State Representative Jennifer Benson
During her election campaign Benson Indicated Support for;
1. Tuition Breaks for illegal aliens.
2. Increased Taxes
* Her first elected action was to vote in FAVOR of re-electing Salvatore F. DiMasi Speaker of the House.
* Benson's first bill is an environmental protection bill that will require customers to pay a surcharge of five cents for each plastic bag used at grocery stores. Customers would pay no surcharge for paper bags, reusable bags, or plastic bags brought from home. The surcharge would go to the Clean Environment Fund to be used for environmental projects. "Plastic bag surcharges have been shown to produce real benefits to the environment, reducing plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions," said Benson
3. Benson signs on to support the Transgender Rights Bill, which among other things, allow a transgender or any other person "Feeling" like the other sex to use that sexes public restroom
4. Bensons newest proud moment is to sing onto the Bill to raise the Massachusetts Sales Tax from 5 to 6.25%...
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State Senator and Former State Representative (37th Middlesex District) James Eldridge
The Eldridge Record
Taxes & Spending
Eldridge voted AGAINST Increaseing elderly property-tax abatement (H 4264): House 62-93, rejected an amendment allowing communities, by vote of the city council or town meeting, to expand the eligibility for and amount of the property tax abatement currently provided to senior citizens under state law.
Greater Lowell lawmakers filed 46 spending requests for next year's budget, including $48.5 million in new spending after budget writers warned of bleak financial outlook for next year. The earmark amendments simply divert funds to specific projects, The Lowell Sun 04/29/2008 Rep. Jamie Eldridge
* $150,000 for Barn Raising program (earmark) * $50,000 for Fort Devens Historical Museum (earmark)
* $50,000 for Johnny Appleseed Visitor's Center (earmark) * $75,000 for Marlboro 2010 (earmark)
* $100,000 for after-school programs at Marlboro Middle School (earmark)
* $10,000 to study space needs at Marlboro Community Center (earmark)
* $5,000 for Southboro Council on Aging (earmark)
* $35,000 for Marlboro Community Development Corp. (earmark)
* $1.4 million for individual development account program (new)
Eldridge voted FOR $392 million tax hike (H 4656): House 134-20 and 131-23, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would raise $392 million in new tax revenues. The measure hikes the cigarette tax $1 per pack (from $1.51 to $2.51) and makes several changes in corporate tax laws. Some of the changes increase taxes on corporations while others offer these corporations some tax reductions. Eldirdge voted FOR Makeing cigarette tax hike effective six months earlier (H 4656): and vote AGAINST Exempting stores on New Hampshire border from cigarette tax hike (H 4656): House 20-135, rejected an amendment exempting stores within 10 miles of the New Hampshire border from the $1 per pack cigarette tax hike. Amendment supporters said without the exemption, many small stores would suffer huge losses as Massachusetts smokers cross the border to buy cigarettes. 4/15/2008.
Eldridge claims/takes credit for uncapping the lottery funds and returning additional funds to the cities and towns. WHEN IN FACT State Representative Brad Jones (R) and the Republican Leadership Office (RLO) put forward the amendment to “uncap the lottery funds”. Eldridge voted along with 157 other legislatures to approve (H-4000, roll Call 05-053)
Eldridge voted YES (with the democratic leadership) to further the amendment “for Study” and eliminated an amendment that would have given 50% of the state excess funds (Surplus or Rainy Day Fund) back to the cities and towns, preventing local communities from sharing in the states growing revenue surplus. (H-4000, Roll Call 05-054)
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of overriding a governor’s veto and allowed TAXPAYERS dollars to fund $330K in salaries for 4 union positions within the workforce development program (H-4200, roll Call 05-122)
Eldridge voted AGAINST a change in House rules requiring a 2/3 vote in order to raise taxes. 9 January 2003.
