Dean Cavaretta: Raising Taxes During a Recession a Bad Idea

State Senate challenger Dean Cavaretta (R-Stow) shot back at the Massachusetts Democratic Party on Wednesday after the Worcester/Middlesex District hopeful

During the chat, a reader named "Alan" wrote: "So far, you've only listed endorsements from Republicans. Is this account (Dems4Dean) just you retweeting yourself, because I haven't met any Dems who support you."

Cavaretta responded by writing: "I'll give one: Bill Clinton ..."

Shortly after the chat, Massachusetts Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Franck released a statement asking Cavaretta to supply more details of the ex-president's support.

"What is it with Massachusetts Republicans this year?" asked Franck. "Maybe Dean Cavaretta was in a secret meeting with kings and queens when Hillary Clinton, who calls him all the time, rang him to break the news about Bill's endorsement.
 
“It would be pretty big news if a former president decided to wade into a local race to support a long-shot Republican candidate who opposes marriage equality, wants to undo ObamaCare and supports Mitt Romney, but I guess stranger things have happened."

Cavaretta responded by thanking the Democrats for the free publicity.

"Today, the Political Machine [sic] that Sen. Scott Brown talks about showed its true colors. In a reference to tax policy my liberal opponent's hired guns inserted foot in mouth, and claimed that I touted the endorsement of former President Bill Clinton," Cavaretta said in a released statement. "Instead, what Mr. Franck has done was give me another opportunity to tell voters that on the issue of NOT raising state taxes during a Recession [sic] - this is a position that I wholeheartedly share with Mr. Clinton. This is in stark contrast to the massive tax increases on income, capital gains, payroll and gasoline, my opponent, Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) has freely introduced this past legislative session."

"(Raising taxes) makes it much more difficult to create jobs," Cavaretta continued. "Small businesses in our region are suffering bigtime."

Cavaretta also writes that he considers himself an independent thinker and fiscal conservative with the same beliefs as the former president.

"In fact, with Welfare Reform, Taxes, [sic] etc. 'Clinton Voters' are closer to me than my far-left opponent," he added.

Earlier in the chat, a guest chatter asked Cavaretta what he thought the key issue was in this year's election. Cavaretta answered by writing his slogan: "Putting Education and the Economy First."

"Specifically, how the next State Senator from our part of the state can work on issues that make a real difference," he wrote.

Another reader, ABRHS89, asked Cavaretta to explain his stance on fixing health care in the state. Cavaretta wrote he supports saving Medicare for seniors, and plans to introduce legislation to fix the Health Connector for individuals and small businesses, without mandates or new tax increases.