CLT UPDATE
Monday, November 5, 2012
One day between now and our destiny
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As legislative sessions go the 2013-2014 term
will be a critically important one for the taxpayers of the
commonwealth. The Patrick administration is barely concealing its
interest in post-election tax hikes. Revenues are flat and there
is the transportation funding “crisis” that Beacon Hill is pledging
to resolve.
And so it is more important than ever to support
strong voices of fiscal reason at the State House....
As for the rest of the House, the GOP rather
unexpectedly boosted its ranks two years ago and now represents a
slightly stronger bloc, though efforts are underfoot to reverse that
progress.
Take the debate over welfare benefits and the use
(and abuse) of electronic benefits cards. Reform efforts came
largely in response to the efforts a freshman lawmaker, Rep. Shaunna
O’Connell (R-Taunton), who deserves a second term in the 3rd Bristol
district. Rep. Keiko Orrall (R-Lakeville), an advocate of smarter
state spending, last year won a special election in the 12th Bristol
district and has earned a full term....
The bottom line is that voters who are rightly
concerned about being asked to pay more to finance new state
spending in the coming two years ought to consider their wallets
when they step into the ballot box.
A Boston Herald editorial
Friday, October 26, 2012
Balance on Beacon Hill
Two years after the Tea Party surge helped double
Republicans’ numbers in the state House of Representatives,
Democrats are trying to beat back legislative gains by conservatives
while outnumbered Republicans are trying to capitalize on pockets of
conservatism in a deep blue state.
Some of the hottest races to watch this season
are rematches between candidates who faced tense showdowns in 2010.
In the state Senate, President Therese Murray, a Plymouth Democrat,
faces a second duel with Thomas F. Keyes, a Sandwich Republican who
nearly displaced her by claiming 48 percent of the vote in 2010....
In the House, Republican Representative Steven
Levy faces a challenge from Marlborough Democrat Danielle Gregoire,
whom Levy edged out of office by about 100 votes in 2010. And
Representative James J. Lyons Jr. will face Democrat Barbara
L’Italien, whom he ousted in 2010.
Lyons, of Andover, is viewed as the most
conservative of the pack of freshman Republicans in the House — 15
newcomers whom Democrats have had their eyes on. This year, Lyons
held a sit-in in the House chamber until the Patrick administration
disclosed how much the state spends on health care for illegal
immigrants....
But Democratic dominance continues on Beacon
Hill: The 40-member Senate now includes just four Republicans. And
Republican gains in the 160-member House have only brought their
numbers to 33.
As a result, Democrats continue to have a lock on
legislative leadership, despite scandals and complaints about
one-party dominance on Beacon Hill.
Republican spokesman Tim Buckley said in a
statement that incumbent Democrats “will hike taxes on
Massachusetts’ working families because they are incapable of
controlling spending.
The party responsible for 23 years of criminal
House speakers either has trouble with simple math or is hiding
their only fix to the budget mess, which is raising taxes after the
elections.”
The Boston Globe
Monday, October 29, 2012
Democrats aiming to reverse GOP gains in state
Rematches are prominent in state House, Senate races
Freshmen House Republicans are in the
crosshairs this election cycle with the majority of incumbents
from both parties facing no opposition and a Democratic majority
all but assured before voters cast a single ballot.
Nearly two-thirds of the 147 incumbents
running for re-election in the 160-member House of
Representatives face no challengers on the ballot on Nov. 6,
with 95 incumbents, or 65 percent, running unopposed, according
to a News Service analysis of the ballot.
Overall, 61 percent of House seats are
uncontested this election, with 52 incumbents facing opposition.
The rate of seats being challenged in the House is only slightly
higher that of the Senate, where 33 percent of Senate seats are
being contested this year.
And even if Republicans won every race in
which they are contending, Democrats would still be assured a
majority in the House come January; voters in 82 districts will
see only a Democrat in their House race early next month.
In 2010, Republicans made significant gains
in the House, doubling their ranks and adding 22 new faces to
the GOP caucus led by House Minority Leader Brad Jones....
Though Republicans say they would like to
build on the gains made in 2010, the Democratic Party has made a
concerted effort to challenge the GOP freshman class.
