EAST LONGMEADOW – Though state Rep. Brian Ashe dismissed Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance’s controversial flyers as “propaganda material,” the 501C4 organization’s Spokesperson and Board Member Paul Craney stated their only goal is to focus on advocacy and keeping state lawmakers accountable.

During the month of December approximately 400,000 flyers were distributed to 40 to 50 towns by Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance with information on House Bill 3269. The flyers referenced individual towns “welcoming illegal immigrants” as well as the bill itself, arguing that it would make Massachusetts a Sanctuary State. The flyer continued to urge residents to contact their local representatives to “demand he with draw his support for this legislation!”

When Reminder Publications spoke with Craney, he noted how difficult he believes it is for constituents to see how individual legislators vote. “It was nearly impossible to view how these lawmakers vote, and it’s on purpose. It’s so bad there [on Beacon Hill] that legislative committee votes were not available to the public. We’re very often one of the worst states as far as transparency goes,” Craney said.

Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance’s website, massfiscal.org, states that they “advocate for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability in state government and increased economic opportunity for the people of our Commonwealth.”

“Like many in Massachusetts, the leadership, staff, donors and supporters of Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance are concerned about the direction of our state. We call Massachusetts home and want to see our state improve, become more competitive, transparent and head in the right direction,” the site reads.

Ashe explained bill H. 3269 to Reminder Publications, “It doesn’t allow for local and state police to detain undocumented immigrants. Part of the reason [he supported the bill] is that the supreme judicial court ruled that it was illegal. It has nothing to do with making Massachusetts a Sanctuary State, or any of the towns or cities that they [Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance] allude to.”

Ashe also stated that the bill doesn’t allow inmates to be sent to build the boarder wall.

Craney, however, disagrees.

“What that bill does, it does it very clearly, is makes Massachusetts a sanctuary state. Ashe brought up the wall, and those are just talking points that they [legislators] are given. This is typical distractions lawmakers make,” Craney commented.

Craney noted that there are towns in the Commonwealth that have voted against making Massachusetts a sanctuary state.

“Some individual towns have voted and rejected the sanctuary state bill, and this bill takes away a towns option,” Craney said. “I saw a quote from Ashe where he said ‘I think this should be dealt with on a local level,’ which his bill directly contradicts that.”

“What he [Ashe] should really do, is just stand by his bill. Say I voted for this and give his reasoning,” Craney added.

The flyer by Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance quoted the Federation of American Immigration Reform by saying, “Illegal immigration costs Massachusetts taxpayers $1.8 billion annually.” Ashe told Reminder Publications that the Federation of American Immigration Reform is a “known hate group.”

“They’re a hate group in America. They’re not even referencing a reputable group, they’ve been put on a hate group list,” he said.

“It’s so absurd, it’s not even worth acknowledging. It’s just more white noise,” Craney said of Ashe’s reference to Federation of American Immigration Reform.

“For Rep. Ashe to attack us, it’s a disservice. They’re [legislators] the ones acting like bullies when we’re just trying to hold them accountable. They’re doing a great disservice to their constituents,” Craney said.

To read bill H. 3269 for yourself, go to https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H3269 and view the text. To read Ashe’s comments on the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance flyers, go to https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/eastlongmeadow/ashe-calls-flyers-distributed-in-towns-propaganda-/.