League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Citizen Education Fund
	Norfolk County, MA November 4, 2008 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues State Representative; Fourth Norfolk District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Massaschusetts and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Employment, Infrastructure, Education Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What proposals do you have to increase employment opportunities in Massachusetts? Answer from Robert Montgomery Thomas: A. Lower or eliminate state income tax rates. B. Provide tax incentive plans (TIFP) and lower corporate tax structure to induce businesses to relocate here. C. Reduce state mandated burdens on employers to provide cradle to grave benefits to employees. 2. How will you rectify problems with aging Massachusetts infrastructure, especially bridges and tunnels? Answer from Robert Montgomery Thomas: A. Bonding has already been put out for overdue and neglected repairs. Our grandchildren will get the tab. B. Provide for temporary reduction in prevailing wage law so that more work can be done at a temporary lower cost. 3. Governor Patrick has proposed a wide-ranging plan to transform education in the Commonwealth. What do you see as the top priorities in his plan and what funding mechanism do you feel will enable their successful implementation? Answer from Robert Montgomery Thomas: A. I don't fully agree with the governor's plan. The law provides for FAPE, a free, appropriate public education. It does not provide for many of the unfunded, special interest programs being foisted on students and the system. B. Excessive pensions and redundant administration eat up whatever state funding is allocated for education. I would suggest a pay-as-you-go voucher system where parents of school age children pay for each pupil that they put into the system. I would add a provision that a good percentage, possibly 80%, of what parents pay into the system would be returned as a credit toward higher education in-state scholarships. The best and the brightest will succeed and parents will start doing what they are supposed to be doing in extolling their children to be the best of the best. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.