Patrick McCabe, 2008 State Rep Questionnaire Responses

  1. Why should progressive Democrats consider you to be the best choice for state representative in this race? What have you championed and/or accomplished as an elected official that supports your claim?

    I am the best choice for Progressive Democrats in my District because I share your values, and I am the only progressive candidate who can defeat our entrenched, deeply conservative incumbent Rep. My long roots in the district combined with my background as an Army Officer and labor leader give me a unique ability to connect with voters who sometimes have been less than receptive to a progressive message. This strength from my candidacy has been demonstrated by the two major statewide progressive organizations that have endorsed me in the past two weeks, Planned Parenthood and MassEquality.

  2. What would be your top legislative priorities in your next term of office? What have you already done to demonstrate your commitment on these issues?

    Throughout my life, my passion as been working for economic, environmental and social justice. Since leaving the Army, for the past four years I have worked as the Organizing and Communications Director for SEIU Local 1984 in New Hampshire, helping state employees stand up for their rights and helping elect Democrats. In the house, my top legislative priorities would be delivering world class education and single-payer healthcare to every citizen of our Commonwealth, and revising the tax code so that the wealthy and corporations provide a much larger share of state revenue than they do today.

  3. During the previous Republican administration, there were dramatic cuts in state funding for safety net services, higher education, and local aid. Thus far, there has only been limited success in restoring funding to address unmet need.

    a) What program(s) or service(s) would be your highest priorities for funding restoration?

    I support fully funding our 2006 Healthcare reform law, as an interim step to achieve universal coverage as we work for a single-payer system for all. I support fully funding the Governor and Rep. Rushing’s plan to end homelessness in Massachusetts. I also support restoring all of the cuts made to local aid and public higher education during the Romney years- my vision is of the best pre-K through 12 system in the world, along with a UMASS system comparable to the pubic university systems in North Carolina and California in the quality and affordability of the education it provides.

    b) How would you propose to pay for restored funding for these and other priorities? If you propose spending cuts in other areas, be specific about the programs or services or staff positions that would be cut; if you propose to increase revenues, be specific about the sources of that revenue.

    In the house I will spearhead an effort to significantly raise the corporate income tax, and I will fight for a constitutional amendment to allow for a progressive, income-bracketed state income tax, like the federal one, instead of the flat-rate personal income tax we have today. I will also push for the passage of the Governor’s Municipal Partnership Act, which will give the cities and towns of the Commonwealth the option to levy a hotel and meals tax if they so choose. Passing the MPA will give struggling cities and towns a new source of desperately needed revenue, and lessen their reliance on the regressive property tax.

  4. All over the country there are proposals to make it both harder and easier for people to cast their vote. What election reform proposals do you support or disagree with?

    I strongly support same-day voter registration, and will work in the house to finally make it a reality in the Commonwealth. I also support public funding of campaigns. This will take special interest money out of the electoral process.

  5. The Green Line is slated to come to both Somerville and Medford. In Medford there have been many discussions about the challenges of bringing the Green Line in and some opposition. How do you feel about the extension to Medford and how would you support your position as a legislator?

    I strongly support extending Green Line service northward through Somerville and Medford, along the Fitchburg and Lowell commuter rail line rights of way.

    As Rep I will push for more funding and an earlier completion date for this vital transit project, but I will be very receptive and sympathetic to the mitigation needs of residents who live near the line.

  6. Do you support bringing casino gambling and/or racetrack slot machines to Massachusetts? If so, how and why should it be done and what trade-offs would be involved? If not, why not?

    I support Governor Patrick’s plan to license three destination-resort casinos in Massachusetts, because I believe the tens of thousands of blue-collar jobs and the new state revenue they will provide are worth the potential risks of introducing casinos in our state.

    However, I believe that a casino project must provide enough revenue to mitigate the social cost of gambling and should always be subject to the oversight and the veto power of the municipality where it’s located. I will only support locating casinos in towns and cities that want to have them.