Dracut Greek Festival 11:30 – 12:30
1160 Mammoth Road, Dracut
River Ruckus 1 – 3
Haverhill Waterfront
Bolton Fair 3:30 – 5
Lancaster Fair Grounds
Hot Air Balloon Festival 5:30 – 6:30
99 Park Street, Hudson
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July 30, 2010
2010 Campaign Notebook: Golnik promises to listen, respond if elected to Congress
By Ross Marrinson rmarrinson@hgazette.com
Republican 5th District congressional candidate Jon Golnik visited Haverhill last week on the third leg of his city-by-city walking tour, known as the “Can You Hear Us Now” tour, a phrase implying Washington, D.C., has become a bubble of insiders who are far removed from the day-to-day struggles facing towns like Haverhill.
Golnik’s message is simple: “Congress isn’t listening, Jon Golnik will.”
“You need to listen,” he said. “But you can listen but not hear. We need to do both.”
During his visit to downtown’s Jennie’s Antiques, Golnik talked with voters who said they appreciated the services former U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy provided to his constituents.
“You look at Ted Kennedy,” he said, walking down Merrimack Street. “His constituent services were second to none. We can aspire to that.”
Golnik continued to The Peddler’s Daughter, at 45 Wingate St., to participate in a roundtable discussion with three members of AvPro Worldwide, a Haverhill-based company that focuses on aerial advertising. He met with President Stew Allen, Sales Manager Martin Allen and Vice President of Sales and Marketing Marty Allen to talk about how they’ve been affected by the economic downturn, the new health care bill and other small business legislation and how he’ll run his campaign competing against incumbent Democrat Niki Tsongas.
“We know we’ll be outspent,” he said at the table. “We’ve got to outwork everybody. Work, work, work.”
Golnik talked about the new health care bill, and the continuing struggle to increase oversight — a common request from voters — while decreasing regulation, another common request.
“We need to focus on the cost at the providers,” he said. Health care is about opening access, and you’ve got to lower costs. You can do this by increasing competition.”
Golnik listed three ways to increase competition. First, he believes consumers should be able to buy insurance across state lines. Second, he wants to repeal certain unnecessary state mandates, which keep prices high. Third, he believes medical malpractice reform would increase competition because it would give doctors the freedom to diagnose as they see fit.
“(Malpractice lawsuits) is at $54 billion over the last 10 years,” he said. “Doctors shouldn’t practice defensive medicine.”
Golnik also discussed the new-age, Scott Brown-like, populist Republican, the type of candidate reaching moderate voters across the nation.
“People say, “You’re a Scott Brown Republican. I say that I’m a Jon Golnik Republican,” he said. “We’re going to listen. We’re going to be engaged, responsive. We’re going to take a practical approach toward problem solving.”
He said that while he “doesn’t know everything,” voters will know where he stands. He’s a proud fiscal conservative, acknowledges that Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that gave women the constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, is the law of the land, and says that while marriage is defined as the relationship between a man and a woman, gay couples should have the same rights as straight couples.
“The fact that gay couples can’t estate plan or visit each other in the hospital is unacceptable to me,” Golnik said.
He said he appreciates the work that incumbent Congresswoman Niki Tsongas has done in protecting the nation’s servicemen and servicewomen, and cited a body armor bill that Tsongas worked to pass in Washington over the past few months, but said he remains deeply concerned with the direction in which the current leaders in D.C. are taking the country.
“I’m not one to throw someone under the bus just because they have a ‘D’ after their name,” Golnik said, referring to Democrats. “But the deficit has grown by 55 percent in the last 18 months.”
This fact, he said, reminds him how important it is to lower costs across the board.
“I’m just against bad ideas,” he said, noting that Massachusetts has a 6.25 percent sales tax while its neighbor to the north, New Hampshire, sits at zero percent. “We need focused legislation to lower costs.”
It all comes back to jobs, though, for Golnik, and he said he knows how important jobs legislation is to residents of Haverhill.
“Jobs are huge to the northern part of the district,” he said. “We need to lower the (tax) burdens, open more credit, increase the size of the of the loans the (Small Business Administration) can give out.”
With the Sept. 14 primary just weeks away, Golnik will think about his grandfather, who was the longest-serving official in Hartford, Conn., history.
“He always used to tell me that the best part of serving was being able to help people,” he said. “We’re going to run a campaign he’d be proud of.”
