Framingham Taxpayers Association

FTPA 2004 State Election Candidate Questionnaire

Question 1: Do you approve of making any changes in Proposition 2 1/2? If yes, what changes? Candidate Seat Response James Coffey Senate No. Karen Spilka Senate No Response. Jerry Bloomfield House 6th District Yes, Make it lower. Deborah Blumer House 6th District I support an evaluation of Prop 2 and 1/2 and the broader issue of financing local services. Prop 2 and 1/2 has been in place for 22 years. It is time to take a hard look at its implementation and effect on taxpayers and local programs and services, as well as its effect on planning and zoning decisions and the quality of people’s lives. Just as there is interest in benchmarking the quality of local services, there should be interest in examining tax policies. There should be, for example, a way to fund local education with less reliance on local property taxes. And there should be a way to exempt those with limited incomes and elderly or disabled from increases that result from overrides. More... Nicolas Sanchez House 6th District No. Mary Connaughton House 7th District No. Gregory Doherty House 7th District I am a little split on Proposition 2 1/2. Proposition 2 1/2 does not prevent larger tax increases, as we often see with the overrides. But, Proposition 2 1/2 does guantee that a minimum tax increase of 2.5%. If I were to support any change to Prop. 2 1/2 it would be to eliminate it and require a town-wide vote every time a tax increase was proposed. Tom Sannicandro House 7th District No.

Question 2: Do you support reducing the State income tax rate to 5% (eliminating the present 5.3% "freeze") and returning the tax to the original 5% rate as proposed in a measure that the voters approved in 2000? If yes, by what date? Candidate Seat Response James Coffey Senate Yes. Karen Spilka Senate No Response. Jerry Bloomfield House 6th District Yes. Deborah Blumer House 6th District Current law has provisions for restoring income tax exemptions and reducing the tax rate as the economy improves and state revenues rise. I would not support an arbitrary reduction in the tax rate until we can regain some equilibrium. A cut .3% is $400-$500 million in state income taxes will mean more cuts to local services — pushing the problem back on to property taxes. Property taxes are regressive, hitting more heavily on residents with moderate and fixed incomes. More... Nicolas Sanchez House 6th District Yes, as soon as I get to the Legislature. Mary Connaughton House 7th District Yes. Gregory Doherty House 7th District Yes, the reduction should be retroactive to the original date that it was scheduled to be reduced. Reducing the income tax to 5% would be a very small step to eliminating the state income tax. Eliminating the income tax would create an estimated 300,000 new jobs in Massachusetts, shave $9 billion off of the state's bloated $24.8 billion budget and return $3000 to the average tax payer, every single year. Tom Sannicandro House 7th District Yes, when tax revenues continue to rise, under the present schedule as passed by the legislature.

Question 3: If the State budget is not balanced, which of the following measures, in order of importance, would you support? (Cut state spending, Raise taxes, Increase fees, Require businesses to pay more) Candidate Seat Response James Coffey Senate Cut state spending, Increase fees (so long as they correlate to the services rendered). Karen Spilka Senate No Response. Jerry Bloomfield House 6th District Cut state spending. Deborah Blumer House 6th District The state has done a combination all four steps to balance the budget. In the Economic Development legislation, we also built in incentives for companies that create jobs, for educational programs to support retraining and new skills for workers to qualify for those jobs. The solution to any economic dilemma is to grow your way out of it, if possible. Since corporate income taxes are a very low portion of our revenues, we need people to have jobs that pay decent salaries in stable, responsible companies. In addition, we have looked to maximize federal aid – matching funds for Medicaid services. We have avoided issuing debt (which California has done ) to cover shortfalls. We’ve actually put more funds into the state’s pension funds to stay on the path to full funding. Some people have pushed forward casino gambling and/or slot machines as a source of revenue. Nicolas Sanchez House 6th District Cut state spending. Mary Connaughton House 7th District Cut state spending. I have been endorsed by Citizens for Limited Taxation and have signed a pledge that I will not vote to raise taxes. Gregory Doherty House 7th District Cut state spending. I would not support raising taxes, increasing fees, or require that businesses pay more. Tom Sannicandro House 7th District Cut state spending, Increase fees.

