Massachusetts
updated
11:43 a.m.
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March 11, 2010 Dear Friends, For over a year, Congress and the President have been working to craft comprehensive health care reform. For me, throughout this process, I have focused on how to make health care available to all Americans without damaging the quality of care in Massachusetts. I do believe we achieved that goal in the bill passed by the House. I have not yet reached a final conclus...
Blue Mass. Group - 9:47 a.m.
METHUEN AWARDED RECOVERY ACT ENERGY GRANT $179,200.00 Grant Will Be Used To Fund Several Projects Mayor William M. Manzi, III announced this week that Methuen has received $179,200.00 energy grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) is designed to assist ......
Bill Manzi - 7:09 a.m.
Color me skeptical. At last night’s Boston schools budget hearing, the big shots weren’t talking and ranting or begging students and parents may have been bellowing into the wilderness. As City Councilor John Connolly so candidly described it , the details of the school budget are fungible. He is in his third year of the messiest job on Council, chair of the education committee. He admit...
Marry in Massachusetts - 6:44 a.m. - 2 clicks 
That Governor Deval Patrick is open to making appearances on various local wingnut radio talk shows, notably the Howie Carr Show. I would pay very very good money to hear the Governor tenderly and solicitously promise to send in the Ancient and Honorable Hibernian Artillery Company to fire a volley of grapeshot over the heads of those allegedly drunken Wellesley teens who have so irke...
Chimes at Midnight - 5:49 a.m.
Remember when our newly minted senator declared he was against the national health care reform law because it would only hurt Massachusetts? It was a position he repeated again this week (in a talk to insurers), as he continues to eat away at his 15 minutes in the spotlight. But it's obviously a selective spotlight, because the junior senator from Massachusetts wasn't taking reporter calls when...
Massachusetts Liberal - 2:28 a.m. - 2 clicks
Just when it seems that the Democrats might actually be able to stand for something and take a major step toward curbing insurance industry abuses and making certain that tens of millions of Americans gain health insurance out comes Representative Capuano prepared to stab President Obama in the back with a strong suggestion that mighty Mike will vote against HCR. For the details see talking poin...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 7:42 p.m. - 5 clicks
Just picked this up over at Talking Points Memo - saying my main man Mike is wary of voting yes for the Senate bill because he's afraid it can't get fixed. Gives some sound reasons but still I think he has to keep the eye on the prize. I guess he emailed supporters saying this: House Members will now likely be asked to vote on the Senate bill without changes, making it available ...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 7:42 p.m. - 2 clicks
Hey, he's got his book deal and a cushy new job. Why should he care about Massachusetts families who are hurting: they are not the out of state conservatives who funded his campaign and will try to push him through again in two years. As to health care, Senator Brown continues his long march to the Republican villages of Too Bad for You and Sorry, I Can't Help You. Link to H.R. 4213. DNC email: ...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 11:22 a.m. - 5 clicks
Dear BMG, We have a crisis on our hands in Massachusetts. Every day as a doctor in the emergency room, I see that people are struggling. They are struggling to find affordable health care. They are struggling to find good, sustainable jobs. They are struggling to find some hope of recovery in a recession that is weighted on the backs of working families and has taken from those who already have ...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 11:05 a.m. - 4 clicks
This is very good, and quite unexpected news -- yet another item in the Governor's current winning streak . A staunchly pro-free enterprise business group yesterday embraced price controls for the state's health-care industry, saying sykrocketing medical expenses have reached a "crisis point" that's financially crushing small businesses. The surprise move by the Associated Industries of Ma...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 7:48 a.m. - 2 clicks
I think this is fabulous news. Gov. Deval Patrick says he's "open" to doing battle in the lion's den of conservative talk radio.... [Said Patrick:] "I'm proud to be a Democrat. But I didn't run to be governor of the Democrats. I'm not running to be governor of the Democrats this time." A Patrick aide said the governor's advisers are even considering putting him on with Howie Carr, the Herald ...
Blue Mass. Group - Thu 7:09 a.m. - 4 clicks
HIT HIM annuder sockodoggler Deval! Bash him a good one right in the kisser!!! That stiff Charlie Baker said nothing as the Commonwelth was denuded of it's Federal Highway funds and as a HMO CEO he has been naught but a "Robin Hood in Reverse", rob from the sick to the pay the shareholders, an appalling record of "accomplishment" all told. Bloody him up good I say, let Baker know early t...
Chimes at Midnight - Thu 6:21 a.m. - 5 clicks
Governor Deval Patrick yesterday directly called out his opposition on the cost of health insurance premiums, going to Beacon Hill to testify in support of a cap on the rates that the health care industry would be allowed to charge annually. The Governor appears more willing to step out and ......
