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Poltical pressure cost North registry office
By Jim Hand Sun Chronicle staff
Saturday, July 11, 2009 5:42 AM EDT


State Sen. Marc Pacheco




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Poltical pressure cost North registry office

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Area reps say lobbying effort saved Taunton office at North's expense
NORTH ATTLEBORO - Local legislators say politics, rather than policy, is behind the closing of the North Attleboro office of the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

The lawmakers said Friday the Taunton registry office was originally supposed to close because of budget cuts, instead of the North Attleboro branch, but state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, intervened and saved his hometown branch.

"I have heard Sen. Pacheco pressured the Registry of Motor Vehicles," said state Rep. Bill Bowles, D-Attleboro.

Other members of the local delegation agree.

"It's a shame politics should have to come into play," said state Rep. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham.
State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, also said he understands Pacheco "pressured" the registry to save the Taunton office, which resulted in North Attleboro being designated for closure.

Pacheco said in an interview that all he did was what any good legislator does - and that is fight for his district.

"I guess they're accusing me of being good at my job," he said. "That's what you do as a legislator, you advocate for your district. Everyone across the state did the same thing."

Pacheco said he made the case to the registry that Taunton is centrally located and should remain open.

"It's in the heart of Bristol County. It's the county seat," he said.

He also said Taunton is larger than North Attleboro and the Taunton office is one of only four in the state with a special program for taking care of business with auto dealerships.

Pacheco said he does not want the North Attleboro branch to close. He said all registry offices should remain open because they provide a valuable service to taxpayers.

Pacheco said he was one of a handful of Democratic senators to vote against the state budget because of the cuts to various services.

Local legislators said the North Attleboro office should remain open because it has more employees and serves more customers than Taunton.

State Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, said Taunton is mid-way between North Attleboro and Brockton, making it a more logical candidate for closure.
Apparently political lobbying was involved in at least one other registry closure decision.

State Transportation Secretary James Aloisi told The Berkshire Eagle Thursday that an office in North Adams was on a list for closure until the administration heard from North Adams Mayor John Barrett and state Rep. Daniel Bosley, D-North Adams.

Aloisi said he agreed with them that the North Adams branch should remain open.

Local legislators will try a little political pressure of their own when they meet with Registrar Rachel Kaprielian to try to convince her to reverse her decision on North Attleboro.

The Legislature mandated that the state close 12 registry branches when it passed the budget last month and cut spending in several areas.

It was left to Kaprielian to decide which offices to close.

She said she was closing offices in privately owned buildings to save $1.7 million in rent payments.
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Anna D wrote on Jul 11, 2009 9:47 PM:

" True, realist, but for those tasks that can be completed online, they should be. Saves time and money all around. "

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realist wrote on Jul 11, 2009 9:05 PM:

" This is why we are in a fiscal mess. Every rep is out for there own district and to h3ll with the rest of the Commonwealth.
Anna D -- there are still a lot of reasons you have to go to the registry in person. Not everything can be done on on-line. "

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Anna D wrote on Jul 11, 2009 5:33 PM:

" I notice that more and more independent voters are noticing that Obama bin Lyin' "

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Anna D wrote on Jul 11, 2009 5:00 PM:

" The typical liberal response to everything, even if it is a local event like this, is to blame Bush. You can't blame him, naughden, and the fact that you do shows you to be as imbecilic as our affirmative action president Barack O-bummer. You liberals in MA own every problem that we are currently experiencing, just as the liberals who control the Congress and O-bummer now own this decrepit economy. If there were more Republicans in our legislature, maybe MA would start to head back to fiscal sanity. "

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staceymay wrote on Jul 11, 2009 4:40 PM:

" IT APPEARS OUR LEADERS WAITED UNTIL THE HORSE HAD LEFT THE BARN. NOW THEY WANT US TO BELIEVE THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE CLOSURE, YEAH RIGHT. "

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Buck Farack wrote on Jul 11, 2009 4:30 PM:

" Naughden, just how is Bush at fault for the budget mess Massachusetts finds itself in? MA was in budget trouble long before the economy soured. Put a little responsibility where it belongs and stop blaming someone just because you have been blinded by hate since the day the guy took office. Don't worry about using big words or going to fast, you're not smarter than everyone else. Typical condescending liberal. "

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gridkid wrote on Jul 11, 2009 3:22 PM:

