Press Release: Hayes endorsed by Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
October 22, 2010
Boxborough
Press Release: Vote YES on questions 4 and 5. Hayes drives Route 2 and Taxpayer Protection solutions to the ballot.
October 19, 2010
Boxborough
Press Release: Benson’s Local Aid rhetoric doesn’t match record.
October 15, 2010
Boxborough
“I will protect local aid for my towns” is a constant refrain from State Representatives on Beacon Hill, and Democrat Jennifer Benson is no exception. However, a look into the voting record and actions of the Democrat incumbent reveals the truth. The record doesn’t match the rhetoric.
As a freshman State Representative, one of Jennifer Benson’s first votes was to turn over emergency “9C cuts” power to the Governor. Rather than battle to protect local aid for her towns and force deep reforms in state government to fill the budget gap, Ms. Benson joined Democrat leadership in a party-line vote that turned over her legislative duty and responsibility to the Governor. Once granted this power, Governor Deval Patrick cut $128 million from lottery aid and additional assistance to towns.
Early this year, Benson refused to sign-on to a bipartisan “Local Aid Resolution” that would have level-funded Local Aid while providing specific minimum numbers to towns and cities so local officials could move forward with reliable numbers for budget planning. Democrat leadership, whom Benson voted with 94% of the time, used their single-party procedural power to prevent the “Local Aid Resolution” from being introduced and openly debated on the House Floor.
Later this Spring, Benson voted against her towns several times. First, she voted to kill an amendment that would have provided a gas tax exemption for municipalities. She voted with Democrat leadership to kill an amendment that would have restored $273 million in local aid cuts. Benson also voted to kill an amendment to requiring that 50% of any revenue surpluses be allocated to local aid. Killing controversial legislation with a vote to send it to ‘study’ is a common practice employed by the Democrat super-majority in order to avoid open and honest debate on the House Floor.
In another move that shows support for union interests at the expense of town budgets, Representative Benson stood by while Democrat and union leadership went behind closed doors and removed the most important aspect of the “Municpal Relief” bill. Design plan authority is a crucial provision that will give municipalities the same tools the state has to set co-pays and deductibles on healthcare plans, without union approval. This common-sense reform will provide real and immediate relief to town budgets and bring union benefits more in line with those received by non-union and private-sector employees. The watered down “Municipal Relief” bill without the design plan authority provision was passed by Democrats as “the best they could do”. Without design plan authority, the Municipal Relief bill was a missed opportunity that is short on real relief for towns.”
Continuing, Hayes said, “I support a Local Aid Resolution that sets minimum local aid numbers early in the year so towns can begin their budget planning with reliable numbers. I fully support giving towns the tools needed to help deal with budget pressure on property taxes and provide real municipal relief. I have pledged my support to the Massachusetts Municipal Association effort to give towns the same design plan authority the state has for health care benefits. Implementing these common-sense changes will require standing up to union leadership, the same union leaders that are now filling voter’s mailboxes with postcard mailings in support of my opponent, Jennifer Benson. I am beholden only to my constituents and my towns, not the special interests determined to stop at nothing to protect the status quo on Beacon Hill. We need balance in the State House to end the back-room deals and to ensure open, honest debate on the important and controversial issues we face as we work on the much-needed Massachusetts turn-around.”
Noted roll call votes:
Press Release: More broken promises, Benson Flip-Flops on Casinos.
October 7, 2010
Boxborough
“Jennifer Benson’s flip-flop on casinos is another example of broken campaign promises that voters need to remember. On taxes and casinos Representative Benson’s voting record contradicts her campaign promises and rhetoric”, Hayes’ campaign manager, Karl Beckstein said. “This is not the voting record of an independent voice for her district. Voting with the Speaker 94% of the time is the voting record of a Beacon Hill insider. Her record shows that despite campaign promises, she will flip-flop and break those promises when it comes time to cast her vote”.
Press Release: Benson Flip-Flop-Flips on Taxes.
October 6, 2010
Boxborough
During the 2008 campaign for State Representative, Democrat candidate Jen Benson pledged not to raise taxes by stating in a debate with Republican opponent Kurt Hayes, “I would not raise taxes. I would hold steady where we are on the income tax until we get through this fiscal period. I would not advocate for raising taxes whether it be income taxes, gas taxes, anything because we know our families are hurting and we need them to get back on their feet.”