State House News Service
Monday, October 29, 2012
House breakdown: Dems guaranteed majority as GOP frosh face
challenges
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Chip Ford's CLT
Commentary
The most important election of our lifetime
happens tomorrow. The future of our nation, our state, ourselves
and our families will be decided within the next 24 hours.
Nationally, it's become a very tight race for the
presidency and can go either way with a nudge. We may not know the
outcome tomorrow night, or even by Wednesday morning.
The popular and electoral college vote for the
office President of the United States of America won't matter much
to us here in Blue State Massachusetts: That Barack Obama will take
this bluest state is unfortunately a foregone conclusion. But the
outcome of every other contested office 'down-ticket' very much
matters — so every vote is important
and could decide the outcome.
If you haven't seen it yet,
click here to watch what some have called "the best political
ad" of this election season. It's put out by Republican Richard
Tisei's campaign for Congress in the 6th District (North Shore),
running against 8-term Democrat U.S. Rep. John Tierney. Besides the
soothing sound of waves lapping against the shore of Good Harbor
Beach in Gloucester, and a woman's sigh at the end, there is no
voice-over message; just text at the bottom, "Because You Need A
Break From All The Campaign Ads." It's gone viral nationally, a
topic on many political affairs TV programs. Whoever thought so far
outside the box to create it deserves a bonus. I'll bet we see more
ads like this in the future, especially if Tisei wins as expected.
Tomorrow's the day we've all long awaited:
The day we hopefully will change our destiny for the better.
I don't need to remind you to vote
— I'm sure you've been counting down
the days too.
Please make sure you take a look at the
candidates who have been endorsed by CLT's 2½
PAC for seats in the state House and state Senate. All of them have
returned a questionnaire answered favorably for taxpayers and have
signed the "No New Taxes" pledge. This has been noted in most if not
all news reports covering their campaigns and candidacies. If
any of them are on your ballot tomorrow, seriously consider giving
them your vote.
CLT's 2½
PAC
CLT's 2½ PAC-endorsed
legislative candidates for the 2012 election
CLICK HERE
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Chip Ford |
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The Boston Herald
Friday, October 26, 2012
A Boston Herald editorial
Balance on Beacon Hill
As legislative sessions go the 2013-2014 term will be a critically
important one for the taxpayers of the commonwealth. The Patrick
administration is barely concealing its interest in post-election
tax hikes. Revenues are flat and there is the transportation funding
“crisis” that Beacon Hill is pledging to resolve.
And so it is more important than ever to support strong voices of
fiscal reason at the State House.
On the Senate side, the presence of just four Republican lawmakers
inspires little more from leadership than the occasional pat on the
head. When it comes to spending and taxes those four individuals do
their best but have precious little influence. Voters in several
districts have an opportunity to change that.
In the 3rd Middlesex District, for example, voters can replace a
retiring liberal Democrat with her ideological opposite. Republican
Sandi Martinez, an IT consultant from Chelmsford, would be a
reliable vote against new taxes. Same for Republican Richard Jolitz
of Beverly, making a second attempt at winning the 2nd Essex seat
being vacated by the retiring Fred Berry.
In the crowded field for the open 1st Essex seat, Republican Shaun
Toohey of Haverhill stands out. The Haverhill School Committee
member would continue the Merrimack Valley district’s tradition of
sending fiscal conservatives to the Senate.
That brings us to the Plymouth and Barnstable seat now held by
Senate President Therese Murray. We’ve relied on the Plymouth
Democrat to be a friend of the taxpayer but have grown increasingly
concerned that might not last into the next term. A surge of
Republican representation in the Senate, however, could help stiffen
Murray’s spine.
Similarly, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who has a rare Republican
challenger in the 19th Suffolk, has in recent years been a strong
advocate for taxpayers (with the exception, like Murray, of the
sales tax hike).
Since the House and Senate will remain in Democratic control we’re
inclined to see them both return to their leadership posts, but urge
them to be mindful of their responsibility to the overburdened
taxpayers.
As for the rest of the House, the GOP rather unexpectedly boosted
its ranks two years ago and now represents a slightly stronger bloc,
though efforts are underfoot to reverse that progress.
Take the debate over welfare benefits and the use (and abuse) of
electronic benefits cards. Reform efforts came largely in response
to the efforts a freshman lawmaker, Rep. Shaunna O’Connell
(R-Taunton), who deserves a second term in the 3rd Bristol district.
