Republican lawmakers went on the offensive against Gov. Deval Patrick’s tax proposals Thursday, saying Massachusetts residents are being presented with the Democrats’ “false choices” of increased taxes and tolls vs. an economic crisis of crumbling highways and limited state services.

“We are tired of this argument being painted as if increasing the gas tax and raising the tolls are our only solutions,” said Rep. Karyn Polito, R-Shrewsbury, following a State House press conference. “When the only choices presented amount to asking for more money from our citizens, there is no choice at all.”

Republicans expressed disappointment following a Tuesday vote by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board for a $100 million toll hike, saying that Democratic leadership seemed to be interested more in revenue than reform.

Minority party leaders also noted a recent string of taxes on fuel, hotel and meals, and candy, soda and alcohol taxes as a way of avoiding necessary reforms and reducing government spending during a time of financial crisis.

“Reform seems to get put to the back burner, if it makes the stove at all,” said House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, R-Reading, citing the cigarette tax and licensing fees.

Republican lawmakers also criticized the governor for taking two years to submit a transportation bill.

Rep. George Peterson, R-Westborough, noted that if reform legislation had been passed during the Romney administration nearly five years ago, the Turnpike would have avoided the current threat of financial ruin.

“If that had happened, we would not be looking at higher tolls today,” said Peterson.

Patrick submitted his transportation reform bill on Tuesday, which includes a 19-cent increase on the state’s 23.5-cent gasoline tax along with significant efficiency-driven reforms that the governor said would reduce the bureaucracy within the transportation department.

The criticisms by Republicans left a bitter taste for many Democrats.

“We’re now dealing with 16 years of inaction by Republican governors,” said freshman Rep. Kate Hogan, D-Bolton. “They did not take care of public buildings, universities, roads and bridges, and now they’re criticizing a plan that has taken 16 months to develop.”

MetroWest legislators have generally supported a gas tax increase over toll hikes.

The Turnpike Authority’s board has given tentative approval to a plan to nearly double tolls for commuters coming into Boston from the western suburbs.

Patrick has said he would not support increases in both tolls and the gas tax. He said Wednesday he would veto legislation that did not involve “adequate” reform.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, said he was hopeful that the Legislature would address the transportation issue next month, but many lawmakers are concerned they will not have enough time to pass legislation before the toll hikes go into effect.

Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, said state government did not have sufficient revenue to wait for long.

“We should squeeze out every nickel and dime we have in the budget,” said Linsky. “But at the end of the day, the state has $20 billion in unmet transportation and infrastructure needs, and there needs to be some revenue source to pay for it.”

The Legislature has scheduled four regional hearings throughout the state, beginning next week, to discuss plans presented by Senate leadership and the governor for transportation reform and financing.

The MetroWest Daily News

Deval Patrick and Sen. John F. Kerry will give key

speeches at DNC

Massachusetts will be well represented at next week’s Democratic National Convention in Denver as Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. John F. Kerry will give key speeches on consecutive nights, officials announced yesterday.

Patrick, a longtime pal and political ally of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, will speak Tuesday night before Sen. Hillary Clinton’s prime-time talk. The night’s theme is “Renewing America’s Promise” and Virginia Gov. Mark Warner is the keynote speaker.

Wednesday, Kerry will speak on national security issues alongside a who’s who of Dem heavyweights, including former President Bill Clinton, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Joe Biden (D-Delaware). Obama’s yet-to-be-named vice-presidential pick will give a prime-time speech.

The four-day DNC kicks off Monday with a keynote speech by Obama’s wife, Michelle, and a tribute to Bay State Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who completed late last month aggressive cancer treatment for a brain tumor. Sources close to Kennedy said he is not expected to make the trip to Denver but could change his mind, depending on his health.

Former President Jimmy Carter and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. are among Monday’s speakers while Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy will give an address Tuesday. The weeklong bash, which is also expected to draw hundreds of celebrities, culminates with an acceptance speech by Obama Thursday before 70,000 at Denver’s Invesco Field.

1. Making Massachusetts a national leader on clean energy

• Joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
• Worked with Legislature to develop comprehensive energy and advanced biofuels legislation to help consumers deal with the rising cost of fossil fuels.
• Passed a first-in-the-nation comprehensive oceans bill for our state waters.
• Approved the final state environmental review for Cape Wind.
• Launched Commonwealth Solar rebate program to spur installation of solar electric power.

2. Marriage equality for all Massachusetts residents

3. $1 billion life science initiative

Worked with the Legislature to position Massachusetts as a world leader in the emerging biotechnology industry, create thousands of new jobs, help develop life-saving new cures, and establish an international stem cell bank.