As State Representative in 2009, the first bill proposed by Benson was a new five cent tax on plastic bags at grocery stores. Benson voted for the sales tax increase, and just days later announced a Beacon Hill fundraiser that was attended by lobbyist and special guest House Speaker Robert DeLeo. When given opportunities in both 2009 and 2010 to repeal the new alcohol sales tax, Representative Benson voted with Democrat party leadership to send the measure to ‘study’ rather than make an up-or-down vote on removing the double-taxation on alcohol.
“Jennifer Benson’s flip-flop-flip on taxes should be disturbing to voters”, Hayes’ campaign manager, Karl Beckstein said. “As a candidate in 2008, she stated emphatically that she would not raise taxes. As soon as she was elected and sworn in, her first bill was a new tax on consumers. She voted for the sales tax increase, and passed up two opportunities to repeal the new sales tax on alcohol. This double-taxation on alcohol is hurting small business owners in her towns. Now that she’s up for re-election, she made a calculated election-year vote for the sales-tax holiday, and is now voicing support for ballot question 1 to repeal the alcohol sales tax. First she was against tax increases, then she was for them, now she’s against them again. I’ve heard of flip-flops, but never a flip-flop-flip.
Beckstein concluded, “The voters must decide to hold her accountable for these actions when they go to the voting booth on November 2nd”. Her record shows that despite any campaign promises, she will vote to increase your taxes again if given the chance”.
Commenting on the tax voting record of his opponent, Hayes said, “Voters deserve to know where you stand on issues. I am committed to reining in state government spending, driving reforms, and cutting taxes, not increasing them. That is why I earned the endorsement of the Citizens for Limited Taxation’s 2 ½ PAC, while my opponent received a 7% rating from them based on her votes while in office. I look forward to welcoming voters to my open town-hall style meetings and telling folks clearly and honestly where I stand on issues that are important to them. They deserve to know how I will represent them. I would never tell them one thing to get their vote and then do another once in office.”
Kurt Hayes is the Republican candidate for State Representative of the 37th Middlesex district. The district is comprised of the towns of Lunenburg, Shirley, Harvard, Boxborough, and portions of Lancaster and Acton. The campaign website is KurtHayes.com.
The video of Jennifer Benson’s campaign pledge not to raise taxes is at http://kurthayes.com/bensonnotaxhikes
The plastic bag tax bill is viewable at http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/PDF?billId=2034
The roll-call vote for the sales tax increase is 09-087
The roll-call vote for repeal the alcohol tax in 2009 is 09-264. A Yes vote sent the issue to study, killing the measure to repeal the sales tax on alcohol.
The roll-call vote for repeal the alcohol tax in 2010 is 10-362. A Yes vote sent the issue to study, killing the measure to repeal the sales tax on alcohol.
Citizens for Limited Taxation legislative scorecard is at http://www.cltg.org/cltg/clt2010/2009_Ratings.pdf
Press Release: Benson question misleads and slanders her opponent at debate.
September 29, 2010
Boxborough
Responding after the debate, campaign spokesman Bob Lashua said, “Jen Benson needs to do simple fact checks to ensure she doesn’t launch misleading and slanderous attacks like the one we saw here tonight in which she attempted to tie her opponent to the actions of a company for which he never worked. The scandal around indicted former House Speaker Sal DiMasi involved Cognos, not IBM. IBM later acquired Cognos, cleaned house, and pro-actively settled with the state for the bad behavior of a few at Cognos. The state even complimented IBM for ‘doing the right thing’ in refunding the money back to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth in order to correct the situation involving Cognos and Sal DiMasi, the Speaker whom Ms. Benson voted to re-elect as Speaker just days before his resignation in disgrace.”
Lashua continued, “At best, this shows that Jen Benson is a State Rep. who isn’t thorough in her research. At worst, this shows a Beacon Hill politician willing to launch misleading and slanderous attacks on her opponent in a desperate attempt to keep her seat on Beacon Hill. In either case, Ms. Benson owes Kurt Hayes an apology and the voters an explanation. It’s vital that voters know they can trust their elected leaders to be careful in their research and truthful with their words. As soon as one shows they don’t check facts, or worse, makes them up, they lose credibility with those their peers in the State House, and they lose trust with the voters they represent.”
The video of the question being posed by Jen Benson can be viewed at www.KurtHayes.com/Bensonslander
IBM is a well-respected organization, having a reputation for being an ethical, upstanding company and good neighbor in the communities in which it operates. IBM is also universally recognized for having one of the most diverse and talented workforces in the world. IBM is consistently ranked at or near the top as great companies to work for.
