Wednesday, May 1, 2013
State representative releases press release outlining budget passed by House of Representatives.
(Editor's note: The following press release was submitted by the office of State Representative James Miceli, D-Wilmington.) State Representative Miceli joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives yesterday in passing a balanced FY ’14 budget focused on increased government accountability and oversight across the Commonwealth. Through this budget, by increasing Chapter 70 funding by $5.3M, the House strengthens the state’s commitment to cities and towns that are paying more than their target local contribution. The $34 Billion budget ensures over $1 Billion will remain in the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Rep. Miceli was also responsible for inserting a 2 million dollar amendment in the Budget for state hospitals. The …
Friday, January 25, 2013
Neither legislator is enthusiastic about plan to raise taxes and fees.
Gov. Deval Patrick submitted a $34.8 billion budget proposal to the legislature Wednesday, calling for investments in trasportation, education and infrastructure and tax hikes to pay for it. And Republican state Rep. Jim Lyons is not happy with it. "To raise taxes on the hard working families of Massachusetts, $2 billion, is absolutely the wrong direction for the governor to be going in," Lyons said. "The last thing we ought to be doing in this fragile economy is punishing small bsuiness and driving them to look elsewhere outside of the commonwealth." Patrick's proposal would raise the income tax to 6.25 percent and reduce the sales tax to 4.5 percent. While agreeing that the sales tax should be reduced, Lyons took issue with Patrick's …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The plan focuses on investments in transportation and education while calling for an income tax increase coupled with a lower sales tax.
In submitting his $34.8 billion budget to the Legislature Wednesday, Patrick said the proposed income tax hike is part of a comprehensive package aimed at investing in the state's infrastructure and in driving growth. The proposal asks for an increase in the income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent coupled with a reduction in the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent. It also doubles personal exemptions. Despite the proposed income tax hike, Patrick says that low and modest-income workers will pay less in taxes under his proposal, and only the "more fortunate see a larger increase." "I do not submit this proposal lightly. I understand that many households in Massachusetts continue to struggle from the impact of the Great …
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Lyons pledges to carry "the High Road values of our Merrimack Valley" - to the Legislature.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
As election day has come and gone, I write to thank you, the voters and citizens. During my door-to-door campaign, I was warmly welcomed into the homes and neighborhoods of Andover, Tewksbury, Boxford, and North Andover throughout the last six months. I deeply appreciate your kind greetings and helpful comments while visiting your communities. I worked to campaign with the civility and decency that is worthy of you, the voter. I am proud that the Lyons campaign focused squarely on the issues: increasing Local Aid, rolling back the 25% Sales Tax hike, ending rampant political patronage among Beacon Hill insiders, advocating openness and transparency in state government, stopping the waste of tax dollars in the EBT card scandal, ending …
Monday, November 12, 2012
Senator says no one will work harder than him on Beacon Hill.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, November 12, 2012
To the voters of Tewksbury: I’d like to thank you for the outpouring of support you showed on Election Day. I am so humbled by your confidence in my abilities as your State Senator and I am honored to be able to serve another two years. No one will work harder than me to make sure Tewksbury’s needs are heard on Beacon Hill. A special thank you to the many volunteers who braved the cold, and to the town clerk and poll workers who made the day go so smoothly. Barry Finegold State Senator
Friday, October 19, 2012
Letter writer says a commitment to local aid sets Miceli and Lyons apart.
- OPINION
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Friday, October 19, 2012
To the Editor: I am writing this letter in support of both Jim Miceli and Jim Lyons for State Representative. I have known Jim Miceli for a long time. I met Jim Lyons about 3 months ago when he was going door-to-door through my neighborhood. When I was on the Board of Selectmen my Number One complaint was that the Cities and Towns were NOT getting their fair share of Local Aid. Time and time again I saw jobs being created at the State Level and monies that should have been coming to Tewksbury being siphoned off for more and more administrative and non-productive jobs. That is why I am endorsing both Jim Miceli and Jim Lyons for State Rep in Tewksbury. Both men are committed to forcing the State to provide more Local Aid to its Towns…
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Money will be used to Improve section of Route 38.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012
(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by the office of state Sen. Barry Finegold, D-Andover.) The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a $1.39 billion bond bill to fund existing transportation improvement projects through Fiscal Year 2013, including roadway projects in Tewksbury. “The bond bill includes $2,500,000 for the reconstruction and improvement of Route 38 from Old Boston Road to Livingston Street,” said State Senator Barry Finegold (D—Andover). “This project has been a high priority for Tewksbury since Main Street is home to many of the retail businesses in town,” he said. Additionally, $2,000,000 was approved for necessary environmental reviews for the Lowell Interchange project on I-93. “This is a huge …
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Bill could nullify the need for the issue to be on the ballot this fall.
A bill sent to the governor's desk this week could take one of the three questions off the ballot this November. On Tuesday, the last day of the Legislative session, the two sides in the "Right to Repair" debate reached an agreement that could make the fall vote unnecessary. The bill was passed unanimously by both houses of the Legislature. According to the bill, automakers would be required make available to independent mechanics all repair codes and other diagnostic information but have time to satisfy a mandate that all new cars sold in Massachusetts include an onboard diagnostic and repair information system that can be accessed from a laptop computer, according to the Boston Herald. Thursday the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Legislators decide to take the bottle bill amendment out of the jobs act.
The bottle bill will not make it to the governor's desk this year. The controversial proposal was included as an amendment to the Senate jobs bill but scrapped Monday in conference committee, according to an aide to its sponsor, Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth). The jobs bill is expected to be laid before Gov. Deval Patrick Tuesday, the last day of the legislative session. The amendment had faced strong opposition in the House, with Speaker Robert DeLeo describing it as a tax. Hedlund disputed this view, saying that taxes can't be redeemed. The expansion to the 31-year-old law designed to promote recycling and reduce litter would have added plastic bottles used for water, juices, iced tea and sports drinks to the list of containers …
Monday, July 30, 2012
The governor on Saturday sent 'Melissa's Bill' back to the Legislature.
Gov. Deval Patrick set in motion a wave of criticism when he proposed an amendment to the "three strikes"/Melissa's Bill on the grounds that it lacked sufficient provisions for judicial discretion. Warning of possible unintended "unjust consequences" that can arise from mandatory sentencing laws, Patrick wrote in a letter to the Legislature, "None of us is wise or prescient enough to foresee each and every circumstance in which the new habitual offender provisions may apply." On Monday afternoon, the House rejected Patrick's amendment by a vote of 132-23, according to The Boston Globe. The bill's fate is up in the air, as the legislature's summer session will end Tuesday at midnight. The governor has not indicated whether he would veto a …
Douglas Sears
8:51 am on Thursday, May 9, 2013
Tewksbury is down $2,000,000 in state local aid to Tewksbury on Democrat Miceli`s watch over the past two years. With the Miceli/Patrick leadership it is highly doubtful Tewksbury will have the funds from that source to fund $700,000 + Local 1647 firefighters overtime in FY 2015. But he can always be a good man doing a good job to fund those to whom he his told his soul. You can always count on … more ›