Remember to Vote Today!

 

Today brings an important opportunity to vote for our candidate of choice in the special U.S. Senate election primary. Please remember to drop by your local polling location and cast your ballot by 8:00 p.m. tonight. If you’re not sure where to vote, please click here to find your polling place, along with the names of the candidates appearing on the ballots.

Roll Call Votes to S.1766

Posted below are the final roll call votes to S.1766, An Act Relative to Transportation Finance. Included is the roll call vote to engross the bill, which passed by a margin of 30-5 on April 13th.

Roll Call Votes to S1766 by Troy Wall

MEDIA ALERT: Senator Tarr on the Air with Channel 5's Jorge Quiroga Tonight

Earlier today Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr was interviewed by Channel 5 Reporter Jorge Quiroga regarding a Boston Herald report that revealed that Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev had previously been receiving welfare benefits.

Please tune in to tonight’s evening broadcast at 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and again at 11:00 p.m. to view today’s interview.

Senator Tarr’s Statement on Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev Receiving Welfare Benefits in 2012

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today regarding a Boston Herald report citing Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev had previously been receiving welfare benefits in 2012:

“It is angering to see that those who perpetrated such a merciless and cowardly act of terrorism had been receiving state benefits funded by public dollars.

The Senate Republican Caucus joins with House Minority Leader Brad Jones and the House Republican Caucus in seeking answers into what types of benefits Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his family were receiving, and if they were receiving them appropriately.  By investigating further, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services will be able to identify any possible failings of the welfare system that may have otherwise been left undiscovered.

Following the wake of destruction, death, and injuries that has impacted our state that these two men have caused, no stone can be left unturned in understanding how and why these events occurred.”

Senate Republicans Successful in Securing Significant Transportation Reforms

On Saturday, the Senate Republican Caucus was successful in securing several significant transportation reforms and a series of major reforms and initiatives geared toward accountability, performance and reducing dependence on increasing taxes.

The reforms, which were presented as part of a comprehensive plan by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Assistant 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 Committee on Ways and Means, would boost accountability, tie spending to performance, and provide additional resources for transportation without increasing taxes. The measures passed stem from an alternative plan presented by the Senate Republican Caucus on Wednesday, April 10th. The reforms secured by the minority party include:

• Requiring all reports conducted by the MassDOT Special Audit Unit to be posted online, and directing the unit to conduct a comprehensive audit comparing the transportation law of 2009 to the current transportation agency, and identify future savings;

• Requiring the MassDOT to regularly consult with the Public Private Partnership Infrastructure Oversight Commission (PPP Commission), and provide the commission the opportunity to weigh in on all transportation proposals, initiatives, and plans;

• Directing the MassDOT to turn HOV lanes into Automated Tolling HOT Lanes by additionally allowing solo drivers to pay a fee to utilize the lane;

• Requiring the MassDOT and the MBTA to post financial reports, and detailed customer service and performance management information online;

• Creating a study to address deficiencies in the taxicab market to target passenger costs, wait times, employee mistreatment, and inefficiencies preventing drivers from picking up passengers in multiple communities;

• Tying MassDOT performance benchmarks to salary increases ensuring MassDOT and MBTA cannot increase the pay of high ranking transportation officials if benchmarks aren’t met;

• Requiring MassDOT to issue a five-year plan to eliminate the current transportation backlog to bring the road and transit network into a State of Good Repair;

• Directing the MBTA to issue requests for proposals to sponsor a mass transit service beyond its current hours of operation, also known as the Night Owl Service; and

• Directing the MBTA to create a pilot program reserving a limited number of premium parking spots for customers willing to pay an elevated price to have a spot reserved for them.

“Amid a frenzy of increasing taxes and tolls, we have been able to secure a series of meaningful reforms that will hopefully mitigate the growing financial burden on the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Tarr. “While we certainly don’t agree with increasing that burden, our caucus is appreciative for the majority members who crossed party lines to make these components of the Senate Republican reform bill part of the legislation that now leaves the Senate Chamber. Each member of our caucus played a vital role in securing these reforms, and thus has had a major impact on today’s debate.”

The House previously passed its version of a transportation finance bill, and now the two chambers will work together to reach an accord.

Note to Our Readers

Scaling Beacon Hill and Tarr Talk will continue to post roll call votes on the transportation finance bill taken during today’s Senate session. Votes on additional amendments and the final vote on the bill will appear next week.

Roll Call Vote to S.1766: Amendment 58

Amendment #58, which was sponsored by the Senate Minority Caucus, prevents the MBTA from continuing to develop expansion projects until the agency conducts a cost analysis of the proposed expansion. The amendment also requires that the agency must certify that the project won’t prevent the MBTA from generating sufficient revenue to contribute to its annual operating budget.