Bill Manzi - Thu 6:21 a.m. - 6 clicks
I post below the Building Committee presentation on Methuen High School to the Methuen School Committee. We visited and presented the project to the M.S.B.A. sub-committee in Boston yesterday, and our reception there was warm, with high praise given to the project. My thanks to Suzanne Lamoureux, the Building Committee ......
Bill Manzi - Thu 6:21 a.m. - 3 clicks
There's shock in both the mainstream media and the Twitterverse this morning: Deval Patrick practiced politics in the Statehouse! The decision by Patrick to stop being a punching bag and jabbing back at his opponents was immediately characterized by the head of Charlie Baker's political team as somehow desperate. The local TV media pundit who recently made the governor a pinata saw, horror ...
Massachusetts Liberal - Thu 2:50 a.m. - 6 clicks
In testimony this afternoon, and in a press availability immediately afterward, Governor Patrick strongly urged the legislature to pass his jobs bill that would (among other things) control health insurance premium hikes and provider costs -- and called out Charlie Baker and Tim Cahill for failing to propose anything constructive on these crucial issues. In case you missed it, the Gov's bi...
Blue Mass. Group - Wed 10:40 p.m. - 5 clicks
This was a great write-up about what a casino would do to Downtown Worcester and other Downtown areas like it, written by the founder and exec director of The Hanover Theatre, which is largely seen as the spark that gave Downtown Worcester a rebirth in recent years. Today, The Hanover Theatre, and other wonderful venues like it, face a critical threat from resort casinos. The performance venues...
Ryan's Take - Wed 6:04 p.m. - 7 clicks
An interesting development . Patrick told the Herald he would reject a compromise that would allow slots at racetracks up until the first resort-style casino is built in the Bay State. "I don't think we will ever get the destination resort casinos if we have slots at racetracks," he said. "The slots are a cash cow for the developers, and a destination resort casino can be very prosperous too, ...
Blue Mass. Group - Wed 9:06 a.m. - 6 clicks
Didn't get a chance to post on this when it was first announced last week, but it's still excellent news. Press release (no link): Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the Commonwealth's bond ratings have been affirmed by the three major rating agencies, all of whom cited the Governor's responsible and proactive stewardship of the Commonwealth's finances during the current economic ...
Blue Mass. Group - Wed 8:24 a.m. - 5 clicks
I think this is a feather in the cap of both the unions involved, as well as the Governor. I wonder if his (eventual) Republican opponent in the race will give him any credit for this negotiation which yielded the state tens of millions savings and will stave off some ......
Left In Lowell - Wed 7:26 a.m. - 8 clicks
It didn't take long for Senator Brown to morph into a rather irritating specimen of DC Drama Queen .... Good grief, whatever happened to that olde rule "Freshmen Senators are seen and not heard"? I would argue that The President and the Senate Democrats (after the usual two weeks of hand wringing) have internalized well the lessons of Scott Brown's election in January. Scott and GOP have ...
Chimes at Midnight - Wed 6:00 a.m. - 6 clicks
Mike Barnicle once used a throwaway line (I assume he didn't "borrow" it from someone else) that if you take the Massachusetts Legislature out onto a barge and sank it, all you would lose is the barge. In the case of the United States Congress, you'd probably need to lose two or three. Witness the case of Eric "Tickle Me" Massa, former Democratic congressman from upstate New York, who wove a t...
Massachusetts Liberal - Wed 2:43 a.m. - 5 clicks
Following on akloftus's post about Charlie Baker's ignorance of what's actually been happening on Beacon Hill recently, the Patrick administration announced today that it has reached agreements with a number of public employee unions that will save the Commonwealth tens of millions of dollars and will allow the administration to protect key services. The Patrick-Murray Administration has reach...
Blue Mass. Group - Tue 8:26 p.m. - 6 clicks
Lt. Gov. Tim Murray has called out Charlie Baker for his perpetual dishonesty on the campaign trail, while responding to a story that first appeared here on BMG about a state employee named Erica. For those who haven't heard it, here's the original audio of the call from Erica, who talked to a very condescending Charlie Baker on WBZ radio March 4. Read the LG's response bel...
Blue Mass. Group - Tue 6:48 p.m. - 8 clicks
March Madness is again upon us . Let's name the BMG Sweet 16! Apologies in advance for misclassifications, errors, and omissions. Off top of my head. Criteria: Quality 70%, Quantity 30% (else we wouldn't have much to read). Eb3 Top Seed - Bye to Finals ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY BRACKET (only 2 competing) Sabutai vs KBusch BROOKLINE BRACKET BrooklineT...
