological siblings, to ensure the opportunity to build relationships isn’t lost upon the death of the biological parents”

The bill now heads to the House for further action.

MEDIA ALERT: Senator Tarr on the Jeff Katz Radio Show Friday Morning at 7:05

Tomorrow morning, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) will be talking with Jeff Katz of the Jeff Katz Show on Talk 1200AM Boston to dicuss loopholes within the Commonwealth's unemployment insurance benefits program, which are costing municipalities precious public dollars. To read more about the issue please view our March 6th and March 8th blog posts on www.ScalingBeaconHill.com. Please tune in or click here tomorrow morning at approximately 7:05 a.m. to listen to their lively discussion.

Senator Tarr's Statement on MA Jobs Creation

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today concerning the state’s job growth rate, following the release of revised job figures for 2011 by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and a report by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce that shows the state posted 0.4 % job growth from January of 2011-January of 2012, well below the national rate of 1.5 % during that same time period:

“The revised job figures released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics are both a reality check and a call to arms that we can’t be complacent about the need to improve the business climate in Massachusetts. According to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and contrary to repeated statements from the Patrick Administration, Massachusetts has been trailing, rather than leading, the nation in job growth. Instead of creating 40,700 jobs in 2011, Massachusetts added just 12,200 jobs. Clearly, the numbers that have been touted by the Patrick Administration are wildly inaccurate, and this report is further proof that we need to get our feet back on the ground and start marching forward to improve the state’s business climate and create new jobs.

We need to act swiftly and decisively to remove the obstacles to creating and maintaining jobs in Massachusetts, and the information coming forward in the last 24 hours provides clear evidence of that need. The forthcoming jobs creation package from Senate and House Republicans should be a priority for the Legislature to consider and enact.”

The Chamber’s report can be viewed at bostonchamber.com

Senator Tarr on Fixing the State's Broken Unemployment Insurance Benefits Program

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement yesterday following the scheduling of a meeting with stakeholders to discuss loopholes in the Commonwealth's unemployment insurance benefits program costing municipalities scarce public dollars (see our March 6th post, Senate Republican Caucus Seeks to Initiate Dialogue with Municipal Officials), and the recent announcement by Governor Patrick on the filing of an unemployment insurance benefits bill. Executive Director Geoffrey Beckwith of the Massachusetts Municipal Association and a coalition of municipal officials will be attending a meeting at the State House with Senate Republicans on Wednesday, March 14th at 11:00 a.m.

"The recent cases brought to light by municipal officials of the blatant exploitation of the Commonwealth's unemployment insurance benefits program are egregious examples of a system gone wrong. I am pleased to announce that Executive Director Beckwith of the MMA and a coalition of municipal officials will be meeting with Senate Republicans next week to discuss long term solutions to this broken system.

I'm glad that Governor Patrick has decided to join the efforts of Senate Republicans in addressing some of these very glaring issues, however, the bill he has filed does not go far enough in protecting precious taxpayers' dollars. It is going to require a methodical approach and a lot of work to ensure that the loopholes are closed that are costing municipalities scarce public dollars from being subjected to the many frivolous cases that are being tolerated by the current system.

The Governor's bill addresses some of the "low-hanging fruits" of the issue, but a true solution will require the cooperation of the administration, legislative leaders and local officials in order to restore the integrity of an unemployment benefits system that so many rightfully depend on. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss with Governor Patrick the findings of Senate Republicans, and hope he will support a comprehensive legislative package that will address all of the loopholes surrounding the issue."

Globe Editorial Highlights GOP Jobs Package

An editorial in today's Boston Globe highlights the GOP Jobs Package that was unveiled by the House and Senate Republican Caucuses last month. The editorial calls the jobs package - which focuses on five critical areas of importance to employers, including business regulations, education, energy, healthcare, and taxes –"a solid effort, featuring a number of ideas that merit serious consideration."

The editorial is reproduced below in its entirety.

"Until the last election, the Massachusetts Republican Party’s legislative ranks had been in decline for almost two decades. Too often, Republican lawmake*rs leaned into irrelevance by failing to push an eye-catching agenda or to act as attention-generating opponents to Beacon Hill’s prevailing Democrats. The party was flat, a collection of odd pieces with no coherence.

But that may be changing. Since the 2010 election, Republicans have more than doubled their House numbers, which now stand at 33. Emboldened by that gain, GOP legislators are determined to play a more important role. Republican representatives and senators recently unveiled a broad legislative agenda focused on making Massachusetts a less costly and cumbersome place to do business.

Reasonable people will disagree about various aspects of the GOP agenda, but in general, their package is a solid effort, featuring a number of ideas that merit serious consideration.

They propose, for example, bringing the state’s generous unemployment insurance program into line with those of most other states. Although business people have long maintained that the high cost of the Massachusetts program inhibits job creation, Democrats have been wary about tackling the issue because of union resistance. Republicans would also overhaul the unemployment insurance rate structure to reward companies whose employees seldom use the system, while raising costs for firms whose workers resort more frequently to unemployment benefits.

When it comes to education, Republicans propose allowing relevant military training, education, or experience to apply toward state college degrees, as well as licenses and certifications granted by the state, to get qualified workers into the employment ranks sooner. They also favor “finish-line’’ grants to help financially challenged students complete the final year of a degree program.

