Follow The Money Taxes, Taxes and More Taxes

By: Staphanie Davis – September, 2013 “If it moves, tax it; if it keeps moving, regulate it; if it stops moving, subsidize it.” – Ronald Reagan On Beacon Hill, motor vehicles, cigarettes and technology are prime movers, judging by the latest round of tax increases including: a 14% gas tax hike from $0.21/gallon to $0.24/gallon; […]

Riley Increases Central Office Salaries by More Than $6MIL, Spending in Failing School System Climbs to $160MIL Under State Receivership

Riley Increases Central Office Salaries by More Than $6MIL, Spending in Failing School System Climbs to $160MIL Under State Receivership

“The help we give to Lawrence will not be an infusion of capital it will be getting at some management changes.” Deval Patrick January, 2010 “My goal is to decentralize” Jeff Riley 2011   By: Tom Duggan – April 16, 2013 When State Receiver Jeff Riley took over the failing Lawrence Public Schools more than two years ago, he promised to decrease the […]

Tax Day Rally “Unburdening the Next Generation”

  By: Christine Morabito – April 2013 Please join the Tea Party and other liberty-minded groups as we gather on the Boston Common April 13. The Parkman Bandstand will be rocking with live music from starting at noon from People’s Blowback, and then a variety of speakers from 1-3 p.m. The theme is “Unburdening the […]

Hundreds Flock to Valley Patriot Bash, Newspaper Bestows Awards to Members of the Community

Hundreds Flock to Valley Patriot Bash, Newspaper Bestows Awards to Members of the Community

ALL PHOTOS (C) COPYRIGHT RON MUSHOW PHOTOGRAPHY & THE VALLEY PATRIOT   (PHOTO GALLERY)     More than 400 people tuned out Friday night to attend the Valley Patriot 9th Anniversary BASH where the editors of the monthly newspaper (Tom Duggan, Dr. Charles Ormsby and Ralph Wilbur) honored police officers, firefighters, veterans, and those who […]

Parties Unify on Public Records in Massachusetts!

Parties Unify on Public Records in Massachusetts!

By: Tom Duggan While the Democrat leadership on Beacon Hill has blocked any attempt by Republican Legislators to change the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. Ch. 66), a revolt among Democrats has caused a tidal wave to build in both the House and the Senate where rank and file members of both parties are calling […]

Official Program Released for Valley Patriot 9TH Anniversary BASH – Fri., March 22, 2013 at 7pm

Come Celebrate the 9th Anniversary of the Valley Patriot! Tickets  in advance are $20 ea. or $30 for two,$25 for singles at the door Tables of 8 are $120 Tables of 10 $150 EVENT DETAILS HERE    Tickets are limited, so reserve your seat today: TICKET PRICES Single Ticket $20.00 USD2 Tickets $30.00 USDTable for 8 […]

Lawmakers File Bill to Retain In-State Tuition Benefits for Citizens and Legal Residents

Lawmakers File Bill to Retain In-State  Tuition Benefits for Citizens and Legal Residents

February 2013 Boston – Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover) and Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) filed legislation (HD2038) on Thursday, January 17 preserving in-state tuition benefits for citizens and legal residents of the Commonwealth. The Lyons-Lombardo bill reserves taxpayer subsidized in-state tuition at institutions of higher education to citizens and legal permanent residents, who are also residents of […]

From the VAURA Patriot – Alex Talcott’s Political Notebook

* Go to hell or off fiscal cliff?: ABC News reporter Sunlen Miller, who has the U.S. Senate beat, noted on New Year’s Eve the debate-opening prayer of Senate Chaplain Barry Black: “Lift them from the darkness of hopelessness.” Amen. But aw heck—a public records search shows that in addition to cushy federal benefits, we […]

School Committeeman Chaisson in Methuen Says Tribune Attack on his Family “Disgusting”

School Committeeman Chaisson in Methuen Says Tribune Attack on his Family “Disgusting”

WEB EXTRA!   SAYS HE WILL BE CANDIDATE FOR WEST END DISTRICT COUNCIL By: Tom Duggan – January 14, 2013 Methuen School Committeeman Evan Chaisson says he is “disgusted” with The Eagle~Tribune after the once thriving daily newspaper published an “article” on Monday making it look like his sister was hired as a teacher because […]

Rep. DiZoglio To Tackle Enforcement of State’s Public Records Law

Rep. DiZoglio To Tackle Enforcement of State’s Public Records Law

By: Tom Duggan – January 8, 2013 What do you call it when the legislature passes a law but they purposely don’t impose any penalties for violating that law? Well if you live in Massachusetts you would call it the Public Records law, or MGL Chapter 66.  Now Sate Representative Diana DiZoglio says the first […]

Tom Duggan’s Notebook – November, 2012

FROM THE PAGES OF VALLEY PATRIOT PUBLISHER, TOM DUGGAN’S NOTEBOOK November, 2012   PANTS ON FIRE AWARD – Of all the candidates telling all the lies they could this election season, by far the winner of the Valley Patriot’s “Pants on Fire Award” for the 2012 election goes to Congressman John Tierney. Tierney took a […]

$15MIL Contract Renewal After Ambulances “Donated”

By: Tom Duggan – November 12, 2012 Just days after taking office in 2010, Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua, his Chief of Staff, Leonard “Lenny” Degnan of North Andover, and then DPW Director Frank Mcann of Haverhill, were involved in a transaction with Patriot Ambulance Company, a private contractor that provides ambulance services to The City […]

A Bird’s Eye View of the 2012 Election – Evaluations, Endorsements & Links

A Bird’s Eye View of the 2012 Election – Evaluations, Endorsements & Links

Paying Attention! with Tom Duggan   November 3, 2012 After watching all the debate, interviewing the candidates, consuming the news and commercials every day I have made my final decisions on who I am supporting in Tuesday’s election. As the publisher of a newspaper, a political radio talk show host and an activist in my […]