Eldridge voter to OVERRIDE a governor’s veto and expend 100K in programs not recommended by the Department Of Corrections (H-4200, Roll Call 05-114)
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of overriding a governors veto and spending $250K for a toxic chemical and/or technological study, when the program was NOT RECOMMENDED by the agency receiving the funds (H-4200, Roll Call 05-104)
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of overriding a governors veto and spending $150K for a lift transportation program operated by the Traveler’s Aid Society of Boston, when this expense WAS NOT RECOMMENDED by the entity receiving the funding (H-4200, Roll Call 05-104)
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of overriding a governors veto and spending $1.7 million on three projects for the Department Of Corrections, when the program was NOT RECOMMENDED by the Department Of Corrections. (H-4200, Roll Call 05-108)
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of overriding a governors veto and spending $100K on a dispatch center in Norfolk County when the program was NOT RECOMMENDED by the Department of Fire Services. (H-4200, Roll Call 05-106)
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of overriding a governors veto and spending $137K on two earmarks For the State Police when the programs were NOT RECOMMENDED by the by the State Police Administration (H-4200, Roll Call 05-105)
Eldridge vote in FAVOR of the Democratic Leadership and supported their unrealistic estimate of tax revenues for FY 2006 (H-4200, Roll Call 05-021)
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of overriding a governor’s veto in spending $1.5 million in training for non-English speaking nurses aid, “as a cleverly disguised program professional development Program” (H-4200, Roll Call 05-140)
In his first year in office, Eldridge filed a budget amendment asking lawmakers to RAISE the sales tax from 5% to 6%, which he estimated “could bring another 700-750 million in revenue into the state.” 26 April 2003.
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of postponing the reduction of the income tax to 5%, in opposition to a clear mandate from the voters. (s-2156, Roll Call 05-143)
Eldridge voted FOR supporting a ruling from the Chair preventing a debate on an amendment offered by the Republicans to exempt municipalities from the gasoline tax, thereby saving cities and towns money ( S-2156, Roll Call 05-200)
Eldridge voted FOR rejecting a governor’s veto in $107.5K in funding a study on household exposure studies to chemicals when the study had already been funded and completed. (H-4200, Roll Call 05-101)
Eldridge voted to ALLOW the giving of a $44,000 per year pension to a former state representative (Ruane) despite the representative refusing to join or pay into the pension system. 19 June 2006.
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of increasing the minimum wage. 12 July 2006.
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of increasing judges' pay. 12 July 2006.
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of giving all constitutional office holders (Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer and Auditor) a retroactive pay raise, some as much as $5,535 (Veto Override). July 2006.
Eldridge voted AGAINST making the sales tax holiday in Massachusetts permanent. July 2006.
Eldridge voted FOR spending 31 million dollars to spend tax payers’ money from across the state to beautify the "Rose Kennedy Greenway," providing city parks for the residents of Boston. August 2006.
Votes Against the Direct Wishes of the Citizens
Eldridge voted FOR (first time) allowing you to be stopped as a primary offence for not wearing a seat belt. 30 April 2003.
Eldridge voted to OVERRIDE the Governor's veto preventing changes in the citizens' English Immersion law, which thus allowed changes in the law to be made against the will of the people. 14 Jul 2003.
Eldridge voted AGAINST the reintroduction of the Death Penalty for capital offenses. 15 November 2005.
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of allowing Police Officers to stop drivers solely because they are not wearing seat belts. 23 May 2006.
Eldridge voted to ALLOW the legislature unilateral power to change voter-approved laws. 12 July 2006.
Illegal Immigration & Welfare Issues
Eldridge voted to OVERRIDE the Governor's veto on expending funds to determine how Massachusetts can overcome Federal welfare rules/requirements. (Roll Call 05-191)
Eldridge voted AGAINST creating incentives to get families off welfare (H-4245, roll Call 05-183)
Eldridge voted AGAINST an amendment that would prevent non-working welfare recipients from receiving the same benefits as those who fulfill the work requirements (H-4367, Roll Call 05-190)
Eldridge voted AGAINST an amendment requiring welfare recipients work within 24months of receiving welfare benefits (H 4367, Roll Call 05-191)
Eldridge voted AGAINST tying in school attendance (raising attendance age requirements from 14 to 16) to receipt of Public Assistance (i.e. welfare). (H-4367 Roll Call 05-85)
Eldridge voted AGAINST restricting/limiting welfare benefits to five years. (H-4367, Roll Call 05-193).
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of allowing in-state tuition rates for illegal aliens. 11 January 2006.