They call for job-creation tax credits that would phase out over about a decade; for state-tax-free savings accounts to help first-time home buyers save up to $4,000 toward that purchase; and for offering firms that register five or more commercial vehicles in Massachusetts a 10 percent break on registration fees.

The GOP effort would be strengthened by reliable price tags for their various initiatives, something Republicans say they plan to develop. Those should include not simply the cost in new state spending but, where relevant, in lost tax revenue, since the package includes a number of tax cuts or credits.

When fully fleshed out and filed as legislation, the GOP proposals should receive a respectful hearing from the majority Democrats. Interesting ideas, after all, aren’t the province of a single party. Massachusetts can only benefit from a broader, more robust public-policy debate on Beacon Hill."

Senate Republican Caucus Seeks to Initiate Dialogue with Municipal Officials

Responding to issues brought to light by municipal officials concerning the Commonwealth's unemployment insurance benefits program, the Senate Republican Caucus has invited Geoffrey Beckwith of the Massachusetts Municipal Association and a coalition of municipal officials to the State House to assist in the exploration of whether a legislative package is needed to ensure the proper expenditure of precious taxpayer dollars to those who truly need it.

Lynnfield Town Administrator William Gustus and 23 other municipal officials recently sent a letter to Governor Patrick revealing several circumstances of exploitation of the unemployment insurance benefits program. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Senate Minority Whip Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) and Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield), the Ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee contacted both the municipal officials and Executive Director Beckwith in a letter sent to them on Friday to arrange a meeting, stating that "state government should act swiftly to address the concerns raised to expedite the prevention of the wasteful loss of taxpayers' dollars."

Compelled to take action, the caucus wrote, "Public dollars, especially during these fiscal times, need to be protected and allocated wisely with the utmost of prudence. Unfortunately, the approval of the particular cases presented to and approved by the Department of Unemployment Assistance Review Board do not demonstrate that prudence."

The Senate Republican Caucus plans to host meetings with municipal officials in an effort to close the loopholes that are costing municipalities precious public dollars. In the caucus letter, the Senate Republicans state they intend to "offer a comprehensive legislative package that will address these very concerns." Adding, "Restoring integrity into an unemployment benefits system that many so rightfully depend on is paramount."

Posted below is the letter sent by the Senate Republican Caucus to Lynnfield Town Administrator William Gustus.

Letter to Lynnfield Town Admin. Gustus 3.1

Senator Knapik Shares His Thoughts on Today's Presidential Primary Election

Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield) spoke with Paul Tuthill, a reporter for WAMC Northeast Public Radio, last week regarding today's Presidential Primary. The segment aired this morning. You can listen to the interview in its entirety here.

Judiciary Committee to Consider Tarr Proposal to Toughen Laws for Driving Menaces

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) will testify before the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday afternoon, seeking support for his proposal to give the Registrar of Motor Vehicles increased powers to crack down on habitual traffic offenders and suspend or revoke the licenses of dangerous drivers who pose a public safety menace on the state’s roadways.

Senate Bill 2012, An Act Promoting Motor Vehicle Safety, was filed by Tarr last August, with the bicameral and bipartisan support of every House and Senate Republican, as well as a dozen of their Democratic colleagues from both branches. Tarr drafted the bill after a Taunton teenager was struck and killed by a driver whose license had been suspended 16 times over a 22-year period preceding the accident.

“At the time of this tragic accident, many people – myself included – demanded to know how the Registry of Motor Vehicle could allow someone with so many prior license suspensions to still be on the road, but we soon discovered the problem was not with the Registry, but with our own laws, which are woefully inadequate for dealing with dangerous drivers,” said Tarr. “Senate Bill 2012 will correct this shortcoming and will give state and local officials the tools they need to revoke the licenses of those individuals who pose a significant threat to public safety, in some cases for life.”

Current Massachusetts law defines a habitual traffic offender as someone who has been convicted of three enumerated offenses (including driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, driving without a license and the use of a vehicle while committing a felony) and/or has committed 12 other general traffic offenses carrying a license suspension of 30 days or more. The current penalty for such offenses is a loss of license for up to four years.

Senate Bill 2012 would create a tiered system of suspensions for habitual traffic offenders by creating new categories of level 2 and level 3 traffic offenders who would be subject to progressively increasing penalties. Specifically, the bill would:

• require a 5-year license revocation for first-time habitual traffic offenders;

• create a level 2 habitual traffic offender classification for individuals who have already had their license revoked for being a habitual offender, making them subject to a second revocation of not less than 5 years and not more than 15 years;

• establish a level 3 habitual traffic offender classification for more serious repeat offenders who have had previous license suspensions, which would provide the Registry with the option of imposing a lifetime ban; and

• allow the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to attach any terms and conditions the Registrar deems necessary if and when returning a license to a habitual traffic offender, regardless of the level at which they are classified.

“The current law needs to be changed to ensure that dangerous drivers are not given a free pass to continue to threaten public safety on our roadways,” said Tarr. “My message to the committee tomorrow will stress the need to take immediate corrective action before another innocent victim loses their life because of the reckless actions of a dangerous driver.”

