Experience = Results
Representative Hargraves has worked in the State House for 14 years and understands what it means to get something done. He knows that his role is not to write "white paper" policy statements about what should be done; his role is to provide support for his communities and his constituents. Simply put, Bob would rather help a constituent cut through the bureaucratic red tape or sponsor legislation that requires open debate on all spending measures than try to win an essay contest for the best articulation of an issue.
Click the items to the left to review a few of the issues facing the state and our towns, along with examples of Bob´s common sense approach to working on these issues.
Fiscal Accountability
The Democratic super-majority has changed its "tax and spend" ways: Now they spend before they have figured out what taxes to raise! This new attitude of "spend then tax" is digging a financial hole for the state that will make new taxes seem inevitable, which is exactly what the Democrats want people to believe.
Representative Hargraves has always worked to protect the tax "revenue" sent to Beacon Hill by the hard-working residents of our state:
- Mr. Hargraves has had direct oversight upon more than 25 state and local budget proposals, giving him a keen ability to sift out needed funding requests from wish list, pork–belly pet projects.
- Representative Hargraves sponsored legislation that would force open debate on budget line items, rather than let pet projects get funding without the opportunity to raise public awareness.
- Mr. Hargraves serves on the House Post Audit and Oversight committee, which is responsible for writing legislation to improve the fiscal efficiency of government projects.
- Representative Hargraves opposes spending proposals that do not have a clearly identified funding source.
- Mr. Hargraves opposed the recent cigarette tax increase which unfairly burdens lower-income, less educated residents of the state.
