Massachusetts workers are some of the best qualified and educated workers in the country. I will work to grow our economy and create jobs by:
- Investing in the clean energy economy to develop renewable energy sources
- Investing in our infrastructure to support businesses and create jobs
- Providing property tax relief and affordable housing to help our workers
- Improving our schools to educate the next generation of innovators and creators
Every child deserves a high quality education. I will work to increase funding and improve the quality of our schools. To ensure a high quality education we need to:
- Reform Special Education Funding
- Reform the Chapter 70 state aid formula
- Provide access to Community College for high school graduates
- Restore transportation aid for non-regional school districts
Protecting the environment for our children is a responsibility that I take seriously. While Massachusetts continues to be a leader in environmental policies we need to continue to lead the country by:
- Investing in the clean energy economy to protect our environment and create jobs
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by strengthening our regional cap-and-trade agreement
- Increasing access to public transportation
- Promoting safer alternatives to toxic chemicals
Every citizen should have quality, affordable healthcare. The healthcare reform law that was passed in 2006 is a step in the right direction, but there is much work left to be done. I will work to:
- Guarantee eligibility and portability so that all individuals and families are covered
- Make sure incentives favor quality and effectiveness, not volume
- Standardize electronic medical record systems to save costs and to provide safer and more effective care
- Increase transparency from providers to get a better handle on quality and cost
Our towns need better support from the state in order adequately fund services like schools and public safety. The Commonwealth needs to work together with municipalities to find new opportunities for revenue growth. We also need to:
- Ensure lottery funds come back as local aid to cities and towns
- End the telecommunications tax exemption
- Close corporate tax loopholes
- Ensure fair and equitable distribution of local aid
I believe that a key requirement to attracting businesses to Massachusetts is to provide adequate and affordable housing for its citizens. I support:
- Fixing 40B legislation
- Helping municipalities adopt 40R legislation, which allows towns to maintain a greater level of control over developments while still striving to increase affordable housing offerings.
- Support a woman's right to choose
- Support equal marriage rights for same sex couples
- Oppose the death penalty
- Acton, Precincts 3, 4 and 5: Blanchard Auditorium
- Boxborough: Town Hall
- Harvard: Bromfield School
- Lancaster, Precinct 1: Town Hall
- Lunenburg: T.C. Passios Elementary School
- Shirley: Town Offices
- October 31, 2008 – Nashoba Publishing: Nashoba Publishing endorses Jen Benson
- October 30, 2008 – Acton Beacon: Acton Beacon endorses Jen Benson
- October 29, 2008 – Telegram & Gazette: GOP group's tactics blasted
- October 28, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson Finance Report Shows Support Across District
- October 27, 2008 – Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Telegram & Gazette endorses Jen Benson
- October 26, 2008 – Sentinel and Enterprise: Benson, Hayes outline plans to strengthen local economy
- October 14, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson to create a business help-desk
- October 10, 2008 – Harvard Press – Harvard Press Guest Commentary
- October 8, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson Proposes Help for Small Businesses
- October 1, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson Releases Policy Paper on the Environment
- September 8, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson Releases Education Policy Paper
- August 29, 2008 – Acton Beacon: Benson, Hayes outline disparate visions for government
- August 19, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson Announces Series of Policy Papers
- July 30, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson to Debate in Acton and Shirley
- July 12, 2008 – Press Release: Tsongas endorses Benson
- July 8, 2008 – PolitickerMA.com: Benson swings through Lunenburg, Harvard
- July 7, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson Connects With Voters at July 4th Festivities
- July 1, 2008 – PolitickerMA.com: Hayes-Benson race picks up steam
- June 4, 2008 – Acton Beacon: Sullivan out of House race
- June 2, 2008 – MassEquality: MassEquality PAC Announces First Round of Endorsements for 2008
- May 29, 2008 – Press Release: Massachusetts Nurses Association Endorsement
- April 29, 2008 – Acton Beacon: Lunenburg Dems endorse Benson
- March 10, 2008 – Telegram and Gazette: Benson seeks Eldridge's old seat in Statehouse
- March 5, 2008 – Sentinel and Enterprise: Lunenburg official gets backing for House run
- March 3, 2008 – Press Release: Jen Benson Announces District-Wide Endorsements
- February 27, 2008 – Lowell Sun: Lunenburg school official puts hat in ring for Eldridge's seat