The Judiciary Committee hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6, and will take place in hearing room A-2 at the State House.

Tarr, Baddour Seek to Correct 'Misconceptions' About Proposed Senate Crime Bill

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and Senate Ways and Means Vice Chairman Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen) reached out to the Boston City Council yesterday in an attempt to “correct some of the inaccuracies and misconceptions surrounding the Senate’s habitual offender bill” and to request the Council’s support for the incarceration of violent repeat offenders.

In a letter hand-delivered to the Council’s Public Safety Committee, Tarr and Baddour sought to refute some of the concerns raised in a Resolution proposed by District 4 Councillor Charles Yancey relative to the cost, scope and impact of the habitual offender bill. That bill, along with a scaled-back House version, is currently being reviewed by a six–member House and Senate Conference Committee on which Tarr and Baddour are both serving.

“The habitual offender bill, contrary to published reports, will not cost millions of dollars, nor will it ‘lead to an increased burden on Massachusetts’ tax payers,’” Tarr and Baddour wrote, citing language contained in the Yancey Resolution. “In fact, the Senate Ways and Means Committee whose primary function is to ensure that the state budget is balanced and responsible, has analyzed the Senate version of the bill and concluded that it will have no cost in Fiscal Year 2012. The Senate Ways and Means Committee also estimates that, ‘when fully implemented, the costs incurred by this legislation will be offset by cost-saving measures contained in the legislation.’ This includes an estimated savings of up to $5 million associated with drug offenders who are currently serving mandatory minimum sentences in state prison but who will now become eligible for parole.”

In addition to the economic costs, Tarr and Baddour also refuted several other concerns raised in the Yancey Resolution, including:

• Scope of Bill – The Yancey Resolution suggests that the habitual offender bill would apply to hundreds of felony crimes in Massachusetts and would “ensnare the non-violent, the petty criminal, the drug dependent and the mentally ill.” Tarr and Baddour noted that the bill would actually “impact only those individuals convicted for the third time of committing one or more of the 59 most violent felonies, including rape, murder and other serious crimes that involve violence, force or the threat of force.”

• Automatic Life Sentences – The Yancey Resolution compares the habitual offender bill to so-called “three strikes laws” implemented in other states that require a life sentence without parole after two or more previous criminal offenses. Tarr and Baddour noted that the Senate bill simply requires repeat offenders to serve the maximum punishment for a third offense, but does not mandate life sentences for all crimes.

• Prison Overcrowding – The Yancey Resolution predicts “massive long-term incarceration” if the Senate bill is enacted that will “exacerbate an already overcrowded prison system,” but Tarr and Baddour countered that the bill “will free up prison space by reducing mandatory drug minimums, steering those individuals to needed rehab services and freeing up space in our prisons for the most violent criminal offenders.” The letter also notes that over the last 10 years, 84 individuals were sentenced under the existing habitual offender statute (an average of 7 to 8 a year), while the Senate bill, once implemented, would impact an estimated 4 to 5 additional offenders a year, “due to the fact that the Senate bill specifically targets repeat, violent offenders who have been convicted of some of the most heinous crimes against society, not anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or a lesser felony.”

Tarr and Baddour added that they “welcome the City Council’s partnership in our efforts to preserve public safety, and hope that we can move forward by working together to ensure that these violent, repeat offenders will no longer be a threat to the residents of Boston or any other citizen of the Commonwealth.”

Posted below is a copy of the letter that was sent yesterday.
Letter to Boston CIty Council Regarding the Habitual Offender Bill 2012.02.28

Tarr on the Fox 25 Morning News

This morning Senator Minority Leader Bruce Tarr joined State Senator Richard Moore on the Fox 25 Morning News to discuss with anchor Gene Lavanchy a bill they sponsored that would protect the public's safety, crackdown on illegal immigration and safeguard against the misuse of public funds.

S.2061, "An Act to Enhance Public Safety", is a comprehensive legislative package that emphasizes both the safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth and protects public funds such as public housing subsidies. Today at 1:00pm their bill, which is also sponsored by Representatives George Peterson and John Fernandes and has 48 cosponsors, will be heard by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary in Room A-2 at the State House.

To watch today's Fox 25 Morning News segment please play the video posted below. To read the actual text of the bill please click here.

Immigration Reform: Sen. Bruce Tarr: MyFoxBOSTON.com

Media Alert: Tarr On the Air with Fox 25

Tomorrow morning at approximately 8:35am Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be a guest on the Fox 25 Morning News. Senator Tarr and State Senator Richard Moore will be discussing a bill to advance public safety, illegal immigration and public integrity that they filed with Representative George Peterson and Representative John Fernandes.

The comprehensive package, which was filed after several incidents involving illegal immigrants, places a premium on both public safety and protecting public funds. S.2061, "An Act to Enhance Public Safety", is scheduled to be heard by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary tomorrow afternoon at 1:00pm.

Please tune in tomorrow morning at 8:35am to watch their lively discussion. To read the actual text of the bill please click here.

Senator Knapik Discusses Jobs Package

Senator Michael R. Knapik (R-Westfield)recently spoke with 22News State House Correspondent Christine Lee about the comprehensive jobs package released by the House and Senate Republican Caucuses last week. Be sure to check out his comments by playing the video link posted below.

