Rep. Jeff Perry in His Own Words

Term Limits – What’s Your View?

The subject of term limits often provokes a great deal of debate with passionate feelings on both sides of the issue. Representative Karyn Polito has filed a Constitutional Amendment proposal on Beacon Hill currently known as HD 4409, which has once again started the debate of whether term limits would help make our State Government more accountable and responsive to the voters of Massachusetts. 

Certainly with all the ethical scandals emerging from Beacon Hill, including the last three Democratic Speakers being indicted for felony charges, one does have to question whether cleaning out the elected officials on a regular basis might bring about a more honest, ethical and productive political culture.

Massachusetts law does not currently impose term limits on our elected officials.  This is not because of a lack of interest to do so.  In 1994, you may recall that Massachusetts voters approved Question Four during that year's general election, which set term limits on state political officials of eight years for Constitutional officers, such as Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer and Auditor. State Legislators and members of the Federal House would also have been limited to eight years and twelve years for United States Senators.

While the voters approved the term limits law, it soon was overturned by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 1997.  The State's highest court held the law to be unconstitutional, holding that the Legislature cannot pass a law that changes the qualifications for political offices that are found in the Constitution itself.  While I appreciate and agree with the voter's right to alter their system of government, I believe the Court made the correct decision under the language of our Constitution.  Thus in order to enact term limits for state elected officials, we need a constitutional amendment.  So, we are now back to HD 4409.

HD 4409 would amend the State Constitution to allow people to serve in the Massachusetts House or Senate for a total of 12 years, or six legislative terms, in their lifetime.  It would not impose term limits on any other elected officials as Article 1, Section 3 of the United States Constitution controls on the qualifications of Federal members of Congress.

The term limit proposal is not retroactive as written.  The amendment would apply only to time served in the General Court after the date of its passage by the voters.  It also would not apply to any partial term a legislator serves for the purpose of filling a vacancy in office.

I believe term limits are a method to restore the concept of a "citizen legislature" in our Commonwealth; however, the concern remains that voters should have the right to keep a legislator who is doing a good job for their district.   Perhaps the 12-year term limit strikes the appropriate balance between this need and the need to have some continuity and institutional knowledge in the Legislature.

Currently some fifteen other states impose term limits on state legislators. Another four states (including Massachusetts as discussed above) have ruled that term limit initiatives passed since 1990 are unconstitutional, and two states have repealed their term limit laws.  California was one of the first states to pass a term limits bill in the early 1990s, allowing legislators to serve only six years in the State Assembly (two three-year terms) and eight years in the State Senate (two four-year terms). Once the fourteen-year limit is reached, legislators are banned from their respective branches for life.

Now, I would like to know what you think.  Please e-mail your views to ElectJeffPerry@aol.com or telephone my office at 508-888-2158. 

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Reform required over taxes, cuts...

As recently reported in the Cape Cod Times, Governor Deval Patrick stated that some $600 million in emergency cuts to the Budget were immediately needed.  Such measures he said could result in the elimination of 2,000 state jobs and unilateral budget cuts to public safety and other core services.  The Governor will also soon be asking lawmakers to grant him authority to make additional cuts, which will likely include significant reductions to the court system and local aid to cities and towns.

As someone who voted against the State Budget, stating at the time that is was disappointing that the solution to the fiscal crisis was to increase taxes on sales, meals, telecommunications, alcohol, satellite television, hotel stays, nursing home residents and fees at the Registry, I continue to wonder when the Governor and Legislature will embrace reform over taxation and cuts.  It is my view that when the Majority Party and the Governor passed our current Budget they failed to make many of the necessary difficult choices to reform State Government.  They simply raised taxes and crossed their fingers and hoped things would get better.

Rather than giving the Governor additional power to cut education, public safety and human service spending even further, I would suggest the Legislature and Governor put aside the usual political rhetoric regarding reform and embrace some real cost savings.  Below is a summary of over $1 billion in cost savings we should adopt now:

Implement a statewide wage and hiring freeze for non-essential government employees - Given the uncertainty of the economy and the reality of multi-billion dollar budget deficits, the Commonwealth is in no position to be hiring more people.  We should imposes a one-year moratorium on new government employees.  

Prohibit Benefits for Illegal Immigrants - Mirrored after legislation passed in both Colorado and Georgia, this measure would ensure that taxpayer funded benefits go only to those that are eligible to receive them.  We should demand that anyone attempting to receive taxpayer funded public benefits must first be verified by the Federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement program "SAVE."

