Today at approximately 4:10 p.m., Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be talking with news personality Alex Stylos of WSAR 1480 AM Radio about medical software company Meditech Inc’s interest in opening a new facility in Freetown, MA that could potentially hire 800 new employees and the obstacles state government has placed in its way. Please tune in at 4:10 p.m. or click here to listen to their discussion.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
ON THE AIR: Sen. Tarr on WSAR-AM Today
Today at approximately 4:10 p.m., Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be talking with news personality Alex Stylos of WSAR 1480 AM Radio about medical software company Meditech Inc’s interest in opening a new facility in Freetown, MA that could potentially hire 800 new employees and the obstacles state government has placed in its way. Please tune in at 4:10 p.m. or click here to listen to their discussion.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Senator Richard Ross Appointed Member of Expanded Gaming Conference Committee
Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) has been appointed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr to serve on the expanded gaming conference committee. The appointment was announced yesterday.Senator Ross will now work with Senators Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) and Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) and Representatives Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee), Brian Dempsey (D-Haverhill) and Paul Frost (R-Auburn) to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the expanded gaming bill, which provides for three resort casinos and one slot parlor.
“I am so honored to be appointed by Senator Tarr to the conference committee on expanded gaming as this issue deeply affects the communities in my district,” said Senator Ross. “It has been a long, spirited debate in both the House and the Senate in which hundreds of amendments were considered, debated and voted on. Now there are two versions of the expanded gaming bill and I am thrilled to be able to work with the other conferees on coming to an agreement on how this bill will best serve our commonwealth.”
Friday, October 14, 2011
Sen. Tarr on 'Nightside' with Dan Rea Tonight
Please tune in to tonight’s “Nightside” with Dan Rea on WBZ NewsRadio 1030AM to listen to Dan and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr discuss the expanded gaming bill, which passed 24-14 during yesterday’s Senate debate. To listen to their discussion please tune in at approximately 8:00 p.m. or click here to listen online.
In Case You Missed It...
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr called in to the Jeff Katz radio show on Talk1200 AM during the Thursday morning drive-time commute to discuss the Senate's casino bill, which passed on a 24-14 vote later in the day. To listen to the interview, click here to download the podcast.
Sen. Tarr Discusses Casinos on 'Broadside'
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr was a guest on last night's episode of "Broadside" on New England Cable News, where he discussed the Senate casino bill with host Jim Braude. To watch the interview in its entirety, just click "play" on the video link posted below.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Senator Tarr on 'Broadside' Tonight
Please tune in to “Broadside” tonight at 6:00 p.m. on New England Cable News (NECN), where Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be discussing with host Jim Braude today’s Senate debate on expanded gaming, which passed by a vote of 24-14. “Broadside” re-airs at 8:00 p.m. and again at 3:30 a.m.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
ON THE AIR: Senator Tarr on Fox 25 News, Jeff Katz Show on Thursday Morning
Tomorrow morning, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be a guest political analyst on the Fox 25 Morning News segment Tolman and Gray. Senator Tarr and Boston City Councilor Michael Ross will be discussing the Occupy Boston Movement, expanded gaming in Massachusetts, and the latest turn of events with the Red Sox. Please tune in at approximately 7:15 A.M. to watch tomorrow’s segment.Shortly afterward, Senator Tarr will be speaking with Jeff Katz of The Jeff Katz Show on Talk 1200AM Boston to discuss the latest information from Tuesday’s Senate debate on expanded gaming. The Senate plans to meet for a full formal on Thursday to continue that debate. Please tune in at approximately 7:35 A.M.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
ON THE AIR: Sen. Hedlund on WGBH Radio
Assistant Senate Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth) was in the WGBH radio studios last Friday, joining host Emily Rooney, Attorney Wendy Kaminer and WGBH contributor Kara Miller for the popular "Week In Review" segment. Topics included the departure of Red Sox Manager Terry Francona; the threat of homegrown terrorism; Scott Brown's U.S. Senate race; and the death of hip hop pioneer Sylvia Robinson. To listen to the discussion in its entirety, just click on the audio link posted below.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Minority Leaders File Competitive Bidding Renewable Energy Bill to Protect Taxpayers
House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), in their effort to bring transparency to the ratepayers of the Commonwealth, have filed legislation to require the competitive solicitation of long-term renewable energy contracts by public utilities.
Filed in response to the costly Cape Wind-National Grid contract, House Docket 4048 seeks to alleviate the unnecessary financial burden that contracts resulting from private negotiations place on the Commonwealth’s ratepayers, businesses, and municipalities.
“It is a sincere fear of mine, that practices similar to the ones used to solidify the contract between Cape Wind and National Grid will lay the framework for a very dangerous and costly precedent here in the Commonwealth,” said Representative Jones. “The legislation that we have filed will help foster an environment of open door, competitive bidding on contracts that have direct, and potentially significant impacts, on the wallets of the residents of Massachusetts.”
Under the Green Communities Act of 2008, utilities are required to solicit long-term renewable energy contracts twice in a 5 year period; however, current law does not require the solicitation procedure to be competitive and instead allows these utilities to engage in closed-door negotiations. Recently, NSTAR successfully secured three long-term renewable energy contracts with smaller land-based wind projects at a significantly lower cost than National Grid’s contract with Cape Wind, illustrating how competitive solicitation procedures stand to benefit the Commonwealth’s ratepayers.
The legislation, filed in both the House and Senate, clarifies the definition of cost-effective long-term contracts to mean those proposed contracts which either: (1) result in net ratepayer savings when compared to current and projected future market prices of energy; or (2) are least costly in terms of electric service rates.
“The cost of electricity is a major factor for the budgets of Massachusetts residents and their employers. Contracts need to safeguard their interests first and foremost,” said Senator Tarr. “This legislation will work to ensure that the costs passed on to consumers come from a process of transparency and not the shadows of other agendas.”
Filed in response to the costly Cape Wind-National Grid contract, House Docket 4048 seeks to alleviate the unnecessary financial burden that contracts resulting from private negotiations place on the Commonwealth’s ratepayers, businesses, and municipalities.
“It is a sincere fear of mine, that practices similar to the ones used to solidify the contract between Cape Wind and National Grid will lay the framework for a very dangerous and costly precedent here in the Commonwealth,” said Representative Jones. “The legislation that we have filed will help foster an environment of open door, competitive bidding on contracts that have direct, and potentially significant impacts, on the wallets of the residents of Massachusetts.”
Under the Green Communities Act of 2008, utilities are required to solicit long-term renewable energy contracts twice in a 5 year period; however, current law does not require the solicitation procedure to be competitive and instead allows these utilities to engage in closed-door negotiations. Recently, NSTAR successfully secured three long-term renewable energy contracts with smaller land-based wind projects at a significantly lower cost than National Grid’s contract with Cape Wind, illustrating how competitive solicitation procedures stand to benefit the Commonwealth’s ratepayers.
The legislation, filed in both the House and Senate, clarifies the definition of cost-effective long-term contracts to mean those proposed contracts which either: (1) result in net ratepayer savings when compared to current and projected future market prices of energy; or (2) are least costly in terms of electric service rates.
“The cost of electricity is a major factor for the budgets of Massachusetts residents and their employers. Contracts need to safeguard their interests first and foremost,” said Senator Tarr. “This legislation will work to ensure that the costs passed on to consumers come from a process of transparency and not the shadows of other agendas.”
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