Brown made a swing through Western Massachusetts Friday and planned to attend a number of Memorial Day events in central Massachusetts this weekend.
May 27, 2011 - Wilbraham - Staff photo by Michael S. Gordon - U. S. Senator Scott Brown, D-Mass. was the featured speaker Friday at the Mid-Year Legislative Outlook Luncheon presented by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) and the East of the River 5 Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) held at the Country Club of Wilbraham. At right is Thomas R. Creed, senior vice president of Berkshire Bank and member of the ACCGS Legislative Steering Committee.WILBRAHAM – When U.S. Sen. Scott P. Brown visits American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, even they ask him about job creation, Brown told members of the East of the River 5-Town Chamber of Commerce at lunch Friday.
“Jobs, jobs, jobs,” Brown told the crowd of 125 gathered at the Country Club of Wilbraham. “That’s why you are here, to meet up with people, try and network and grow your businesses.”
But Brown said a lack of coherent tax and regulatory policies in Washington, D.C., stymies job creation.
“What we need to do is remove the uncertainty,” he said. “We need to give businesses certainty when it comes to taxes and regulation so they know what the landscape is moving forward.”
Brown made a swing through Western Massachusetts Friday and planned to attend a number of Memorial Day events in central Massachusetts this weekend.
Brown also paid a visit to Agawam, where he visited Mayor Richard A. Cohen.
As to why he choose Agawam, Brown said, “It is an important part of the state. It’s good to be back and I’m here to learn. ... There is life after (Interstates) 128 and also past 495.”
“It is very positive and encouraging to have him come here and care about us and our needs,” Cohen said.
The senator took a tour of Southworth Company and had plans to stop at the police and fire stations as well, guided by state Rep. Nicholas A. Boldyga, R-Southwick.
Friday morning, he visited the H.P. Hood ice cream plant in town.
May 27, 2011 - Wilbraham - Staff photo by Michael S. Gordon - U. S. Senator Scott Brown, D-Mass. was the featured speaker Friday at the Mid-Year Legislative Outlook Luncheon presented by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) and the East of the River 5 Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) held at the Country Club of Wilbraham. From left: Attorney Carmina Fernandes of Ludlow, Brown, Gloria Faria and Cid Inacia, both with Chicopee Savings Bank.As to reports that he is being targeted by the Democratic Party because he has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2012, Brown said, “I’m going to let other people do the politicking.”
Brown, a Republican and former state senator who was elected last year to fill the unfinished term of the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, said the deficit, federal spending, job creation and national security are really the only important issues in Washington. But partisan battles keep getting in the way.
Brown said a small business bill he’s working on with Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, is being held up by the Democratic minority because of one clause.
“When it’s 2012 we can run for reelection,” Brown said. “For now, lets govern.”
Brown said he will run for a full six-year term in 2012.
Brown spoke of recent hearings he has participated in with Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., that identified $150 billion a year in misspent federal payments. Those include pension payments to the dead and other bureaucratic snafus. Brown also called for free the passage of pending free trade agreement with South Korea, Panama and other countries. He wants to keep United States business plugged into those markets. Because if the United States doesn’t do business there, China and India certainly will.
“When I was a kid, you couldn’t see those countries in the rear-view mirror,” Brown said. “But now you look to the left, look to the right and yes, look a little bit ahead of us, and there they are, folks.”