Press Releases

2008: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July
2007: Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Press Releases for February 2008

Feb 2 - Rep. Perry announces Civil Service Exams for firefighters
Feb 9 - Rep. Perry again stands up for education and funding for local schools
Feb 19 - Perry announces Campaign 2008 kickoff
Feb 29 - Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry files bill to cap homeowner's insurance rates under the "Un" FAIR Plan

Feb 2 , 2008

REPRESENTATIVE PERRY ANNOUNCES CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS FOR FIREFIGHTERS

State House – State Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) and the Massachusetts Human Resources Division (HRD) have announced that the Civil Service Exams for Municipal Firefighters will be offered in April. The deadline for filing an application is March 18, 2008.

HRD is responsible for the administration of this statewide exam, and this is one of the most important exams the Division will conduct in the coming months. The list that will result from these examinations will determine the pool of applicants eligible for positions as Municipal Firefighters. The eligible list will remain active for two years following its establishment. The Firefighters Exam will be held Saturday April 26, 2008.

“It is important and time sensitive that anyone interested in taking these exams fill out the applications as soon as possible so that they do not miss this great opportunity” Representative Perry said. Interested applicants may pay for and fill out the application online at HRD’s website, www.state.ma.us/hrd.

For additional information about the examination eligibility requirements or the application process, interested parties may call (617) 727-0399, or visit HRD’s website. If you require additional assistance, do not hesitate to call Representative Perry’s Boston Office at (617) 722-2800 ex. 8743 or email him at: Rep.JeffreyPerry@hou.state.ma.us.

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February 9, 2008

PERRY AGAIN STANDS UP FOR EDUCATION AND FUNDING FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS

BOSTON—State Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) and the House Republican Caucus spoke strongly yesterday against an unnecessary, expensive and potentially harmful plan to reorganize the state’s education system, and urged legislators to instead focus their attention on directing more financial aid to cash-strapped local schools.

“This bill provides the Governor with too much freedom to change education in Massachusetts unilaterally, and to his education reform proposals in general, which are estimated to carry a price tag of up to $2.43 billion per year. I am more interested in providing more funding to local communities, while the Governor seems most interested in providing subsidized college benefits for illegal immigrants” said Representative Perry, who is the Ranking Republican serving on the Education Committee.

Perry and his fellow Republicans voted against the reorganization plan; however, the proposal passed with overwhelming Democratic support. The bill is now headed to the Senate.

“Across our state, school districts are struggling to pay for textbooks, sports and music programs, and other very basic needs,” said House Minority Leader Brad Jones. “What they need from us right now is more education aid from the state, not reorganization plans that expand bureaucracy on Beacon Hill.”

The plan, filed by Gov. Deval Patrick, elevates the head of the state’s Department of Education to cabinet-level status and centralizes control of the entire system, from early childhood education to higher education, under a new Executive Office of Education.

Making the change would cost the state an estimated $1.5 million in the first year, and would add 31 full-time employees to the state’s payroll.

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February 19, 2008

Perry Announces Campaign 2008 Kickoff

Sandwich – Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) is pleased to announce that he has decided to seek a fourth term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Upon declaring his intention to seek reelection, Perry stated, “It has been my honor to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives these last three terms. I am proud of my record of fighting to make government more efficient, responsive and accountable and to bring the voice of the people to government.”

The Campaign Kickoff event will be on Friday, March 28, 2008, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm and will be held at the Sandwich Hollows Golf Course. The Featured Guest Speaker is scheduled to be Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. who is the House of Representatives Republican Minority Leader. “It is my honor to attend and speak at Jeff’s reelection kickoff. He has been a passionate advocate for his district and principled public servant during his time in the House” stated Brad Jones.

Dennis Fonseca who serves as Mr. Perry’s Finance Chairman and Chairman of the Sandwich Republican Town Committee will introduce Representative Perry at the event. When asked about Representative Perry's candidacy for re-election, Mr. Fonseca was quoted as saying, "No one in the state legislature has done more for his constituents, stayed truer to his convictions, or has more courageously served the greater good of society than Jeff Perry has done these past three terms. In a time when most Cape politicians are guided by polling data and ultra-liberal ideology, Jeff is guided by common sense and a conviction that sets him apart.”

“As the Ranking Member on the Education and Public Safety Committees, along with my position on the powerful Ways & Means Committee, I am pleased I have been able to work to increase state aid for our local education and public safety needs. I am also proud of my record of standing up against the Beacon Hill establishment and stopping your tax dollars from going to subsidize benefits for illegal immigrants and other wasteful spending programs. But to be clear, there is much more work to do, and I am energized to continue” further said Representative Perry.

Donations to Representative Perry’s reelection efforts are greatly appreciated and will be accepted at the door of the Campaign Kickoff.

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February 29, 2008

Representative Jeffrey Davis Perry Files Bill to Cap Homeowners Insurnace Rates under the “Un” FAIR Plan

SANDWICH - Jeffrey Davis Perry (R-Sandwich) has cosponsored legislation today to protect homeowners who purchase their property and casualty insurance through the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association, the so-called FAIR plan. More than 125,000 families in Massachusetts purchase homeowner's insurance through the FAIR plan because they are otherwise unable to obtain coverage including a majority of homeowners on Cape Cod.

“While I believe in allowing the free market to take care of itself, the FAIR plan is not the free market and in my view it must be controlled or homeowners with few alternatives will continue to be abused. This legislation is an effort to do just that” said Representative Perry from his Sandwich Office today.

Last month, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the FAIR plan's 2005 rate increases, which included an annual increase of as much as 25% for cities and towns across Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. The Court based the key part of its decision on one sentence in a 2004 amendment to the FAIR plan statute that contains rate caps intended to protect homeowner's from sudden rates hikes. The sentence has the effect of allowing insurers to pass on to homeowners the impact of the industry's application of Florida's recent hurricane experience to coastal New England.

Massachusetts’ hurricane experience is very different from Florida's; only five hurricanes have made landfall anywhere in New England in the past half century. FAIR plan customers have incurred back to back annual increases of as much as 25% in the past two years. The legislation would be retroactive but would keep future increases to the statewide average, currently 5.9%.

Representative Perry further stated that he is pleased with the progress on the auto insurance side on this issue, “Massachusetts consumers deserve to have a free market system where companies can write different types of competitive home and auto insurance. Our system is broken and not benefiting consumers, especially here on Cape Cod. Hopefully the new changes on auto insurance will create more opportunities on the homeowners’ side. I am pleased with the recent successes on this issue and look forward to continuing to keep this issue a priority.”

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