Essentially, this amendment requires that a future expansion project would have to recover 34% of cost in order to be worth constructing. The MBTA shouldn’t expand for expansion’s sake, but should be targeting populations of people who will most utilize the service to reinvigorate both the local and statewide economies.

Unfortunately, the majority party did not join Senate Republicans in insisting that future expansion projects aren’t a fiscal drain to the mass transportation system, resulting in a vote of 4-29. Posted below is the result of the vote.

Tarr Amendment to S.1766

Roll Call Vote to S.1766

Senator John Keenan (D-Quincy) offered an amendment to S.1766, An Act Relative to Transportation Finance, which would require the MBTA to include in its 5 year Capital Investment Program repairs to existing infrastructure sufficient to maintain a State of Good Repair rating level.

Having a public transportation system in a State of Good Repair, or when the physical condition of transportation assets such as trains, buses, facilities, etc. are rated in a good condition by federal government standards, is imperative for the daily lives of those who depend on mass transit.

The Senate Republican Caucus believes that a State of Good Repair is so important that the caucus included such a measure in Amendment #41, an alternative plan to massive increases in taxes to finance our transportation system.

Fortunately, the membership voted with the minority party in supporting such a measure, and the amendment passed unanimously by a roll call vote of 33-0. Posted below is the result of the vote.

Senator Keenan offered amendment #50 to S.1766

Roll Call Vote to S.1766

During today’s Senate Transportation Finance debate, Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) offered Amendment #30, which would require the MBTA to seek private sponsorship and naming rights of stations. The Senate Republican Caucus agrees that the MBTA needs to join in such partnerships to capture the much needed revenue. So much so, the Republican Caucus has been calling for such actions for quite some time.

The Senate Republican Caucus even included the measure in Amendment #41, which provides an alternative solution to raising taxes. Unfortunately, Senator Montigny’s amendment directs the revenue gained through sponsorship to be dedicated to transportation expansion projects. The caucus believes that before the MBTA expands services, it should first address existing infrastructure.

The amendment garnered enough votes to pass by a margin of 20-12. Posted below is the roll call vote taken on amendment #30.

Amendment 30 to S.1766

Roll Call Vote to S.1766

Senate Assistant Minority Leader Robert Hedlund offered Amendment #23 to Senate Bill 1766, An Act Relative to Transportation Finance. Similar to the Governor’s plan, S.1766 ties the gas tax to the inflation rate causing the tax to periodically increase over time without constraints or safeguards.

Senator Hedlund’s amendment would prevent an automatic gas tax increase and would require that all gas tax increases in the future be legislatively approved.

Unfortunately the amendment failed to secure enough votes for passage by a margin of 5-27. Posted below is the result of the roll call vote taken on the measure.
 

Amendment #23 to S.1766

Roll Call Vote to S.1766

Senator Rush offered an amendment to the bill regarding the deferral of the gas tax increase it contains. If passed this amendment would create a special legislative task force to investigate, study, and develop a legislative package to include MBTA cost saving reform measures and potential new revenue sources.

Pursuant to the amendment, the gas tax increases in the current bill would not go into effect until the task force develops a reform package that is signed into law. This amendment is meant to force state government to address cost-saving reforms before asking for more money from taxpayers.

Unfortunately the amendment failed by a vote of 7-24. Posted below is a copy of the actual roll call vote taken by the members.

Amendment 18 to S.1766

Posting Senate Roll Call Votes Online

During the Senate rules debate on January 24th, the Senate Republican Caucus was successful in passing a Senate rule that requires the posting of roll call votes on the state legislature’s webpage within 48 hours of the vote being taken.

That vote was passed unanimously by a vote of 39-0; however, it will not take effect until May 1st. Until then, we will post them starting with S.1766 on www.TarrTalk.com and www.ScalingBeaconHill.com. This is a transparent measure to allow everybody to be able to see how their State Senator voted on a particular measure.

Posted below is the first of the roll call votes being taken on S.1766.

Postponement Roll Call Vote to S.1766


Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr offered this roll call vote to postpone the bill to a later date. Last evening at 5:00 p.m. there was an amendment filing deadline to S.1766, and during that time period there were over 100 amendments filed. Senator Tarr's motion for postponement to delay today’s debate until April 22nd was to afford the members of the Senate more time to read and understand the amendments before they were expected to vote on them. Unfortunately, that motion was defeated by a vote of 3-30.

Keep checking back today to view all of the posted roll call votes.

Tax of the Day

Tax of the day: Governor wants to end commuter deductions on tax returns for those who use the MBTA or pay tolls to get to work.

* The Tax of the Day series is presented by the Senate Republican Caucus spotlighting tax proposals made by the Governor in his FY’14 budget proposal.

