WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington Apple is asking weekly questions to the seven candidates running in contested primaries for the Wilmington/Tewksbury State Representative seat (19th Middlesex).
Below, in her own words, are the responses to this week’s questions from candidate Erin Buckley (R-Tewksbury).
#11) Do you feel Massachusetts residents are over-taxed? How will you balance the need to provide government services to the taxpayers & fund the government with most taxpayers’ desire for no tax increases? Can you point to anywhere in the state budget where you believe there is waste, fraud or abuse? What will you do about it?
Of course we are over-taxed? Dare ANY candidate say otherwise? “Taxachusetts” was a moniker our beloved Commonwealth well-earned. Balancing need with budget, while satisfying the taxpayers’ desire for no further tax increases comes from identifying waste, fraud, and abuse! For example, in 2017 alone more than $45,000,000 was recovered from fraudulent claims to MassHealth. That is more than $6.50 for every man, woman, and child living in Massachusetts. And that is just what was caught! Governor Charlie Baker is a former healthcare executive and in that same year of 2017, he worked to move 140,000 people ABOVE the federal poverty level into subsidized insurance programs within Massachusetts’s Health Connector — but his plan was rejected. MassHealth currently eats-up 40% of the state budget. Think about that. It comes in at around $16.6 billion dollars. Billion with a “b”! And Governor Baker’s common sense plan to move, but still subsidize, people’s insurance, people ABOVE the poverty level, was shut down. This is why we are taxed. Programs meant to help those most in need are expanded. Money meant to help those who are in dire circumstances is multiplied to aid those who could find other avenues. The expansion of government is always in inverse proportion to the expansion of a citizen’s wealth. Stop fraud, stop abuse, and stop those who see it as their job to stop the just and fair function of already generous public programs!
#12) Former State Representative Jim Miceli was known through the district for his extraordinary constituent services. Do you pledge to provide a similar level of constituent services if elected? How will you be responsive to requests for help from residents of Wilmington and Tewksbury?
As a Legislative Aide, one of my roles was to work directly on constituent issues. It was the main focus of my boss, Representative Will Crocker (R- 2nd Barnstable). When he took office, there was a significant opportunity for an increase in constituency work and therefore, with his determination, I was able to help tackle the unfortunately massive backlog of needed assistance.
First and foremost, as a State Representative, your job should be to function as liaison between the constituent and the state bureaucracy. It is unfortunate that by the time folks reach out to their State Representative they have often run out of all other options and they feel lost within the system. Serving a Legislative Aide for a Cape Cod district, I immediately saw that there was a large population of seasonal workers who receive unemployment benefits throughout the winter months. This was often their financial lifeline through our harshest New England months. If they were unable to get through to the Unemployment Office, it could mean going weeks, and sometimes months, without receiving benefits. Very few folks I know could go two months without any income. When you are a State Representative, it means you get through to Unemployment immediately and can help remedy the issues at hand and deliver much needed relief. This is your job, helping your district in anyway you can is your ONLY job description.
The work I am most proud of in my entire life was my constituency work as Legislative Aide for the 2nd Barnstable. Offering help and hope to people who felt they had none of either was overwhelming in its gravitas. I very much look forward to delivering hard work and solutions to the folks of the 19th Middlesex.
(NOTE: Do you have a question for the candidates? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com and it may be asked in a future Q&A or in a debate.)
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Wilmington Apple 
ONLY Republican candidate. Her resume is off the charts. Finally!