Kurt Hayes has public stated on many occasions that if elected he will cut back his hours at IBM in order to serve his district in the Legislature. More than 50% of State Representatives and Senators in Massachusetts maintain a part-time private-sector job in addition to their position as State Legislator.
Statement: State Representative candidate Kurt Hayes pledges support for municipal healthcare design plan reform.
September 16, 2010
Boxborough
“Just like with the largely cosmetic pension, ethics, and transportation reforms that Beacon Hill Democrats herald as ‘historic’, the Municipal Relief Act that recently passed the House on a straight party-line vote is long on rhetoric and short on real reform that provides actual immediate relief to municipal budgets that are in crisis. Democrat incumbents talk about being advocates for their towns and constituents back home, yet in the face of union leadership opposition they backed down and allowed the removal of this crucial provision that would simply give municipalities the same tools the state has to set co-pays and deductibles on healthcare plans without union approval. This reform will provide immediate relief to town budgets, help preserve key services for seniors, and help save jobs of teachers, police officers, and firefighters.”
If elected, I pledge my full support and vote to extending healthcare design plan authority to towns and cities. We must enact this common-sense reform as soon as possible in order to provide much needed relief to town budgets. Rank-and-file municipal union workers I talk privately understand that we are all in this fiscal crisis together, and they are willing to share the sacrifice with their private sector neighbors in order to save jobs and preserve services. It’s union leadership and the incumbent Democrats they fund who reject this fair, necessary reform. It’s time for voters to balance Beacon Hill by electing new leaders like me who will represent their interests over special interests as we make tough decisions needed to get our state back on a path towards fiscal health.”
Press Release: Hayes announces additional “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall voter forums.
September 15, 2010
Boxborough
The complete schedule for remaining “Conversations with Kurt” events and candidate debates for the 37th Middlesex state representative district seat is:
- “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall style voter forum, Acton Memorial Library, Wednesday, September 22nd, 7-8pm.
- Candidate debate, sponsored by the Lunenburg Civic Forum and Lunenburg Ledger, 7:00pm, Monday, September 27th, Lunenburg Town Hall, Joseph F. Bilotta 2nd floor meeting room.
- Candidate forum, sponsored by the Shirley Volunteer newspaper, 7:00pm, Wednesday, September 29th, Shirley Town Offices meeting room.
- “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall style voter forum, Boxborough Sargent Memorial Library, Thursday, October 7th, 7-8pm.
- “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall style voter forum at the Harvard Republican Town Committee meeting, Harvard Town Hall meeting room, Thursday, October 14th, 7-8pm.
- “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall style voter forum, Shirley Hazen Memorial Library, Tuesday, October 19th, 7-8pm.
- “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall style voter forum, Lancaster Thayer Memorial Library, Thursday, October 21st, 7-8pm.
- Candidate debate, sponsored by the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, Tuesday, October 26th, 7PM, Devens Common Center.
- “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall style voter forum, Lunenburg Public Library, Wednesday, October 27th, 7-8pm.
Press Release: Hayes earns support from the grassroots.
September 9, 2010
Boxborough
State Representative candidate Kurt Hayes announced today that his campaign has received virtually all of its contributions from individual donors. Of the 300 contributions in Hayes’ January 1, 2010 through August 27, 2010 pre-primary report, 98% were from individuals. The dollar amount of those individual contributions accounted for 97% of the total. The large number of individual contributions and average amount of $75 shows Hayes grassroots support when compared to his opponent’s much larger average amount of $120 on 100 fewer individual contributions.
Commenting on his base of support, Hayes said, “My support is coming from individuals, those who are fed up with business as usual on Beacon Hill. As I’ve talked with countless voters at local events, my open town-hall meetings, door-to-door, and on the phone, it’s clear that voters in Massachusetts are most concerned about jobs, taxes, and state spending. Even more important than the contributions, I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, encouragement, and the number of new friends who have stepped forward as volunteers to help in so many ways.”
Bob Lashua, Hayes’ campaign spokesman commented, “While his opponent has been seeking contributions, support, and resources from special interest unions, Kurt Hayes is out meeting voters in open town-hall meetings and earning individual contributions and new volunteers from among those who are ready for change and balance on Beacon Hill. While he won’t get endorsements and money from Boston-based unions like his opponent, Kurt has earned the endorsement of Citizens for Limited Taxation, the taxpayer watchdog group that gave his opponent a dismal 7% rating for her votes as a State Rep. Kurt also earned the endorsement of NFIB, the voice of small & independent businesses in Massachusetts, for his support of pro-growth policies that will promote job creation in Massachusetts. Voters will certainly have a clear choice on November 2nd. More of the same, or a change of direction with Kurt Hayes that will put Massachusetts back on a path toward prosperity and sound fiscal management of the peoples money.”
