Murray Shares in Responsibility
Sandwich, MA—Today Tom Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senate in the Plymouth & Barnstable District, expressed deep disappointment in the bleak unemployment numbers released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“How many more months of unemployment numbers increasing do we need before Beacon Hill will realize we are heading in the wrong direction?” asked Keyes. “Part of the blame is the economic policies being set at the State House by Senate President Therese Murray. We need to create a climate where small businesses want to grow but instead we have a legislature that keeps adding more mandates.”
Unemployment in Massachusetts has now climbed to 6.3 percent. There are an estimated 218,000 unemployed individuals. Those figures don’t include the people who have given up looking for work. According to the State House News Service reports scientific and business services have lost 1900 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities lost 1400 jobs, construction lost 1400 jobs, and education and health services lost 2600 jobs. The booming sector for employment was government. The state added 2500 new jobs.
Last night Keyes met with home daycare providers regarding their business dilemma. Due to a recently passed law, these small businesses are being forced to join a state employee union against their will. Many of these business owners are worried about the impact to their bottom line and their lack of choice.
“This forced unionization of home daycare centers and family daycare providers is a prime example of how my opponent hurts the business community. She has made it more costly to do business. We need a pro-small business Senator at the State House. Having worked all my adult life in the private sector I know better than the incumbent on how to help,” said Keyes.
Two weeks ago Keyes announced his Small Business Bill of Rights which will help these job creators have the certainty they need in planning for the future. “It would send a strong message that we are open for business,” added Keyes.
Keyes Small Business Bill of Rights
1. A moratorium on health care mandates for 5 years
2. Require one year notice before increasing fees and taxes
3. Require a one year adjustment period for all new regulations
4. Require a systematic cost benefit analysis of regulations every 5 years
5. Allow businesses to hire freelancers by revising the definition of independent contractor
6. Redefine small business to 50 employees or less. (Increasing the threshold to 50 full time employees will bring Massachusetts in line with the new federal health care law)
7. Require a cost benefit analysis of all new energy projects
Keyes, 45, has served on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and as a Sandwich Selectman. He has also served on numerous boards and committees including: Water Quality Review Committee, Sandwich Economic Development Committee as liaison of the Board of Selectmen , Cemetery Commission, Assembly of Delegates Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, the 21st Century Taskforce to review the Cape Cod Commission and draft operational changes to the County Commissioners, President of the Cape Cod Selectmen and Councilors’ Association and Board of Directors, and member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Selectmen and Councilors’ Association.
Keyes founded his private practice, Keyes Quality Systems in 1998, providing consulting and contract services in management, ethics and compliance. He and his wife, Melissa have two daughters, Madelynn, and Julia.
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It should be noted that these 2 postoiins are open because Allin Frawley had to resign from them after he was elected to the Board of Selectman by a super humongous largigantic mondo overwhelming majority of voters. Not that I'm overly happy about that or anything.
It is encouraging to hear of the seouirs consideration that is emanating from different quarters to enlisting volunteers to serve on an ad hoc advisory committee to attempt ot gain some handle on the myriad issues and competing concerns that have come to culminate in the annual budgetary trauma we have witnessed over the past several years. One would hope that not too much discouraging analysis be directed, up front, to what may or may not come from the exercise; or as to any possible predetermined course, or agenda; for if the Selectmen do simply coordinate passage for those who are interested and motivated to undertake the voyage' it will likley be up to those who sign on to: (1) organize; (2) brainstorm in terms of issues and budget-related topics to take up; and (3) to chart a course that should be flexible and amenable to changes in direction and focus as information is obtained, digested and considered. For unlike other statutorily charged boards and commissions ( such as BOE; BOF; BOS and P&Z) a Town Budget Ad Hoc Committee' (for want of an official title) would and should be free to tackle, explore and debate the many competing questions and issues that have come to confront and stymie our hard-working boards and elected officials in annually cobbling together the budget. Again, with interested citizens (hopefully) representing the differing viewpoints who are not presently serving as elected or appointed town officers, board members, etc.- such an ad hoc committee may prove to serve a very useful function and, in the end, provide some helpful perspective and possible alternative solutions that are not even presently being looked at or considered. I hope all will take an optimistic look at this opportunity and give it a chance to get under way and up and running. We all should bear in mind that this apporoach would be somewhat novel and there are no established guidelines or set procedures to follow. I, personally, would be very interested in participating. There is most certainly nothing to lose and so very much to gain.
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