Next time you run into State Reps. Tony Cabral and Bob Koczera, both New Bedford Democrats, be sure to thank them for piling on to the state's financial misery.

The Democrat controlled Massachusetts House, fresh from a six week vacation returned to work yesterday and without even so much as an utterance of debate voted to restore 275 million dollars of the 320 million cut from the state budget in July by Governor Charlie Baker. This as the state has already failed to meet revenue projections for the first two months of the new fiscal year.

You may recall that last year revenue fell far short of what was estimated resulting in deep budget cuts in December and a scaling back of projections for the current fiscal year.   Baker has already indicated that restoring money he cut from the budget could result in additional reductions this December.

Massachusetts politicians don't understand the need to "just say no" when it comes to spending your money. After all, this is the crew that saw fit to take two pretty hefty pay raises since last December. What the hell, right? You're paying for it and you never vote them out. In fact, most members of the Massachusetts Legislature run unopposed so they don't even have to worry about job security.

The taxpaying residents of the Commonwealth are sick and tired of irresponsible spending and should demand better. The bloated MASS Health system is in dire need of reform yet the legislature kicks it down the road and instead prefers to lay the burden at the feet of small business and taxpayers. In order to fund their spending sprees, lawmakers have sent to the ballot a so-called "millionaires tax" that will drive business and investment out of the state.

You must demand that Massachusetts live within its means and that lawmakers stop their reckless spending habits. Reining in spending is the only way to solve the Massachusetts fiscal crisis.

Editor’s Note: Barry Richard is the afternoon host on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from Noon-3pm. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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