Scroll to: Economic Development | Environment | Local Aid | Housing | Public Safety | Election Reform | Health Care

Economic Development

Representative Eldridge believes that the best way the best way to grow our economy and create jobs is by investing in our communities, our workforce, and our infrastructure.  In helping to bring companies like Bristol Myers Squibb and Evergreen Solar to his district, he has seen firsthand what is required to bring jobs to our region.  That is why he believes that Massachusetts needs to invest in expanding education and worker training.  Along those lines, Representative Eldridge supported the life sciences bill that will invest $1 billion over the next ten years into biotech and other life sciences industries in Massachusetts.  This will create many well-paying jobs in the Commonwealth, particularly along the 495 belt.  He is also a strong supporter of the Green Communities Act and the Green Jobs bill, which will invest in alternative energy companies and create thousands of jobs.

Representative Eldridge has voted against increasing taxes in Massachusetts.  But he also knows that reducing the income tax rate further would be fiscally irresponsible and lead to cuts in local aid to our cities and towns, which would then result in an increase in property taxes, hurting our families.

Environment

With years of service on organizations like the Acton Conservation Trust, Nashua River Watershed Association, Organization for the Assabet River and others, Representative Eldridge understands the value of protecting the environment.  Representative Eldridge recognizes that the ethic of passing a healthier environment on to future generations is a true legacy of this district.

Representative Eldridge has received an average rating of 93.4% from the Massachusetts Audubon Society since entering the Legislature in 2003, and has enjoyed the support of organizations like the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters, the Sierra Club, and Clean Water Action, illustrating the hard work that Rep. Eldridge does for the environment.

Additionally, Representative Eldridge supported the Mercury Products Bill (H 4639), an effort to keep toxic mercury out of our landfills and incinerators and make manufacturers more responsible for the collection and recycling of their discarded products. This bill helped protect children from learning disabilities and other neurological problems caused by mercury in the atmosphere and water.

Representative Eldridge also voted to override then-Governor Romney’s veto and restore the Department of Environment Protection (DEP) budget to its pre-recession levels.  This gives the DEP the resources to review permits, enforce existing laws, and penalize those who do not comply.

Representative Eldridge supported House Bill 4363 to set minimum efficiency standards for commonly used products such as traffic lights, exit signs, torchiere lamps, and other appliances.

Beyond this, Representative Eldridge is a supporter of the Cape Wind project that would build 130 low-impact wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. This bill would reduce our dependency on dirty and dangerous energy sources, save consumers and business money, and protect our environment from harmful air pollution.  This was another step in the Legislature’s growing commitment to clean energy policy.

More recently, Representative Eldridge supported the Green Communities Act, the Green Jobs bill, and the Global Warming Solutions Act, to ensure that Massachusetts plays a role in stopping the global climate crisis.

To protect open space, Representative Eldridge has co-sponsored legislation to increase conservation tax incentives, which was included in the 2008 environmental bond bill.

Local Aid

Representative Eldridge recognizes how tight local budgets are, which is why fighting for more local aid from the state has been his top priority.  Representative Eldridge believes that communities shouldn't have to face the difficult choice between raising property taxes or cutting cops and teachers.

The FY09 conference committee budget includes $3.95 billion in Chapter 70 education aid, a $223 million increase over last year's allocation, and $935 million in unrestricted local aid to cities and towns.  Representative Eldridge supported allocating state lottery proceeds back to the cities and towns hit hardest during the fiscal crisis. Additionally, lottery aid funding was uncapped, giving towns much-needed aid.  And, this year, as lottery revenue decreased, the Legislature worked proactively to allocate additional resources to make sure that municipalities would be held harmless by the reduction in lottery revenue.

Representative Eldridge proposed the "Acton Plan" for chapter 70 funding that would establish a base level of $2,000 per pupil from the State, further reducing reliance on property taxes and ensuring a guaranteed level of support.  While the "Acton Plan" did not pass, it served as a rallying cry for many suburban communities, resulting in the creation of "Minimum Education Aid for All Communities" in the FY07 budget, mandating that at least 17.5% of the education costs for every Massachusetts community be paid for by the Commonwealth by Fiscal Year 2011.  Over the past three years, the Massachusetts Legislature has kept its commitment on education aid, significantly benefiting many of the communities in the Middlesex & Worcester district.