Press Release: Hayes endorsed by National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
September 8, 2010
Boxborough
Commenting on the endorsement, Hayes said, “I am proud to have received the endorsement of NFIB. Jobs and the economy are understandably the top concern among voters. Small business owners I meet every day tell me of the barriers to growing and creating more jobs the state has put in their path. Now more than ever it’s critical to elect state leaders help who will create a pro-growth climate to support, not hinder, Main Street small businesses. My endorsement by NFIB is based on my support of common-sense, pro-growth tax and regulatory policies that will enable Massachusetts to retain and grow small business jobs and go a long way towards leading us out of the current economic crisis.”
Press Release: Hayes announces additional Acton “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall voter forum, commits to three debates.
September 3, 2010
Boxborough
Candidate debate, sponsored by the Lunenburg Civic Forum and Lunenburg Ledger, 7:00pm, Monday, September 27th, Lunenburg Town Hall, upstairs meeting room.
Candidate forum, sponsored by the Shirley Volunteer newspaper, 7:00pm, Wednesday, September 29th, Shirley Town Offices meeting room.
Candidate debate, sponsored by the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, Tuesday, October 26th, 7PM, Devens Common Center.
The Republican challenger will have participated in thirteen open town-hall style meetings and debates before election day on November 2nd. Commenting, Hayes said, “I am committed to giving voters many opportunities to get to know me for my true self. These open, informal meetings allow voters to look me in the eye and ask me a direct question on any issue that’s important to them. If elected, I commit to continue having regular, open town-hall style meetings. I will be focused on keeping the lines of communication with my constituents wide open. I will fight for transparency on Beacon Hill, and that transparency will start with me.”
Press Release: Hayes announces dates for additional “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall voter forums.
August 25th, 2010
Boxborough
The new dates for additional “Conversations with Kurt” events are:
Commenting on the nine town-hall meetings he is holding during his campaign, Hayes said, “I have enjoyed the opportunity to stand before the voters of each of the six towns of the district in August to answer their questions in an informal setting. I look forward to standing before more voters to answer their questions three more times in the final weeks leading up to election day on November 2nd.”
Press Release: Hayes announces additional “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall voter forums, commits to three debates.
August 16, 2010
Boxborough
The Republican challenger for State Representative has already held three well-attended “Conversations with Kurt” events in the first half of August, with three more scheduled for the remaining days of August. The events are one hour in length and are open to all interested voters.
Commenting on the open, informal voter forums, Hayes’ campaign manager Karl Beckstein said, “We have been pleased with the interest and attendance at the first three “Conversations with Kurt” in Shirley, Acton, and Lunenburg. The voters are very engaged this year, even during these dog days of summer vacations. Undecided voters are telling Kurt that they appreciate the opportunity to ask him direct questions on important issues without the restrictions and sound-bite answers of a typical moderated candidate event. Kurt is looking forward to conversations with voters in Lancaster, Harvard, and Boxborough in these last two weeks of August. Kurt Hayes will continue taking his positive message of balance, job creation, and lower taxes directly to the voters with more “Conversations with Kurt” after the September 14th primaries. Voters deserve the opportunity to look their candidates in the eyes and ask direct questions on the issues that are important to them as they decide who will earn their vote on November 2nd.”
Thursday, August 19th, 7-8pm, Lancaster Thayer Memorial Library,
Tuesday, August 24th, 7-8pm, Harvard Town Hall Meeting Room
Thursday, August 26th, 7-8pm, Boxborough Sargent Memorial Library
Statement: State Representative candidate Kurt Hayes calls for Beacon Hill Democrats to fold on casino bill until the next legislative session.
July 29, 2010
Boxborough
“I call on Beacon Hill Democrats to do the right thing and fold on a casino bill for this legislative session. Spend the remaining hours in this session focusing on the current jobs and fiscal crisis, with a known $2.5 billion budget gap in the next fiscal year. Passing a back-room casino bill now without proper vetting and debate is not the answer to the jobs and fiscal crisis we face in Massachusetts, despite what Democrats claim when justifying their rush to ‘do something’ before the end of July. Come back to the table on casinos in the next session. This common-sense move will allow for careful, thorough consideration and debate on the tremendous bet that casinos will place on the future of our Commonwealth.”
Press Release: State Representative candidate Kurt Hayes announces more “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall voter forums in August.
