Cape Politics

Representative Perry Adds "Help is Available" Section to Website

Representative Perry Announces Help Information on Website

SANDWICH – Tuesday, Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) announced the “Help is Available” addition to his website.  This addition includes Cape Cod emergency assistance agencies that are available to help those in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mashpee and Bourne during times of crisis.

“I am always looking for ways to reach out and help those constituents who require assistance, especially during this time of year,” the Representative said in a statement.  “I would encourage all those who are undergoing times of hardship to reach out for help.  My office is always available to do what we can.”

The information on the website includes assistance agencies for general help, emergency financial assistance, fuel assistance, food assistance and foreclosure prevention as well as other resources and programs.  These include state, federal and private programs and organizations.

Those seeking assistance are encouraged to visit Rep. Perry’s website at www.electjeffperry.com or call Representative Perry’s District Office at (508) 888-2158.

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Perry joins House Republicans in saying no to local aid cuts

Perry, six other House Republicans call for cost-cutting reforms in the state budget

BOSTON – State Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R – Sandwich) announced Wednesday that he and several House Republican colleagues joined together to send a letter to House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi strongly opposing local aid cuts.

"We also believe the Legislature should show a better sense of priorities than to cut local aid and education funding while working families in our state are hurting and when there is so much wasteful spending in our budget."

In the letter, Perry and six other House Republicans call for cost-cutting reforms in the state budget and say that cutting local aid before making such reforms would be "an insult to taxpayers."

"As Republicans, we believe first and foremost that our state has an obligation to support our communities and the essential services that they deliver to our citizens on the local level," said the GOP members in the letter. "We also believe the Legislature should show a better sense of priorities than to cut local aid and education funding while working families in our state are hurting and when there is so much wasteful spending in our budget."

The letter is the first direct appeal that Republicans have made to support local aid in fiscal year 2010, and is in response to comments DiMasi made to the press last week suggesting that local aid will be cut between five and ten percent next year.

Representative Perry said, "Many towns are struggling to make ends meet with the current amount of local aid they receive, never mind a further reduction. We want our town officials to know that we are in their corner, protecting their interest and not the special interests of Beacon Hill."

State Representatives Susan Williams Gifford (R – Wareham), Donald F. Humason, Jr. (R – Westfield), Karyn Polito (R – Shrewsbury), Lewis Evangelidis (R – Holden), Todd Smola (R – Palmer) and Daniel Webster (R – Hanson) all joined Representative Perry in signing the letter to the Speaker.

Release courtesy of Perry's office.

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Perry: Dump Turnpike Authority, plans for higher taxes

Faults Democrats' proposals to raise tolls or gasoline taxes
Says Massachusetts residents already are coping with more financial strain

State Rep. Jeffrey Davis Perry, R-Sandwich, has skewered proposals offered by Democrats to either raise Massachusetts Turnpike tolls or the state gasoline tax to meet the funding shortfall in the state's transportation budget.

Perry said the state needs reform before more taxation. He wants to dismantle the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, which he said would save the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

"Before we begin to consider raising taxes or tolls, we must fully examine all areas where we can cut spending and minimize the heightened burden on our taxpayers," Perry said in a statement released Sunday.

"Two solutions are being offered right now by Democrats and neither is appropriate or justified," he said. "The election was only two weeks ago and the majority party already wants to increase taxes instead of considering reform measures, such as the elimination and merger of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority."

Gov. Deval Patrick proposed raising tolls on the MassPike to help cover the funding gap. Democratic legislators have countered with plans to increase the gasoline taxes paid by motorists throughout Massachusetts.

"Instead of creating ways to save money and make government more efficient and accountable, some legislature leaders and the Patrick Administration are brainstorming to find ways to raise taxes," Perry said in his statement.

"This has to stop somewhere," he said. "There must be some accountability for the State's financial problems and that accountability rests with the government, not the taxpayers. It is up to the government to find a solution that does not further burden the taxpayers and citizens of the Commonwealth. We need reform before taxes."