Housing

As a member of organizations like the Acton Housing Authority and the Acton Planning Board, Representative Eldridge has worked hard to promote affordable housing and maintain the character of the 37th Middlesex district. Representative Eldridge supported the House bill that would allow municipalities to count mobile homes toward their affordable housing stock.  Although the bill did not pass, this law was designed to promote affordable housing.  It allowed builders of affordable developments to circumvent most local zoning rules unless at least 10 percent of a municipality’s housing units are within the reach of people of low or moderate income.  In 2006, Representative Eldridge filed a bill reforming Chapter 40B, allowing communities to count more units in a 40B development as affordable and also counting mobile homes as affordable.  He continues to be a leader in the effort to reform Chapter 40B.

Public Safety

Representative Eldridge has worked tirelessly to ensure that the citizens of the Commonwealth are well protected. One of the reasons that Representative Eldridge fights so tirelessly to protect local aid funding is that he sees that the best way to keep our neighborhoods safe is to have the public safety personnel patrolling our streets and equipped with the resources they need. The Legislature passed “Melanie’s Law”, giving the Commonwealth the strictest drunk driving laws in the nation, especially for repeat offenders.   Further, the Commonwealth uncapped state lottery aid to increase local aid to towns and cities for police and fire, and created an Internet Sex Offender Registry. Also, the Commonwealth passed a smoke-free workplace bill to protect citizens from effects of second-hand smoke and created a law requiring Carbon monoxide to protect residents in their home.  Additionally, Representative Eldridge was a proud supporter of the 2008 Jessica's Law to increase penalties for repeat sex offenders and to give prosecutors more tools to convict sex offenders.  Currently, Representative Eldridge has proposed legislation requiring automatic sprinkler systems in all senior housing.

Election Reform

As the only candidate to be elected running a Clean Elections campaign, Representative Eldridge has worked hard to reform the way elections are run in the Commonwealth through his position on the Election Laws Committee. Representative Eldridge opposed repeal of Clean Elections law in 2004.  In 1998, 67% of Massachusetts voters approved the creation of the Clean Elections Law.  It provided a limited amount of funding for candidates who agreed to strict spending and contribution limits and who qualified by demonstrating significant support in their districts.  By providing public funding, Clean Elections breaks open the financial barriers to running for office and offers any citizen with good ideas and local support the opportunity to run a competitive campaign.  It reduces the role of special interest money, brings more accountability to government, and helps to ensure that lawmakers put the needs of our communities before big corporations and special interest groups.

Representative Eldridge supported Massachusetts Voters’ Bill of Rights to ensure that voters clearly understand their voting rights in simple language.  Also, Representative Eldridge is a co-sponsor of the National Popular Vote (NPV) bill to ensure that all votes are given equal weight in Presidential elections, and he worked hard to pass the bill in the House this session.  Further, he is a co-sponsor of the Election Day Registration (EDR) bill to allow same-day election registration in Massachusetts.

Health Care

Representative Eldridge supported the bill that guaranteed quality health care to 99% of Massachusetts citizens, by far the highest percentage in the nation. This bill combined both liberal and conservative views on health care funding into a plan that benefits the citizens of Massachusetts.

Representative Eldridge has voted to protect funding for the Prescription Advantage program to help elderly families with their prescription drugs costs.  He also has supported legislation that would help Massachusetts residents save thousands of dollars a year by re-importing prescription drugs from Canada.  This bill would direct the Governor to apply for a federal waiver that would allow a newly created state office to distribute information and materials on how residents can safely buy prescription drugs at reduced prices from certified Canadian pharmacies.

Representative Eldridge has also fought to fully fund the Children’s Medical Security Plan and Healthy Start program and eliminate the waitlist for kids and low-income pregnant women.   Representative Eldridge has also supported legislation that provides a health insurance tax deduction for the self-employed.

Representative Eldridge voted yes on the veto override of “turning 22” mental disability program.  Representative Eldridge also voted yes on tax credits for all smoking regulation costs while the party platform voted no.  Additionally, Representative Eldridge voted yes on amending the constitution to call for universal health care.

In 2008, Representative Eldridge was proud to support the Mental Health Parity bill and the Children's Mental Health bill, to make sure that Massachusetts residents have equal access to mental health services.