NY Democrat gives candidate fodder
On Monday, Golnik issued a statement urging Tsongas to call on her colleague New York Democrat Charlie Rangel to resign.
Rangel, who recently gave up chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, is entangled in various ethics charges from the misuse of rent-controlled apartments for political purposes to the failure to disclose rental property earnings.
“What happened to transparency and ‘draining the swamp’?” Golnik asked. “People are cynical because once again, members of Congress are above the law. I agree with Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio), Rep. Rangel needs to resign.”
Former presidential candidate and National Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has chimed in, saying that if the charges filed against Rangel are true, Rangel should “get thrown out of Congress.”
“This isn’t about Republican versus Democrat,” Golnik said. “It’s about the public trust and the sanctity of one of our most cherished institutions. Now that we see charges are here and convictions likely, it is time (Tsongas) take the next step and request his resignation.”
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It is with great pleasure that I endorse Jon Golnik in the Congressional race in Massachusetts’ Fifth district. I believe that he represents the best opportunity to win the Congressional seat in the fall’s upcoming elections, and I will work hard to make sure people come to the polls September and November.
Currently, the fifth district is without adequate representation in Congress. Our current representative votes 98% of the time with leadership while this district is 55% unenrolled voters. Niki Tsongas has failed to listen to the people in our district. The people spoke in January when they sent Scott Brown to Washington, D.C. However, that did not sway her vote for the trillion dollar Health Care Bill. It does not end there. We know the people have opposed deficit spending, bailouts, takeovers, and energy taxes. These are destroying our economy. Yet, Niki Tsongas has voted for all of them. There is an arrogance in Washington, D.C. that our elected know better than we do, what is good for us!
Jon Golnik knows this is wrong. I know firsthand, that Jon listens to the people. He recognizes that elected representative’s loyalty is with the people he/she represents not Party leadership. He also knows that we cannot continue on our current deficit spending path. He’s a small businessman. He understands that the first step towards fixing your finances is to establish a budget. That’s the way it works in a business. That’s the way it works in your household. And that’s the way it should work that way in the United States House of Representatives as well.
I believe that campaigns are in many ways a dress rehearsal for the type of Congressman a candidate would be. Jon has proven by his hard work and travel throughout the Fifth district (all 29 towns and cities) that he believes actions speak louder than words. If his campaign is any indication, he will be a tireless worker for the people of the fifth district. And while I cannot speak for all the towns in the fifth district I am confident that he will carry Haverhill in both the primary and general elections.
I have spent a better part of my life in politics. I have seen many politicians come and go. Jon Golnik is one of the good ones. And whether you are Democrat, Republican or Independent, Jon Golnik will be a legislator you can be proud to call ‘Congressman
Bill Ryan
Haverhill City Councilor
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THE GOVERNMENT FAILS TO ENFORCE LAWS, AND JUDGE SAYS NO ONE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT
Westford, Ma – A Federal District Court Judge yesterday struck down key provisions of the Arizona Illegal Immigration bill—which was designed to enforce laws the federal government has failed to enforce. The ruling is being widely criticized today by legal experts pointing out that while the ruling removed the requirement that immigrants carry proof of status papers, that is actually an existing federal law. 5th District Congressional Candidate Jon Golnik made the following statement on the ruling:
“In Arizona and here in Massachusetts, states need the right to enforce significant laws when the federal government doesn’t do it. The fact is, our federal government has been an abject failure when it comes to enforcement of immigration laws. The illegal immigration problem in this country is an assault on our education and health care systems, our economy and our national security.
“Was I the only one frustrated reading the newspapers today to see quotes from admitted illegal immigrants saying how unfair the law was and happy they are it was struck down? There is not even an ounce of concern that standing up and declaring you are illegal and demanding rights may get you sent back to your legal country. That is the state our nation and this issue is in.
“This issue goes beyond the specifics in the Arizona bill and onto the general issue of the right of states to protect its citizens and its economy when the federal government fails to do so. This nation was set up based on state rights and was never intended for us to be beholden to a central federal government to do everything. I think when they fail, states should have the right to do what they can.
“I will eagerly watch the legal contests as they take place on this issue. When I am in Congress, I will work to remove the magnets for illegal immigrants. Let’s enforce strict penalties on companies that hire them. Let’s eliminate all state and federal monetary benefits to illegals. If they have no work and no hand outs, what is it that will bring them here? We need to do more than enact laws however, we need to enforce the ones we have.”
