Sen. Hedlund Earns Nonprofit's Top Fiscal Responsibility Grade

State Sen. Robert L. Hedlund has earned a 100 percent grade from the nonprofit Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance for his commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Hedlund, a Weymouth Republican whose district includes Hingham, was graded based on his votes during the current, 188th Legislature.

 The group rated each legislator based on how he or she voted on a variety of key legislation related to the issues of lowering taxes, reducing spending, improving government transparency, and supporting small businesses, according to a press release.

"Hedlund’s perfect score reflected his votes to prevent an increase in the state’s gas tax, require photo identification on EBT cards, require a valid social security number to apply for taxpayer funded benefits, the original vote against and subsequent repeal of the 'tech tax' on computer and software services, and 
many others," the release said.

The average state senator received 27 percent on the current scorecard. Visit www.massfiscalscorecard.com for more information. Hedlund was only one of three senators to receive a 100 percent rating.

The group rated Rep. Garrett Bradley, D-Hingham, at 4 percent for voting against bills that would, for example, get rid of self-declaration of residency for public benefits and requiring two-thirds of the legislature to approve bills that raise taxes.

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization that is dedicated to fiscal responsibility in government, according to its website.