Repeal the Pacheco Law - Since this anti-privatization measure was approved during the Weld Administration, the State has lost out on the opportunity to save hundreds of millions of dollars through the outsourcing of certain government programs and services. The law has effectively stifled state privatization efforts by keeping most work in-house, even when a private company could potentially deliver the same services more efficiently and at a lesser cost.  

Require Medicaid to enroll all participants in managed care plans - Currently, only 35 percent of MassHealth recipients are members of a Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MMCO), which provide incentives for managing illnesses before they become more acute or expensive to treat.  The State should require all MassHealth participants to enroll in managed care plans, which have been proven to cost less while delivering superior health care.  

Streamline the process for the sale of surplus land/allow private sponsorship of state facilities and assets - Streamlining the process for selling surplus state property by eliminating the need for legislative approval would ensure a faster, more efficient process for raising funds from unused and underutilized assets.  In addition, allowing private sponsorship of state facilities and assets presents another potentially lucrative opportunity to raise additional funding to pay for essential state programs and services.

A few other ideas to get the State's Budget back in line include, eliminating the Lottery advertising account , reducing prescription medication waste and requiring agency reports to be distributed electronically.

Perhaps the Governor and Legislative leaders may not agree with all of these ideas, so let's hear some of theirs, or is the solution once again to threaten cuts to education and public safety, while generating support for yet another round of tax increase?

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Cards for our brave military fighting overseas!

 October 25, 2009

Contact: 508-888-2158

REPRESENTATIVE PERRY ANNOUNCES CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY CARD

DRIVE FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS

SANDWICH - Today, State Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) announced that he will be collecting Christmas and Holiday cards for our American soldiers serving overseas.

Working in conjunction with a program being administered by Cape Cod Cares for our Troops, Representative Perry's Office will act as a collection point and forward the cards directly to our military service members serving overseas.

Beginning next week, residents are encouraged to drop off unsealed Christmas cards addressed to "American Service Member" at his District Office located at 93 Route 6A in Sandwich.  The deadline for submission of cards is November 27^th.

Regular office hours are held each Friday from 2:00pm - 4:00pm.  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.

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 I believe we can do our part by sending them cards expressing our support and gratitude for their service."

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Rep. Perry new video on State Budget Mess

Mass Budget Mess

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_xYPGjrC4E

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Let your voice be heard - Do more than Blog!

Let your voice be heard

By Rep. Jeffrey Davis Perry

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..."

As any casual student of history knows full well, the above words are directly from the United States Declaration of Independence as adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the thirteen colonies were now "Free and Independent States." Quite unmistakably, from reading the text of this founding document and further studying the writings of our Founding Fathers, we know it was their obvious and unequivocal intent that the power of government reside with the people and not with the government itself.

So, how do people retain this power today in the context of our media and special interest driven political climate? I believe it is a bit simpler than one might think.  Citizens still play an important role in our political process, but they must be engaged and speak out to their elected officials. Let your voice be heard. Below are a few suggestions which I hope will encourage you to speak out with your comments and concerns:

1) Call your elected official or make an appointment to personally see them during office hours.  Face to face contact is the best way to lobby.  Have information available, in writing, to give them about the legislation or issue concerning you.

2) Write your elected official.  Next to speaking to someone in person, personal letters are the most effective way of communicating.  Avoid form letters and pre-printed postcards whenever possible.  A hand written or typed letter in your own words shows that you cared about the topic enough to take your valuable time to put it on paper and send it.

3) With e-mail, it is also important you include your name, address, and phone number.  I receive hundreds of e-mails each week and there is no way of knowing if they come from an actual constituent.  If senders don't identify themselves or don't give their addresses, the value of the email is diminished.

4) Feel free to speak with a Legislator's Legislative Aide.  These staff people are skilled, knowledgeable professionals who will treat your call respectfully and confidentially.  Of course, you can and should request to speak with your elected official if that is your desire.

5) Invite your Legislator to meet with you or your group.  Invite them to tour your business or school or get to know your organization so that they have some knowledge and familiarity with you and your issue. I enjoyed such tours and visits very much and have found them to be extremely valuable when a related issues comes before the Legislature.

The political climate is dynamic and ever changing. Government is facing many difficult and important decisions in the near future. While I know many citizens feel some elected officials are not interested in their opinions, I ask each of you not to become cynical. Visit, call, write or e-mail your elected officials.

Your opinion is important to our political process and you should feel free to let it be heard. While we are all very busy, I encourage you to reach out and contact your elected officials. Your opinion does matter to most of us. As always, I welcome your comments about this column or anything happening in State government. You can reach me at 617-722-2800, ext 8743 or via e-mail at ElectJeffPerry@aol.com. 

Sincerely,

Jeff

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