GOP pitches jobs legislation, ideas: wwlp.com

Senate Passes GOP Emergency Response Staffing Measure for Utility Companies

Utility companies would now be required to notify the state about the number of employees it has available to respond to storm-related power outages and other emergencies within a 24-hour time period, thanks to an amendment offered by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) that passed the Senate yesterday.

Tarr’s amendment seeks to ensure that utility companies have appropriate manpower levels in place at all times so that power can be restored quickly to customers in the event of an emergency. The amendment was adopted as part of an emergency service response bill that was crafted in response to widespread power outages that occurred throughout the state during Tropical Storm Irene in August of 2011 and a major snowstorm in western Massachusetts last October.

“The storms that occurred last year left hundreds of thousands of residents without power, many of them for weeks at a time, which is simply unacceptable,” said Tarr. “Utility companies must be held accountable, and my hope is that this new reporting requirement will compel them to maintain staffing at levels that are sufficient to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies and restore service in a timely manner.”

Under current state law, all electric distribution, transmission and natural gas distribution companies must annually file an emergency response plan for approval by the state Department of Public Utilities by May 15. Among other things, this plan must include: details on how the utility will communicate with customers during an emergency that extends beyond normal business hours; the names of staff designated to communicate with local officials and state regulatory agencies; and procedures for deploying crews to work assignment areas.

Tarr’s amendment requires utility companies to identify in their emergency response plans “the number of service workers available to respond to an emergency within 24 hours; and the locations where said workers are employed when not responding to an emergency.”

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for further action.

Senate Republican Caucus Calls For Moratorium on All Utility Mergers

In response to the rapidly paced approval by the Patrick Administration of the NSTAR/Cape Wind merger, the Senate Republican Caucus filed an amendment today to S.2140, "An Act relative to the emergency service response of public utility companies" that would install a three month moratorium on all approvals of utility mergers. The moratorium would provide the Department of Public Utilities three months to complete any outstanding regulatory investigations, procedures and reviews involving storm response by the department.

Last year, several regions of the state were hit particularly hard after an October 2011 snowstorm where wind gusts of 69 mph and 32 inches of snowfall was reported in some areas of the state, leaving more than 600,000 Massachusetts utility customers without power. The amendment would place a higher priority to complete storm response reviews such as the October storm, which has yet to be completed, and other long overdue investigations with utility providers.

“The amendment was on behalf of the thousands of ratepayers who will be affected by this merger, many of whom are likely unaware of this rapidly evolving story,” Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield) said. “The intention was not to squash the progress of the negotiating parties, it was to simply provide a more appropriate time frame for the Department of Public Utilities, the legislature, and residents of the Commonwealth to review the details and ensure they are being conducted in the best interest of all parties,” Knapik continued.

Additionally, the moratorium would allow constituents of the Commonwealth with the opportunity to fully understand the benefits and ramifications of such mergers before an agreement would go into effect.

“Today we are acting on a bill to improve emergency responses when power goes out. In addition to reacting to past emergencies, we should take action now to ensure that a merger on the fast track to approval doesn’t pose a risk to electrical service for ratepayers all across the state in the future. Before we allow this major merger to be finalized, we should ensure that we have the answers that will come from current and ongoing investigations by the Department of Public Utilities,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).

Unfortunately, the amendment failed in a roll call vote of 7-29. The Senate Republican Caucus will continue to fight for full transparency regarding public utility mergers such as these.

GOP Caucus Unveils Comprehensive Jobs Plan

Today the Senate and House GOP Caucuses announced a job creation plan at the State House that aims to reduce the cost of doing business in the Commonwealth. The Republican package targets five key areas that employers have identified that would substantially help in the retention and the creation of jobs. Those areas are: business regulations, education, energy, healthcare and taxes.

All five areas focus on a different, but costly element of conducting business in Massachusetts. It is the hope of the GOP Caucus to get the 240,000 still unemployed Massachusetts residents back into the workforce. Posted below is a press release issued today by the caucus that highlights some of the key elements of the package. Also posted below is today's press packet that summarizes the jobs creation plan.

House and Senate Republicans Propose Innovative Jobs Package

Focuses on Five Targeted Areas Aimed at Job Creation and Retention

BOSTON – Led by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R- North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester), the Republican Legislative Caucus has proposed an innovative jobs package aimed at cultivating economic growth in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The jobs package, which comes on the heels of the Republican Caucus’ statewide 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour, offers policies that are key to facilitating economic growth in Massachusetts and supporting individuals and businesses statewide.

In speaking with constituents and business owners, House and Senate Republicans have identified five targeted areas aimed at creating and maintaining jobs: business regulations, education, energy, healthcare, and taxes.

“This legislative session, we have done very little relative to the creation of jobs in Massachusetts,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones. “We, as a legislative body, have a great opportunity to reform the way we create and maintain employment opportunities, while at the same time making government run more efficiently.”

