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Senator Moore, Sutton residents partner to spread a message of fiscal prudence in state budgeting |
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January 14, 2005 - At the request of several public-spirited residents of Sutton, and with the endorsement of the Sutton Board of Selectmen, Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) is spreading more than the traditional Holiday Cheer at the State House this year. The senator is providing the state’s top political leaders with copies of a recent book that offers a recipe for better government to government at all levels. This week, Senator Moore delivered to the Governor and Legislative Leaders a copy of The Price of Government: Getting the Results We Need in an Age of Permanent Fiscal Crisis, by David Osborne and Peter Hutchinson. David Osborne is also the author of an earlier book entitled, Reinventing Government, that was used extensively by the Clinton-Gore Administration to reorganize the federal bureaucracy. In a cover letter accompanying the book, Moore wrote to his colleagues that, “we have often heard that despite some improvement in our revenue collections, we continue to have a “structural deficit” approaching one billion dollars. Massachusetts, like other states, must also find money to pay for federal mandates such as “No Child Left Behind” and the state costs of “Medicare Reform.” We also have a long list of needs such as funding early childhood education; adequately funding all education, including public higher education; health care access and quality, the growing costs of Medicaid; and a host of other issues. There are also some who seek further tax reductions and there is growing pressure from senior citizens to provide property tax relief.” Senator Moore added that “even if the economy improves, and several economists are predicting a 3 ½ % revenue growth (3% if the oil prices increase), we will not have enough to do all that needs to be done. The message in The Price of Government is that those of us in government need to spend more smartly in goods and services, and several suggestions are offered for our consideration.” The books were distributed to Governor Mitt Romney, Senate President Robert E. Travaglini (D-Boston), House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi (D-Boston) Senate Ways and Means Chair Therese Murray (D-Plymouth), Sutton’s State Representatives Jennifer Callahan (D-Sutton) and Paul Frost (R-Auburn). A book will be provided to the new House Ways and Means Chair once appointed. Senator Moore also received a book. In addition to Senator Moore, the Sutton Board of Selectmen – Michael Frustaci, Michael Chizy, Neil Newton, Robert Kneeland, and Mario Giamei, Jr. – as well as concerned citizens Ralph “Bud” Gurney, Lawrence Moore, Pail Mainville, Kevin Geraghty, Carl Hutchinson, Richard Labonte, and John Reed participated in the book project. |