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5th District Congressional Candidate Embarks on 3rd Leg of Tour Visiting Area Businesses
Westford, Ma – 5th District Congressional Candidate Jon Golnik is embarking on the 3rd leg of his “Can You Hear Us Now?” Tour by visiting businesses in the district. Jon will meet with owners and employees and discuss how they are affected by the current state of the economy, the new imposing health care program and other effects of federal regulations on small businesses.
“Getting out, meeting with people and listening to their thoughts is my favorite part of being a candidate, so I am thrilled to continue touring the district with a focus on businesses,” Golnik said. “Business is the engine that drives the economy. These employers are being stifled by increasing costs in regulation, taxes and a health care program that will limit access and increase consumer prices. We need to get government out of the way so industries across the board can grow and hire–putting people back to work and getting this economy going again.”
Jon’s tour will last several weeks and begin this week with stops in Haverhill and Lawrence.
The Can You Hear Us Now Business Tour Schedule
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
TIME: 1:30 PM
WHAT: Can You Hear Us Now? Business Stop
WHERE: Haverhill Beef Co.
117 Merrimack St
Haverhill, Ma
TIME: 2:30 PM
WHAT: Can You Hear Us Now? Business Stop
WHERE: Bistro 45
45 Wingate Street
Haverhill, Ma
Notes Jon will join a round table of local business owners/managers to
Thursday, July 22, 2010
TIME: 1:00 PM
WHAT: Can You Hear Us Now? Business Stop
WHERE: Packard’s Pharmacy
128 Parker Street
Lawrence, Ma
TIME: 2:30 PM
WHAT: Can You Hear Us Now Business Stop
WHERE: Sweeney’s Sandwiches, Salads and Spritis
90 Essex Street
Lawrence, Ma
TIME: 3:30 PM
WHAT: Can You Hear Us Now Business Stop
WHERE: 3Dogz Diner
13 S. Broadway St
Lawrence, Ma
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Boston Globe Spotlights Niki Tsongas’s Lack of Transparency
Westford, Ma – 5th District Congressional Candidate Jon Golnik is calling for all earmark spending in Congress to be open, transparent, attributed and necessary. Yesterday, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas was called-out in the Boston Globe for her apparent refusal to clearly provide information on earmark funding requests–as is required by a new ‘transparency’ law. Boston Globe, June 12, 2010, Uneven Response on House Earmarks, by Matt Viser
“—four other members place them where they are less obvious. Those sites appear to follow the letter, but not always the spirit, of the new rule.
“Voters seeking to view the earmark funding requested by Representative Niki Tsongas would be hard-pressed to find it,”
Niki Tsongas is also noted as a self-proclaimed “advocate of openness and transparency.”
“Congresswoman Tsongas repeatedly claims to want and open and transparent government and when faced with doing it herself, refuses. The do as I say not as I do era of politicians must end,” Golnik said.
Jon Golnik believes that all earmarks should be attributed to the requesting Representative; should be clearly described in a visible place, such as a website, for the public to see prior to the vote; and should be subject to an up or down vote—not buried in other pieces of legislation.
“If a piece is legislation is worthy, than let’s put it forth to the public scrutiny that it was intended to have. We are running massive deficits and have a national debt of $13 Trillion and climbing. Niki Tsongas has voted for every outrageous spending bill put before her from Cap and Trade energy tax, to the trillion dollar health care disaster, and Stimulus’s and bailouts. If that’s what she spends when we are watching, we clearly know she shouldn’t be in a position to spend without our knowledge or public consent,” Golnik said.
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As we reflect on our independence from the birth of our great country, it is important to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many fellow citizens. Whether it is the soldier on the battlefield, or a worker in the factory, Americans have always pulled together to defend and fight for our liberties that we cherish. We are a nation founded on ideals that are embraced by a free people willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure future generations are given the same opportunities.
When thinking about our independence, it is more apparent that our government is creating a culture of dependence on the state. The “too big to fail” mentality has seen a rapid growth of our government where the taxpayer is footing the bills for the mistakes of others. The American taxpayer is being brought down a road where they are becoming too small to succeed.
This campaign in the 5th District is about taking our independence to Washington. We are working to restore our American ideals of liberty where true compassion is not measured by the size of the safety net, but rather, by the number of rungs in the ladder to success. All Americans deserve the right to succeed, and with it, comes the consequences of failure without forcing others to pay for that failure.
