by Bob Parks — published on July 30th, 2008
Sure this is old news, but I’m catching up.
Athol, MA - Bob Parks, candidate for State Representative in the 2nd Franklin District, today criticized incumbent State Rep. Christopher Donelan for his vote concerning local aid, when late last year he voted against using the state surplus to restore cuts made in local aid.
On October 11, 2007 Rep. Brad Jones and the House Republicans offered an amendment to the FY07 supplemental budget appropriation that would have returned $450 Million in surplus money as Local Aid to the cities and towns. Not only was that the amount of the surplus that year (since squandered by Deval Patrick and the Democrats), but it is also the amount of money that would of been returned to cities and towns if lottery aid had not been “capped” to divert money to the general fund several years ago.
Nearly every Democrat, including Representative Donelan, voted against this increase in funding, despite the fact that our towns are hurting for local aid dollars.
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by Bob Parks — published on July 28th, 2008
Next Monday, get your popcorn ready as I’m honored to be a guest on
NewsNight with Jim Braude
New England’s only locally produced nightly in-depth news analysis program. Jim Braude explores all angles of the news that affects New Englanders. Also covered are topics relating to culture, business, education and technology. No other local program provides this type of edgy, insightful and in-depth news coverage.
Tuesday, August 5th at 8pm EST. The program is also posted afterward online.
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by Bob Parks — published on July 24th, 2008
by Bob Parks — published on July 18th, 2008
It’s The Economy
And Bob Parks is running on an answer
by Chris Collins, 7/18/08
Bob Dylan once wrote that you don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing. And for Republican Bob Parks, it was pretty obvious that things weren’t going to blow his way in the 2006 race to represent the Second Franklin District.
“The one thing I heard most from people was that they liked my economic development ideas, but because of what was going on, they were never going to vote for a Republican,” Parks said.
“People clearly wanted to send a message to George Bush regarding the war,” Parks said. “But my question, two years later, is, ‘did that message you sent put one more meal on your dinner table or help you make one mortgage payment?’ I don’t think so.”
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by Bob Parks — published on July 9th, 2008
According to the Greenfield Recorder,
“A $3 million grant from the state is expected to lead to 250 new jobs for people living in the North Quabbin and Franklin County areas.
The North Quabbin Mixed-Use Development Project has been awarded a $3 million Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion Jobs grant to make multiple infrastructure improvements to develop 495,000 square feet on 300 acres between Route 2 and Route 2A.”
Our state representative Christopher Donelan has seemingly showed renewed interest in economic development. Funny how election years bring out the best in incumbents.
“Rep. Christopher Donelan, D-Orange, said he filed legislation two years ago so the town could create an economic development industrial corporation. He said that now allows the town to pursue grants and other funding from the state and federal governments.”
While I’ll not dispute the word of the state representative, I find it unfortunate that even with a super-majority Democrat legislature to work with on Beacon Hill, it took him two years to get a bill passed so a grant could go through.
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by Bob Parks — published on July 3rd, 2008
With yet another probable rape/murder of a young girl in Vermont, I hope the liberal members of the Supreme Court who voted to spare child rapists of the death penalty slept well last night.
I’m sorry, but should I win my state legislative race this fall, I plan on testing that decision again by introducing a “one strike, your dead” bill that would put rapist/murderers away for life the first time they victimize a child.
“Mandatory minimum ten-year prison” terms here are nice, but when a rapist can still get paroled, the public is again at risk. There should be no reason to EVER let these people get out again.
The time for compassion and mercy is over.
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