"We can and should take action now to spur economic growth, and incent job creation. This concrete plan contains specific steps we can take to propel our state's recovery from one of the worst recessions in our nation's history," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. "Armed with this plan, Legislative Republicans will begin visiting businesses to chart a course toward economic growth by doing things that really matter for the employers we're counting on to grow our economy."
Highlights of the proposed G.O.P. Jobs Package include:

• Business Regulations: Reduce costs for employers, reform the current Unemployment Insurance paradigm and streamline and consolidate processes for businesses;

• Education: Empower vocational schools by strengthening collaborations with community colleges and employers, improve overall access to higher education, and qualify veterans for licensure and/or academic credit at public institutions of higher learning;

• Energy: Decrease the cost of electricity for businesses and ratepayers, increase the efficiency of Green Initiatives and promote cost-effective renewable energy;

• Healthcare: Shift focus to the consumer, increase options for employers and employees and make healthcare affordable for all;

• Taxes: Reduce commercial vehicle registration fees, simplify and eliminate corporate fees and taxes, incentivize first-time home buyer savings accounts, and establish a job creation tax credit.

Announced by House and Senate Republicans today, the formal proposal will be filed as five major pieces of legislation. In subsequent weeks, members of the Republican Legislative Caucus will travel to local businesses throughout the Bay State to discuss the proposed legislation.

Final Jobs Package Media Handout

GOP Caucus to Unveil Comprehensive Jobs Package Wednesday Morning at State House

Tomorrow morning, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, House Minority Leader Brad Jones, and Senate and House Republican legislators will be unveiling a comprehensive jobs package. A press conference is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday outside Room 124 of the State House.

The jobs package offers policies which will support individuals and businesses and are key to facilitating economic growth within Massachusetts. Please check Scaling Beacon Hill tomorrow for more information about the jobs package.

GOP Senators Hit the Airwaves

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert Hedlund were guests on host Emily Rooney's TV and radio shows, respectively, last week.

Senator Tarr joined Representative Shaunna O'Connell (R-Taunton) as a guest on the February 9th edition of WGBH-TV's "Greater Boston" to discuss the ongoing efforts to reform the state's Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card system. Be sure to check out their interview by playing the video link attached below.

On February 10th, Senator Hedlund appeared live on WGBH radio as part of Emily Rooney's "Week in Review" segment. Hedlund, along with Boston Globe columnist Joanna Weiss and Commonwealth Magazine Senior Investigative Reporter Jack Sullivan, debated the latest state and national political news, including the GOP Presidential Primary, the federal debate on birth control, and former House Speaker Sal DiMasi's testimony before a grand jury regarding the ongoing investigation into the Probation Department hiring scandals. You can listen to the segment in its entirety by playing the audio link attached below.

MEDIA ALERT: Senator Hedlund Appearing on WGBH's 'Week in Review' Today at Noon

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert L. Hedlund will be on Emily Rooney’s Week In Review this afternoon between noon and 1 p.m. discussing the week's most important stories including the 2012 Presidential Election, Santorum’s resurgence, and the recent foreclosure settlement, among others. Tune in to 89.7 FM to follow the discussion.

ON THE AIR: Senator Tarr to Discuss EBT reform on 'Greater Boston' Tonight at 7

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be appearing on WGBH-TV’s “Greater Boston” with host Emily Rooney tonight to discuss his ongoing efforts to reform the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards program. Joining Tarr in the studio will be State Representative Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton), who was recently named to a special commission charged with investigating reported abuses within the EBT program and developing recommendations to stop this illegal activity and preserve the integrity of the system.

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth) is also serving on the commission, which is due to report back with its findings by April 1st. Be sure to tune in to Channel 2 at 7 p.m., or watch the show when it re-airs at midnight.

Senator Knapik on Probation Department Scandal: 'The Public's Trust Was Betrayed'

Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield), a member of the bipartisan working group that recommended sweeping reforms in the wake of the state's Probation Department scandal, was recently asked to comment on the ongoing investigation. As reporter Dan Crowley notes, the troubling allegations of qualified job candidates being passed over in favor of less-qualified individuals with political connections can be traced back nearly 30 years. Be sure to check out Crowley's story on Rafael Lopez-Sanchez' federal lawsuit and out-of-court settlement, as well as Senator Knapik's comments, in an article that was published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Senate Passes Prescription Drug Monitoring Bill, Rejects Opportunity to Create Drug Offender Registry By Vote of 5-30

Yesterday the Senate voted unanimously to approve a bill containing several important measures to confront the availability and misuse of illegal opiates and the abuse of prescription drugs. S.2122, “An Act Relative to Prescription Drug Diversion, Abuse and Addiction”, if it becomes law, will strengthen the monitoring system for prescription drugs and require its use by physicians and pharmacists. You can view the actual text of the bill by clicking here.

Unfortunately, the Senate rejected an amendment proposal by Senator Richard Ross that would begin the process of establishing a registry of drug dealers to assist law enforcement in the identification and prosecution of these individuals, and to use information to combat the threats they pose to public safety.

The Senate rejected the opportunity to provide this tool for public safety by a vote of 5-30. An accounting of that vote is posted below.