Senator Tarr's Statement Regarding Rising Personnel Costs at the MBTA

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr released the following statement today regarding a Pioneer Institute report that found that the MBTA has provided significant personnel raises to its staff in the midst of a statewide transportation funding crisis:

“It is outrageous that on the eve of Senators being asked to consider millions of dollars in tax increases and new spending for transportation needs, we discover exorbitant expenditures on personnel costs at the MBTA and a complete lack of transparency that has shrouded these costs from public view even as transportation officials plead their case for more and more money.

Senate Republicans are giving the legislature a clear choice to avoid the policy of “Tax first, ask questions later.”

TAX OF THE DAY

Tax of the Day: The Governor wants to end $1,000 exemptions for dependents of taxpayers 19 years old or older who are full-time students.

* The Tax of the Day series is presented by the Senate Republican Caucus, spotlighting tax proposals made by the Governor in his FY’14 budget proposal.

Senate Republicans Unveil Alternative Plan to Transportation Finance Bill

Today the Massachusetts Senate Republican Caucus unveiled an alternative plan to S.1766, An Act Relative to Transportation Finance. The comprehensive plan generates revenue without raising taxes, and provides a genuine plan that could stabilize our transportation system for years.

Posted below is the press kit distributed at today’s press conference which includes a press release. Please check back regularly to follow the progress of the plan.

Senate Repubs Unveil Alternative Plan to Transpo Finance Bill by Troy Wall

TAX OF THE DAY

Continuing the Senate Republican spotlight on taxes, here is today’s Tax of the Day:

Governor Patrick seeks to require college scholarships to be reported as income, causing those who pursue higher ed to pay even more!

TAX OF THE DAY

Continuing the Senate Republican spotlight on taxes, here is today’s Tax of the Day:

The Governor wants to end tax deductions for adoption fees, and start taxing employer provided adoption assistance as personal income, which would further complicate the adoption process.

TAX OF THE DAY

Governor Patrick seeks to eliminate the hotel tax exemption for small Bed and Breakfasts. The tax will hurt local small businesses and hamper the economy.

Senate GOP Caucus to Protest Taxes and Other Fee Proposals Made by Governor; “Tax of the Day” to be Presented on Social Media Websites

With an onslaught of taxes being proposed on Beacon Hill, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and the Senate Republican Caucus will identify and focus on one each day in a series of posts called “Tax of the Day” on the Caucus’ blog (www.ScalingBeaconHill.com), twitter (@SenBruceTarr), and their Facebook Fan Page.  The primary source cited will be Governor Patrick’s tax and spend state budget proposal for FY’14.

“A tidal wave of new taxes is headed towards us, and people need to know before they drown in higher taxes, tolls, fees, and fares.  Posting each tax increase proposal will increase transparency and help us all to focus on just how much of a new burden we will have to bear if the measures become law,” said Senator Tarr.

In the Governor’s budget proposal he targets over 40 personal tax exemptions, deductions, and credits; corporate and business taxes; changes in tax rates; increases to certain already taxed items; increases in fares, tolls, and fees; and others.

Senator Tarr’s Statement on Competing Transportation Plans; Cites Clear Differences Between Governor's and Republicans' Proposals

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today regarding the proposed transportation financing plan unveiled by House Minority Leader Brad Jones and House Republicans this afternoon:

“House Minority Leader Brad Jones and the House Republican Caucus have proven today that we need not rely on massive tax increases to solve our state’s transportation problems.  There are some key principles contained in the House Republican plan that should guide us during the upcoming debate: it focuses on real problems, rather than the problems caused by the Governor’s ambitious plan to increase spending; it operates on a pay as you go basis; it prioritizes transportation spending over money wasted as a result of creating more government bureaucracy; and it forces us to think clearly about spending priorities.  Senate Republicans will focus on these same principles when crafting our own solutions to the problems that we face.

The House Republican plan offers a real opportunity for a more comprehensive debate that will focus on reforms before revenue and has the potential to achieve long-term sustainability, reliability and efficiencies within our transportation infrastructure.

Today’s events on Beacon Hill clearly illustrate the situation we’re in.  Governor Patrick has proven that not even $500 million will satisfy his appetite for tax increases, and a new Republican plan proves that transportation needs can be addressed without massive increases in taxing and spending.  What’s important now is to hear from the people who pay the bills through taxes, fares, and fees, and they deserve an opportunity for that to happen.”

Senator Tarr's Statement on Chapter 90 Funding

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today regarding the proposed increase in Chapter 90 road and bridge funding for Massachusetts’ cities and towns:

“As the House and Senate embark on an important debate on how best to address the serious deficiencies in our state’s transportation infrastructure, nothing should impede or slow our progress in getting Chapter 90 money out to our cities and towns.  While we may disagree on the best approach for improving our transportation infrastructure, that should not stop us from moving quickly on the one issue for which there is universal agreement so that road and bridge funding is made readily available for cities and towns to capture the widest possible window of the construction season.”

