On the Issues

Jobs and Economic Development:
Massachusetts small businesses represent our best hope of putting people back to work and jump starting our economy. Small businesses don’t need more tax credits, they need access to money and swift action to expand, and create jobs. Our state government has to partner with large banks and community banks and provide the necessary loan guarantee incentive to inspire banks to lend.

Education Reform: What’s passing for education reform in this state is not reform at all. If teachers are not part of the conversation about education reform, there is no conversation. Minimum standards are important, but not as important as keeping kids in school, parent involvement, more broad-based curriculum, and early education.

Consumer Protection: The legislation passed recently by Congress regulating the behavior of banks and credit card companies is too little, too late. We need to hold banks and credit card companies accountable for the money they have fleeced from consumers unjustly through unilateral rises in finance charges and overdraft fees. Many took tax payer bailout money and we’ve given them a license to steal from taxpaying consumers for too long.

Changing Politics: We need to get the money out of politics and change the culture of inaction on Beacon Hill. It’s time for progressive Democrats to stand up for our values and for honesty,
accountability, and transparency in government.