July 26, 2010
Boxborough
Press Release: State Representative candidate Kurt Hayes to hold “Conversations with Kurt” town-hall voter forums in August.
July 19, 2010
Boxborough
State Representative candidate Kurt Hayes announced today that in August he will hold an informal town-hall style forum in each town of the 37th Middlesex district. The events are open to all interested voters. Each voter forum, dubbed “Conversations with Kurt”, will be one hour in length and will take place in the local public library.
The first “Conversations with Kurt” event will take place in Shirley at the Hazen Memorial Library on Thursday, August 5th from 7-8pm. The next “Conversations with Kurt” event will be at the Acton Memorial Library on Tuesday, August 10th from 7-8pm. The third “Conversations with Kurt” event will be at Lunenburg Public Library on Wednesday, August 11th from 7-8pm. An announcement will be forthcoming with the August dates for “Conversations with Kurt” events in Lancaster, Harvard, and Boxborough.
Commenting on the town-hall meetings, Hayes said, “I look forward to the opportunity to stand before the voters of each town and answer their questions in an informal setting. I will listen to their perspective and talk with them, not at them. I know voters want to measure their candidates face-to-face and be able to look you in the eye and get a straight answer when they ask you a direct question. Voters will walk away from these conversations knowing what my priorities will be as their State Representative, what my legislative approach will be, and where I stand on issues that are important to them.”
Commenting on the open, informal voter forums, Hayes campaign manager Karl Beckstein said, “Too many politicians will not stand before the voters in this manner. Kurt Hayes on the other hand wants undecided voters to have the chance to ask him a question on any issue that’s important to them as they decide who will earn their vote for State Representative on November 2nd.”
Press Release: Election year tax vote can’t hide Benson’s true anti-taxpayer record.
July 8, 2010
Boxborough
State Representative Jennifer Benson’s vote yesterday in favor of an August sales tax holiday proposed by House Republicans is in direct conflict with her 2009 vote to increase the sales tax from 5% to 6.25%. At the time she voted for the sales tax increase Benson stated that it was necessary to increase revenue to the state “to preserve our communities and protect the most vulnerable citizens of the commonwealth”.
“This is clearly an election year maneuver by Representative Benson attempting to fool voters into thinking she is looking out for taxpayers. Her true anti-taxpayer record in the State House indicates otherwise. We have seen this type of self-serving behavior from Beacon Hill politicians countless times before and, quite frankly, the voters are not only wise to it but are insulted by it.”, stated Bob Lashua, campaign spokesman for Kurt Hayes.
Lashua points out, “While Kurt Hayes has been endorsed by the Citizens for Limited Taxation for his consistent pro-taxpayer and pro-economic growth positions, Representative Benson has received a dismal 7% rating from the same taxpayer watchdog group for her anti-taxpayer voting record. In addition to voting for the sales tax increase, the first bill she proposed after taking office as a freshman State Representative was a new 5 cent per bag tax on plastic grocery bags. She also voted at her own Town Meeting last year to increase the meals tax on her fellow Lunenburg residents and small business owners.”
Continuing, Lashua said, “Now, when faced with a strong challenge from Kurt Hayes and engaged and informed voters on November 2nd, Ms. Benson has executed a cynical election-year flip-flop on tax policy. It makes no sense that someone who voted to increase the sales tax would now vote to eliminate the tax revenue the sales tax holiday would leave in our wallets. While Kurt Hayes supports the sales tax holiday on a matter of principle, Ms. Benson has done so only because it is an election year. The voters will remember Representative Benson’s true anti-taxpayer voting record on November 2nd.”
The Citizens for Limited Taxation (CLT) endorsements are at www.cltg.org.
The CLT Legislative ratings are at http://www.cltg.org/cltg/clt2010/2009_Ratings.pdf
Kurt Hayes Statement: Don’t go ‘all in’ by betting the future of Massachusetts on new casinos.
“Our elected leaders on Beacon Hill must not recklessly go ‘all in’ with our future by rushing through a bill that includes new casinos in Massachusetts. Because of their rush to do something before adjourning at the end of July, the State Legislature and Governor Patrick are prepared to make a dangerous bet that new casinos will solve our economic crisis.”
“I renew my call for a carefully thought out plan that will support the creation of ‘racinos’ at existing tracks in Massachusetts. This approach will generate revenue sooner, protect current jobs, create new jobs, and leverage existing infrastructure. My approach will also allow us to monitor the positive and negative impacts of expanded gaming in the form of slot machines and table games at ‘racinos’ before considering new casinos in Massachusetts.”