An Independent Approach for Education and the Economy to the MA State Senate

I’m running in the fall for State Senate not to oppose any one person or party, but to offer new policies.  As a certified MA teacher, it is discouraging to hear about graduates who cannot START a career and equally disappointing to hear others who can’t afford to END theirs.

I do not support corporate welfare, ethanol subsidies or solar panel giveaways and believe all three represent the true source of inequality in this country.

We are in the middle of an unprecedented fiscal and economic crisis; it is time to speak up and step forward. I am an Independent Thinker: I will bring my strengths from the classroom and as a former, state transportation official to Beacon Hill.  

My campaign is about putting education and the economy first:  I’ll look at every issue on the merits and vote based on what is in the best interest of Acton and our other local communities.

I want to build upon the excellence of our public schools, and in many cases, champion our successes for the rest of the state to follow.  I’m running to keep brain power and new ideas in Massachusetts.  "What starts here, should stay here." I’ll do more to support new doctors and new teachers so both groups do not leave their professions at a critical time for this Commonwealth.

• New Education Reform should be about: student outcomes, ending the state unfunded mandate of developing teachers, and implementation at the local level.  My role is to work with state agencies and our schools to create more flexibility for high performing districts. 

 

• Our Jobs Strategy can no longer be about politicians picking winners or losers in favored industries, but allowing ALL small businesses to operate more competitively relative to other states and nations. 

 

• My Economic Plan lowers tax rates, closes corporate and special interest loopholes, and supports spending reforms that preserve Local Aid and municipal positions, while not ending collective bargaining.

 

Massive Stimulus and Bailout Economics have failed.  We’ve seen in-state companies collapse and hundreds of jobs lost after enormous government subsidies were doled out, like Marlborough’s Evergreen Solar or Tyngsboro’s Beacon Power.

The wasted millions and billions was the People’s Money that did not fund one public pension or build one new school. So called, “shovel ready” projects and expedited loan modifications are proven myths!  All of these policy failures have made this Great Recession longer and more painful.

In this crisis, there is little to be gained in taxing and spending beyond our means; refusing to adjust one’s approach when policies fail; or submitting special interest bills that never reach the governor’s desk.