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Nuciforo Releases 8-Point Plan for Economic Justice
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Nuciforo spent the day visiting various parts of the 1st Massachusetts District, including Pittsfield and North Adams, to meet with voters ad business owners and explain his policies.
Titled "A Promise to the Middle Class: An Eight Point Blueprint to Restore Economic Justice in America," the plan outlines priorities in reviving manufacturing; rebuilding infrastructure; investing in education for a modern workforce; providing tax relief to the middle class; ensuring retirement security; strengthening financial reform; repealing Citizens United; and revitalizing small businesses.
"In the last several years, we've seen the fundamental promise of middle class mobility falling away," Nuciforo said. "This promise has been broken, and working- and middle-class families have come under tremendous pressure. I come from a manufacturing town similar to many in this district, and the damage done by the disappearance of middle-skill jobs that paid a living wage and provided healthcare and retirement security is considerable.
"That is why I'm releasing this plan today — to let people in the 1st district know that I will never forget where I come from, and I will fight to restore basic economic justice to the middle class."
A copy of the 33-page full report can be seen at www.nuciforo.com.
Shein Accepts Invitations to Six Media-Sponsored Debates
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Since March, he has agreed to the following events, all of which will take place during Congress' summer recess that begins on Saturday, Aug. 4:
1. New England Public Radio (NEPR): Live one-hour forum, week of Aug. 6
2. WGBY Public Television: Airing Monday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m.
3. Pittsfield Gazette (broadcast on local cable): Public forum at Berkshire Community College, Monday, Aug. 27, 7 p.m.
4. Westfield News: Public forum at Westfield State University, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m.
5. WWLP/NBC22 TV: Live 30-minute debate, week of Aug. 27
6. WBEC/WSBS/WNAW radio (covers all of Berkshire County): Live 60-minute debate in mid/late August TBD
Shein issued the following statement:
"Restoring a robust, healthy democracy that ensures the people's priorities set the agenda in Washington requires substantive, independent, in-depth press coverage. These media-sponsored debates and forums, some of which will include a live audience, will help provide that to voters across the new First District.
"I strongly believe that ideas, and candidates, should sink or swim on the merits, not on how much money is behind them. For decades, public policy in the United States has been undermined and distorted by billions of dollars in campaign contributions and lobbying by status-quo corporate and wealthy interests. Today, that money drowns out the voices and ideas we need more than ever, and puts an extra burden on the media to properly inform the public about candidates and issues.
"This is a fine example of local journalism playing its vital and necessary role in our democracy. I fully expect the other candidates to join me at all six of these media-sponsored events – conveniently scheduled during Congress' monthlong summer recess – for a discussion of the full range of domestic and foreign-policy issues."
Nuciforo Releasing Policy Plan During District Tour
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The former state senator's eight-point policy plan aims to restore economic justice in America and to restore prosperity to the middle class. The plan aims to revive American manufacturing, ensure retirement security and revitalize small business, among other priorities.
Nuciforo will start the day in Great Barrington, and travel to Holyoke, Springfield, Pittsfield and North Adams.
Nuciforo's tour includes the following times and locations:
8:45: Great Barrington Bagel Company, 777 Main St., Great Barrington
10:30: Open Square, Mill 1, Open Square Way, Holyoke
Noon: Emerson Hall at Mason Wright Retirement Community, 74 Walnut St., Springfield
2 p.m.: Pittsfield Lawn & Tractor, 1548 W. Housatonic St., Pittsfield
4 p.m.: Berkshire Emporium, 59 Main St., North Adams
The public and members of the media are invited to attend. Candidate information here.
Nuciforo, Shein Talk Live on New England Public Radio
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Middle Berkshire Registrar of Deeds Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr. will join host Susan Kaplan on Monday, July 16, at 4 p.m.; and Alford activist and humorist Bill Shein joins Kaplan on Tuesday, July 17, also at 4 p.m. Each will hold a live, one-hour discussion of their campaigns and the issues facing Massachusetts voters as they go to the polls on Sept. 6 for the primary. Both candidates will take calls from listeners live from New England Public Radio's Peggy & David Starr Studio in Springfield.
Listeners are invited join the conversation by calling toll free: 877-522-8850.
Both special editions of "Focus: Western New England" will air again on their respective dates at 6 p.m. on AM-640 and 91.7-FM all-news WNNZ.
"Focus: Western New England" features news makers and notable thinkers from around the region, and listeners' comments help shape the timely conversations. To listen to past programs, visit www.nepr.net/focus.
State Democrats Taking Aim At Romney's Economics
.jpg) Former North Adams Mayor John Barrett III appears in a campaign ad taking aim at former Gov. Mitt Romney's economic expertise. |
Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and former North Adams Mayor John Barrett III will join other party leaders at a press conference in front of the State House with Obama for America Senior Strategist David Axelrod.
The press conference is being held the same day as the debut of a television spot from the Obama campaign that also features the former North Adams mayor.
"Mitt Romney was not an effective leader in Massachusetts and the proof is in the pudding," says Barrett, the state's longest serving mayor, in the new ad.
Barrett, who had been a supportor of North Adams native daughter Jane Swift, Romney's Republican predecessor, had a rocky relationship with the governor (and his aide, Eric Fehrnstrom). He wasn't the only one.
Romney's one term coincided with a significant downturn in the Massachusetts economy that put him at odds with the Democratic-controlled Legislature and the state's mayors, including Murray, then mayor of Worcestor.
Democrats say that during his term, the state was 47th in job creation and that Romney raised taxes and fees by $750 million. The Romney campaign has countered that the former governor left office with an unemployment rate of just over 4 percent.
Also speaking at the press conference will be Speaker Pro Tempore Patricia Haddad, who served in the state Legislature when Romney was governor, and Mayor Joseph Curatone of Somerville.
Romney, who rarely ventured into the Berkshires and never visited North Adams, lost the county 2-1 to Democratic opponent Shannon O'Brien in 2002.
State Election