The recent unanimous vote to begin funding the Community Preservation Act with money from the state budget was an act of political cowardice. The money would be better spent on unrestricted local aid. This is a case where a full loaf to one program will be more effective than half a loaf to two.
     CPA is an example of a program that was created with no accurate assessment of the eventual cost. Initially the state portion was paid for with a fee on deeds. Now it has grown so large the fee only covers about one quarter of the programs cost. Currently less than half the states cities and towns participate and one of the goals of the legislation is to expand the program. This will only increase the future cost to the state.
     The $25 million dollar expenditure of "surplus" money can easily grow to a budget line of several hundred million in a few years. This is a program that will now compete with unrestricted local aid. CPA matching funds can not be used for schools or public safety. Cities and towns need more unrestricted local aid to keep property taxes down not money that comes with strings attached.
     Community preservation should be paid for by the community being preserved. If a town believes the CPA is a good idea it should be willing to pay for it without state money. The current fee still allows the state to provide a small match. Larger state payments will benefit already wealthy communities at the expense of middle class towns.
     I believe raiding the general fund to provide a CPA bailout would be a mistake. If voters want to support this program they are free to do so with local money. If they are doing so merely to leverage more state money they should think twice.
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     Today's Globe describes support for a bailout of  the MBTA. It states bailout supporters outnumber opponents in Eastern Mass. It only deals transferring money from other state accounts for a one year fix. Buried deep in the story they reveal the poll didn't ask about support for increased taxes. You can be sure when the legislature begins discussing a gas tax increase in January this poll will be cited by supporters of higher taxes anyway.
     The story does point out that in central and western mass for a T bailout is not popular. But the Department of Transportation budget is also a mess. Expect a push for a big tax increase to bail out both agencies. Remember all stories about the T budget mention this discussion will occur after the new legislature is seated in January. At that point the next election will be 2 years away. Also that is the time of year when gas prices are lower than it is during the summer.
     My position is I will oppose any increase in the gas tax. The T and entire state transportation must be reformed not just be given a blank check by the legislature.
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     I was at Dracut High on Thursday when the school committee voted to rescind their previous decision to offer the job to Steven Stone. They also decided to name a search committee at their first meeting in April. I believe both of these decisions were the correct choices.

     School Superintendent is too important a position to not conduct a search for the best available candidates. In recent years the school have been hurt by a lack of stability. There have been three superintendents in the last four years. Dr. McNamara said he felt it was important to find someone who could be in the position for 5-10 years. The search committee should make long term stability one of their priorities.

     The schools are facing a large budget deficit for the next fiscal year. There were suggestions at the meeting that there should be a move for a Proposition 2 1/2 override to increase the town's school funding. I feel it would be a mistake for this to happen now. A new superintendent should be the priority now. Choosing a new person and interjecting them into a potentially contentious political issue would not help establishing the stability the schools need.
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Here are 10 ideas for the MBTA to raise or save money.
1. Increase fares on the subway and buses 25% for each of the next two years. Increase fares on the commuter rail 10% for each of the next two years. Commuter rail riders are more likely to begin driving to work if their fares are raised too much.
2. Build more parking garages. Last year the T pledged future parking revenue to cover bond payments as it went further in debt. To maintain the current income level for its operating budget the system must increase the number of people parking at T lots.
3. Put all expansion projects on hold for at least 5 years. 
4. Implement the savings proposals Inspector General Gregory Sullivan suggested for the RIDE program.
5. Contract out the 35 most expensive bus routes. This represents about 20% of current routes.
6. Transfer ferry service to Mass Port. The FAA has expressed concern about the legality of this idea. Our congressional delegation should pressure the Obama administration to allow this.
7. Eliminate all public relations and lobbying projects.
8. Eliminate traclkless trolleys and sell the existing equipment. These buses serve only a few routes. In FY2008 they accounted for 4/10 of 1% of typical weekday ridership. Conventional buses can serve these routes.
9. Reduce all salaries over $100,00 by 5%.
10. Continue to arrest and prosecute fare evaders.
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     Monday the MBTA concluded the public hearings on proposed fare increases and service cuts. Recently I had letters to the editor published on the topic in the Lowell Sun and Salem News. The reaction at all the public hearings was the same- service cuts on the level proposed are unacceptable.
     No doubt a solution will be found that avoids the extreme measures proposed. Suggestions like ending weekend commuter rail service are outrageous and should not be taken seriously. But even if next year's budget is stabilized the future projections for the finances of the T are a mess. A long term solution needs to be found.
     I oppose any tax or fee increase to bailout the T. Speaker DeLeo has said he also opposes such taxes. But the Governor and Senate President have not made such definitive statements. A segment of House Democrats do support such taxes. There is already a bill on file that would raise the gas tax, install tolls on highways around the state and create a tax on commercial parking lots. Remember George Bush's "read my lips" promise and Michael Dukakis's "lead pipe guarantee". Mr. DeLeo must be held to his word.
     The solution for the next year will entail many short term fixes. Over the next few months the T must decide what its priorities are and how to achieve them. Politically driven actions like avoiding fare increases when costs dramatically increase is reckless. Deciding not to accept liquor ads just before you announce a budget crisis is also a bad idea. Planning to expand a system you cannot afford to run and maintain currently shows a lack or seriousness.
     Tomorrow I will post some ideas on how the MBTA should go forward.
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   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.
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        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.
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     If elected one issue I want to deal with is computer generated robocalls by political candidates. In Massachusetts political calls are completely exempt from the do not call program. Other states, such as New Hampshire have begun to regulate these calls. This is another example of politicians writing laws for other people and exempting themselves.

     I also promise that during my campaign I will not use machine generated calls or messages. Any phone calling I do will be done by an actual person.

     Several states now regulate these political calls. In New Hampshire robocalls cannot be made to people on the Do  Not Call Registry. In California a live operator must come on the line first and obtain consent before a recording can be played.
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 I filled out every issue survey I received from interest groups even I never expected their endorsement. I believe everyone that asks a question about an issue deserves an answer.

I welcome any group that wants to endorse me. Being a challenger I did not expect many to do so. Being a fiscal conservative also makes it unlikely as many of these groups are seeking to preserve or expand the amount of money they receive from the state. There is one organization that I did want to endorse me. Today I got my wish.

I am pleased to announce that Citizens for Limited Taxation's PAC has endorsed me. The cornerstone belief of my campaign is that the burden of taxes, fees and tolls is too high and I will never vote to increase it. I hope to work with CLT and like minded people in the legislature next year.

In 2009 Colleen Garry's CLT rating was 33% if elected my goal is to triple that score.
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I was invited by the Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council to come in and discuss my response to the AFL-CIO issue survey. I was pleased that they invited me in to share my views. Needless to say there were a few issues we disagreed on. They were very respectful and I look forward to working with them after I am elected.
    Thus far I have made sure to reply to every survey I have received. Every citizen, or interest group, that asks deserves to know where I stand on issues that affect them. “Special interests” are an easy target to attack but usually they are citizens that are passionate about issues and fight for their position.
    Individuals and groups that we don’t always agree with deserve the candidate’s ear. Speaking only to those we agree with is the intellectually lazy person’s way out. As the next representative of the 36th Middlesex District my door will be open to all.
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