Secure Communities begins statewide today.

May 15, 2012

While out door-knocking this past weekend, I had many great conversations regarding the Secure Communities Program. I would like to share with you my position on this very important issue.
 

I support The Secure Communities Program.
 
What is Secure Communities? U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) focuses its resources on those who have been arrested for breaking criminal laws. ICE prioritizes the removal of criminal illegals, those who pose a threat to public safety, along with repeat immigration violators.
 
Secure Communities is common sense policy. It uses an already-existing federal information-sharing partnership between ICE and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that helps to identify criminal illegals without imposing new or additional requirements on state and local law enforcement. 
 
It is the simple sharing of fingerprints
between local law enforcement, the FBI and ICE. 
It is not racial profiling or the targeting of immigrants.
 
Nationwide, the Secure Communities Program has led to the deportation of 135,000 criminal illegals convicted of crimes, 50,000 of which were convicted of aggravated felonies.
 

As a State Representative, I will be the force for keeping the spotlight on good government policy.

I'll be the Representative that strongly supports Secure Communities.
 

"Let Them Eat Cake"

May 9, 2012

Candidate Debra Betz calls on Legislature to Override Governor Patrick Administration decision.
 
You've gotta love the priorities of a Governor who bans bake sales while his state is amassing unprecedented debt! 

How out of touch can Beacon Hill be?  Massachusetts ranked 3rd among the states with the most debt, behind the significantly larger states of California and New York, for total state debt in 2010.  Win, place or show is good at the Kentucky Derby. Its deplorable when you measure how much debt our state has amassed. And, our leaders are worried about bake sales?
 

I've had to fight this nonsense at the local level, and now I'll fight it at the state level.
 
       School Committee considers ban on food in classrooms.

"Committee member Deb Betz repeatedly questioned the proposal. Betz noted that birthdays and holiday celebrations like Halloween and Valentine's Day parties are important to parents and children, especially in elementary school. Kindergartners love making gingerbread houses, while middle school students rely on in-school bake sales to raise funds for their clubs.
 
"It's kind of like you're sucking the fun out of the day for the kids," Betz said.  She wondered at the punishment that would await parents who defy the policy and make cupcakes for their children's class. When told the cupcakes would never get past security at the front door, Betz was incredulous."Really? Cupcake police?" she asked.
              -Wicked Local Plymouth October 2011
 
This bake-sale ban will have a profound financial impact on schools, PTA's, PTO's, Sports Booster Clubs, Band Associations, After School Clubs, just to name a few.
 
Does Beacon Hill plan on sending more money to local communities to replace funds lost from bake sales or any type of food fundraisers?  The only cakes the Patrick Administration is baking with this recipe are more mandates and less funding.
 
"Let them eat cake" was a quote that reflected a princess's obliviousness to the real condition of the people. Banning bake sales is a clear sign that Beacon Hill is oblivious to the real problems that the Commonwealth faces.
 
This economy is extremely troublesome, and our leaders are banning cupcakes. 

Are you kidding me?
 
I am calling on the legislature to overturn the Department of Public Health and Education's policy on banning bake sales. 
 
The plan is not going to start until August 1st, 

so there is time to STOP these new regulations.
 

Yours in Public Service,
 

Debra Betz
 

Kingston: March 15, 2012 Debra's Kick off Event

April 10, 2012

Demonstrating solid support from her district, Debra Betz turned in a boxful of required certified signatures to the Secretary of State's elections division.  "I worked very hard at obtaining signatures from each and every town in the 12th Plymouth District", stated Betz. 

The 12th Plymouth is comprised of the towns of Kingston, Plymouth, Halifax, Duxbury, Plympton and Middleboro.  As of this release, Betz is the only person to return ballot papers for the 12th Plymouth District officially placing her on the ballot. "You get the pulse of a district knocking on doors and getting signatures", said Betz, "people are looking for change and a restoration of balance in the legislature".  

Betz, a North Plymouth resident, is a 2-term Plymouth school committee member and past chairman.  Whether creating recycling programs or helping out with boy scouts, Betz is very active participant in her community.   "We are lucky to have her"  stated Plymouth resident Katie Kearney.  

As a school committee member, Betz is an advocate for increasing school safety and anti-bullying policies.  Betz has been married for 21 years to her husband Steve Betz.  They have two teenage sons. "Our family is excited to embark on this journey", said Steve, "It will be a great civics lesson for our kids".  Betz closed with, "Now the real work begins. My job is to earn each and every vote in the district".