From the Medford GOP
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
State Senator Scott Brown officially backs Nassour for state GOP chair
Scott Brown - R, Wrentham
By Jeremy P. Jacobs,
PolitickerMA.com Reporter
Scott Brown, one of five Republicans in the state Senate, announced his support on Monday for Jennifer Nassour's candidacy for chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party.
"I have officially endorsed Jennifer Nassour because she has a clear vision for the future of the party," Brown, a Wrentham Republican, said. "She is a breath of fresh air and has the experience and skills necessary to usher the party back to where we should be so that we can bring reform, common sense, and balance to state...government."
The Massachusetts Republican Party is coming off of a disappointing election in which it lost three seats in the state legislature. The state committee will vote for its next chair on Jan. 27. Currently, Nassour is the only declared candidate to replace current chairman Peter Torkildsen, who is not seeking re-election.
Nassour, a Boston state committeewoman, welcomed the endorsement.
"I'm honored to have the support of Sen. Brown who is a strong, respected leader for our party," she said. "Sen. Brown understands that we must all focus on rebuilding the grassroots of our party if we are to find future success."
Full story
Saturday, December 20, 2008
A Republican Stimulus Plan from Mitt Romney
Act now.
By Mitt Romney
What is Washington waiting for? The inauguration is less than five weeks away: At the rate we’ve been going, another 500,000 jobs will be lost by then. The downward spiral is deepening and accelerating: Congress and the president must act now.
American families have lost about $11 trillion in net worth as securities and home values have plummeted. This translates into about $400 billion less annual consumer spending, net of government safety-net funding. Exports won’t grow to make this up, as the dollar has strengthened with investors worldwide clamoring for its relative security. Investments won’t make up the gap either, as bank loans and secondary-market financing have shrunk and as fresh equity is virtually non-existent.
So this is surely the time for economic stimulus. But — and this is the crucial point — the government can’t just make itself bigger and more oppressive in the guise of stimulating the economy. That would make matters worse. Nor should we forget that fiscal stimulus is but one part of the solution. As Christina Romer, Barack Obama’s designee as chairperson of the Council of Economic Advisors concluded from her study of the Great Depression, bad monetary policy was its greatest cause and good monetary policy was its most effective cure. The Fed should continue to expand the money supply. And, it should confirm that it will not tolerate deflation — the pain of inflation pales in comparison.
That being said, a stimulus plan is needed without further delay, and there are some things that Republicans should insist on.
Longtime Republican state legislator, Mary S. Rogeness, bids fond farewell to colleagues
BOSTON - Rep. Mary S. Rogeness, one of the last Republican legislators in Western Massachusetts, told her colleagues to stay strong because the tough economic times won't last forever.
"Have faith in Massachusetts," said Rogeness, 67, drawing the words from a speech by J. Calvin Coolidge, a Northampton lawyer who rose to become president from 1923 to 1929. "I have faith in you."
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The case of the vanishing GOP voter
By Eric Fehrnstrom
December 17, 2008
Let's concede that the most remarkable thing about the 2008 presidential race is the election of our first African-American president, accomplished without social upheaval, when not too long ago blacks couldn't sit at the front of the bus in the South or drink from the same water fountain as whites. But the next most startling fact is this: The number of people who identify themselves as Republicans has gone from 36 percent in 2004 to 28 percent in 2008. This decline in market share translated into 6.3 million fewer Republican voters compared with the Bush-Kerry contest in 2004.
More than anything else, this explains the election of Barack Obama. The idea that Obama won by vastly increasing turnout is a myth.
Figuring out who are the vanishing Republican voters and why they are leaving is the most important challenge facing the party. Is it Bush fatigue? Anti-war sentiment? Moderates dissatisfied with the party's socially conservative positions?
Full story
December 17, 2008
Let's concede that the most remarkable thing about the 2008 presidential race is the election of our first African-American president, accomplished without social upheaval, when not too long ago blacks couldn't sit at the front of the bus in the South or drink from the same water fountain as whites. But the next most startling fact is this: The number of people who identify themselves as Republicans has gone from 36 percent in 2004 to 28 percent in 2008. This decline in market share translated into 6.3 million fewer Republican voters compared with the Bush-Kerry contest in 2004.
