Is there anything that state lawmakers can be doing in Massachusetts to bring the price of gas a little bit back down? If you buy a gallon of gasoline anywhere in the United States, part of the price per gallon is for the federal, state, and sometimes even local excise taxes.  The national average for those taxes is 49.5 cents per gallon, while in Massachusetts the total per gallon comes to 41.9 cents.  This figure is made up of the federal per gallon excise of 18.4 cents; the state’s 21 cents per gallon gas tax; and the state’s 2.5 cents per gallon underground storage tank (UST) fee which is…

North Reading is performing its annual review of town-owned land.  Under what circumstances do you support the sale of municipal land? The question brings back memories from my six years on the Board of Selectmen—though now I have no role in the sale of town-owned land unless a parcel requires legislative approval to be sold.    I think every parcel is unique. First and foremast, larger parcels that might someday meet a town need should be, in most instances, retained by the town. I think smaller parcels are more advantageous to return to the tax rolls. To name a couple, if a parcel can be …

What can a state rep do to improve the economy for Massachusetts?  A State Representative can accomplish very little to improve the economy, individually. Collectively, however, a State Representative can work with like-minded colleagues to propose, support and advance policies that can have a direct benefit for the economy. I think pushing for stability in our tax structure, a clear and efficient regulatory framework, and targeted investments in our infrastructure can help facilitate economic growth.  Also, on an individual basis, a State Representative can obviously push to support projects…

What would you say are some of the biggest areas of friction in the State Congress? Naturally I think there are the partisan differences present on a host of issues including: taxes, local aid, and illegal immigration, to name a few.  There are also institutional differences and rivalries between the House and Senate, and between the Legislature and the Executive Branch.  Perhaps the biggest “area of friction” during the past session and this current one remains the issue of expanded gaming. Another debate that generated a lot of passion involved changes to our municipal health care paradigm—…

Do you believe the U.S. will eventually default on its debt and why? While I have no better information about the wrangling in Washington over the debt limit debate than the average citizen at home, I remain convinced that at the end of the day some agreement or action will be taken that avoids default. It is certainly too late for that solution to be a pristine process without drama, but in the end I believe and perhaps maybe it is more of a hope, that some solution will be found, albeit most likely far from perfect. I believe so because the potential prospects and ramifications of default …

In our ongoing mission to bring our readers solid local coverage, Reading Patch, in cooperation with North Reading Patch and Lynnfield Patch, will again bring your questions to State Rep. Brad Jones. From your questions, the Reading, North Reading and Lynnfield editors will select five to send to Jones, who has agreed to take the time to answer them in writing. We will accept questions for Rep. Jones through 9 a.m. Wednesday. If all goes well, we expect to publish his responses on Monday. So, if you have a question for Brad Jones, ask it in the comment section below, or email mattc@patch.com.

Reading Patch, in corporation with Woburn Patch and Stoneham Patch asked last week what questions you would like to ask State Rep. Jim Dwyer. Today, we bring you the answers to those questions. We will continue this cycle each month. So, if today's answers inspire a new question, ask it in the comment section below, or email mattc@patch.com. Here are five questions that the state representative answered for this month's installment: What does the passage of the Municipal Health Insurance Reform bill mean for municipalities?  The passage of the Municipal Health Insurance reform will allow …

In our ongoing mission to bring our readers solid local coverage, Reading Patch, in cooperation with Woburn Patch and Stoneham Patch, will take your questions this week to State Rep. Jim Dwyer. From your questions, the Reading, Woburn and Stoneham editors will select five to send to Dwyer, who has agreed to take the time to answer them in writing. We will accept your questions through 9 a.m. Wednesday. If all goes well, we expect to publish Dwyer's responses on Monday.  Post your questions in the comment section below, or email them to mattc@patch.com.

North Reading Patch, in corporation with Reading Patch and Lynnfield Patch, have introduced a feature where we bring your questions to State Rep. Brad Jones. Once per month, we will ask you what one question about a local issue you would ask Jones if you had 20 minutes to sit down with him.  So, if you have a question for Brad Jones, ask it in the comment section below, or email mattc@patch.com. Here are five questions that the state representative answered for this month's installment: Q. You are aware that state, city, county and federal pensions are non state taxed in Massachusetts while …

In our ongoing mission to bring our readers solid local coverage, Reading Patch, in cooperation with North Reading Patch and Lynnfield Patch, will again bring your questions to State Rep. Brad Jones. From your questions, the Reading, North Reading and Lynnfield editors will select five to send to Jones, who has agreed to take the time to answer them in writing. We will accept questions for Rep. Jones through 9 a.m. Wednesday. If all goes well, we expect to publish his responses on Monday. So, if you have a question for Brad Jones, ask it in the comment section below, or email mattc@patch.com.

