August 12, 2009 - Old Colony Memorial

BOSTON — House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. congratulated state Rep. Vinny deMacedo, R-Plymouth, last week for achieving an impressive voting record so far this legislative session. The Plymouth Republican participated in 210 consecutive roll call votes held this year, a 100 percent voting record, casting votes in favor of a number of reforms relative to pensions and ethics, while voting against issues such as the sales tax increase.

“Vinny is an incredibly committed member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives,” Jones said. “He works tirelessly on behalf of his constituents and is a great ally to the people of his district. I am proud to work alongside such a great legislator.”

Brockton-area lawmakers, law enforcement call for tougher sentences for anyone convicted of pointing a gun or shooting at a police officer

BROCKTON - The suspects accused of leading police on a 13-mile chase into Quincy and firing at the pursuing cruisers were sitting in the cell at police headquarters shortly after their arrest.

A few feet away, the officers could hear them chuckling.

“They were laughing about it in the jail cell,” Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said.

The getaway driver and the gunman that night would later receive sentences of less than five years, time law enforcement officials say was a slap to the police officers who risked their lives catching the suspects.

If you're a Bay State taxpayer and you see someone sleeping on the job or a project you think is a total waste of money…you now have an outlet for your anger.

When Gov. Deval Patrick brings home billions in federal stimulus bacon, two Republican lawmakers will be counting on government-fatigued taxpayers to be “pork busters,” dropping dimes on napping hacks and boondoggles run amok.

“Let’s face it, people don’t like us (politicians), and we give them a lot of reasons to not like us. Let’s not use this as an excuse for an orgy of spending,” said Sen. Michael Knapik, 46, of Westfield.

Heaping $21.8 million of federal stimulus money into 6,000 solar-powered trash compactors isn’t passing the smell test for lawmakers already concerned about wasting the Bay State’s share of the bailout windfall.

The pricey garbage cans, which cost about $3,600 each, would be installed in all 250 state-owned parks if the funding is approved.

State lawmakers are lining up today to reject the 5.5 percent automatic pay raise that Governor Deval Patrick set in motion, saying that with local communities facing drastic budget cuts and families facing job losses, they could not pad their own pockets at taxpayer expense.

Representative Viriato deMacedo, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, said he would donate the raise of $3,203 to a Plymouth food pantry, which lost $150,000 in funding in the last round of budget cuts.

Tolls in Massachusetts could double by spring of 2009 under a Turnpike Authority plan the public is mobilizing. Republicans on Beacon Hill are on the warpath over the prospect of toll hikes. On this segment of NECN Newsnight, Chet Curtis is joined by Representative Vinny deMacedo, Republican of Plymouth, Senator Bruce Tarr, Republican of Gloucester, and Representative Bill Straus, Democrat of Mattapoisett.

NECN, December 18, 2008 Watch video here.

BOSTON - House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. announced the creation of a three-member ethics study group. Jones asked representatives Vinny deMacedo (Plymouth), Elizabeth Poirier (North Attleboro) and Richard Ross (Wrentham) to examine the current ethics rules and procedures of the House and make recommendations for improvement.

Vinny deMacedo romps over challenger in 1st Plymouth District State Representative Race.

Vinny deMacedo won a sixth term for State Representative in the 1st Plymouth District, with a more than two to one margin over challenger Jay Ferguson.

He said he was especially pleased to be returning after voters statewide rejected a bid to eliminate the state income tax.

DeMacedo said he was humbled by the large victory margin, but congratulated his opponent for getting involved in the political process.

“It’s going to be a difficult two years, but I’ve been there before,” deMacedo said of the state and national financial crisis.

He said he was grateful that voters rejected the state tax question, but respects the message.

“Clearly people are frustrated by Beacon Hill, but realized the implications of eliminating the income tax,” deMacedo said. “I think they wanted to send a message, but not cause chaos.”

PLYMOUTH-- By Tamara Race, The Patriot Ledger, November 5, 2008

Read the full article.

On Wednesday Governor Deval Patrick outlined a plan that cut state spending by one billion dollars. Patrick has ordered that 1,000 state jobs will be cut, and $200 million from the rainy day fund will be used, on top of $400 million from the rainy day fund that was already planned to be spent. He says that the emergency bill will reform agencies, and cut several others. In total, he expects agencies to reduce spending by $700 million. Jim Braude is joined by State Representative David Linsky, Democrat of Natick, and State Representative Vinny deMacedo, Republican of Plymouth to discuss the budget cuts.

Click here to watch the video. .