Roll Call Votes: Yea/Nay

Steven A. Baddour: Nay
Frederick E. Berry: Nay
Stephen M. Brewer: Nay
William N. Brownsberger: Nay
Gale D. Candaras: Nay
Harriette L. Chandler: Nay
Sonia Chang-Diaz: Nay
Katherine Clark: Nay
Cynthia Stone Creem: Nay
Sal N. DiDomenico: Nay
Kenneth J. Donnelly: Nay
Eileen Donoghue: Nay
Benjamin B. Downing: Nay
James B. Eldridge: Nay
Susan C. Fargo: Nay
Barry Finegold: Yea
Jennifer L. Flanagan: Nay
John Hart: Nay
Robert L. Hedlund: Yea
Patricia D. Jehlen: Nay
Brian A. Joyce: Nay
John Keenan: Nay
Thomas P. Kennedy: Nay
Michael R. Knapik: Yea
Thomas M. McGee: Did Not Vote
Mark C. Montigny: Nay
Michael O. Moore: Did Note Vote
Richard T. Moore: Nay
Senate President Therese Murray: Did Not Vote
Marc R. Pacheco: Nay
Anthony Petruccelli: Nay
Michael Rodrigues: Nay
Stanley C. Rosenberg: Did Not Vote
Richard J. Ross: Yea
Michael Rush: Nay
Karen E. Spilka: Nay
Bruce E. Tarr: Yea
James E. Timilty: Did Not Vote
James Welch: Nay
Daniel Wolf: Nay

'The Minority Report' Launches on Tom & Todd

WRKO’s Tom Finneran and Todd Feinburg introduced a new monthly segment on their "Tom and Todd Show" this morning. The inaugural edition of "The Minority Report" featured an informative discussion with Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr about the habitual offender bill as it makes its way through the legislative process, as well as the upcoming state budget process. Be sure to tune in to the "Tom and Todd Show" on the first Wednesday of every month at approximately 7:30 a.m. for future editions of "The Minority Report" with Senator Tarr.

Senator Knapik Weighs in on Gas Tax

As the MBTA struggles to close a $161 million budget deficit with service cuts and fare increases, the prospect of increasing the gas tax to fund regional transportation projects and ease the T's financial burden took center stage at last week's Transportation Oversight hearing. Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield), the Ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, was asked about this proposal, and shared his thoughts with the Springfield Republican. Click here to read the article.

N.E. Police Chiefs Assoc. Endorses EZ-ID Bill

The New England Association of Chiefs of Police (NEACOP) has unanimously endorsed the EZ-ID bill filed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and co-sponsored by Senator John F. Keenan (D-Quincy) and Representative Anne M. Gobi (D-Spencer), joining a growing list of public safety organizations calling for the bill’s passage.

Robert D. Campbell, President of the NEACOP, recently wrote a letter on behalf of the organization’s Board of Directors labeling the EZ-ID proposal, which was crafted by Danvers resident Gary P. Richard, “truly a worthwhile project that deserves the support of Law Enforcement.”

“It not only serves the need for vehicle identification in cases of child abduction, but also serves as a tool for vehicle identification when a motor vehicle is used for any criminal activity,” Campbell wrote. “With its apparent value, the Board of Directors of the New England Association of Chiefs of Police has, by unanimous vote, endorsed EZ-ID as a project worthy of our support.”

Senate Bill 1798, also known as Molly’s Bill, would direct the Registry of Motor Vehicles to issue license plates that combine the traditional letters and numbers already used with universal, easily distinguishable symbols, such as triangles, squares and other geometric shapes. The bill is named after Molly Bish, a teenager who was abducted while working as a lifeguard in Warren in June of 2000. Molly’s remains were found three years later, but her killer has never been identified.

Molly’s Bill would require license plates to pair up to four alpha-numeric characters with one easily recognized symbol. The new format would assist law enforcement officials by making it easier for witnesses to read, identify and remember the license plate of a motor vehicle used in the commission of a crime.

In many cases, witnesses are able to recall only a partial license plate, forcing police to run a check on thousands of vehicles to narrow the list of suspects, but symbols are more easily identified. With a standard six-character plate, the number of possible matches can be narrowed to about 1 in 4,300 vehicles, but a plate issued under the EZ-ID bill would narrow the possible combinations to only 1 in 123, making it easier to identify and track down the vehicle.
Senate Bill 1798 was the subject of a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Transportation on October 19, 2011. The bill is currently under review by the committee.

“Implementing the provisions of Molly’s Bill will not only help put criminals behind bars, but also will help to save lives,” said Senator Tarr. “The new system established by this bill will significantly strengthen the effectiveness of license plates for their main purpose – identifying cars, trucks and other vehicles. I welcome the endorsement of the New England Association of Chiefs of Police, and I intend to continue lobbying the members of the Transportation Committee and stressing the importance of releasing this crucial public safety measure to the Senate floor with a favorable recommendation as quickly as possible.”

In addition to the NEACOP, Molly’s Bill has also been endorsed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police, the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police, the Molly Bish Foundation and the Pioneer Institute. The FBI’s CJIS Division has also deemed the EZ-ID proposal to be “a good idea that can work across the country”.

Supporters of Molly’s Bill are urged to call their senator and representative in the state Legislature at (617) 722-2000 to express their support for the bill’s passage. Contact information for individual legislators is available at http://www.malegislature.gov/.

Pictured above is a photo of Robert Campbell (center), President of the New England Association of Chiefs of Police, displaying an EZ-ID license plate with Jay Gardiner (left), Director of the Molly Bish Center, and Gary Richard (right), a Danvers resident and crafter of the EZ-ID license plate identification system.