Laws Affecting Your Involvement in Government
Eldridge voted FOR a Pension for convicted criminal (H 4139): House 128-27, Senate 26-6, overrode Gov. Patrick's veto of a bill that would exempt former North Adams Highway Superintendent Leo Senecal from a state law that prohibits convicted criminals from receiving a public pension. Senecal pleaded guilty in 1998 to the 1996 charge that he ordered city workers to dump 150 gallons of waste oil into an unlined trench instead of shipping it to a hazardous-waste collection site. Senecal was placed on probation, fined thousands of dollars for the cleanup of the contaminated soil and went without pay for six months. 28 July 2008
Eldridge voted AGAINST allowing earmarking of tax hikes (H 4699): House 19-137, voted strictly along party lines and defeated a Republican-sponsored amendment allowing legislators to earmark revenues from tax hikes to fund specific programs. The rules proposed by the Democratic leadership prohibit earmarking of these funds. Amendment supporters said this is an anti-democratic and illogical prohibition that reduces the power of rank-and-file members. They argued that a member who proposes a tax hike should be allowed to propose earmarking that revenue for education, local aid or any other worthwhile program. Amendment opponents said the rule is a reasonable one that has been used successfully since 2001. They argued that it is important to take a broad approach by first deciding whether to raise taxes and then later how to spend all the state's revenue. (A "yes" vote is for allowing members to earmark revenues from tax hikes to fund specific programs. A "no" vote is against allowing it). -4/29/08
Eldridge voted AGAINT allowing debate on local aid (H 4699): House 25-131, voted mostly along party lines and rejected an amendment allowing members to offer budget amendments dealing with local aid. The rules proposed by the Democratic leadership prohibit consideration of any local aid amendments. Six Democrats voted with GOP legislators to allow members to file local aid amendments. The House on March 20 approved non-binding resolutions stating the intent of the Legislature to hike local aid above last year's level by $223 million or 4.4 percent.
Eldridge voted AGAINST the governor’s veto that ensured that when law enforcement or related official requests a CORI (Criminal offender record of Information) report it would contain ALL information regarding convictions and pending convictions (H-4200, Roll Call 05-154)
Eldridge voted FOR overriding the governor’s veto and diverting $15 million dollars away from healthcare programs for the elderly and disabled in order to insure state employees receive 80-86% of their healthcare costs as opposed to 75% which is what most private sector business pay for their employees. (H-4200, Roll Call 05-143)
Eldridge voted AGAINST an amendment that would have required the legislature to prove via a cost-benefit analysis prior to mandating any additional reporting requirements to state agencies thus diverting funds from actual services and direct them to report writing (H-4000, roll Call 05-033)
Eldridge was in FAVOR of a law (S-2221) that would have allowed a city or town to be exempt from the law preventing the expenditure of public moneys in an effort to override prop 2 1/2 - so if your city or town wanted an override, they could spend YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS to fight for that override. 27 October 2004.
Eldridge voted FOR a democratic leadership plan to expand 19 existing joint committees into 26 committees this bill represented $120K in additional spending in salary and benefits per year. (S-21, Roll Call 05-001)
Eldridge voted AGAINST merging the Mass Turnpike Authority (the operators and overseers of the Big Dig) and the Mass Highway Department. 28 April 2004.
Voted FOR removing the Governor's authority to appoint an interim State Senator in the event of illness, death, or elected to higher office. 29 June 2004.
Voted in FAVOR of abolishing the Governor's Council, elected officials whose primary responsibility is to approve judges, a position that Eldridge stated could be better served by the House/Senate. 20 July 2004.
Eldridge voted to ALLOW the Legislature unilateral power to change voter approved laws. 12 July 2006.
Eldridge VOTED on four occasions with the leadership to “suspend the rules” and vote on budget and other issues without allowing ant time to examine or understand the given legislation (H-2926, Roll Calls 05-022, 026; H-4200, Roll Call 05-079; and H-2073, Roll Call 5-166)
Eldridge voted AGAINST allowing the voters to vote (within six months) to fill vacant seats of the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Auditor, and would allow the legislature to fill the positions until the next election. 12 July 2006.
Social Issues & Personal Liberties
Eldridge signs onto the Transgender Rights Bill, allowing a person who "feels" the other sex to use whatever public restroom they desire. Great for families with small children!
Eldridge voted “PRESENT” on a resolution reaffirming support for the phrase “One Nation, Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance (H-4402, Roll Calls 05-205)
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of making universal health care a "Constitutional Right." ADDITIONALLY Eldridge voted on THREE occasions to limit or stifle debate on this expensive debate and not allow legislature time to read/understand the bill (Roll Calls 05-248,,249 and 251). ADDITIONALLY Eldridge voted FOR imposing costly and unfair mandates that will hurt Massachusetts business and not to help to insure a significant portion of the uninsured (H-4463, Roll Call 05-265, 266, 267 and 271)
Voted FOR allowing casino gambling within the state. 13 April 2004.