Perry said Massachusetts residents are struggling now more than ever to make their financial ends meet.

"We in government need to be coming up with ways to help those people with their fiscal burdens instead of making them continue to pay the price for one-party rule in Massachusetts," he said.

"It is getting to the point where citizens may see the ‘price of civilization', as Governor Patrick put it, is simply too expensive in Massachusetts," Perry said. "It is not a coincidence that Massachusetts in one of only a few states losing population."

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Post Election Analysis

"This RECESSION brought to you by the REPUBLICAN party."

This was my favorite lawn sign of the political season.

That was my favorite lawn sign of the political season.  Courtesy of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. It pretty much summed it up.  We have been staring down at an economic black hole for some time now, and it's fair to say that it's the Republicans' fault.  So of course this turned out to be a Democratic year, even in a lot of traditionally Republican places, like New Hampshire.

Nationally, Barack Obama created a Democratic tidal wave with his own coattails, while his election transformed the political landscape for good.

Massachusetts  v. New York
RFK Jr. won't have to move here.

John F. Kerry skated to re-election over a Harwich native Jeff Beatty.  He's going to return to Washington, D.C., as senator, not as secretary of state. What kind of nonsense was that anyway?  In the very near future, Kerry is going to be the senior senator from Massachusetts with 24 years' seniority in the Senate, and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It's what he's always coveted and where, by the way, he can keep an eye on Hillary for Barack.

Another twist to the appointment of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state is the vacancy created in the Senate seat from New York. Robert Kennedy Jr. does not have to move to Massachusetts to get into the U.S. Senate. He may,however, have to run against his former brother-in-law to get there, although New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo may still run for Governor of New York as planned.  Must have made for  interesting Thanksgiving dinner conversations in the Kennedy and Cuomo households. 

Cape Cod Independents are trending Democratic, but they sure love their incumbents. 

Independents outnumber both Dems and GOP combined on Cape Cod.

Cape Cod: more than half the voters are Independents; Democrats outnumber Republicans.  The Cape is more than 50 percent registered Independents with  roughly the same number of registered Republicans as Democrats.  But 10 years ago there were more Rs than Ds.  The change can be attributed not to Republicans re-registering as Democrats, but otherwise Republicans registering as Independents and otherwise Independents registering as Democrats. So more independents are voting Democratic these days.  We therefore have more Democrat state legislators from the Cape, most of whom are running unopposed.

But there is another quintessential Cape Cod quirk in how we vote. We like to vote for the incumbent, lest we believe that we made a mistake the last time.  Tom George would still be the state Rep. from Dennis and Yarmouth, if he hadn't chosen to retire. This explains how Jeff Perry keeps getting elected as the lone Republican state Rep. from the Cape. 

Independents are registered that way so they can go both ways.

They reserve the right to send a Republican or two to county office while they continue to trend Democratic for state and national races. More voted for the R in the Clerk of Probate race, while they also voted for the Ds in the County Commissioners race. Therefore Anastasia Welsh Perrino -R got in while Mary Pat Flynn -D and Sheila Lyons -D also got in. All ran for open seats, and maybe it was the year to vote for women? Maybe not. See above.

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Christmas & Holiday Card Drive Announced

Representative Perry Announces holiday card collection for our soldiers and wounded veterans

Deadline for submission is December 1st

SANDWICH — Today, State Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) announced that once again he will be collecting and distributing Christmas and Holiday cards for our soldiers and wounded veterans.  Representative Perry strongly encourages individuals and community groups to participate and show their support.

“I believe we always need to express our appreciation for the sacrifices our armed forces have made for our Country. Christmas and the holidays can often be a lonely time for those serving in the military and our veterans, especially those in a medical facility, and I believe we can do our part by sending them cards expressing our support and gratitude for their service.” - Rep. Jeff Perry

Working in conjunction with Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops, military and veteran hospitals, Representative Perry’s Office will act as a collection point and forward the cards directly to members of the military serving overseas as well as veterans who are homebound or residing in medical facilities.

