Statement of Rep Jim Lyons Regarding Post Audit and Oversight Committee Hearing on State Funded Benefits to Marathon Terrorists

As we join here today, two weeks after the evil attacks that shook our Patriot’s Day and the Marathon, we understand even more fully our debt of gratitude to our police, fire, law enforcement, and first responders who risk their lives to protect us, our families, and our society.

We are also struck by the evil that some will do in order to hurt and murder people, and to undermine the peace and tranquility of our society and its traditions.

We all pray for the many persons and families who have experienced tremendous loss at this time.

We additionally see an absurd contradiction that undermines the openness and transparency that protects the public right to know, a principle at the heart of any democratic society.

Sadly, this contradiction unmasks the contrast between how state government treats information about our law enforcement and first responders, versus how the same state government shields similar information about terrorists and evil doers.

Today, information detailing the earned salaries, earned benefits, and retirement of law enforcement is available to citizens of Massachusetts and to the media.

Our law enforcement and first responders accept and understand the idea of the public right to know—the idea that decent, law abiding, hard working families have a right to know how and where their precious tax dollars are being spent. Now, the Patrick administration is undermining this public right to know with respect to the lifetime, taxpayer-funded, unearned subsidies that have been given to a pair of terrorists.

What unearned benefits have the taxpayers of this Commonwealth been forced to pay for on behalf of these evil doers over their lifetime? What is the total amount of precious taxpayer resources given to these terrorists through the years?

We don’t have any idea.

Does the public have a right to know?

No – says the Patrick administration.

Do the decent, law-abiding, hardworking, taxpaying families have a right to know how their tax dollars have been spent?

No – says the Patrick administration.

Well, we say: what could be more absurd and more wrong than this—that the Patrick administration would shield terrorists from the public right to know, at the very same time that our police, fire, law enforcement, and first responders are all subject to this revered principle in an open society.

We as legislators must insist on this simple principle of fairness and equity—that terrorists and evil doers will not be granted special protections that hide from public scrutiny their lifetime taxpayer-funded benefits.

Let us unite around the principle of the public right to know.

Let us say to decent, law abiding, taxpaying families—you have a right to know how your precious tax dollars are being spent.

Most importantly, let us say to our police, fire, law enforcement, and first responders—we honor your service to us every day, and we will honor the Democratic principles of fairness, equity, openness, and transparency by insisting that the Patrick administration respect the public right to know. Thank you.

For more information, contact:

Representative Jim Lyons

18th Essex District

State House, Room 39

Boston, MA 02133

P: 617 722 2014