Senator Tarr's Statement on Transportation Financing Package Released Today

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today in response to the transportation financing package unveiled this morning by Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo:

“The framework announced today by the Senate President and the Speaker makes it clear that there is no legislative appetite for the massive increases in taxing and spending proposed by the Governor, and brings focus to the task at hand of addressing troubling deficiencies in our state’s transportation infrastructure.  Yet today’s proposal focuses too narrowly on increased taxes, and relies too little on the strong reforms needed to ensure that taxpayer and ratepayer funds are invested in a system that is functional, reliable and not plagued by waste or abuse.

Too many requirements mandated by the 2009 Transportation Reform Act have at worst been blatantly ignored, or at best been too slow to produce results.  Billions of dollars in projected savings have gone unrealized, efforts to increase the efficiency and integrity of the system have gone unheeded, and opportunities to partner with the private sector have fallen by the wayside.  Our first priority should be on capturing the savings we’ve already demanded legislatively and promised to the taxpayers and ratepayers.

In the days ahead, Senate Republicans will work to populate the framework with needed and productive reforms that will emphasize savings and efficiencies to close the present and future funding gaps facing our transportation system.  New revenues for transportation cannot come from increasing the burden on working families, who are already feeling the pressure of living with the fourth highest per capita tax burden in the nation.  Increasing that burden should not be our first choice.

It’s clear that transportation is a priority for our residents.  They expect, demand, and deserve a better transportation system.  But we can’t achieve that goal by pursuing new revenues at the expense of needed reforms.  If we are serious about having a full and open debate on transportation funding, a good way to start that debate would be to hold public hearings on this latest proposal so the voices of the people can be heard.”

Senator Tarr's Statement on Auditor's Report Linking Sex Offenders and Child Care Providers

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) issued the following statement today regarding the release of a report by State Auditor Susanne Bump concerning the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), which reveals 119 cases where Level 2 and Level 3 sex offender addresses matched addresses of EEC child care providers:

“Today’s report by Auditor Bump emphasizes the need to strengthen our sex offender registry system, and to compel the availability and sharing of critical information.  Providers, parents, and all of us need information to keep kids out of harm’s way, and the legislation filed by Senate Republicans and others will make systemic changes to ensure that it’s available, and that sex offender classifications accurately portray the risk posed by known offenders.

There is no excuse and no justification for allowing sex offender information to be inaccurate, outdated, or inaccessible, and it’s time for comprehensive reform and legislative action.”

Click here to read the Auditor's report in its entirety.

 

A Passover Message from Senator Tarr

With Passover beginning tonight, I would like to wish all my Jewish friends, constituents and the community a happy and joyous holiday that is shared with loved ones, and that your time together is filled with peace and happiness. Chag Sameach!

Senator Tarr's Statement on the Resignation of Early Education and Care Commissioner Killins

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement regarding the resignation of Early Education and Care Commissioner Sherri Killins:

“While the Governor continues to tout his costly transportation and education initiatives to the citizens of the Commonwealth, Commissioner Dr. Sherri Killins was receiving a six-figure salary for a job that apparently didn’t require her full attention while the taxpayers continued to pay her full salary. Unfortunately, the administration believes it prudent to continue to pay Commissioner Killins for several more months as an outside consultant to “ease” the transition of leadership.

The economy is still in a fragile state of uncertainty, and it is inappropriate to ask the taxpayers to pick up the tab of this Commissioner’s salary when the Commonwealth is set to lose $6.3 million dedicated for Head Start from the Federal Government due to the blanket cuts caused by sequestration earlier this month.

Government needs to strive to eliminate the loss of public dollars, and we can’t afford to pay more than full-time salaries for part-time employees. It is unacceptable to ask taxpayers to pay almost $2 billion more in raised revenue when the Commonwealth’s fiscal house is far from being in order.

I hope the Governor will at the very least take a strong look at his hiring practices. The citizens of the Commonwealth deserve so much more than a part-time education chief making more than three times the median household income, a DTA Commissioner who failed to properly manage our welfare system, and a road menace State Highway Safety Director.

So while the resignation of Commissioner Dr. Killins comes as welcome news, the recent string of employment failures of high ranking government officials is most disturbing. I hope the Governor recognizes these failures, and takes action to prevent them in the future.”

Caucus: New Legislative Rules Move Forward, but Fall Short of Needed Change

While the rules adopted today by the House and Senate to govern the legislative session contain some important changes, the legislature has missed some major opportunities to increase transparency and accountability according to Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).