Question 4: Do you support the bill passed by the State Senate in July of 2004 that would alter the Chapter 70 aid formula, increasing Framingham's Chapter 70 aid from roughly 13% of the school budget to nearly 32%? Candidate Seat Response James Coffey Senate Yes, provided that such an increase did not adversely impact other towns in the district. Karen Spilka Senate No Response. Jerry Bloomfield House 6th District Yes. Deborah Blumer House 6th District Yes I support the approach that was used – namely looking at relative wealth factors weighting property values and income equally. There is more work to be done. The “foundation budget” which costs out the money necessary to provide the educational opportunity of the Massachusetts Frameworks requires needs to be adjusted (that is the basis of the Hancock case now before the Massachusetts SJC. The Senate proposal and the updated foundation budgets will cost more money than is currently available. There will need to be a solid, phased in plan to correct funding formulas. As one of the legislators who has worked with the details of education funding, a former Fincom member, and an MBA, I’m looking forward to this challenge. I am convinced that these changes will benefit our children and our local taxpayers. Nicolas Sanchez House 6th District Yes, a Democrat would not be able to get this passed because the power base of the party is in Boston. Mary Connaughton House 7th District Yes, I agree with the principle behind this proposal but I am still researching the specifics. Gregory Doherty House 7th District No, more funding for the schools would result in higher taxes. It is a popular misconception that the schools are "under funded." The Framingham GOVERNMENT (aka public) schools spend over $8200 per student per year. The average private school spends $3500 per student per year and provides a superior education. We have the best colleges and universities in the world; they are privately owned and funded through tuition. Our k-12 schools should run the same way. The free-market would create competition between schools resulting in a variety of educational opportunites, including schools of different prices and schools offering different levels of extra curricular activites. Privatizing the school system would also remove the barriers to home schooling and community schooling. We must end the government's monopoly of the k-12 educational system and return control of the schools to parents and educators. Tom Sannicandro House 7th District Yes, Ashland also needs an increase in funding for education.

Question 5: If elected, what will be your top three legislative priorities? Candidate Seat Response James Coffey Senate 1. Jobs and the economy 2. Education reform 3. Government reform Karen Spilka Senate No Response. Jerry Bloomfield House 6th District No Response. Deborah Blumer House 6th District 1. Education — Restoring funds, correcting funding formulas and looking for alternate sources for money so that our schools are less dependent on local property taxes and finding state and federal monies to move forward with Early Childhood Education goals 2. Health Care and Prescription Medication —Extending access to the mass buying power of the state for purchase of drugs – such as the Maine proposal. I am a lead sponsor of the Fair Prescription Drug Pricing program developed with Mass Senior Action; Extending access to lower premium state health insurances rates to small businesses and to individuals who are non-group members 3. Jobs— Continued partnership with private businesses and educational institutions to keep current jobs in this state and grow companies here. We also need to review and remove tax incentives granted to companies that are exporting jobs – either to other states and increasingly to other countries. More... Nicolas Sanchez House 6th District 1. Reduce income taxes to 5% 2. Bring to an end all bilingual education programs in the state: support only English-as-a-second-language classes that do not use foreign language teaching 3. Ban secret legal settlements in our MA courts Mary Connaughton House 7th District 1. Reducing the personal income tax rate in accordance with the will of the people as approved in the 2000 referendum question 2. Making Chapter 70 funding more equitable for Ashland and Framingham 3. Cutting spending (overtime and redundant administrative functions e.g. merging Mass Highway with the Mass Turpike Authority). Gregory Doherty House 7th District 1. Ending the income tax (creating 300,00 new jobs in MA, cutting the state budget by $9 billion dollars, and returning $3000 to the average taxpayer) 2. Returning control and responsibility of the k-12 school system to parent and educators 3. Reducing the cost of health care by reducing government tax, fees, and regulations that have caused an estimated 40% increase in cost. Tom Sannicandro House 7th District 1. Fix education funding to Framingham and Ashland 2. Property tax credit for seniors, based on school expenditures, modeled after the STAR Program in New York State 3. Improve services for people with mental retardation

Question 6: Please indicate your level of support for the goal of fiscally-disciplined, highly cost effective government at the state level. (Very strongly, Somewhat, Not at all) Candidate Seat Response James Coffey Senate Very strongly. Karen Spilka Senate No Response. Jerry Bloomfield House 6th District Very strongly. Deborah Blumer House 6th District Very strongly. Nicolas Sanchez House 6th District Very strongly. Mary Connaughton House 7th District Very strongly. Gregory Doherty House 7th District No Response. Tom Sannicandro House 7th District Very strongly.