Blue Mass. Group - Tue 6:48 p.m. - 6 clicks
Why do I ask, you might wonder? Well, here's the first line of Michael Graham's Herald column on Mitt Romney and his health care problem: How do you say "chutzpah" in Mormon? Hmm. I didn't realize "Mormon" was a language. But apparently it's OK to ask how you would translate certain Yiddish words into different faiths. And I think it's certainly fair to call "wingnu...
Blue Mass. Group - Tue 5:08 p.m. - 3 clicks
Central Catholic became the Eastern Massachusetts Division 1 Boys Basketball Champion last night, defeating Madison Park 59-50 at the TD Garden last night. Central was led by senior Carson Desrosiers, who turned in a huge performance on both ends of the court. Congrats to coach Rick Nault and a superb ......
Bill Manzi - Tue 4:03 p.m. - 6 clicks
He who would take Scott Brown’s MA Senate seat is a very different politician and person. Dr. Peter Smulowitz wants to bring his insights as an emergency-r00m doctor and his progressive goals to the General Court. Among the local and national hoo-ha about Brown winning U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy’s spot, the focus now shifts back to [...]...
Left Ahead! - Tue 1:25 p.m. - 8 clicks
Tonight’s City Council meeting has three motions from the CC that are of major interest: 1. From CC Patrick Murphy (the innovator): “City Council observe City Council Rules” If you watched last week’s meeting, you will know why Murphy is asking his colleagues to stick to the rules. I have to ......
Left In Lowell - Tue 12:28 p.m. - 6 clicks
The front page of today's Herald blares , in its usual 143-point type, "Buyback Bonanza - Cash me if you can: Even Deval's staffers took advantage of vacay perk." The article goes on to report that the Gov's top strategist and 21 other exiting staffers cashed in more than $90,500 in unused vacation days last year. Three of Patrick's ex-staffers, including former chief of staff Dou...
Blue Mass. Group - Tue 11:05 a.m. - 13 clicks
I believe we need to be able to protect our kids and protect jobs in Massachusetts. Here is what I am doing to do both. First, I have written to Senator Kerry, Senator Brown, and Rep. Olver asking them to aggressively push for passage of S. 593, the Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2009 . I appreciate Senator Kerry & Rep. Markey's leadership on this issue and firmly believe that a national ban is...
Blue Mass. Group - Tue 7:24 a.m. - 5 clicks
the bigger the moocher. Ever noticed that some of the wealthiest people are at the same time the biggest welchers & chiselers? Well, what they and by extension Christy Mihos are telling us is that they didn't get rich by writing a lot of checks. True dat...But it is a hard road to getting elected Governor of Massachusetts unless you lay out some long green. Mihos doesn't get that, but ...
Chimes at Midnight - Tue 6:06 a.m. - 11 clicks
Methuen resident Jeff Paolino, the head groundskeeper for the Lowell Spinners, has been honored as the groundskeeper of the year. Jeff recently attended a Methuen City Council meeting, where we recognized his excellence with a mayoral citation. Congratulations Jeff! The Spinners press release is below. The Lowell Spinners, Class-A affiliate ......
Bill Manzi - Tue 4:20 a.m. - 7 clicks
Two interesting -- and some might say politically tinged -- looks at the dollar drain from state government in today's Boston papers. The Herald's payroll crusade looks at cashed out vacation time and singles out former Deval Patrick chief of staff Doug Rubin, who cashed out $11,000 in unused vacation pay. I know Rubin stops by here occasionally so I'd be happy for a comment. On the other sid...
Massachusetts Liberal - Tue 3:21 a.m. - 8 clicks
Sounds great , right? For proof, head to Bensalem, where Parx - formerly called PhiladelphiaPark Racetrack - made $400 million last year. Impressive for a not-spot plopped among strip malls. Inside the smoke-filled slots box, much of what casino bosses took for granted has changed. Gone are the days of wooing "whales" and dissing grannies in fanny packs. Parx president Dave Jonas says his r...
Ryan's Take - Mon 8:25 p.m. - 5 clicks
Sorry, couldn’t help the Bushapropism reference there. Via Dick Howe, we’re alerted to the new Lowell Public Schools Blog. Keen! I think a blog is a great way to communicate with the city’s parents and residents. Duly added to the growing list of official blogs in the city, among the not ......
Left In Lowell - Mon 6:41 p.m. - 6 clicks
Senator Brown may have won a seat in the US Senate, but that meant he had to give up his old position in the State Senate. The door may have been shut, but we can safely call this an open window. Peter Smulowitz , a medical doctor living in the district, in Needham, was campaigning to replace Brown since even before Brown defeated Martha Coakley, and now he finds himself an established candidate...
