“Wake up and smell the economy!"

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Pet projects aplenty

Earmark rush is upon House

By Steve LeBlanc THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON— Lawmakers are scrambling to add hundreds of pet projects to the House version of the state budget, despite dire warnings of a $1.3 billion spending gap and a looming recession.

The amendments range from:
- $50,000 to clean algae on Nahant Beach
- $140,000 for a salt storage depot in Randolph
- $150,000 to battle the Winter Moth worm
- $750,000 to eliminate mold at the Stoughton Fire Station.
- $90,000 for a shellfish propagation program on Cape Cod
- $100,000 for a wind turbine at the McGlynn Elementary and Middle Schools in Medford
- $50,000 for film festivals on the Cape and Islands.
- $50,000 for teen pregnancy prevention programs in Southbridge,
- $260,000 for violence prevention programs for high-risk youth in Boston, and
- $250,000 for a colorectal cancer awareness education program.
- $250,000 for the Free Shakespeare Company in Boston
- $75,000 for collaborations between the Boston Ballet and Opera Boston
- $100,000 for the Waltham Tourism Council.
- $180,000 for a biofilter system in West Boylston
- $25,000 for improvements to the Holland Pool in Malden.

... The House budget relies on a mix of new taxes, cuts and funds from the state’s “rainy day” savings account to balance spending.

Lawmakers shouldn’t be looking to protect special projects when the state is facing a budget shortfall, according to Barbara Anderson of the anti-tax group Citizens for Limited Taxation.

“Wake up and smell the economy,” Anderson said. “Even with the tax increases we don’t have the money for the budget we have, never mind adding anything. Where are they getting the money for earmarks?”

see the full article here

McCain vs Obama Poll

A recent poll conducted by Survey USA shows some exciting news.
The poll questioned registered voters in Massachusetts. Find it here: http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollPrint.aspx?g=d328d259-7c45-49ff-a14e-c14c182cb9c7&d=0

First of all, with Barack Obama being the likely Democrat nominee, John McCain trails Obama 46% to 48%; with a +/- 4.3% margin of error. This is devastating that a Republican nominee could be in a dead heat in the bluest state.

Second, it becomes important to look at the party affiliation. Massachusetts is about 50% unenrolled voters. The poll concluded that 54% of unenrolled voters would vote for John McCain over Obama.

When it comes to the major issues, by wide margins the economy is the most important issue to voters. However, John McCain is leading when it comes to this issue. In fact, except for the environment, health, and Iraq John McCain leads every issue by wide margins.

One more issue that I noticed in this poll: SurveyUSA separated the issues of Iraq and Terrorism. Now I am one that believes they are one in the same, but it is important to notice that voters who thought Iraq was a more important voted for Obama and likewise those who thought Terrorism was more important voted for McCain.

On a completely irrelevant (but humorous) note, compare how the votes change based race when comparing McCain versus Obama and McCain versus Clinton. Barack Obama loses 10% of the black vote that Clinton carried and 53% of the Hispanic vote.

So what does all this mean for us? Maybe nothing. The election is still 6 and half months away which might as well be next year in election terms. So much can, and will, happen between now and the general election. However, with a Zogby poll showing that Candidate Jeff Beatty in a dead heat with John Kerry (http://www.telegram.com/article/20070809/NEWS/708090792/1008), and John McCain tied with Barack Obama, it does give one hope for our commonwealth.

Budget banks on tax increases

From the Telegram and Gazette:

BOSTON— House Democratic leaders yesterday proposed a budget for fiscal 2009 that would increase state spending $1.1 billion over the current year and relies on projected increases in income and sales tax revenues, as well as $392 million from proposed corporate tax increases and another dollar-per-pack tax on cigarettes.

see the full article here

Will Kerry Still Support Obama At Democrat Convention?

MassGOP Calls on Senator Kerry to Denounce Obama's Elitist Rhetoric

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Republican Party issued the following statement calling on Senator John Kerry to denounce Barack Obama's elitist rtheroic.

Massachusetts Republican Party Executive Director Rob Willington said, "Senator Kerry's silence on Obama's comments is astounding. People don't "cling" to their religion because of economic stress, they believe in their religion because it brings them comfort and strength. Those who believe in the 2nd Amendment and border security are not "bitter." Apparently Senator Obama believes that because they are angry, they believe in the 2nd Amendment and secure borders. It is the other way around - because the government can't secure our borders and it continues to encroach on our right to bear arms, they are rightfully upset. Given Senator Kerry's support for Senator Obama, will he continue to support him despite these insulting comments?"

View a new video from the NRSC on this subject by clicking here.

At a fundraiser in San Francisco on April 6th, Senator Obama Said: "You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. … And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Ogonowski Visit

Jim Ogonowski, candidate for US Senate, visited Winchendon during a joint meeting of the regional committees. Present were members of the Winchendon, Hubbardston, Ashburnham, and Templeton town committees. For more information on Jim, visit www.JimOgonowski.com

Jim is facing off with Republican opponent Jeff Beatty for the chance to take on John Kerry.

Our glorious State Senate Democrats defending bad teachers:

From the Telegram and Gazette: http://telegram.com/article/20080404/APN/804040685

Senate provides certification waiver for failing teacher hopefuls

The Associated Press

BOSTON— The state Senate has approved a bill that would allow aspiring teachers who flunk the certification test three times to possibly teach anyway.

The law would provide a waiver that could lead to certification,

The teaching candidates who failed three times would have to have come close to passing at least once.

Senate Republicans ridiculed the legislation, which still needs approval from the House and Governor Patrick.

Senator Bruce Tarr asked how the state can expect students to have a minimum level of knowledge when they don't expect the same from teachers.

But Senate Democrats said it would just allow teachers to be assessed on a broader basis so talented instructors aren't denied jobs.

A little fun for April's Fool

Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early