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June 2008
Time to say no to pork!
By Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry
A recent Cape Cod Times editorial “Budget Realities” was right on target discussing budget pork and excessive earmarking. In case you are not familiar with “earmarking” it is the practice of funding certain “pet” or special projects without going through the usual public hearing and voting process. During the annual budget process, this issue often rears its ugly head. For example, if a legislator is successful at convincing the political leaders to include a specific local earmark for the legislator, is such a legislator now committed to voting for the overall budget? What if the legislator believes the budget is irresponsible or does not include adequate funding for areas of concern, such as education, transportation or public safety?
OK, I admit it, elected officials are in an extremely tough position on this issue. If a legislator gets in the budget line too often for their special local or pet projects, they are often correctly criticized for wasting taxpayer money. On the other hand, if a legislator decides to take a principled position and say no to “bringing home the bacon,” it is entirely possible that a future political opponent will accuse them of being an ineffective elected official.
While certainly a difficult question for some as to what the proper approach for an elected legislator should be, and one that has gone on in Washington, D.C. and state houses from sea to shining sea for a very long time, I firmly believe such a political culture has gone too far. Legislators need to get off the gravy train of excessive spending. Republicans especially must return to what the people expect and need us to be, the political party of fiscal restraint and only responsible government spending.
On the Federal level, and as John McCain recently noted as part of his longstanding, principled, and often lonely battle against pork barrel spending and earmarks, "Earmarked dollars have doubled just since 2000, and more than tripled in the last 10 years. This explosion in earmarks led one lobbyist to deride the appropriations committees as favor factories. The time for us to fix this broken process is long overdue."
This year on Beacon Hill, every Republican in the House decided that the proposed State Budget was simply packed with too much wasteful spending (along with new taxes) and thus we voted against it. While it is difficult to avoid feeding at the pork barrel trough, I do my very best to stay consistent and protect the taxpayers’ money. If we had more Republicans (or Democrats who were willing to stand up to their party leaders) in office to refuse to go along with wasteful spending proposals, we as a Commonwealth would likely have the financial resources to address the appropriate roles of government, such as our educational, public safety, and transportation needs. Until we have a more balanced system of government in Massachusetts, the annual pork fest is likely to continue
Jeffrey D. Perry
R- 5th Barnstable District
Office Hours
In an effort to be available to his constituents, State Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) has established a District Office to meet with concerned citizens of the 5th Barnstable District. Representative Perry or an aide will be holding the following regular office hours each week:
1st Friday: |
9:30am - 11:00am |
West Barnstable Fire Station |
2nd Friday: |
9:30am - 11:00am |
Bourne Town Hall |
3rd Friday: |
9:30am - 11:00am |
Barnstable Senior Center |
4th Friday |
9:30am - 11:00am |
Mashpee Town Hall |
All Fridays: |
2:00pm - 4:00pm |
Sandwich Office |
Evening appointments or home visits are also available upon request and Representative Perry urges you to contact him at either his Sandwich or Boston office at:
State House Information
Representative Jeffrey Perry
Beacon Hill
State House, Room 136
Boston, MA 02133-1054
Phone: (617) 722-2800 x8743
Fax: (617) 722-2819
Email: Rep.JeffreyPerry@hou.state.ma.us
District Office Information
Representative Jeffrey Perry
449 Route 6A
Post Office Box 1435
Sandwich, MA 02563
Phone: 508-888-2158
Fax: (508) 888-1179
Email: ElectJeffPerry@aol.com
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