It’s time to also reclaim our independence from Washington. As your next Congressman, I will stand up to the special interests and the lobbyists that are funding my opponent. I will review every piece of legislation from your perspective, not Washington’s. I will fight to reclaim the proper role of the federal government and remove the barriers to success that this Congress is currently building.
While I’m a Republican because I believe in the ideals of the Grand Old Party, I’m also a Republican because I believe it’s the best vehicle to deliver us independence from Washington. I will be your independent Congressman and I will be your independent voice, but I can’t do it without your support.
I want to wish you a happy Independence Day, and I hope to see you on the campaign trail soon.
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In 1999, I had the opportunity to spend one week in Israel. I was struck by how in a mere 5 decades a modern and vibrant country could be carved from nothing. While walking through the ancient streets of Jerusalem, it occurred to me that I was amongst perhaps the most historically rich square mile in the world. Israel and the United States were founded on similar set of national values that include dedication to democracy, life, individual freedoms, and religious faith. As our closest Middle East ally, Israel lives every day under the threat of terror yet shares with the United States an unbroken commitment to peace in the Middle East. I strongly support the relationship between the United States and Israel.
If elected to the United States Congress by the citizens of MA-5, I will continue my unwavering support of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Israel’s Right to Self-Defense
Middle East peace will be elusive as long as Israel is besieged by terrorist armies dedicated to its destruction. In the face of persistent threats to Israel’s survival, America must remain resolute in its commitment to Israel’s right to defend the safety of its citizens against state and non-state actors.
I oppose the efforts in some nations to undermine Israel’s fundamental right of self-defense. The United Nations and the Goldstone Report, criticizes the Israeli Defense Forces for carrying out a military action to stop missile attacks against innocent civilians in Israeli sovereign territory. The report fails to mention that the Israel Defense Forces took significant steps to safeguard the rights of Palestinians in the areas of combat. This, as Hamas launched rockets from apartment buildings, hospitals and mosques. By attacking the victim without context, the Goldstone Report effectively weakened Israel’s ability to defend itself.
As Congressman, I would join with other congressional leaders in calling on the Obama administration to unequivocally oppose any further consideration of the report and any other measures stemming from this report.
I support the security barrier erected by Israel which has successfully defended and protected Israeli civilians against terrorist attacks.
As a Congressman, I will continue to support steadfastly Israel’s right to its self-defense.
Iranian Threat
Iran represents a grave threat to Israel. With visions of regional domination and international destabilization, President Ahmadinejad continues to pose a serious threat to the state of Israel. His incendiary statements denying the holocaust and his calls for Israel’s “destruction” cannot be ignored.
Despite being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran continues to lie, scheme and use evasion and delay to develop a nuclear weapons program. At the current rate, Iran will have a nuclear weapon in short order. With training, money and weapons, Iran also supports proxy forces in Gaza (Hamas), and Lebanon (Hezbollah).
I recognize the grave threat that Iran poses to both the existence of Israel and to international stability. As a Congressman, I would support any sanctions legislation that will prevent Iran from attaining the ability to produce nuclear weapons.
Military Support for Israel
With a clear sense of our shared threats, I support the recently executed ten-year memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Israel. This memorandum will provide $30 billion in military aid to Israel through 2017. Since the vast majority of that aid is spent on American products, it is good for both US employment and the US economy. In addition the security of Israel is vital to American interests as Israel is our strongest ally in the Mid-East. This provision, along with allowances to provide Israel with advanced systems required to defend against current threats, will allow Israel to maintain the military superiority required to protect itself while sending a message of support to Israel and the world.
Palestinians and Peace
Israel has made enormous sacrifices in an attempt to secure peace – including unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, the removal of hundreds of roadblocks and check points, and the freezing of new settlements in the West Bank for 10 months. However, the Palestinian leadership speaks with two voices as its government is divided between Hamas (Gaza) and the Palestinian Authority (West Bank). I am of the opinion that Palestinian leadership must speak with ‘one voice’ prior to beginning peace negotiations.
Hamas’ original charter calls for the destruction of Israel. Israel is a willing partner in peace with a history of making peace whenever a legitimate partner is interested (Egypt and Jordan). Until there is a non-terrorist entity on the other side of the table, negotiations cannot start as they will not succeed.
