While we can all agree that our transportation system is crumbling and educational excellence is key to our future, I am very concerned with the Governor’s asking hard working taxpayers to contribute more in an income tax increase.

I agree with the Governor that there is never a good time to raise taxes. However, I know that the people I represent expect their government to do everything in their power to root out fraud, abuse, and programs that are not working to ensure that their tax dollars are being spent efficiently and responsibly.

Without an effort to reassure the taxpayers that reforms are being made to root out these causal problems in government, it’s unfair and out-of-touch to be asking for more revenue to fund two ambitious initiatives.

I will be more inclined to work with my colleagues to make reforms, end failing programs, and to find cost cutting measures in order to finance projects that are important to our transportation system, including the Route 93/95 Interchange in Woburn and Reading or the many other transportation projects my district is seeking funding for.

I look forward to working towards common sense solutions that have the best interests of the taxpayers of the 30^th Middlesex District in mind.