Ryan's Take - Mon 3:21 p.m. - 6 clicks
News flash: Massachusetts public employee unions are unhappy with Deval Patrick , who they accuse of trying to balance the state budget on the backs of their members. Old news: labor rank and file votes far more conservatively than leadership, dating back to the days of the hard hat supporters of Richard Nixon, to the Boston Police Patrolman's Union endorsement of George H.W. Bush over Michae...
Massachusetts Liberal - Mon 3:05 p.m. - 5 clicks
Senator Brown may have won a seat in the US Senate, but that meant he had to give up his old position in the State Senate. The door may have been shut, but we can safely call this an open window. Peter Smulowitz, a medical doctor living in the district, in Needham, had been campaigning [...]...
Left Ahead! - Mon 3:05 p.m. - 6 clicks
The extreme difficulty of the political position of Governor Deval Patrick is readily apparent from reading the poll numbers, which have been consistently bad for some time. Today's Boston Globe story on the Governor's real problems with some public sector unions is reflective of the political problems he faces. The ......
Bill Manzi - Mon 3:05 p.m. - 6 clicks
The leading candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination is known almost universally as Charlie. But today's Globe profile suggests candidate Baker is really more of a Charles, and he needs to make some adjustments if he hopes to really connect with voters -- particularly those expecting another free-speaking Scott Brown. I've had a few personal encounters with Baker and I find him an ...
Massachusetts Liberal - Sun 7:05 a.m. - 19 clicks
That's the headline over at the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Suffice it to say, DeLeo's drive to benefit the well-oiled interests in his district makes it a much more difficult sell for him to get his own bill passed across state government, not that I'm complaining. How tough would this vote be? Well, at least 30 people would have to switch their votes on a major issue after voting the oppo...
Ryan's Take - Fri 6:07 p.m. - 5 clicks
Just in case you missed it, State investigators probing Lowell’s DPW and Parks Department. According to the Sun’s web site “state investigators spent Thursday interviewing city employees in an effort to weed out wrong-doing in the Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation Commission. The [ten] investigators, assigned to the office ......
Left In Lowell - Fri 4:48 p.m. - 8 clicks
Perhaps Baker's biggest "issue" of his campaign thus far is his claim that we need to cut state jobs -- 5,000 to be exact. Not only can Massachusetts do this, he says, but he actually has the gall to say this will make Mass government work better. Chutzpa, you got to give him that. His only appeal thus far has been to people who want to drown government in their bathwater. Well, it's easy to thro...
Ryan's Take - Mar 5 - 6 clicks
Whether you agree with me, in that slot machines would be very bad policy for Massachusetts, or not, I'm sure everyone can agree that it's generally a good idea to do a comprehensive, nonpartisan study, that doesn't come from the industry or those who have been paid by them, on any potential major change to the state before we go ahead and do it. That's why I'm here to ask you to sign onto a peti...
Ryan's Take - Mar 3 - 3 clicks
3rd time's the charm. MassResistance was once again named a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Brian Camenker is sure to wear his hate tiara proudly. It's fitting to hear about it today while same sex couples in Washington D.C. are finally being treated equally. There IS no turning back. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and now Washington D.C are issuing ma...
Massresistance Watch - Mar 3 - 3 clicks
Public Hearing that the Citizens were Heard and Made a Major Difference 1. The Dog hearing where The Mark of mrmillcity.com made his public debut 2. City Stat 3. Establishment of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Dept. Major Winners Tonight 1. City of Lowell 2. Bernie Lynch 3. Technology Not on the Winning Side Tonight 1. Those who spoke ......
Left In Lowell - Mar 2 - 7 clicks
With a visible sigh of relief, the Boston Globe has once again taken the bait from the Former Viceroy and proclaimed him a nice safe milk & water family friendly GOP moderate . I can just see Scott Lehigh moping his brow and blubbering "Oh Thank God!" Of course, what is unintentionally funny is Mitt's newly minted status as a "Policy Wonk", just like the current President Romney likes ...
Chimes at Midnight - Mar 2 - 5 clicks
OK, pop quiz time: who likes going to the Registry of Motor Vehicles? The harsh lights, the long lines, the cheerful friendly help. You can put you hand down now Registrar Kaprelian. Now, what if you could save $5 by doing your business with the Registry by mail or online. Any takers? And oh yeah, at the same time you would be doing an ever small part to close a potential $5 billion budget ga...
Massachusetts Liberal - Mar 2 - 9 clicks
What the hell are those lines in the road on Longwood Ave headed west from the Riverway toward Trader Joe's? [Artist's rendering. Thanks, art.com .] ...
1 Smoot Short of a Bridge - Mar 1 - 3 clicks