More than anything else, this explains the election of Barack Obama. The idea that Obama won by vastly increasing turnout is a myth.
Figuring out who are the vanishing Republican voters and why they are leaving is the most important challenge facing the party. Is it Bush fatigue? Anti-war sentiment? Moderates dissatisfied with the party's socially conservative positions?
Full story
Monday, December 15, 2008
MegaVote for Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District
Recent Senate Votes
Cloture Motion; Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Vote Rejected (52-35, 12 Not Voting)
The Senate failed to get the necessary sixty votes to move forward on this bill, which leaders intended to attach auto financing and restructuring legislation.
Sen. Edward Kennedy voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. John Kerry voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio
Recent House Votes
Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act - Vote Passed (237-170, 1 Present, 26 Not Voting)
On Wednesday, the House passed a $15 billion bill to provide the “Big Three” American auto companies with short-term loans.
Rep. Edward Markey voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
MegaVote is powered by Capitol Advantage © 2008.
Cloture Motion; Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Vote Rejected (52-35, 12 Not Voting)
The Senate failed to get the necessary sixty votes to move forward on this bill, which leaders intended to attach auto financing and restructuring legislation.
Sen. Edward Kennedy voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. John Kerry voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio
Recent House Votes
Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act - Vote Passed (237-170, 1 Present, 26 Not Voting)
On Wednesday, the House passed a $15 billion bill to provide the “Big Three” American auto companies with short-term loans.
Rep. Edward Markey voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
MegaVote is powered by Capitol Advantage © 2008.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Mass. GOP remembers Fondacaro
By Jeremy P. Jacobs,
PolitickerMA.com Reporter
Longtime members of the Massachusetts Republican Party remembered former state Treasurer Alfred Fondacaro fondly on Thursday for his tireless work for the party. Fondacaro died on Nov. 28 at 80 years old from complications of pneumonia, according to the Boston Globe's obituary.
"Al was a great guy who had a huge heart," said Ron Kaufman, a veteran Boston GOP strategist who knew Fondacaro well. "He really cared about not just the party, but the country. It sounds hokey but he's that kind of guy."
Fondacaro was a longtime member of the GOP's state committee and served as the state's treasurer. Kaufman, who is also a confidant of former Gov. Mitt Romney, said Forndacaro was a tireless worker for the party.
Full story
PolitickerMA.com Reporter
Longtime members of the Massachusetts Republican Party remembered former state Treasurer Alfred Fondacaro fondly on Thursday for his tireless work for the party. Fondacaro died on Nov. 28 at 80 years old from complications of pneumonia, according to the Boston Globe's obituary.
"Al was a great guy who had a huge heart," said Ron Kaufman, a veteran Boston GOP strategist who knew Fondacaro well. "He really cared about not just the party, but the country. It sounds hokey but he's that kind of guy."
Fondacaro was a longtime member of the GOP's state committee and served as the state's treasurer. Kaufman, who is also a confidant of former Gov. Mitt Romney, said Forndacaro was a tireless worker for the party.
Full story
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Medford Police, Fire Help Youth Cancer Victims
Group Raises Money, Donates Toys, Books, DVD’s for Kids
Insidemedford.com
This fall there was no question where proceeds from the annual Medford Police and Fire charitable softball game would go.
Alyssa Cassarino, 3, daughter of Officer Frank Cassarino, was sick with leukemia and Officer Cassarino’s friends and colleagues in the police and fire departments were quick to help. They used $3,500 from September’s softball game to buy toys, DVD’s, and books for young cancer patients at the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit of the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, where Alyssa is being treated.
On October 29, Medford police and fire personnel along with Alyssa, her sister, Samantha, her mother, Jen, and Frank visited the clinic to personally deliver the items. The family is pictured above with members of the Medford police and fire departments.
“We chose the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit because of the truly wonderful work that they perform on behalf of children with cancer. Their dedication and devotion to a family-centered clinic truly make the organization worthy of our support,” Officer Jack Buckley, who organized the donation, told the MGH Hotline newsletter.
- InsideMedford.com
Donato, other Democrats back raising meal taxes, hotel taxes, taxing internet and phone use
I thought these types of ancillary taxes were supposed to be curtailed by Massachusetts voters foolishly defeating Question 1? Insanity; electing the same people over and over again, and expecting different results.