Beginning immediately, residents are encouraged to drop off Christmas cards addressed to “American Soldier” or “American Veteran” at Representative Perry’s District Office located at 449 Route 6A (front door) in East Sandwich. The deadline for submission of cards is December 1st.   Representative Perry will cover the costs of the mailings and postage.

Regular office hours are held each Friday from 2-4 PM.  If residents cannot stop by during normal office hours, they are encouraged to call the office at 508-888-2158 to arrange a convenient time to drop them off.   Financial donations will also be accepted to help cover the cost of the mailing.  Checks should be made payable to Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops and may also be dropped off at Representative Perry’s District Office.

In a statement Representative Perry said, “I believe we always need to express our appreciation for the sacrifices our armed forces have made for our Country. Christmas and the holidays can often be a lonely time for those serving in the military and our veterans, especially those in a medical facility, and I believe we can do our part by sending them cards expressing our support and gratitude for their service.”

Visit the Cape Cod Cares For Our Troops website here.

Release courtesy of Representative Perry's office. 

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Lights Out, George.

Just when you think that nothing George W. Bush can do will surprise (read disgust) you, he comes up with something new.

After last night's stunning conclusion to the historic election of Barack H. Obama, spontaneous celebration broke out in many places in the country. One of those celebrations that spilled into the streets took place in Washington, DC.  It was reported that thousands of jubilant residents of NW Washington left their homes shortly after Senator Obama was declared the victor and started walking to the White House.  Thousands more joined them there after Senator Obama concluded his acceptance speech.

Secret Service details at the White House said that they had never seen anything like it. Nor were they prepared for it. But fortunately the people were there to celebrate the the victory and not to cause mischief. 

The president who has been MIA for all these last weeks, lest he be blamed for John McCain's fortunes, did what only he would do in this instance. He turned out the lights at the White House. 

Shortly after midnight, the celebration that had been taking place in the ambient light of the White House faded to dark, while figures continued dancing in the shadows.

Did it not occur to the President that this was a special moment in our history and that this was a truly genuine outpouring of emotion by a beleagured populace?  Had he truly considered himself the man of the people should he not have joined them? Maybe from inside the fence surrounding the White House, but why not seize the moment to congratulate the President-elect from the front lawn of the White House?

Instead,  this President turned out the porch lights and went to bed.

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Perry to file comprehensive illegal immigration package

New legislation targets illegals in the Commonwealth

BOSTON – Earlier this week, Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) announced his plan to file comprehensive legislation dealing with illegal immigration here in the Commonwealth.  The package, to be filed at the beginning of the next legislative session, will include; a measure to limit public taxpayer funded benefits to illegal immigrants, strengthen the laws as they relate to driving without a license, allow immigration status to be a factor in bail proceedings and a bill to strengthen voter registration by requiring identification.

“This package has one overriding goal which is to protect the rights, safety and tax dollars of law-abiding Massachusetts residents from the onslaught of illegal immigration which is devastating our Nations’ economy.”
- Representative Perry

In a comment Representative Perry said, “This package has one overriding goal which is to protect the rights, safety and tax dollars of law-abiding Massachusetts residents from the onslaught of illegal immigration which is devastating our Nations’ economy.  My constituents have spoken loud and clear on this issue and I intend to file these pieces of legislation as a direct result to address their concerns.”

The first proposal mandates that individuals applying for non-emergency state and local benefits provide identification verifying their legal residence in the Commonwealth.  The legislation utilizes the Federal Employment Verification System known as the “SAVE program.”  Enacting this legislation would ensure that benefits go only to the citizens whose tax dollars have funded them and not to those that are here illegally. 

As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Representative Perry is concerned about the financial impact that illegal immigration is having on our already burdened social services.  “Every year we hear about the lack of funds and resources in the area of health and human services.  This legislation will help limit further abuses of that system and ensure only those eligible to receive benefits will have access to them,” said Representative Perry.