A debate that began in the House of Representatives on January 23 and continued in the Senate on January 31, culminated today with acceptance of Joint Rules by each legislative branch. Among many possible changes to open the legislative process to greater exposure and scrutiny, only two were ultimately adopted. They include:

• Limiting all committee hearings to hear no more than 50 bills sponsored by Senator Timilty and supported by the members of the Senate Republican Caucus; and,

• Providing all local petitions before the General Court to be valid for a two-year period sponsored by the members of the Senate Republican Caucus.

Yet other significant changes have been lost in the legislative process. Key republican initiatives adopted in the Senate’s debate on the Joint Rules were:

• Requiring the House and Senate Clerks to post online all roll call votes within 48 hours after being made; and,

• Posting of all roll call votes taken in joint committees.

“Putting committee and legislative votes on the internet for people to view them should be a routine exercise, and yet today we failed to approve giving people the information they deserve about our legislative process and decisions,” said Tarr. He added that “the strong gains made by Senate Republicans and the Senate as a body have been eroded by the process that followed. While an opportunity has been lost today, the Senate Republican Caucus will continue to seek transparency in state government.”

Senator Tarr on 'Broadside' Tonight

Please tune in to “Broadside” tonight at 6:00pm on New England Cable News (NECN), where Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be discussing with host Jim Braude and Plum Island homeowner Tom Nee the island’s continuing beach erosion issue. “Broadside” re-airs again at 3:30am. Also, earlier today Senator Tarr spoke with NECN Morning co-hosts Steve Aveson and Bridget Blythe to provide an update on Plum Island. Posted below is a video of this morning’s conversation.

Senator Tarr on the Air with Fox25

Tonight at approximately 6:15pm Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be speaking with Fox25 Weekend News Anchor Heather Hegedus to provide an update regarding the continuing beach erosion issue currently facing Plum Island. Please tune in to watch tonight’s interview.

Senator Tarr’s Statement on Commonwealth’s Slow-Moving Progress to Comply with the Federal REAL ID Act

This morning Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr released the following statement regarding a letter to Governor Deval Patrick from the Senate Republican Caucus seeking clarification as to why the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has not made significant effort to comply with the Federal REAL ID Act of 2005.  The Act, which codifies the standards of state licenses and IDs, was passed following a recommendation by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (“9/11 Commission”):

“Instead of being ahead of the curve, Governor Patrick and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has made little progress thus far in the federally mandated REAL ID Act.  With little movement, the Senate Republican Caucus has exceedingly high concerns as to the adverse effects of having an outdated, unrecognized state ID in the eyes of the Federal Government.  The Real ID Act is extremely clear that federal agencies cannot accept state IDs that don’t meet a certain minimum of standards, and if Massachusetts does not move expeditiously to be compliant with federal law, we fear that there will be major implications, such as citizens not being able to board commercial airplanes, until the Governor and his administration rectifies the situation.

We are now calling on the Governor to make clear the progress, if any, that has been made in achieving federal compliance while there is still time to avoid what could be a disastrous scenario for the citizens of the Commonwealth.  If the state is failing to stride towards compliance, we ask Governor Patrick to provide the reasons for that failure.  A state issued license is among the most utilized forms of identification, and the value of the Massachusetts license would be diminished greatly if this administration does not act accordingly.”

Posted below is the letter sent to Governor Patrick from the Senate Republican Caucus and a fact sheet regarding REAL ID.

 

 

REAL ID Letter From Senate Republican Caucus to Governor by Troy Wall

Real Id Fact Sheet by Troy Wall

Tarr on the Air with WBZ-TV’s Jon Keller

This Sunday at approximately 8:30am Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be part of a featured panel during Reporter Jon Keller’s Keller@Large Report on WBZ-TV.  The panel will also feature Governor Patrick’s former campaign manager, Alex Goldstein, and we will be discussing with Jon the race for the open U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator John Kerry.

Please tune in Sunday morning to watch their discussion.

Tarr on the Air with WBZ-TV

Earlier this afternoon Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr was interviewed by WBZ-TV News Political Reporter and Analysis Jon Keller regarding former Chelsea Housing Authority Director Michael McLaughlin’s decision to plead guilty today in Federal Court.  Please tune in to tonight’s news beginning at 5:00pm to see Jon’s report.

Tarr on the Air with Fox 25 and NECN Tonight

Please tune in to tonight’s Fox 25 News broadcast at 6:00 p.m. where Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be speaking live with News Anchor Maria Stephanos regarding the race for the open U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator John Kerry.

Also at 6:00 p.m., Senator Tarr will be featured in a taped segment on NECN’s Broadside with Jim Braude.  Jim and Senator Tarr further discussed the U.S. Senate seat and the decisions a candidate has to make prior to entering such a race.