New state commission seeks increased taxation
By Rob Barry/rbarry@cnc.com
Medford -
With the burgeoning national financial crisis causing the state to offer less and less support to its municipalities, a new legislative commission is looking into ways to get some tax relief to communities like Medford.
The Municipal Relief Commission met last week with a number of organizations and associations and heard from mayors, teachers, superintendents and others about the lack of local aid.
“We heard from many of the people throughout the community,” said Rep. Paul Donato, D-Medford, who is heading the committee. “All the local organizations indicated that in order for this commission to do its job, the best approach would be to review the local option for meals tax, room tax and the taxing of poles and wires throughout the commonwealth.”
Donato said of these, increasing the room tax would be most reasonable. Currently, the city taxes patrons of a hotel like the Hyatt 3 percent of the cost of their room. The commission is looking into tacking on an additional 2 percent.
New state commission seeks increased taxation
By Rob Barry/rbarry@cnc.com
Medford -
With the burgeoning national financial crisis causing the state to offer less and less support to its municipalities, a new legislative commission is looking into ways to get some tax relief to communities like Medford.
The Municipal Relief Commission met last week with a number of organizations and associations and heard from mayors, teachers, superintendents and others about the lack of local aid.
“We heard from many of the people throughout the community,” said Rep. Paul Donato, D-Medford, who is heading the committee. “All the local organizations indicated that in order for this commission to do its job, the best approach would be to review the local option for meals tax, room tax and the taxing of poles and wires throughout the commonwealth.”
Donato said of these, increasing the room tax would be most reasonable. Currently, the city taxes patrons of a hotel like the Hyatt 3 percent of the cost of their room. The commission is looking into tacking on an additional 2 percent.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Al Fondacaro
It's with much regret that I pass on the news that Al Fondacaro, a former Mass. Republican State Committeeman and long time member of the Medford Republican City Committee, passed away Friday, November 28, at the Life Care Center in Stoneham, following an extended illness.
The beloved husband of the late Aileen A. (Artz), he was eighty years of age. Raised in Medford, Al was the son of the late Mary and Alfredo A. Fondacaro Sr. a graduate of Medford High School, he continued his education after his discharge from the Army at the end of World War II, and graduated from St. Michael College Vermont, with the class of 1952. Alfred worked for a brief time as a buyer at Filenes in Boston, where he met his late wife Aileen and in 1956 they were married and made their home in Medford. Al later worked as a social worker for the Commonwealth Massachusetts until his retirement. He was active in state and community affairs, serving as Treasurer of the Republican State Committee where he was a long-standing member. Locally he was former chairman of the Republican City Committee, former Chairman of the Medford Housing Authority, and also served as a member of the State Group Insurance. Commission.
He is survived by his son Alfred A. Fondacaro III and his fiancé Julie Lucas, his loving grandchildren Richard, David and Alexis Fondacaro all of Medford. His Sister Rosa Streeter of Hilton Head, South Carolina and his daughter in law Sandra Fondacaro Gale of Medford. Also several nieces and a nephew.
Mark Crowley
Medford RCC Treasurer
The beloved husband of the late Aileen A. (Artz), he was eighty years of age. Raised in Medford, Al was the son of the late Mary and Alfredo A. Fondacaro Sr. a graduate of Medford High School, he continued his education after his discharge from the Army at the end of World War II, and graduated from St. Michael College Vermont, with the class of 1952. Alfred worked for a brief time as a buyer at Filenes in Boston, where he met his late wife Aileen and in 1956 they were married and made their home in Medford. Al later worked as a social worker for the Commonwealth Massachusetts until his retirement. He was active in state and community affairs, serving as Treasurer of the Republican State Committee where he was a long-standing member. Locally he was former chairman of the Republican City Committee, former Chairman of the Medford Housing Authority, and also served as a member of the State Group Insurance. Commission.
He is survived by his son Alfred A. Fondacaro III and his fiancé Julie Lucas, his loving grandchildren Richard, David and Alexis Fondacaro all of Medford. His Sister Rosa Streeter of Hilton Head, South Carolina and his daughter in law Sandra Fondacaro Gale of Medford. Also several nieces and a nephew.
Mark Crowley
Medford RCC Treasurer