Rep. Patrick sweeps all endorsements, Cape Cod Times, Enterprise and the Barnstable Patriot all endorse the 4th term legislator

Cape Cod Times says, "Patrick for House, Experience, strength of character give incumbent the edge."

“...Patrick is a good mix, in background and philosophy, for the 3rd Barnstable District. He’s a hands-on guy (a former plumber and contractor) who has learned to make use of the convoluted legislative rules. When a complicated bill to close corporate tax loopholes was nearly dead on Beacon Hill, Patrick helped convene a caucus and methodically organized the effort to revive it. He argued tha about 1,200 corporations that post $100 million to $1 billion in sales each year in Massachusetts pay the minimum corporate excise tax of $456, and the average Massachusetts family pays $2,700 in state taxes. The bill, which returns $200 million to state coffers, is now law.

Patrick’s signature environmental credentials have grown over the years; this year, he successfully added four or five provisions to the Green communities Act. A longtime advocate for reducing toxic pollutants at the Canal power plant, Patrick is now trying to convince state regulators that its costs far outweigh its benefits. He has teamed up with state Sen. Robert O’Leary and other legislators from southeastern Massachusetts to request a hearing on the Plant. “We believe that it is irrational to throw $200 million a year at a supposed reliability problem because there is a slight risk that the Cape and Islands will lose two lines at the same time. What we have is a base load plant acting as a peak demand plant and we can’t afford it,” the legislators wrote.

In April, Patrick and O’Leary cited the plant’s inefficient operation as one reason the average electric rates in the region are higher than the average rate in every state except Hawaii. This proactive stand resonates with Cape voters, who have repeatedly shown that the environment is an important issue with them.

He’s not a glad-hander and told us, “I don’t worry about pleasing everybody.” He hasn’t pleased us with his pro windfarm stance, but on balance his eight years of service and seniority at the Statehouse are worth endorsing. Which leads us to one of our more important criteria for recommending a candidate: strength of character. Patrick is not afraid to take unpopular positions, and his sense of duty, humility and courage under fire set him apart. Patrick is a sincere, principled and intelligent man…”

The Enterprise says, Matt Patrick Deserves Reelection

 "... Matt Patrick has served his district and the state well since he was elected in 2000.  He is known as a constructive and productive leader on alternative energy issues and he is quietly dogged on legislation to help taxpayers wherever possible.  He successfully led the fight to close the corporate tax loopholes that allowed companies operating in different states to shift their income reporting to the state with the more favorable tax code for them...He also plays a thoughtful and legislatively creative role in matters ranging from health care to homeowner insurance to risting energy costs..."

The Barnstable Patriot says, "...In his dealings with the leadership, Patrick has been something of a maverick, but an atypical one who actually has something to show for his independence..."

You're invited to meet Rep. Matt Patrick with the founder and CEO of Cape Air, Dan Wolf

Date: Friday evening, October 17th.

Time: 5:30

Where: Cotuit Grocery, 737 Main Street, Cotuit

Please join us to hear how Dan’s opinion of Cape Wind evolved over time. Refreshments will be served.

Paid for by the committee to Re-elect Matt Patrick, Ken Braga Treasurer, POB 3252 Waquoit, MA 02536, 508-540-6308 To learn more or to contribute got to www.mattpatrick.org

Boston: State Representative Matthew Patrick, Senator Robert O’Leary, and other legislators from the southeastern part of the state sent a letter today requesting a hearing regarding the high cost to continue the operation of the Mirant Canal Plant. The letter asks the Chairs of Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to, “conduct a hearing as soon as possible into the operation out of merit of the Canal Power Plant.”

The letter states, “We believe that it is irrational to throw $200 million a year at a supposed reliability problem because there is a slight risk that the Cape and islands will lose two lines at the same time. What we have is a base load plant acting as a peak demand plant and we can’t afford it.”

In April Rep Patrick, Senator O’Leary sent a letter to the public utilities Commissioner Timothy Wolf. The letter cited the plant's operation as one reason the average electric rates in the southeastern part of the state are higher than the average rate in every state except Hawaii.

Chapter 6, The Passion of Matt Patrick

It’s a rough game, underneath the backslaps and the handshakes and the big noble speeches . . . Allen Drury, ADVISE AND CONSENT

The Community Counseling Service–generated letter to “John Q. Prospect” claimed that the Alliance had “gained support from all the local politicians” and had “developed a strong base of influential republican and democratic supporters in the State House and in Congress.” Politically, it did look as though project opponents had everything sewn up.

Even Mitt Romney, close to Republican financier Richard J. Egan, had signed on to the cause. In early 2002, Romney announced he would stand for the fall gubernatorial election. Gordon sent Romney a campaign donation and attended a fund-raiser. When he approached Romney to talk about the project, the candidate openly admitted that he’d already made a campaign promise to oppose Gordon’s project.

“I never go back on my promises,” Romney told Gordon.

Read the rest by going to my website at www.mattpatrick.org . Then look for "On the Issues" in the column on the left and scroll down to Chapter 6 of Cape Wind, The Passion of Matt Patrick.  The book is now out in paperback for $15.00 and I encourage you to read it.

The St. Petersburg Times said, "...enough political intribue to keep a John Grisham fan happy..."  The Boston Globe chimed in, "yes, this book is lots of fun..."  Boston Magazine called it a, "a page turner..." and the New York Times Sunday Book Review made it an "Editors Choice."

The Wall Street Journal said of the book it is, "a ripe subject, populated with the sort of people who would be among the first to count themselves as friends of the earth but the last to accept an environmentally friendly energy source if it meant the slightest cloud on their ocean views."

One of the best reviews came from Robert Sullivan of the New York Times Sunday Book Review who said, "A great summer beach read about longtime summer beach communities, "Cape Wind" describes ho the alliance managed to raise $4 million in one ballroom meeting at the Wianno Club, where the 'grass-roots' campaign against the 'industrial complex' of offshore 'Cuisinarts' was kicked off by Douglas Yearley, a copper minin executive whose company was fined for killing birds in an acid runoff mishap in 2000, among other infractions."

You can also find out about the ongoing exploits of the people in the book at author Wendy Williams' website www.capewindbook.com

Boston: Representative Patrick’s office (D-Falmouth) announced today that he successfully established funding in the State’s Environmental and Capital Bond Bills for the 3rd Barnstable District.

Rep. Patrick secured funding for an alternative sewage treatment demonstration project. The project will evaluate the potential use of urine diverting toilets and composting toilets as a means of cost effectively reducing nitrogen loading. Rep Patrick stated, “This project has far reaching implications for Cape Cod towns that are exploring expensive options for conventional sewage treatment. This project will hopefully demonstrate an appropriate technology for sewage treatment that is less expensive by at least a factor of ten and just as effective as conventional sewage treatment.” Patrick continued, “If this proves viable we will be able to clean up our salt ponds and estuaries much more quickly than currently anticipated which for for conventional sewage treatment is 20-30 years.”