Will lead House Republican caucus in 2023-2024 legislative session
BOSTON – Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has been re-elected by his Republican colleagues to serve as the Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Jones was chosen by a unanimous vote to lead the House Republican Caucus for the 2023-2024 legislative session. The vote took place on January 4, which also marked the first day of the 193rd biennial session.
“I am truly grateful to receive my colleagues’ vote of confidence to continue leading the caucus over the next two years,” said Jones. “Having the support of both the new and returning members means a lot to me as we prepare to tackle the many challenges facing the Commonwealth and its residents.”
In his inaugural speech to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Jones noted that “our top priorities must be a stronger economic recovery, maintaining our focused fiscal responsibility, and transforming the way we operate as a government and provide services to our citizens.”
“While our economy is no doubt stronger than it was two years ago, none of us can or should be satisfied that it is as strong as it should be,” said Jones. “Many of our fellow citizens remain out of work or underemployed. No one in our Commonwealth should believe that their children’s future will not be a little brighter or a little better than theirs was. It falls to each one of us individually and collectively to make this happen.”
Jones noted that Massachusetts has benefited from a strong economy that has helped grow the state’s rainy day fund to historic levels, eliminated the Commonwealth’s structural deficit and allowed the Legislature to make “meaningful targeted increased investments in a wide variety of essential areas.” But he also highlighted the Legislature’s obligation to “prepare for the future by building our reserves even further” while also delivering meaningful tax relief to the Commonwealth’s residents.
“Going forward, we need to revisit the targeted tax relief both the House and Senate passed last session but failed to finalize,” Jones said. “Fortunately, the incoming Governor supported those efforts and has identified tax relief like the kind we passed as her number one priority on day one and we agree.”
During his remarks, Jones thanked the residents of the Twentieth Middlesex District, saying “it is an honor and privilege to represent the citizens of Reading, North Reading, Lynnfield and Middleton and I look forward to continuing to work on their behalf.”
Jones also offered congratulations to House Speaker Ronald Mariano on his re-election, expressing his “hope that we can find common ground in the year ahead to ensure that the critical needs of the residents of the Commonwealth are addressed.”
A lifelong North Reading resident, Jones has continued to maintain a perfect voting record while serving in the House of Representatives. He has never missed a roll call and has now cast 7,835 consecutive votes as a member of the House.