Fox 25’s Evening News will air again at 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., and Broadside will re-air at 8:00 p.m. and again at 3:30 a.m.

Senator Tarr’s Statement on Closing of 11 MA Compounding Pharmaceutical Companies

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement yesterday regarding the closure of 11 compounding pharmaceutical companies in Massachusetts due to serious violations found by the Department of Public Health.  The announced closures come in the wake of a meningitis outbreak linked to the New England Compounding Company in Framingham that has resulted in the death of at least 45 people across the nation:

“The disturbing results of these inspections, and the need for regulators to force the closure of all or part of 11 compounding pharmacies, are further evidence of another systemic failure of oversight by state government.  If the current system tolerated this degree of regulatory noncompliance, then clearly, it’s time for serious reform.”

A Convincing Editorial

Today the Boston Herald offers a very interesting perspective about the importance of the passage of Senate and Joint Rule changes proposed by the Senate Republican Caucus about the online posting of roll call votes made by the members of the General Court.  The rules highlight this measure, which the legislature should have had in place years ago, and will offer a window into the legislative process by making the votes more accessible.

The Boston Herald is right when they reference that the year is 2013.  The time for such postings is overdue, and can be accommodated easily through modern technology.  Following the adoption of these rule changes proposed by the minority party, the Senate Republican Caucus will continue to make transparency and accountability in state government a top priority.

Please click here to read today’s editorial by the Boston Herald.

Senate GOP Caucus Files Additional Joint Rules to Increase Accountability and Transparency

Senate Republicans are proposing an ambitious series of changes to the joint rules which govern the House and Senate, setting the stage for a critical debate tomorrow centering around transparency and accountability in the state’s legislative process.  The proposed changes, filed on Tuesday afternoon, would put more information in the hands of the public and members of the legislature, ensuring more informed and accountable actions on Beacon Hill.

The changes, proposed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Assistant Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Senate Minority Whip Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), and Michael Knapik (R-Westfield), the Ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, come at the beginning of a legislative session that will confront critical issues such as increases in taxes and spending proposed by Governor Patrick, the reform of the Sex Offender Registry System, and the oversight of the state’s forensic crime labs.

Highlights of the Senate Republican Caucus’ proposed rules package include:

•  Requiring committees to post all committee votes on the General Court website;

•  Requiring conference committee reports to be accompanied with a summary when filed with the Senate and House clerk’s office;

•  Requiring all conference committee reports to be filed no later than 5:00pm on the prior day scheduled for consideration by the General Court and the text of all conference committee reports be posted on the General Court website;

•  Providing conference committee members with the option of issuing a minority report;

•  Providing legislators at least 48 hours before meeting in an executive session to provide recommendations of legislation to the full membership of the House and Senate with the bill numbers and texts of all petitions to be considered;

•  Allowing the House and Senate to consider and adopt a joint resolution by March 15th of each year declaring the minimum level of state aid to be appropriated to the cities and towns for the upcoming fiscal year;

•  Requiring each committee to hold at least one public hearing per year to determine if the agencies

and programs under its jurisdiction can achieve savings or operate in a more cost-effective manner,

and to submit their findings and recommendations to the House and Senate Clerks and Chairs of the

House and Senate Ways and Means Committees;

• Requiring that each committee to consider the cost-effectiveness of all laws, regulations, and programs that fall under its purview, and recommend whether such measures should be continued, curtailed, or eliminated;

• Requiring all joint committees to include a taxation impact statement showing the fiscal impact of any changes to fees or taxes contained in the proposed legislation, and how they will impact the average taxpayer and the state’s economy; and

• Requiring the broadcasting of all informal sessions.

“Modern technology and communications mean that more informed and accountable decisions are a necessity and not a luxury,” said Senator Tarr.  He added that “we must modernize our rules to reflect the fact that we can, and we should, provide increased amounts of information to each other and the people we represent.”

Last week the Senate Republican Caucus was successful in the passage of a Senate rule that would require the posting of all roll call votes taken by the members of the Senate on the General Court website within 48 hours of the vote being taken.  That measure was passed unanimously by a vote of 39-0, and will take effect no later than May 1st of this year.

Tarr "On the Record" with Channel 5 Sunday

This Sunday at 11:00 a.m., Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be featured alongside House Minority Leader Brad Jones on Channel 5’s political news show “On the Record”.  Senator Tarr and Representative Jones recently sat down with Hosts Janet Wu and Ed Harding to discuss the latest political news of the Commonwealth.

Don’t forget to tune in on Sunday morning to watch their lively discussion.