Rep. Keiko Orrall (R-Lakeville), an advocate of smarter state
spending, last year won a special election in the 12th Bristol
district and has earned a full term.
In the 14th Essex, Karin Rhoton, a software executive and former
school committee member from North Andover, would be a welcome
addition to the GOP caucus.
Two former reps who lost their seats two years ago, both Democrats,
are looking for another shot, but the Republicans who took their
place are doing a splendid job representing the interests of the
taxpayers: In the 18th Essex district, Rep. James Lyons of Andover
deserves re-election, while in the 4th Middlesex district Steven
Levy of Marlboro is the right fit for the district.
And as we’ve mentioned in this space before, thanks to her sketchy
campaign antics in the 2nd Franklin district incumbent Rep. Denise
Andrews deserves a ticket back to the private sector. Republican
Susanna Whipps Lee of Athol is a better choice.
Of course there are important issues beyond the economy and taxes. A
dogged fighter for passage of the anti-crime legislation known as
Melissa’s Bill, for example, Rep. David Linsky, Democrat of Natick
deserves re-election.
The bottom line is that voters who are rightly concerned about being
asked to pay more to finance new state spending in the coming two
years ought to consider their wallets when they step into the ballot
box.
The Boston Globe
Monday, October 29, 2012
Democrats aiming to reverse GOP gains in state
Rematches are prominent in state House, Senate races
By Stephanie Ebbert
Two years after the Tea Party surge helped double Republicans’
numbers in the state House of Representatives, Democrats are trying
to beat back legislative gains by conservatives while outnumbered
Republicans are trying to capitalize on pockets of conservatism in a
deep blue state.
Some of the hottest races to watch this season are rematches between
candidates who faced tense showdowns in 2010. In the state Senate,
President Therese Murray, a Plymouth Democrat, faces a second duel
with Thomas F. Keyes, a Sandwich Republican who nearly displaced her
by claiming 48 percent of the vote in 2010.
In the House, Republican Representative Steven Levy faces a
challenge from Marlborough Democrat Danielle Gregoire, whom Levy
edged out of office by about 100 votes in 2010. And Representative
James J. Lyons Jr. will face Democrat Barbara L’Italien, whom he
ousted in 2010.
Lyons, of Andover, is viewed as the most conservative of the pack of
freshman Republicans in the House — 15 newcomers whom Democrats have
had their eyes on. This year, Lyons held a sit-in in the House
chamber until the Patrick administration disclosed how much the
state spends on health care for illegal immigrants. He has also
sponsored bills that are viewed by women’s groups as restricting
contraception or abortion, making him a target of the left.
Despite Massachusetts’ reputation as a liberal state on women’s
issues, Beacon Hill is divided on abortion rights, with less than
half of lawmakers considered solid votes for abortion rights.
Democrats continue to have a lock on legislative leadership, despite
scandals and complaints about one-party dominance on Beacon Hill.
With many races still too close to call, abortion activists are
worrying about their margins — especially since the Republican
nominee for president, former governor Mitt Romney, has expressed
interest in returning decisions on abortion rights to individual
states.
“In the 2010 election, we lost over a dozen prochoice seats and we
walked into the last legislative session with a one-vote prochoice
majority,” said Megan Amundson, executive director of NARAL
Pro-Choice Massachusetts.
“We haven’t been immune to the antichoice wave that has taken over
the country over the past two years,” Amundson said.
Fresh off US Senator Scott Brown’s special election, Republicans
made gains in the State House in the last election, despite losing
elections at the top of the ticket, including the governor’s race.
But Democratic dominance continues on Beacon Hill: The 40-member
Senate now includes just four Republicans. And Republican gains in
the 160-member House have only brought their numbers to 33.
As a result, Democrats continue to have a lock on legislative
leadership, despite scandals and complaints about one-party
dominance on Beacon Hill.
Republican spokesman Tim Buckley said in a statement that incumbent
Democrats “will hike taxes on Massachusetts’ working families
because they are incapable of controlling spending.
The party responsible for 23 years of criminal House speakers either
has trouble with simple math or is hiding their only fix to the
budget mess, which is raising taxes after the elections.”
Republicans constitute just 11.3 percent of Massachusetts’
registered voters. Democrats make up nearly 35.6 percent, while 53
percent are unenrolled.
