On Thursday I attended a lunch sponsored by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce. Several other candidates also attended including Jamison Tomisek, Jon Golnik and Charlie Baker. All of the candidates were allowed to make brief remarks. I want to thank the Chamber for inviting me to participate.

        The failure of the Republicans in the Mass House of Representatives to force a vote on the $400 spending bill that went through on Monday was a mistake. If the party wants more power on Beacon Hill we need to demonstrate that unlike the Democrats we will do the right thing. Cutting backroom deals to make bills less bad than they started out is not the approach to take. I hope the Senate will do a better job of protecting the taxpayers.

        In less then 2 minutes the House spent $400 million without any member going on record for or against. Why are we paying 160 reps when only a few are needed to pass bills? How many reps will file for their per diem and say they were at the Sate House Monday even though they didn?t vote?

          I expect such backroom deals from the Democrat leadership. I am disappointed that the House Republican leadership has chosen to go along with business as usual.  After the mistakes of the Republican Congress nationally, we need to demonstrate that we will not go along with the status quo.  Standing silently by while this latest federal bailout goes into effect sends the opposite message.

        The state budget process needs to be done openly, with recorded votes.  If the current budget is really  $400 million out of balance two months after it was passed the current legislature is incompetent.  If it is not out of balance they are lying to us. In either case this episode shows why we need to elect new members to the house.