" It is pretty obvious that this state is spiraling out of controll with Devil Patrick as Gov. But what can we do? I didnt vote for him. I am stuck with him the same way the rest of you are. You all got what you deserve. Lets just say this. Be careful what you ask for because you jut might get it... is a perfect example of what we now have as a Mass Gov. and now The President of the USA. Logic is thrown out the window. We have people who are running our government that you would NEVER in a million years allow to balance your house hold budget let alone dictate to you how you will now live your life day to day... that is if any of us will still have a household after these Dems run us into the ground.... "

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Hojo20 wrote on Jul 11, 2009 2:25 PM:

" Great, now I have to learn to speak Spanish when I go to Taunton to renew my license. "

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Auk wrote on Jul 11, 2009 1:24 PM:

" The State, and cities and towns can no longer afford to provide the services we've come to expect. You either need to get used to less service, or higher taxes, take your pick. Of course in MA we got higher taxes and less services. This isn't going to change without a major restructuring of how our local and state govt provides services. I doubt there's a politician alive who would have the courage to do it. "

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naughden@comcast.net wrote on Jul 11, 2009 1:02 PM:

" First, the North Attleboro registry is the one closest to me and the one that I use. Let me explain some things and try not to use big words or go too fast. As for you whiners about the loss of the North Attleboro RMV--duh--we have had a national economic meltdown thanks to 8 years of Bush Republican deregulation of the economy. Massachusetts, being one of the 50 states in the nation, has suffered from this ideologically driven Republican irresponsibility. What the "save the North Attleboro registry" crowd should do is get some facts. That goes double for Betty "dump the bucket on the Registrar's desk" Poirier. Let's see--North Attleboro or Taunton-- which RMV services more people annually in a time that some RMV offices must be closed to to circumstances beyond the control of Governor Patrick or the state legislature. Let's not make our Democratic state office-holders responsible for the mess created by 8 years of Republicans in Washington. That goes triple for Republican Reps. Betty Poirier, Jay Barrows, Richard Ross and Republican Sen. Scott Brown, all of whom were vocal G.W. Bush supporters. If anyone in the state should get the blame it's Republican politicians like them. "

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jorod03 wrote on Jul 11, 2009 11:52 AM:

" Hey kevin h & snarky, do something about it instead of wah, wah, wah all the way home. It seems all republicans have that one trait in common. In-action then it's wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah... "

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kevin h. wrote on Jul 11, 2009 11:38 AM:

" reb715, snarky, Hrdwrk, anavoter, You are fools if you blame this on our reps. You are cutting our throats by griping about the Republicans which are out only hope to help us keep our hard earned money. The answer is to vote MORE "R's" into the legislature. "

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kevin h. wrote on Jul 11, 2009 11:31 AM:

" IT IS BECAUSE THIS AREA VOTES CONSERVATIVE THAT WE GET SCR$WED BY THE DEMOCRATS!
Our Republicans reps., no matter how hard they try, can pound logic into the heads of purely partisan Dem hacks. This is what you get in a one party state.
VOTE the Dems OUT!! "

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Edmund.Dantes wrote on Jul 11, 2009 10:57 AM:

" This isn't news, folks. Politics always goes into decision-making like this. Anyone remember the multiple rounds of military base closures starting in the 1970s? All of RIs military bases were either eliminated or severely reduced due to the Democratic domination of RI during the Nixon administration, in spite of the then Secretary of the Navy being from RI (John Chafee, later US Senator). The party in power always favours districts which support them when it comes to facilities consolidation or creating new post offices..

Pacheco did what he was supposed to do, Poirier, Brown, Ross, etc. were unable to do it precisely because they are in the minority party. Were the roles reversed, it would be the Taunton area howling for blood and North Attleboro which would be sitting pretty. Perhaps, instead of carping endlessly about the unfairness of this decision, we could either put our heads together to locate a state-owned building in the area where the Registry could save their precious rent costs or, alternately, a local businessman looking to attract customers to other rented properties could offer the state space gratis for a tax write-off just to keep the local office local? That might be a way around the influence of Pacheco...

