Brown uses cooperation to address issues

Date: 5/31/2011

May 30, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

NEWS ANALYSIS

WILBRAHAM — Sen. Scott Brown is running for re-election in 2012, but he said that 2011 is a time for solving problems, not politicking.

Brown was the keynote speaker at the East of River Chamber of Commerce 2011 Outlook luncheon at the Wilbraham Country Club on May 27.

A man with clearly considerable political skills, Brown actually arrived at the event early to greet the capacity crowd table by table, talk to the chamber members, pose for photos and autograph copies of his book.

His image is one of being an outsider and independent in Washington, D.C., and he straddles the line between the two parties to seek common ground. His overall message was that businesses are too worried about the immediate future of taxes and regulations to fully participate in reviving the economy.

"We need to create business certainty," he said to the press before his talk.

Part of the uncertainty involves the federal debt ceiling. If it is not raised, the United States could default on its obligations for the first time in its history. While Brown did not comment on where he stands specifically on the issue, he did say, "No one I know, obviously, wants to shut down the government."

He believes "a plan with a realistic solution" can be reached before there is a crisis.

During the chamber's program, Brown listened intently to Wilbraham Select Board member Patrick Brady, who detailed the challenges municipal governments must face with unfunded mandates from the federal government and restrictions from the state.

Brady noted several issues in particular, such as the state requiring every community with a population of 12,000 to have its own veterans' agent. He added the state has decreased its level of reimbursement for school transportation in regional school districts and that state funding for special education has not kept pace with increasing expenses.

Brady said communities could not absorb additional unfunded mandates.

Brown emphasized his shared roots with the business people and town officials in the room. Brown owned his own business and started his political career on the Board of Selectmen in Wrentham. He recalled waking up in the middle of the night worried about business issues.

He said his test for supporting legislation was whether or not it raised taxes or the debt and if it was a benefit to the nation and the people of Massachusetts.

Joking about news reports that say Brown is "walking a fine line" or "wrestling with his vote," the senator said flatly he doesn't do either. He said he reads and researches a bill and knows how he is going to vote before the measure comes to the floor.

"I challenge the president daily. I challenge my party and the majority party daily," he asserted.

Brown said business competition today is "us against the world," and that state and federal governments must take steps to relieve businesses of excessive regulations and taxes.

Examples of restrictive regulations are those imposed upon the fishing industry, he said. Brown will be conducting hearings to gather testimony for his bill that would offer relief to Bay State fishermen.

"I'm trying to bring back some common sense," he said of the fishing bill.

He also noted his participation in hearings about mistakes made in the payment of federal benefits. He said there is $150 billion in federal money sent to the wrong person or sent multiple times to a recipient annually.

Brown said that his commitment to working on common solutions is underscored by his keeping a framed photo of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy on the mantle in his office. He said that while he and Kennedy didn't share many political beliefs, Kennedy would work with "a person of good will" on an issue. Brown wants to continue that policy.