Tarr Discusses State of the State Address

Earlier tonight, Governor Deval Patrick delivered his sixth State of the State address before a joint session of the Massachusetts Legislature. After the speech, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr offered his thoughts on the Governor’s remarks and the many challenges facing the Commonwealth during the upcoming year in a video posted below.

Senate Passes Republican Initiative to Freeze Unemployment Insurance Tax Rate

During yesterday’s full formal Senate session, the Massachusetts State Senate passed an unemployment insurance tax rate freeze for the upcoming year, an initiative first proposed by the Republican Legislative Caucus.

The business friendly measure was filed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), House Minority Leader Bradley Jones (R-North Reading), and the members of the House and Senate Republican Caucuses in early January to prevent a 31% increase to the UI tax rate. If left unchecked, businesses would be obligated to pay an average additional increase of $220 per employee.

“I am proud of the actions taken in the Massachusetts State Senate. Leadership has promptly responded to our calls in preventing an unnecessary burden to small businesses,” said Senator Tarr. “I look forward to working with colleagues in both parties to secure substantive reforms to the unemployment insurance system that will promote job growth and prevent the need to freeze rates from becoming a yearly issue.”

House Docket 4205, “An Act Relative to Mitigating the Increasing Costs for Small Businesses by Freezing the Unemployment Insurance Rate”, received widespread, bipartisan support in the House of Representatives and in the Massachusetts State Senate, garnering 49 co-sponsors of the bill. The measure is now one step closer to law, and if passed, would mark the fourth straight year that similar legislation has been passed.

“I applaud members of the Senate for adopting the unemployment insurance tax rate freeze,” said Representative Jones. “We have sent a loud and clear message to business owners and taxpayers alike: we as a governing body will remove any and all impediments to job growth in the Commonwealth.”

The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Senator Tarr on WGBH

Please tune in to today’s Callie Crossley Show on WGBH 89.7FM at 1:00pm where Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be discussing with host Callie Crossley the need for sentencing reform for habitual violent offenders. Today’s show will include guests Les Gosule (whose daughter was a victim of a habitual violent offender), Marc Mauer of The Sentencing Project, and Rev. George Walters-Sleyon from the Center for Church & Prison in Dorchester.

Please click here to read several past posts on Tarr Talk about sentencing reform, and don’t forget to tune in to WGBH 89.7FM at 1:00pm or click here to listen to today’s lively discussion.

Hedlund Critiques T Cutbacks, Fare Increases

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert Hedlund recently weighed in on the MBTA's proposal to close a $161 million budget deficit through a combination of service cuts and fare increases throughout the state's public transportation system. Hedlund shares his thoughts and concerns about the T's deficit reduction plan in an online op-ed piece posted on the Hingham Patch website. Be sure to check it out.

Discussing EBT Fraud

Yesterday Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr had the opportunity to discuss with Fox 25 Morning News Anchor Shannon Mulaire actions taken by the legislature to limit the abuse of electronic benefit transfer cards (EBT Cards) and additional steps he has proposed. Posted on below is yesterday’s segment.

Also, in today’s edition of the Gloucester Daily Times is an editorial discussing the need to increase accountability of state welfare programs. The editorial highlights a bill that Senator Tarr filed that would tighten the oversight of the EBT Cards program. To read today’s editorial please click here.

EBT Card Fraud Renewed Call to Pass EBT Card Bill: MyFoxBOSTON.com

Sen. Tarr on Dan Rea's 'Nightside' Tonight

Tonight at 8:00 p.m. on WBZ Radio (AM1030), Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be discussing with host Dan Rea the abuse of EBT Cards (Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards) and measures the state needs to take to prevent the misuse of the taxpayer funded program. A bill Tarr sponsored, “An Act Preventing the Misuse of Public Funds”, was heard on Tuesday by the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities.

Posted below is a letter Senator Tarr sent to the members of the committee regarding the EBT bill. Please click here or tune in to WBZ-Radio (1030 AM) at 8:00 p.m. to listen to tonight’s broadcast.

Letter to the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilties

Senate, House GOP File UI Tax Rate Freeze Bill

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and House Minority Leader Bradley Jones (R-North Reading) have joined with their House and Senate Republican colleagues in filing legislation to freeze the currently scheduled unemployment insurance tax rate, citing the current economic climate as the primary reason for such a measure.

If passed, the unemployment insurance tax rate would stay at its current level, preventing an increase of about 31%, with an average cost of $935 per employee, compared to last year’s $715 average tax rate. It would mark the fourth straight year that similar legislation had been passed by the legislature and signed into law.

“Unemployment insurance is already a major cost for employers in Massachusetts, and one that relates directly to the number of people they employ. A substantial rate increase now will not only imperil a struggling economic recovery, it will also put a new obstacle in the way of getting people back to work,” said Senator Tarr.

“Passing this rate freeze is the best and most concrete way we can help to move the Massachusetts economy forward in the new year,” said Representative Jones. “In these tough fiscal times, we need to remove any impediments to economic growth in the Commonwealth.”