Senate GOP Caucus Successful in Passing Transparency Rule Change

Today the Senate Republican Caucus was successful in passing a Senate rule that would require the posting of roll call votes on the General Court website within 48 hours of the vote being taken.  The measure was passed unanimously by a vote of 39-0, and will take effect no later than May 1st of this year.

“This is a step in the right direction of transparency,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).  He went on to say “This rule change will provide the public with the opportunity to see how exactly members are voting in a timely fashion.”

Unfortunately, some of the rules offered by Tarr, Assistant Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Senate Minority Whip Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), and Michael Knapik (R-Westfield), the Ranking Republican on Senate Ways and Means, did not generate the needed support from the members of the majority party.

Those proposed rules included:

• the television broadcasting of informal and formal sessions online and making a digital copy of the sessions available to public access television;

• posting filed bills on the Internet;

• requiring a unanimous vote of all the members present to allow Senate business to proceed beyond the hour of midnight;

• mandating that any measure that proposes an increase in taxation by available in print and posted on the Senate website at least 7 days prior to consideration;

• directing the Senate Ways and Means Committee to include in its executive summary of the state budget any federal revenue source, non-recurring funding, and off-budget spending that alters an existing appropriation; and

• pairing of votes only in cases where a senator is absent from the chamber due to military service or physical incapacity.

 “While an opportunity has been lost today, the Minority Party will continue to explore every option possible to promote transparency within the legislative process,” said Tarr.

The Senate Republican Caucus issued the following press release today:

 

Senate GOP Caucus Files Additional Senate Session Rules for 188th General Court

 

Package to Increase Transparency and Accountability

Boston- Today the Senate Republican Caucus is offering a package of rules scheduled for debate during today’s full senate session that if passed, would increase transparency and accountability within the legislative process.  The package offered by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Assistant Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Senate Minority Whip Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), and Michael Knapik (R-Westfield), the Ranking Republican on Senate Ways and Means comes at a particularly important time due to the Senate already slated to take up many important issues for debate early in the legislative calendar.

Highlights of the Senate Republican Caucus’ proposed rules package include:

• Requiring the Clerk of the Senate to post all roll call votes within 48 hours of a vote being taken;
• Broadcasting of informal and formal sessions online and making a digital copy of the sessions made available to public access television;
• Requiring a unanimous vote of all the members present to allow Senate business to proceed beyond the hour of midnight;
• Mandating that any measure that proposes an increase in taxation by available in print and posted on the Senate website at least 7 days prior for consideration;
• Allowing any senator to object to the consideration of a particular matter during an informal session, even if a senator is not physically present as long as a written request to the Clerk of the Senate has been received no later than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of session;
• Directing the Senate Ways and Means Committee to include in its executive summary of the state budget any federal revenue source, non-recurring funding, and off-budget spending that alters an existing appropriation;
• Requiring the Clerk of the Senate to post on the Senate website the text of legislation introduced in the Senate that has not been assigned a bill number;
• Allowing the opportunity to repeal, add, change or modify any rule if two or more senators propose the measure;
• Allowing a bill or amendment be divided into two or more separate measures if they are capable of detaching;
• Pairing of votes only in cases where a senator is absent from the chamber due to military service or physical incapacity; and
• Prohibiting the use of cell phones or other mobile electronic devices in the Senate Chamber while the Senate is in session.

“We must ensure that the rules of the Senate provide as much transparency and accountability as possible as we face important issues.  These proposals for change will not only ensure that members have access to information in a timely way, but also that the public has greater access to what transpires on Beacon Hill as well,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr.

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MEDIA ALERT: Tarr on NECN Tonight

Today New England Cable News (NECN) Reporter Allison King interviewed Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr regarding Governor Patrick’s FY’14 budget proposal, which includes increases in taxes, fees, tolls, and other charges to finance his education plan, future transportation expansions, and other state spending initiatives.

Please tune in to see Allison’s report during this afternoon and evening’s news beginning at 4:00pm.

 

Boston Herald Reports: Pol Calls for Lab Worker Drug Tests

A story in today’s Boston Herald by reporter Chris Cassidy contains information regarding a bill that the Senate Republican Caucus has filed that would create a forensic services drug laboratory oversight board within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security.  In light of the recent arrest of biochemist Sonja Farak, the caucus has decided to add a provision to the legislation requiring random drug screenings of individuals who work in our crime laboratories.

Chris’ report quotes Senator Tarr as saying “We have the integrity of the criminal justice system at stake,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), who will add the provision to a drug-lab bill filed last week. “I don’t think it’s an extraordinary measure to require testing in this environment, where precision and accountability are important.”

 

To read the article in its entirety, please click here to visit the Boston Herald’s website.

