Issues

As our next State Representative, Tom Keyes will make our priorities his key priorities.  

Reduce our tax burden

For the past 2 years, the Commonwealth has had a surplus of over $1 billion, but yet the State House has created new taxes.  The new short-term rental tax especially hurts the Cape Cod economy and families trying to earn a few more dollars by renting out their homes.  As our next Representative, Tom Keyes is committed to:

- Repealing the short term rental tax

- Reducing the sales tax back to 5%

- Opposing any new taxes, fees and tolls especially any attempt to make route 3 a toll road.

Require accountability of our tax dollars

Tom Keyes will work to end the rampant fraud with EBT cards and restore the work requirement again.  He will use his professional fiscal management skills to require accountability of our tax dollars.  Tom Keyes will:

- End the usage of EBT cards out of state

- Oppose driver licenses for illegal immigrants which would allow them to access benefits

- Require more verification of income and assets before receiving benefits

- Require more transparency within state government such as publishing the payouts of lawsuits against the state instead of sweeping under the rug which is currently happening.

Shed Sunlight on State House

As a former Sandwich Selectman, Tom worked within both the open meeting and open records law.  As an ethics and compliance professional he strongly believes that the House and Senate should be subject to the same laws.  Moreover, he wants a full audit of the books for the House and Senate.  

Tom will also work to require transparency on the legislative process.  He supports term limits for House leadership, ending the bundling of amendments, requiring bills to be in print 24 hours before a vote and requiring public hearings to not be just at the State House.

Improve education

When it comes to education, Tom Keyes is a father first.  He wants to ensure that our children are prepared to compete in the new global marketplace.  Tom supports:

- Reducing classroom sizes

- Working for more local aid

- More parental input

- Focus on core subjects

Fix Our Roads

Like you, Tom is sick of sitting in traffic and watching our gas tax dollars spent more in Boston than in our communities.  Furthermore, Tom knows that we already pay enough for our roads.  That’s why he opposes increasing the gas tax and putting new tolls on roads.  

As our State Representative, Tom Keyes will work to require fiscal accountability within the MBTA.  He will be the voice of reason that opposes expansion projects that will not pay for themselves.  

As a former Selectman and member of the Economic Development Committee, Tom worked with the Corp of Engineers’ Concord Planning Office and has first-hand knowledge of how this agency operates.  With plans of replacing the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges moving forward Tom will ensure direct oversight to minimize the impact to our local economy during  construction.

Helping our Seniors 

Tom Keyes wants all of our parents who helped build this great state to be able to enjoy their golden years with dignity and not be constantly worried about the increasing costs of health care, taxes, etc. 

As our next State Representative, Tom will hold regular office hours within the district, so you don’t have to go to the State House to meet with your representative.  Tom will also work to decrease the cost of long term insurance, lower the tax burden on seniors, protect prop 2 ½, help veterans, and create stiffer penalties for criminals who target seniors.