Eldridge voted AGAINST Abstinence Education as an amendment (H-44, roll Call 05-010).
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of the state formally authorizing embryonic stem cell research. (S- 2039 Roll Call 05-069) During this process Eldridge voted TO permit, on three occasions, the bill to go to a second reading inappropriately rushing the legislative process and preventing both the house appropriate house committees from properly vetting the bill before formal debate (Roll Call 05-013, 05-014, 05-015.)
Eldridge voted AGAINST an amendment defining when life begins. 19 May 2005.
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of making emergency contraception (the morning after pill) available without a prescription and did not establish ANY age limitation. 21 July 2005.
Eldridge DID NOT VOTE on the amendment mandating a one-year license loss for refusing a breathalyzer test on two occasions. 27 October 2005.
Eldridge voted in FAVOR of legalizing over the counter sales of needles/syringes. 14 November 2005.
Eldridge voted to override the governor’s veto and provide funds for Gay and Lesbian training for school administrators (H-4200, Roll Call 05-128)
Eldridge voted to REJECT an amendment that would have allowed unsued medicine, and the taxpayers money, to continue to be wasted, unused drugs are thrown away instead of being returned. (H-4000, Roll Call 05-034)
Melanie’s Law
Eldridge DID not vote on FOUR occasions during the Melanie’s law process (H-4403 Roll Call 244, 245, 246 and 247)
Eldridge vote FOR a motion to debate on a amendment to strengthen the law AFTER it was watered down, (reducing penalties) be the speaker of the house and Democratic bill changing (H-4383, Roll Call 05-208)
Eldridge vote FOR a watered down version of the bill that is missing several key components of the initial bill (H-4303, Roll Call 05-242)
Marriage
Eldridge voted FOR Repeal of a 1913 marriage restriction (S 800): House 119-36, approved and Gov. Patrick signed into law legislation that repeals a 1913 law which prohibits out-of-state couples from getting married in Massachusetts if their home state does not recognize the union. 28 July 2008
Eldridge voted AGAINST (the first time) defining a marriage as that of a relationship between a man and a woman (H-522). .
Voted for a second time AGAINST an amendment that would have defined marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. (S-5, Roll Call 05-174)
Eldridge voted to SHELVE a vote on the marriage amendment until after the 2006 election, and in a fund raising letter dated 11 July 2006 (one day before his vote) indicated when elected he would vote against the amendment again. 12 July 2006.
Business/Environment
Eldridge voted AGAINST the amendment exempting NEW businesses from the minimum corporate income tax. 06 October 2005.
Eldridge voted AGAINST creating a Sales Tax Holiday from 1-14 October specifically for the purchase of energy efficient products (H-4220, Roll Call 05-086)
Eldridge voted to OVERRIDE governor’s veto eliminating another study on invasive weeds and to use the money to eliminate the problem (H 4200, Roll Call 05-094)
Eldridge voted to OVERRIDE a governor’s veto and expend 315K in appropriations on programs NOT RECOMMENDED by the office of environmental affairs (H-4200, Roll Call 05-113)
Eldridge voted to OVERRIDE a governor’s veto and expend 40K in appropriations and attached restrictive reporting requirements on the Commissioner of Conservation (H-4200, Roll Call 05-115)
Other Issues Of Importance
Eldridge Claims or blames the current administration for all the financial woes in 2006, when it is a fact, verifiable thru the Sate Web site, 2006/07 Budget Announcement.. The proposed ROMNEY/HEALLY budget would have INCREASED local aid by 17%..The money actually returned after the democratically controlled legislature adjusted the budget was 7% !!
Eldridge has voted with the leadership over 90% of the time too include spending 600 million of the 1 billion surplus in “wasteful spending. Pending bills (39) add another $135, 649.00 to that spending making the deduction from the Rainy Day fund of 635 million from the one billon of OUR ADDIIONAL money that was accumulated. A NOTE this was additional funds sent to the State by Taxpayers. And should have been returned, not one penny of the 635 million was returned to any city or town!
Eldridge received a 36% lifetime CLT rating and a 0 rating for 2006!
Eldridge received a 13% (out of 100%) from the National Federation of Independent Business
Eldridge received a 61% the lowest of rated Senators and Representative from the Massachusetts high tech council