Ultimately, I support a peace agreement based on the following:
• Security for Israel
• Palestinians abide by past Peace Process agreements
• Reaffirms Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel
Improving Middle East Relations
Israel’s neighbors must recognize its fundamental right to exist. I will support this by the following:
• Encouraging public alliances between Israel and other countries willing to counter the Iranian threat.
• Speaking out against Arab boycotts of Israeli companies, goods and services
• Denouncing the demonization of Israel in all forms including children’s educational materials
• Encouraging Israel’s neighbors to grant their own citizens the democratic rights and individual freedoms enjoyed by their Arab brethren in the State of Israel.
I desire to return to Israel in order to gain a more profound understanding of the many complex and strategic challenges that Israelis face each day. I am also eager to observe firsthand how Israeli innovations in arts, sciences, agriculture and aquaculture, renewable energies, bio and computer technologies can and will directly benefit the lives of the citizens of Massachusetts and the United States.
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The recent Arizona immigration bill has stimulated debate not only about the bill’s merits but also about our country’s illegal immigration challenges. The Arizona bill starkly exposes our federal government’s failure to secure our borders and enforce existing immigration legislation. The solution is not ‘immigration reform’ but ‘immigration enforcement.’ Let’s be clear—our laws already prohibit immigrants from coming to this country without following a proper procedure. That’s why the term ‘illegal immigration’ has become so prominent in our vocabulary. We don’t need more laws telling us what those entering America can and cannot do. We need our current laws to be enforced and when that fails to happen, states must step in to help enforce them. Let’s address some aspects of the Federal laws that must be enforced.
Our first priority must be securing our borders. The budget for homeland security increased by a mere 7% year over year (2009-2010). There are 20,000 border patrol agents and that number will decline by approximately 180 (via transfers and retirements) leaving our borders with fewer agents than last year. Let’s double the number of border agents. This would cost approximately $3.3 billion. In this age of rising Islamic fundamentalism and terrorist attacks, money spent securing our borders and protecting our citizens is money well spent. In fact, border security is one place we should be spending money and the savings will more than cover the spending increase if you consider that illegal immigrants cost the US anywhere from $65 billion to $250 billion a year, fair estimates are probably $100 billion. By diminishing the number of illegals that cross our borders, we will save money and those savings will more than pay for the added expense of increased border security. And for those who are skeptical, $3.3 billion is a mere line item from TARP or the Stimulus package.
Illegal immigration also involves those who overstay their visas. One-third of illegal aliens came to the US legally, with visas, but never left. We must create a system that will track which visa holders have overstayed. In 1996, Congress mandated the development of a check-in/check-out system at the border and 14 years later it still has not been implemented. What’s the use of a law if we don’t enforce it? Implement check in/check out system now. We no longer can accept unenforced laws thrown on the books to appease the public during an election season. It is time for accountability.
We need to stop the magnets that attract illegals to our country and keep them here. The biggest magnet is employment. We must enforce employee verification and penalize companies who ignore our laws. Making it difficult for illegal aliens to find and keep jobs is an important mechanism. Without the magnet of jobs, illegal immigration becomes much less attractive and those who are here will leave. If we accompany the removal of the employment magnet with the removal of other magnets such as tax payer funded benefits from the state or federal level, it will create a ‘self-deportation’ system among the illegal alien community. No work, no benefits, no reason to be here.
The illegal immigration community will also decline if we make sure that illegals are deported when we become aware of them. The current system of letting illegal immigrants go after being arrested for a crime must stop. Law enforcements hands are too often tied. Being in America without going through the legal procedures is itself illegal, therefore a crime. Why are law enforcement at all levels of government not only allowed but required to enforce these laws?
With unemployment hovering around 10%, Congress’s valuable time needs to be focused on creating private sector jobs. Our illegal immigration crisis certainly affects the job market. As a matter of fact, illegal immigration is perhaps the most challenging problem confronting the United States as it cuts across every other challenging national issue: employment, education, healthcare, and national security.
I believe that immigration is the foundation of this country. I believe that people from other nations want to come to here because of the great opportunity. I believe that the American Dream is dreamt not only by Americans. The diversity of this nation’s culture is one of the things that makes our country great. But immigrants who come to reap the reward of our great country must do so legally.
Everyone admits our immigration policy is broken. However, before we embark on ‘reforming’ I suggest we begin ‘enforcing’.
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