But Republicans are hoping to pick up seats in the Legislature in
conservative swaths of the state — and the biggest prize would be in
Plymouth, where the Democratic Senate president barely beat back a
challenge from a Republican last time around.
Murray’s challenger is a management consultant specializing in
ethics and compliance, who recently drew Democratic fire for failing
to include on his ethics disclosure forms a house he had bought and
that he obtained a mortgage through friends, according to the State
House News Service.
The news service reported that Keyes blamed the mistake on a glitch
in the state computer system. But Keyes has made transparency a
theme of his candidacy, and the Democratic party seems eager to
pounce on Republicans’ ethical or legal problems, after seeing their
party’s last three House speakers indicted and a scandal in the
Probation Department cast a continuing cloud over some lawmakers’
futures.
“It’s hard for the Republican party to be making a consistent case
here,” said Massachusetts Democratic Party chairman John Walsh.
Republicans meanwhile are hoping to hold onto a rare Republican seat
in Pembroke, where Republican Daniel K. Webster of Pembroke is
stepping down after being accused, as an attorney, of misusing
client funds. The allegations surfaced before the primary, at which
point, Webster faced a late primary challenge from a write-in
candidate — his onetime campaign manager Republican Karen Barry. He
won the primary, but later bowed out, letting Barry become the GOP
nominee. Democrats however believe they have a good shot at claiming
that seat through their candidate, Josh Cutler, a newspaper editor
from Duxbury.
Republicans are also eyeing an open seat in Franklin, where
Democratic Representative James Vallee resigned in June and
Republican Richard A. Eustis faces Democrat Jeffrey N. Roy.
The GOP hopes to capitalize on support spreading outward from its
traditional corridor between Interstate 495 and Route 128. The 2010
election brought a westward push into outlying turf as several GOP
candidates claimed districts that had not traditionally been
Republican.
But Democrats are trying to halt the tide and hope they have
challengers strong enough to return two of those districts to
Democratic control.
They have their sights set on Representative Richard Bastien, a
Gardner Republican who faces opposition from Democrat Jon Zlotnik,
as well as Representative Peter Durant, a Spencer Republican who
squeaked into office in 2010 by one vote and who now faces Democrat
Kathleen Walker, a member of the Charlton Board of Selectmen.
Republicans are also trying to unseat Democratic incumbents in
districts where they think they can make inroads with conservatives.
Plymouth School Committee member Debra Betz is challenging
Democratic Representative Thomas J. Calter of Kingston and
Republican Jon Fetherston is trying to edge out incumbent Democratic
Representative Tom Sannicandro in Ashland.
A number of races are contentious in the Merrimack Valley, in
addition to the Lyons-L’Italien contest. Both parties have designs
on the seat left open by State Senator Steven Baddour.
Haverhill School Committee member Shaun P. Toohey, a Republican,
faces Newburyport City Councilor Kathleen A. O’Connor Ives, a
Democrat, and two unenrolled challengers, Amesbury Municipal
Councilor James Kelcourse and Haverhill School Committee member Paul
A. Magliocchetti.
Also in the Merrimack Valley, Representative Paul Adams, a
Republican, is leaving his seat to challenge Senator Barry R.
Finegold, a Democrat from Andover. Democrats say they see potential
for Lawrence City Council president Frank Moran to pick up Adams’s
former seat; he faces unenrolled candidate Kevin M. Cuff.
State House News Service
Monday, October 29, 2012
House breakdown: Dems guaranteed majority as GOP frosh face
challenges
By Matt Murphy
Freshmen House Republicans are in the crosshairs this election cycle
with the majority of incumbents from both parties facing no
opposition and a Democratic majority all but assured before voters
cast a single ballot.
Nearly two-thirds of the 147 incumbents running for re-election in
the 160-member House of Representatives face no challengers on the
ballot on Nov. 6, with 95 incumbents, or 65 percent, running
unopposed, according to a News Service analysis of the ballot.
Overall, 61 percent of House seats are uncontested this election,
with 52 incumbents facing opposition. The rate of seats being
challenged in the House is only slightly higher that of the Senate,
where 33 percent of Senate seats are being contested this year.
And even if Republicans won every race in which they are contending,
Democrats would still be assured a majority in the House come
January; voters in 82 districts will see only a Democrat in their
House race early next month.
In 2010, Republicans made significant gains in the House, doubling
their ranks and adding 22 new faces to the GOP caucus led by House
Minority Leader Brad Jones.