4. The readiness project

• Developed a grassroots coalition to bring global standards to all students, close the achievement gap, and build upon the lessons learned from the past 15 years of education reform.
• Made the strongest investment in education in state history, and expanded early childhood education, extended learning opportunities and higher education funding.
• Created a Secretary of Education for increased accountability and leadership.

5. Civic engagement

Created Commonwealth Corps to further civic engagement throughout the state, expanded the SERV Program, developed a Statewide Youth Council, instituted Park Serve Day and the Offices of Civic Engagement and Public Liaison.

6. Successfully implemented health care reform…

…providing health insurance for 340,000 previously uninsured residents and making Massachusetts a national leader in providing health care coverage.

7. Closed corporate tax loopholes

Froze the unemployment insurance rate and lowered the business tax rate for 15-20,000 small and mid-sized Massachusetts companies.

8. Increasing access to state government

Increased the number of women and people of color serving in state government and on boards and commissions, established the Access and Opportunity Initiative as a central coordinating point for accessing state government provided for constituent services online and improved accessibility via the web.

9. Foreclosure prevention initiatives

• Established best-in-the-nation practices to deal with the foreclosure crisis, including a 90-day “right to cure” cooling-off period to help residents stay in their homes.
• Initiated a process to apply the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to some of the state’s largest lenders in order to hold them accountable.

10. A concerted commitment to job creation

• Over 15,000 new jobs created, 8th in job creation in the country for the first quarter of 2008.
• Streamlined state permitting processes to spur job creation.
• Development of regional growth districts to spur regional economies.
• 90-day economic stimulus plan to help protect MA from national economic downturn.
• Worked with the Legislature to pass the film tax credit resulting in over $630 million in new economic activity.

11. Instituting real reforms and long-term change

• Introduced managed competition in auto insurance to lower rates and provide more choices.
• Instituted significant management reforms at the Turnpike Authority, saving $14 million.
• Fought to institute long-term savings by asking state employees to contribute more for their health insurance contributions based on an ability to pay.
• Major reforms in transportation policy, including reducing the average time to complete projects from 10 years to 5.8 and developing a policy for using civilian flaggers on road projects.
• Significantly reduced the backlog at the state crime lab and instituted reforms that helped law enforcement solve more crimes.

12. Making our communities safer

• Increased the number of police officers on the streets.
• Expanded Shannon grants, DPH anti-violence grants, and summer jobs programs to support law enforcement and crime prevention efforts.
• Established the Governor’s Statewide Anti-Crime Council.
• Filed legislation for CORI reform, post-release supervision and to limit gun purchases to one per month.

13. After 16 years of neglect, made long-term investments in our roads and bridges…

…through passage of a $3.5 billion transportation bond bill and the development of a $3 billion program to repair over 400 structurally deficient bridges across the state. Brought coordination to the many transportation agencies through the MA Mobility Compact, and instituted the 511 Traveler Information System, which gets 50,000 calls each month.

14. First-ever five-year capital spending plan…

…supported by national bond rating agencies to ensure fiscal responsibility and long-term planning and investment, and filed $16 billion in bond bills to invest in public infrastructure.

15. Governor of the whole state

• Opened a western Massachusetts office.
• Convened cabinet, Anti-Crime Council, and Readiness meetings around the state.
• Filed legislation to deliver universal broadband access across the Commonwealth.

16. Passed parts of the municipal partnership act…

…to give cities and towns the relief they need from skyrocketing health care and pension costs.

17. Appointed reform-minded leaders…

…and established responsive, accountable management in historically challenging agencies like DSS, DCR, Department of Corrections, Division of Insurance, and the Turnpike Authority. Established the first Child Welfare Advocate.

18. Moving an agenda to affirm human dignity

• Extended the buffer zone to protect the safety of women seeking reproductive health services.
• Secured $10 million to help end homelessness in MA.
• Made major improvements in food stamp eligibility and processing.
• Rejected federal abstinence-only funding, and overturned Gov. Romney’s stem-cell regulations.
• Signed legislation that enhances workers’ freedom of choice in deciding whether to join unions.
• Developed a New Americans Agenda to support the role of immigrants in our state.
• Creation of an Advisory Council on Veterans Services, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, to coordinate and improve services to our military veterans.

19. Investing in the state’s DC office…

…which helped with the state’s response to the Uxbridge fire, fisheries aid, the hunger summit, the Medicaid waiver, CyberCommand, and federal grants.

20. Governor’s role as the state’s chief salesperson…

…including a trade mission to China, a trip to California to attract biotech companies, personal calls to CEOs, an increased role for the Governor’s Development Cabinet, and a strengthened MA Office of Business Development.