The second piece of legislation would increase the penalties for individuals operating a motor vehicle without a license. Current law limits fines to $100 for each conviction. This proposal would increase the penalties for repeat offenders to a fine of $500 to $1000 and allow a jail sentence of up to 30 days in the House of Correction.  These enhanced penalties are designed to deter such activity and penalize those who repeatedly violate motor vehicle laws by driving without a proper license and insurance.

As Ranking Member of the Public Safety Committee, Representative Perry said, “This legislation is vital in keeping our roadways and citizens safe from unlicensed operators.  We as a Commonwealth have established laws to keep our roadways safe; however, many have disregarded these measures. As a member of the Legislature and former police officer, I will not stand by and allow our traffic laws to be repeatedly violated by those engaging in illegal activity.”

The third bill would allow judges to take into consideration one’s immigration status when determining the amount of bail.  The immigration status is currently not within the criteria for setting bail and has been problematic when illegal immigrants are released and never return for further proceedings.  With the ability for judges to increase bail for those with a heightened flight risk, Representative Perry believes this will help curtail the ongoing problem.

Representative Perry concluded by saying, “I look forward to pushing these bills through the Legislature during my next term.  I am confident that these measures will reduce the financial burdens and safety risks placed on citizens by illegal aliens residing in theCommonwealth.”

Release courtesy of Representative Perry's office. Perry is running for re-election in the 5th Barnstable District.

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McCain's Pennsylvania pride

Dan Kennedy in Media Nation lets loose another salvo to demonstrate the ugliness of many McCain supporters;

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Pennsylvania pride

"Let me just say categorically I'm proud of the people that come to our rallies."
— John McCain, Oct. 15, 2008

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Western New England College Polling Institute Finds Voters Oppose Eliminating State Income Tax

Western New England College Polling Institute Finds Voters Oppose Eliminating State Income Tax

Survey finds support for decriminalization of marijuana, ban on dog racing in state

SPRINGFIELD, MA -- Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly oppose eliminating the state income tax, according to the latest survey from the Western New England College Polling Institute.

The telephone poll of 408 registered voters, conducted September 29 through October 6, found that 62 percent of voters oppose Question 1, a ballot initiative that calls for doing away with the state’s income tax. Twenty-six percent favor the idea, while 12 percent said they are undecided or declined to offer an opinion.

The nature of ballot questions can make the outcome of initiatives hard to predict, said Tim Vercellotti, associate professor of political science and co-director of the Western New England College Polling Institute. “Some voters who express a preference on ballot questions in pre-election surveys don’t always make it that far down the ballot when casting their vote,” Vercellotti said.

The survey also found:

• Voters favor decriminalizing possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, with 62 percent voicing support, 32 percent opposed, and five percent saying they are undecided or declining to offer an opinion.
• Voters support banning dog racing in Massachusetts 53 percent to 30 percent, but a sizable number – 17 percent – said they are undecided or declined to offer an opinion.

Voters will decide the questions on November 4. Previous attempts to eliminate the income tax and ban dog racing have failed. The income tax proposal received support from 45 percent of voters in 2002, while the dog racing ban lost narrowly in 2000.

The nature of ballot questions can make the outcome of initiatives hard to predict, said Tim Vercellotti, associate professor of political science and co-director of the Western New England College Polling Institute. “Some voters who express a preference on ballot questions in pre-election surveys don’t always make it that far down the ballot when casting their vote,” Vercellotti said. He noted that 11 percent of voters who cast a ballot in the 2002 gubernatorial race did not vote on the state income tax question in that election.

Question wording also can influence voters’ responses on issues. The Western New England College Polling Institute asked:

“Voters in November also will decide whether Massachusetts should eliminate the state income tax. Supporters of this idea say it will save the average taxpayer $3,600 per year. Opponents of this idea say eliminating the income tax would force state and local government to make deep cuts in services.