In October 2010, the Tax Foundation, a Washington D.C. think tank, ranked the Massachusetts’ unemployment insurance tax 49th worst in the nation. The scheduled unemployment insurance tax rate took effect on January 1st; however, employers will not have to begin paying the tax until the end of the first quarter. Currently, the Republican caucus is also working on some long range reforms to the unemployment insurance system to help lower the cost of doing business in Massachusetts and promote more job creation statewide.

Sen. Tarr Renews Call for Passage of EBT Bill

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) today renewed his call for the passage of legislation regulating the use of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

Tarr is the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 68, An Act Preventing the Misuse of Public Funds, which was the subject of a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities today. The bill, which was filed in January of 2010, makes it illegal to use an EBT card to purchase alcoholic beverages, tobacco or Lottery products and imposes a combination of fines and possible jail time for store owners and employees who accept EBT cards as payment for these purchases.

In a letter hand-delivered to the committee this morning, Tarr acknowledged that many of the provisions contained in his bill were signed into law last summer as a result of a budget amendment he sponsored. However, he urged the committee to take further action, noting that “it is important that we continue to forge ahead to implement stronger oversight measures within the EBT system to ensure that the abuses that have already taken place do not continue to occur.”

“State oversight of the EBT program has been far too lax, and has allowed recipients to manipulate the system at the expense of the taxpayers who fund these benefits,” Tarr wrote. “Published reports continue to provide examples of the types of abuses that we are trying to prevent and prove that our work is far from finished. We owe it to the residents of Massachusetts to take steps to ensure that EBT cards are being used strictly for authorized purchases, and to punish those who try to take advantage of the system.”

The problems associated with the EBT program first came to light more than a year ago, following published reports of recipients using their EBT cards to withdraw money and purchase non-food items that were never meant to be included in the taxpayer-funded program. Just last month, eight people were arrested in Lynn on charges of EBT fraud after undercover police officers were able to obtain cash with their EBT cards and purchase drugs, including crack and heroin.

While the current law requires EBT recipients to reimburse the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) for any illegal purchases, Tarr’s bill goes a step further by allowing the DTA Commissioner to disqualify individuals who break the law from obtaining future EBT benefits. Tarr’s bill also requires the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and the state Lottery Commission, in consultation with the DTA, to inform recipients of the penalties associated with using EBT cards for illegal purchases and to post this information on their websites.

In Case You Missed It...

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr joined Harvard Law School Professor Charles Ogletree and host Emily Rooney to discuss the proposed "three strikes law" for violent habitual offenders on last night's edition of Greater Boston on WGBH-TV. To watch the segment in its entirety, just play the video clip posted below.

Sen. Tarr on WGBH's 'Greater Boston' Tonight

Tonight at 7:00 p.m., Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be a guest on WGBH’s Greater Boston with host Emily Rooney. They will be discussing the progress of a habitual offender bill that is currently under consideration by a six member conference committee. Please tune in to Channel 2 at 7:00 p.m. tonight to watch the lively discussion, which will also be re-broadcast at midnight.

Tarr, Knapik Discuss 2012 Legislative Agenda

Christine Lee, the State House Correspondent for WWLP 22News, filed a report yesterday previewing the 2012 legislative agenda for the Massachusetts House and Senate. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and Senator Michael Knapik, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, were among the legislators who shared their thoughts on some of the major issues they anticipate the Legislature will tackle this year. Be sure to check out the segment by playing the video clip posted below.

New year, new legislative agenda: wwlp.com

Happy New Year from Scaling Beacon Hill

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr offers the following New Year's Greeting from Scaling Beacon Hill on behalf of the Massachusetts Senate Republican Caucus:

May the New Year bring peace, health and happiness to us all, and many successes as we move forward throughout the year.

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” - Abraham Lincoln

Happy New Year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From all of us at Scaling Beacon Hill, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy holiday season.

In Case You Missed It...

If you missed Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert Hedlund's appearance on WGBH's "Greater Boston" earlier this week, you can watch the entire program by playing the video clip posted below. Hedlund joined Boston.com "Less Is More" blogger Garrett Quinn, Democratic analyst Warren Tolman, Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral and host Emily Rooney for a special "Year in Review" discussion that looked at the Occupy Boston movement, fugitive Whitey Bulger's capture, and some of the political scandals and other news that made local and national headlines this year.

MEDIA ALERT: Senator Hedlund Appearing on 'Broadside' and 'Greater Boston' Tonight

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert L. Hedlund will appear on New England Cable News' "Broadside" tonight with host Jim Braude. Topics will include the Presidential race and statewide politics. The show airs live at 6 p.m. and will re-air at 8 p.m. on NECN.

Senator Hedlund will also be appearing on WGBH’s "Greater Boston" with host Emily Rooney tonight. The discussion will focus on various statewide political issues. Be sure to tune in to Channel 2 at 7 p.m. to follow the informed discussion.

Happy Hanukkah!

This afternoon Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be joining with many state officials and Rabbi Lieberman in the lighting of the State House Menorah. It is an impressive ceremony that features inspiring words and a program of music performed by many students.

Today’s lighting of the Menorah is open to the public and will take place in Nurse’s Hall on the 2nd floor of the State House, and begins approximately at 4:00 p.m.

“May the lights of Hanukkah usher in a better world for all humankind.” ~Author Unknown

Happy Hanukkah!