Reading Patch, in corporation with Woburn Patch and Stoneham Patch asked last week what questions you would like to ask State Rep. Jim Dwyer. Today, we bring you the answers to those questions. We will continue this cycle each month. So, if today's answers inspire a new question, ask it in the comment section below, or email mattc@patch.com. Here are five questions that the state representative answered for this month's installment: From your experience, what are the implications to the public and to the 'clients' of the proposed merger of state Probation and Parole departments?  After 34 …

In our ongoing mission to bring our readers solid local coverage, Reading Patch, in cooperation with Woburn Patch and Stoneham Patch, will take your questions this week to State Rep. Jim Dwyer. From your questions, the Reading, Woburn and Stoneham editors will select five to send to Dwyer, who has agreed to take the time to answer them in writing. We will accept your questions through 9 a.m. Wednesday. If all goes well, we expect to publish Dwyer's responses on Monday.  Post your questions in the comment section below, or email them to mattc@patch.com.

North Reading Patch, in corporation with Reading Patch and Lynnfield Patch, have introduced a feature where we bring your questions to State Rep. Brad Jones. Once per month, we will ask you what one question about a local issue you would ask Jones if you had 20 minutes to sit down with him.  So, if you have a question for Brad Jones, ask it in the comment section below, or email mattc@patch.com. Here are five questions that the state representative answered for this month's installment: Is there any type of investigation going on to see why the highway starts deteriorating through the white …

In our ongoing mission to bring our readers solid local coverage, Reading Patch, in cooperation with North Reading Patch and Lynnfield Patch, will again bring your questions to State Rep. Brad Jones. From your questions, the Reading, North Reading and Lynnfield editors will select five to send to Jones, who has agreed to take the time to answer them in writing. We will accept questions for Rep. Jones through 5 p.m. Wednesday. If all goes well, we expect to publish his responses on Monday. So, if you have a question for Brad Jones, ask it in the comment section below, or email mattc@patch.com.

We asked our readers as well as those from Reading and Woburn to ask Rep. Jim Dwyer some government-related questions and here are his responses: 1. Based on the below data, how does it make sense that Wellesley gets more chapter 70 aid per public school student than Stoneham or Woburn? Wellesley - Average property value = $724,000, median household income = $114,000 Stoneham - Average property value = $333,000, median household income = $57,000 Woburn - Average property value = $293,000, median household income = $55,000 2. What specifically do you plan on doing to ensure that Swampscott, …

In our ongoing mission to bring our readers solid local coverage, Reading Patch, in cooperation with Woburn Patch and Stoneham Patch, will take your questions this week to State Rep. Jim Dwyer. From your questions, the Reading, Woburn and Stoneham editors will select five to send to Dwyer, who has agreed to take the time to answer them in writing. We will accept your questions through 5 p.m. Wednesday. If all goes well, we expect to publish Dwyer's responses on Monday.  Post your questions in the comment section below, or email them to mattc@patch.com.

In our continuing effort to bring you comprehensive local coverage, Reading Patch, in cooperation with Lynnfield Patch and North Reading Patch, has created a new feature where we bring your questions to State Rep. Brad Jones. Below follow Jones' responses to five questions taken from, or inspired by, those asked by our readers. If you have a question you would like to appear in a future eddition of "Ask Your Official," write it in the comments or email the editor for your Patch. Patch: In Lynnfield, a $1.5 million budget deficit must be closed or more than 50 municipal employees could find …

In our ongoing mission to bring our readers solid local coverage, Reading Patch, in cooperation with North Reading Patch and Lynnfield Patch, are introducing a feature this week where we will bring your questions to State Rep. Brad Jones. Once per month, we will ask you what one question about a local issue you would ask Jones if you had twenty minutes to sit down with him.  From your questions, the Reading, North Reading and Lynnfield editors will select five to send to Jones, who has agreed to take the time to answer them in writing. This week, our time is short. Jones expects to be busy …