Do you support or oppose eliminating the state income tax?”

“After hearing both sides of the issue in the question, voters were less likely to support the idea,” Vercellotti noted. “While eliminating the income tax may have initial appeal when it comes to voters’ pocketbooks, hearing about the potential consequences in terms of services seems to reduce that appeal.”

Opinions about the proposal varied by party identification and education. Democrats opposed the idea 74 percent to 14 percent, while Republicans favored it 42 percent to 36 percent. Independent voters also were opposed by a margin of 70 percent to 22 percent. Voters who have a high school education or less were evenly divided, with 41 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed. Survey respondents who had at least some college opposed the idea 59 percent to 25 percent, while college graduates were opposed 70 percent to 19 percent.

Support for decriminalizing possession of an ounce or less of marijuana also varied across key demographic factors – in this case party identification and age. Democrats and independent voters supported the idea 62 percent to 32 percent. The margin was narrower among Republican voters, who backed the idea 54 percent to 44 percent. The proposal, which will be Question 2 on the November ballot, also drew sizable support from voters under age 65. Voters age 65 and older were evenly split, with 45 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed.

The proposed ban on dog racing in Massachusetts – listed as Question 3 on the ballot – divided voters by party and gender. Democrats supported the ban 62 percent to 27 percent, while 49 percent of Republican and independent voters were in favor and about one-third of each group was opposed. Women were more likely than men to support the ban. Fifty-nine percent of women were in favor, with 22 percent opposed. Male voters were almost evenly split, with 44 percent in favor and 40 percent opposed.

The survey also found a relatively large level of uncertainty about the idea, with 17 percent of voters saying they were undecided or declining to offer an opinion. “A large chunk of the electorate has not yet formed views on this issue,” Vercellotti said. “That suggests there could be some volatility in opinion in this area, with the potential for some swings before Election Day.”

The Western New England College Polling Institute surveyed 449 adults drawn from across Massachusetts using random-digit-dialing between September 29 and October 6. The sample yielded 408 adults who said they were registered to vote in Massachusetts. Unless otherwise noted, figures are based on the statewide sample of registered voters. The data were weighted to reflect the adult population of Massachusetts by gender, race and age. Complete results of the poll are available online at www.wnec.edu/news.

Click here to see the complete results in PDF form.

Release courtesy of WNEC Polling Institute.

Established in 2005, the Western New England College Polling Institute conducts research on issues of importance to Massachusetts residents and communities. The Institute provides the College’s faculty and students with valuable opportunities to participate in public opinion research.

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Would you buy a used car from this man?

There's a $700 billion hole in our economy caused by the Iraq War.

The President chose to fund the war by borrowing, putting it on a credit card, to use a popular expression.  He did this because he knew he couldn't convice the American people to go into an unnecessary war and, at the same time, ask us to pay for it.

The Chinese were more than willing to lend him the money, like a bookie supporting the habit of a degenerate gambler. 

To make matters worse, the President insisted on and got a $700 billion tax break for the richest Americans at the same time.  They in turn, promptly gambled it away on Wall Street, on delusional debt instruments. 

The time has come to pay for the war, the President's gambling debt.  The paper (IOUs) we sold the Chinese is guaranteed by the US taxpayers.  But  the paper (IOUs) the Friends of Bush bought, mortgage debt derivations, is practically worthless. Now we have to bail them out too? 

So we have to pay for the bad debts with taxpayer money, which is the same as paying for the war with taxes, which is what we should have done in the first place.

The President lied to us about the reasons for going to war. Now he's lying to us once again about why we have to bail out his rich friends.  The latter should rightfully be called a swindle. The former caused the death of 5000 Americans and mutilation of another 30,000. It can only be defined as an impeachable offense.

When I was growing up, they used to say "Would you buy a used car from this man?" refering to Richard Nixon.  Is it possible that this President is worse than Nixon?

Well, would you buy a used car from this man?

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