“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

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.

Such are the ways in a one-party state

From the Worcester Telegram and Gazette:

Backdoor raises bespeak arrogance of one-party rule

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE

At a time when the state is facing a deficit of some $1.3 billion in its fiscal 2009 budget, Democratic lawmakers delivered a slap in the face to taxpayers by voting pay increases for “a few select legislators” in a supplemental budget filed to cover this winter’s extraordinary snow removal costs and shore up regional transit authorities. Typically, the vote stuck pretty much to party lines, 121-20, with only one Democrat casting a dissenting ballot. The handout now awaits the governor’s signature.

Among the select few is state Rep. John J. Binienda, D-Worcester, whose $7,500 bonus pay as chairman of the Revenue Committee would be doubled.

Republicans, led by Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. of North Reading, made a commendable but futile attempt to stop this outrageous backdoor move. Regrettably, such moves are apt to continue in a Legislature emboldened by years of one-party rule.