Question 7: What specific actions or initiatives would you support at the state level in pursuit of the goal of fiscally disciplined, highly cost-effective government? Candidate Seat Response James Coffey Senate 1. Combining the Mass Turnpike and Mass Highway which result in $200M in immediate savings and $20M annually 2. Requiring state government to make its purchases of goods and services in bulk rather than on an individual agency by agency basis 3. Elimination of abuses in the state pension system 4. Eliminating duplicate agencies including eliminating the Boston Municipal Court. Karen Spilka Senate No Response. Jerry Bloomfield House 6th District 1. 5% tax 2. Lower prop 2 1/2 3. Examine state employee pensions 4. Eliminate Mass Pike 5. Provide more oversight of Beacon Hill 6. Require state audits and make them available (mandatory publishing) for state residents 7. Sunshine laws 8. Zero based budgeting 9. Increase sentences for corrupt politicans 10. Plan to stop rising state college costs Deborah Blumer House 6th District I have supported and voted for consolidation of services, such as the MDC with Mass Highways and the MWRA. I have voted for placing the Mass Turnpike under the Secretary of Transportation and for giving the Governor more appointment control, while protecting the $160M reserve to pay off Big Dig bonds. I worked with others to stop Mass Turnpike from taking on more roads. I have voted in favor of construction reforms that are designed to reduce cost/project time. I voted in favor of court reforms that gave power to the Chief Administrative Judge to organize and redistribute funds within the courts, to reduce legislative interference. The School Building Assistance program has been moved to the Treasurer to increase financial accountability. I believe we need more oversight of various authorities such as Mass Port, Mass Pike, MBTA to ensure their cost effectiveness. The legislature requires financial and performance reports from various state agencies, but these don’t get the broad public and press attention essential accountability. For example, the public is aware of President Bulger’s retirement package, but not aware that the funds committed under collective bargaining agreements to college secretarial/administrative support staff were vetoed. I hold an MBA and worked in private sector major corporations for almost 20 years as well as devoting 6 years working in the Mass. Department of Education. From that perspective as well as ~15 years in Town Meeting and 11 years on the Framingham Finance Committee, I look for clear goals and tangible results. Nicolas Sanchez House 6th District First, I would support many initiatives of the Governor, such as those regarding transportation and the courts. But I would go beyond that: 1. Impose a single entry fee for the Mass Pike and no exit fee, eliminating half of the collectors 2. Give collectors half-time jobs 3. Make all collectors to be students in our public universities or recent graduates of public high schools 4. Introduce an insurance scheme for foreigners who use our hospitals. If these individuals refuse to join this program, they will be given no access to hospitals after the first initial visit 5. Stop all bilingual education classes Mary Connaughton House 7th District 1. I would fight universal health proposals because I believe such proposals would devestate the financial position of the Commonwealth. 2. I would support the redistricting reform intiative by Common Cause. I am not accepting campaign contributions from PAC's, unions, etc. because I believe legislators must maintain objectivity both in fact and in appearance to cast fiscally prudent votes and to gain the faith of the citizenry. I believe such contributions impair one's objectivity in both fact and appearence. Gregory Doherty House 7th District No Response. Tom Sannicandro House 7th District Exploration of duplication of services and administrative offices at the state level, and areas of the budget that are potentially waste.

Continued Responses for Questions
Candidate	Seat	Response
Deborah Blumer	House 6th District	Question 1: I was a cosponsor of taxation language that would exempt older, retired residents from having to pay added real estate taxes as a result of Prop 2 and 1/2 overrides. The Governor opposed easing that pressure on local homeowners. I also sponsored amendments to evaluate local financing options and over dependence on property taxes.
Deborah Blumer	House 6th District	Question 2: Times have changed. In the Spring this year, I did an informal survey of Framingham residents who contacted my office and/or were on my email lists. Two times as many people were in favor of increasing funds for education and nearly as many with ensuring health care coverage as were concerned about both state income taxes and local property taxes combined. In 2000 the voters approved a gradual reduction from 5.85 to 5.0. At that time, the economy was robust. The state’s rainy day fund was $2.3 B and the unemployment compensation account had $2 B. Voters were told by Governor Cellucci that the tax cut would be painless; no programs and services would be lost. He was wrong. Governor Romney campaigned on “keeping essential services,” without increasing taxes. The combination of tax cuts to 5.3% and the deep recession and job losses used up our reserve funds. The state cut jobs and services in health and human services, environmental protection, and local aid to close the gap. The state cut more than $400 M from local aid alone in FY03 and FY04 leading to a reductions in teachers, police and fire personnel across the state. 15, 000 children (800 in Framingham alone) were placed on waiting lists for minimal health insurance. Framingham closed an elementary school, charged $2500 for kids to enroll in fulltime kindergarten, instituted fees for school buses. Almost every fee in this state was increased to make ends meet. The cuts have not been restored. Reducing the tax rate from 5.3% to 5.0% would result in the loss of an added $450 M in calendar year 2005. According the Massachusetts Taxpayers Association the state is still has a structural imbalance and health care costs are rising more rapidly than revenue. We expect the courts will rule that there need to be changes in the education funding to ensure students have adequate educational opportunities. While money isn’t the only answer, it certainly is part of the answer. Mass Taxpayers, the Boston Globe and our own Metrowest Daily News all caution that reducing the income tax now is unwise.
Deborah Blumer	House 6th District	Question 5: Massachusetts has made great strides in shedding the image of a taxing place to live and do business. But we need to be sure that we balance fiscal constraint with the commitment viable communities and well educated residents —Our only economic resource is our people.

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