LETTER: Support L'Italien For State Rep
This Letter to the Editor was sent in support of Barbara L'Italien for State Rep.
Dear Editor,
Just a couple of years ago, our country was embroiled in a serious, yet divisive debate on how to manage our nation’s healthcare. Democrats and Republicans refused to cooperate in addressing this pressing issue and Washington DC was left in gridlock. As our nation’s capital stood at a standstill, Massachusetts was in the process of setting an example when it came to both healthcare policy and political cooperation. Leading this example was Barbara L’Italien, who was showing DC that it was possible for the different political parties to work together.
While Washington was left arguing, Barbara L’Italien was in Boston working with advocates, parents and politicians of all stripes in building support for legislation that would expand health insurance coverage for Massachusetts residents diagnosed with autism. With tens of thousands of Massachusetts families impacted by autism, Barbara was leading the charge in writing and passing a law that would guarantee care and help these families avoid bankruptcy.
What can’t be overlooked is that Barbara was able to successfully pass this law because she got different politicians to work together. At a time when the different political parties wouldn’t speak to each other in Washington DC, Barbara brought Republicans and Democrats together in supporting Autism Health Insurance.
Republicans and Democrats saw Barbara’s Autism Health Insurance law and agreed that it was the right thing to do – it even attracted Scott Brown as a co=sponsor! When it came time to vote on Barbara’s bill, it passed the State House and Senate, unanimously.
As Washington DC seemed incapable of agreeing on anything related to healthcare, Barbara L’Italien was in Boston bringing together Democrats and Republicans in passing groundbreaking legislation. Barbara showed Massachusetts voters that it is certainly possible for different parties to work together – and she showed that when that happens, it is the voters who end up winning. Please join me in supporting Barbara L’Italien as our next State Representative. Our government needs less political bickering and more people willing to work together.
Sincerely,
Marilyn M. Fitzgerald
Washington Avenue,
Andover, MA 01810
salemst
11:16 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Ex-State Representative Barbara L'Italien didn't work together crossing the aisle when she snuck the Alcohol and Meals tax into the budget without a House vote.
She did so through a private six person Conference Committee with four Democrats including her as the Assistant Ways and Means Chair and two Republicans, with majority rule. The four Democrats were the majority.
Ms L'Italien was the driving force getting these tax increases enacted. No one saw any bi-partisanship in this onerous bill crushing our local businesses with Liquor Store owners down up to 40% in sales with next door New Hampshire being the big sales recipient beneficiary.
My suggestion is if anyone wants someone to work across the aisle, Jim Lyons would be the far more responsive and accommodating state rep vastly superior as a listener and respectful in disagreement than Ms. L'Italien.