Jones is unopposed next week, but House Speaker Robert DeLeo is
among the 37 incumbent House Democrats with a challenger this cycle
from Republican Paul Caruccio, of Winthrop.
Twenty-one Republican freshmen are seeking re-election this cycle,
the exception being Andover state Rep. Paul Adams whose district was
merged with another House Republican, Rep. Jim Lyons, during the
redistricting process. Adams elected to challenge Sen. Barry
Finegold (D-Andover) instead of facing off against Lyons or moving
down the street, which he considered, to run in a new
majority-minority district centered in Lawrence.
Though Republicans say they would like to build on the gains made in
2010, the Democratic Party has made a concerted effort to challenge
the GOP freshman class.
Of the 32 sitting Republicans seeking re-election to the House, 15
are being challenged this cycle and all are freshman, including,
Reps. Randy Hunt (R-East Sandwich); George Ross (R-Attleboro);
Shaunna O’Connell (R-Taunton); Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk); Keiko
Orrall (R-Lakeville); Jim Lyons (R-Andover); Nicholas Boldyga
(R-Southwick); Steven Levy (R-Marlborough); Marc Lombardo
(R-Billerica); Geoff Diehl (R-Whitman); Angelo D’Emilia
(R-Bridgewater); Richard Bastien (R-Gardner); Peter Durant
(R-Spencer); Kevin Kuros (R-Uxbridge); and Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton).
Two of those freshmen – Levy and Lyons – carved out a conservative
niche for themselves over the past two years, but will have to fend
off challenges from the very same incumbents they knocked off two
years ago. Barbara L’Italien, who joined Treasurer Steve Grossman’s
office after losing to Lyons on 2010, is running again, and Danielle
Gregoire is trying to reclaim the seat she lost to Levy.
In total, 116 Democrats are running for re-election with 37, or 32
percent, facing challenges. On the GOP side, 31 House Republicans
are vying to keep their seats, challenged at a rate of 48 percent,
according to the News Service analysis.
Of the 37 incumbent Democrats with challengers, six are freshman
fighting to keep their seats, including Reps. John Lawn
(D-Watertown), Denise Andrews (D-Orange), Marcos Devers
(D-Lawrence), Michael Finn (D-West Springfield), Rhoda Nyman
(D-Hanover), and Carlos Henriquez (D-Dorchester).
A number of vacancies were created over the past year due to
departures from the House or announced retirements by longtime
lawmakers, leaving 13 open seats, including the districts where
incumbent Reps. Demetrius Atsalis, Kevin Aguiar and David Torrisi
were defeated in September.
Ten of those open districts are competitive next week, including the
14th Essex District where Democrat Diana DiZoglio, of Methuen, is up
against Republican Karin Rhoton, a school committeewoman from North
Andover. DiZoglio, a former State House aide for Republican Rep.
Paul Adams and chief of staff to the Professional Firefighters
Association, defeated Torrisi in the Democratic primary.
Brian Mannel, of Barnstable, defeated Atsalis in the primary in the
2nd Barnstable District, and is now unopposed in the general
election. Alan Silvia, of Fall River, finds himself in a similar
situation in the 7th Bristol District after defeating Aguiar in his
Democratic primary. Barring anything unforeseen, both should join
the House in January.
Marjorie Decker, the Democratic primary winner from Cambridge in the
25th Middlesex District, is also running unopposed to the fill the
seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Alice Wolf.
Voters in the state’s largest county – Middlesex County – and in
Essex, Plymouth and Worcester counties are seeing some competition
for House seats this cycle with 20 of 37 seats in Middlesex County
being contested, including three open seats.
In Essex County, there are also three open seats and competition for
seven of the county’s 18 seats in the House.
Plymouth County voters will decide seven of 12 races, including two
districts without an incumbent, and Worcester County has nine
competitive races out of 18, including a race to fill former Rep.
Vincent Pedone’s seat. Seven of 12 races in Hampden County are also
contested.
The Cape and Islands, Hampshire County and Suffolk County are among
the least competitive geographic regions. Only one of six districts
on the Cape, Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard has a competitive race,
while there are no contests in Hampshire County and only three of 19
districts in populous Suffolk County have more than one candidate on
the ballot.
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Citizens for Limited Taxation ▪
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