Tarr on the Air with Fox 25

On Monday morning, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr was featured on Fox 25 News to discuss the recent arrest of state crime lab chemist Sonja Farak, and why the Senate Republican Caucus filed legislation that would create a forensic services drug laboratory oversight board.  With the second chemist now under investigation, the need for such an oversight board is greater than ever.

To learn more about the caucus’s proposed oversight board, please click here to read a previous post.  To view Senator Tarr’s Monday morning appearance on Fox 25, please play the posted video below.

 

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Remembering a Remarkable Man

Posted below are Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr’s remarks regarding Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:

“His dreams were the natural reflex of hope and redeemed curiosity.” ― Michael Eric Dyson, April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Death and How It Changed America

On this day, it is my hope that everyone takes a few moments to reflect on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Through his actions of leading nonviolent protests and the ability to galvanize people with his messages of hope and equality, Dr. King symbolized the sacred mission of this nation that “all men are created equal”.

As a nation, we are truly a better people because of the courage, faith and perseverance of Dr. King and his moral path of ending segregation and racial injustice.  He preached tolerance to all, asking everyone to love their enemy, even when his and his family’s lives were in constant jeopardy.  Dr. King stood on the front line of one of the most divisive times in American history, and because of him, this nation was led to a better Union.

Dr. King’s messages of brotherhood and equality still echo today, and his contributions will continue to inspire unborn individuals for generations to come.  Had he not been assassinated on April 4, 1968 he would have been 84 years old.  Posted below is his 1963 public speech “I Have a Dream”, which was delivered in front of a crowd of approximately 200,000 civil rights supporters during a rally in Washington D.C. in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

 

Full text to the "I Have a Dream" speech:

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Tarr on the Air with Fox 25

Later tonight Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be interviewed by Fox 25 News Reporter Sharman Sacchetti to discuss his thoughts of today’s arrest of state crime lab chemist Sonja Farak , and why the Senate Republican Caucus has filed legislation seeking a forensic services drug laboratory oversight board.  Please tune in to tonight’s 10:00pm and 11:00pm news to see Senator Tarr’s interview.

Also, tomorrow morning at 7:45am Senator Tarr will be providing a live interview with the Fox 25 morning news crew to further discuss the caucus’s proposed forensic services drug laboratory oversight board legislation.  To learn more about the bill, please click here to read a previous blog post, and don’t forget to tune in tomorrow morning to watch our lively discussion.

Tarr on the Air with Fox 25

Yesterday Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr was interviewed by Fox 25 News Reporter Sharman Sacchetti regarding legislation he is filing that would offer major reforms to the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB).  Some details of the bill include:

·       the requirement and authorization for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to communicate with the SORB in a timely fashion about the commitment of subsequent offenses by a registered sex offender;

·       the legal authority of the SORB to re-classify sex offenders based on new information, which was taken away by the Massachusetts Court of Appeals on July 16, 2012 in its ruling in the case of John Doe 16748 v. Sex Offender Registry Board (Docket Number 11-P-308);

·       the ability of the SORB to expedite the re-classification process of a sexual offender upon the recommendation of law enforcement and prosecutors;

·       the requirement for the timely re-classification of sex offenders who have committed subsequent offenses; and

·       the making of Level 1 sex offenders’ information available to the public.

To view Sharman’s report please play the posted video below.

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Tarr on the Air with Fox 25

Earlier today Senate Minority Leader Bruce was interviewed by Fox 25 reporter Sharman Sacchetti regarding a bill that he is filing this legislative session that would enact reforms regarding the Sexual Offender Registration Board (SORB), and our system of classifying and registering sex offenders.  The legislation will include making more information available to the public, greater communication between law enforcement officials and the board, and the authority for the board to reclassify offenders based on new information or offenses. 

Today’s interview will air during tonight’s 6:00pm news broadcast and again at 10:00pm.  Be sure to tune in tonight to see Sharman’s report.

Senator Tarr's Statement on Governor Patrick's State of the Commonwealth Address

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the follow statement last night regarding Governor Patrick’s State of the State address where he announced a plan to raise the state income tax to 6.25% to fund transportation and education initiatives:

“Tonight we saw an ambitious plan to dramatically increase state spending, and the corresponding tax burden on the citizens of Massachusetts. Transportation and education are important priorities that we all share, but those priorities come in the context of an uncertain economic recovery, a state budget is wrestling with a gap of $540 million, and too many people that are unemployed or underemployed.

We need to have a discussion that first focuses on what we need, what state government has already committed to, and what people can afford. Only then can we have a serious debate about revenue.

When we do, we all need to realize that changing tax rates isn’t the only way to increase revenue. Building a stronger economy with more taxpayers is also important, and we need to fully understand the adverse impacts a nearly $2 billion tax increase will have on the economic growth we need for the sustainable revenue to fund priorities like transportation and education.”