BTW, just as a reminder, the governor, regardless of party, has very little influence over such decisions. This is legislative action, pure and simple. "

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reb715 wrote on Jul 11, 2009 10:41 AM:

" I work with many taunton residents and not one of then was asked by Sen. Pacheco to do his job....he was on the ball....Betty inherited the job from her husband and Brown is out selling his daughter Ayla CD's ....typical political hacks asleep at the wheel....thanks "

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snarky wrote on Jul 11, 2009 10:22 AM:

" familyguy - so let's essentially do Betty and Scott's job for them? Sounds like a plan to me. "

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familyguy wrote on Jul 11, 2009 9:41 AM:

" Hey people, instead of whining about it why not do something about. Start a letter writing campaign and address them to Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian. http://www.mass.gov/rmv/index.htm

Send both hard copy letters (the old fashion type) on paper and emails. Remember emails can be easily deleted and ignored. So spend the 42 cents on a stamp. "

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snarky wrote on Jul 11, 2009 9:16 AM:

" Sounds like Betty Poirier and Scott Brown were busy with photo opps and autograph signing while Pacheco was fighting for his Taunton office to stay open. You snooze you lose, Poirier and Brown! "

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Radar57 wrote on Jul 11, 2009 9:09 AM:

" It has been said before that the Registry Of Motor Vehicles is the top income producer the state has bringing thousands of dollars to the states coffers each day. So pray tell why would you want to close offices especially the N/A office?? I can see that Gov you have is really a slug and can see why they call him Coupe DeVal indeed he should have been a aide to shotgun Chenney in Bush world.In the state of Florida all your license,plates, regestrations, are done in each county by the scounty tax collectors office to which you can get a license,plates,reg with a smile & a joke even at top's 45 min wait.I have been told 72% of monies collected go to the county and the rest to the state.Road tests are appointments and in the county close by ad again you go through very quickly.So why cant the counties here look into this say Bristol County would run the offices they get a big piece of the pie and the state gets a piece also,but that would be to easy and might get one of the elected hacks out of a good paying job.But if Sen Pacheco did lobby on his district and it worked good for him my ? is what about your local legislative folks you voted into office where have they been??The Registrar if that is what you want to calll her what qualifications does she have to run such a state agency-Hmmm "

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Anna D wrote on Jul 11, 2009 8:54 AM:

" I'm not one to defend any bureaucracy, but you can get your registrations online. No need to go to the RMV office for that. And as for Gov. Romney, when he was governor, going to the RMV office was quick and painless, for all transactions. Having said that, for those occasions when I do have to go to an office now, it will be a colossal waste of time and a pain in the neck. Coupe de Ville Patrick is a lousy governor but then what do you expect from a donkey, I mean, Democrat (same thing, actually)? The NA office could not have been saved by any lobbying by our local reps (who were not out-lobbied) because we vote Republican around here. It's called political payback. "

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Hrdwrkr wrote on Jul 11, 2009 8:35 AM:

" So what does this tell you??? Our State Sen. Brown, State Rep Ross and Betty Poirier did not lobby on our behalf. We need No.Attle open. I cannot take time off work to go get a silly little sticker for my license plate. I need the money I would be losing for a 3 hour wait in Taunton!!!! Now you will see lots of cars with no updated reg and licenses, oh, and license plates. Thanks Devol Loser. "

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anavoter wrote on Jul 11, 2009 8:34 AM:

" Area reps say lobbying effort saved Taunton office at North's expense ................


and where were our reps??? (Bowles, Poirier, etc.) We got out lobbied. "

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jimr28 wrote on Jul 11, 2009 7:20 AM:

" anyone in their right mind would go to Milford and not Taunton.

KKK he's no different then nitwit Romney was or any Governor previous. He will be a 1 term wonder and then the next Republican can pretty much do the same thing. Isn't that what they are supposed to do? Reduce the size of Government. "

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kk wrote on Jul 11, 2009 7:13 AM:

" REMEMBER this all you moon-bats who voted for Coupe DeVal, most of you live in North Attleboro, Next time you go to Taunton and waste 4 hours waiting in line, think if you had of voted for Healy you'd be home right now. Think of all the payroll patriots Coupe Deval hired to repay campaign favors. Think of that sow of a woman Marian Walsh who was all but in for the $100K+ job that entailed doing nothing.Then think of all the bottom feeders who didn't get caught and show up at the public trough every day to fatten their pensions. You'll have plenty of time to THINK what you've done, giving that feel good vote to COUPE DEVAL. "

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Jan wrote on Jul 11, 2009 5:26 AM:

" Finally, he updated his rug. He always had that "Doug White" look. "

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