(I just got off the phone with Tim O'Brien. He confirmed to me that Healey is not running. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
Update: Healey 2006 campaign manager Tim O'Brien has told Karen Anderson of WBZ that Healey will not be a candidate in 2010. Anderson's tweet says:
Kerry Healy is NOT running for Congress according to her aide... Despite rumors... Tim O'Brien says, "She will not be a candidate in 2010."
Ya win some grapevine rumors/ ya lose some. - Rob Eno
The rumor mill is spinning pretty crazily right now, but I'm hearing from two very, very reliable sources that former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey may be about to throw her hat into the 6th Congressional District race. I'm hearing this from two reliable parties from very different sides of the party, and think it's about as solid as it gets. Healey will jump into the race for Congress joining Bill Hudak in the primary, and eager for a chance against Massachusetts congressional delegation runt of the litter John Tierney.
It should be remembered that Healey actually held a fundraiser in her Beacon Hill apartment for Hudak back this winter, and was supporting him early on. Hudak has gained some serious steam up in the 6th, but is facing some criticisms for giving credence to "birther criticisms" and allegedly posting some questionable pictures of Obama on his property in the 2008 election. Hold on to your hats folks, it's going to be a wild ride... and guess what, you heard it here first.
(Get the Lawyers ready. This is unconstitutional on its face. Bring em to the Supremes if they try this. It's time to fight. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
The Dems in the House are preparing to change the rules so they can "deem" the Senate healthcare bill passed without ever voting for it.
House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter is prepping to help usher the healthcare overhaul through the House and potentially avoid a direct vote on the Senate overhaul bill, the chairwoman said Tuesday.
Slaughter is weighing preparing a rule that would consider the Senate bill passed once the House approves a corrections bill that would make changes to the Senate version.
Slaughter has not taken the plan to Speaker Pelosi as Democrats await CBO scores on the corrections bill. "Once the CBO gives us the score we'll spring right on it," she said. . . .
House members are concerned the Senate could fail to approve the corrections bill, making them nervous about passing the Senate bill with its much-maligned sweetheart deals for certain states.
"We're well beyond that," Pelosi said Tuesday, though she did not clarify.
It is even theoretically legal, although it stinks to high heaven.
Unlike in the Senate, where individual Senators have broad discretion to steer debate and introduce amendments, the legislative process in the House is rigidly governed by the Rules Committee. This limits the Republicans' options in fighting a self-executing rule for Obamacare. As one Republican House staffer put it to me today, "the Rules Committee can do just about anything if they can get the votes to pass the rule."
This is an exercise in raw political power. Is it any wonder that a recent Rasmussen poll showed that only 21% of American voters consider the federal government to have the consent of the governed?
(Here is the contact page for the SJC. Please contact them at 617-557-1020 to express your displeasure. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
In a stunning decision, today the Supreme Judicial Court said that the Second Amenment to the United States Constitution does not apply to Massachusetts.
In a victory for police, district attorneys and other gun-control advocates, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled today a state requirement to secure stored guns does not violate the Second Amendment - because an individual's right to bear arms only applies to federal jurisdictions, not the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The ruling comes in the case of a Billerica man whose son had ready access to his hunting rifle - which police discovered when they went to investigate why the kid was firing a BB gun at a neighbor's house. Richard Runyan was charged with failing to keep the rifle stored safely as required by state law. A lower-court judge dismissed the charge under a 2007 Supreme Court decision that invalidated Washington, DC's gun-control law.
So I now imagine that we will be seeing the following in Massachusetts: The return of Nativity Scenes on every town green, the recital of the Lord's Prayer to start the School Day, arrests without the reading of Miranda rights, search and seizure without a warrant, amongst others. If the Commonwealth can blatantly ignore one amendment to the Constitution of the United States through a ruling of the Supreme Judicial Court, it can ignore them all right?
STATEMENT OF JEFF PERRY IN RESPONSE TO
SJC DECISION UNDERMINING THE SECOND AMENDMENT
"I strongly disagree with the Supreme Judicial Court's decision today
that the Second Amendment to the Constitution does not apply to
Massachusetts.
The Second Amendment plainly guarantees Americans a personal and
individual right to own a firearm. This part of the Bill of Rights is
based on our founders' appreciation of the need for citizens of a
democracy to protect themselves from tyranny.
I believe our Constitution must be strictly construed, and I think
public confidence in our government is undermined whenever courts
purport to change the Constitution's meaning unilaterally. I find it
especially offensive that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the highest court of the state that was home to the battles of Lexington and Concord, would seek to avoid the individual liberties guaranteed by the Second Amendment mere weeks before Massachusetts residents celebrate Patriot's Day.
As a former police officer, I agree and understand the need to have reasonable public safety laws; however, the Court's decision today does much more than simply uphold gun safety laws, it sadly erodes an individual right."
Jamison Tomasek is running for State Senate in the 2nd Essex and Middlesex district. Current State Senator Susan Ticker has announced she is not running for re-election creating an open seat. He first announced his candidacy here at Red Mass Group on December 17th. Jamison had $2,050.01 cash on hand according to his 2009 year and report with OCPF. He is the only active candidate that had a Year-End filing.
Jamison Tomasek is a CPA and guest lecturer at Bently University. He has served as Chairman of the Kimball Public Library Board of Trustees, President of Kids College, (a nonprofit organization providing enrichment programs for children) and Executive board of the President's Club (alumni organization) of Bentley University. More information can be found on his campaign website Jamison2010.com or his facebook page.
The 2nd Essex and Middlesex district is consistently better than the state average for a Republican. However, it has widely varying results in recent elections. Turnout is key, where the heavily Democratic city of Lawrence is put against the more Republican towns of Andover, Dracut and Tewksbury. Dracut and Tewksbury were won by both John McCain and Kerry Healey outright. In the 2008 Presidential election, Lawrence had the highest turnout (total voters) of any municipality in the district, while in the 2010 special election it had the lowest.
Susan Tucker (D) did not have an opponent in 2008 or 2006. In 2004, she defeated Deborah Jones (R) by a 72% to 28% margin. In 2002, she defeated Maria Marasco by a 63% to 37% margin.
"Some of the potential policy implications of this interim framework have the potential to be a real threat to recreational anglers who not only contribute billions of dollars to the economy and millions of dollars in tax revenues to support fisheries conservation, but who are also the backbone of the American fish and wildlife conservation ethic," said CSF President Jeff Crane.
Morlock, a member of the CSF board, added, "There are over one million jobs in America supported coast to coast by recreational fishing. The task force has not included any accountability requirements in their reports for evaluating or mitigating how the new policies they are drafting will impact the fishing industry or related economies.
"Given that the scope of this process appears to include a new set of policies for all coastal and inland waters of the United States, the omission of economic considerations is inexcusable."
This is not the only access issue threatening the public's right to fish, but it definitely is the most serious, according to Chris Horton, national conservation director for BASS.
"With what's being created, the same principles could apply inland as apply to the oceans," he said. "Under the guise of 'marine spatial planning' entire watersheds could be shut down, even 2,000 miles up a river drainage from the ocean.
"Every angler needs to be aware because if it's not happening in your backyard today or tomorrow, it will be eventually.
(Joe, Joe, Joe. You do know that the Attorney General has oversight of insurance companies right? Or did you miss Marcia Coakley's constant droning about it. So what you are saying is that the CEO of an insurance company gave a politician that runs an oversight agency $250? Well that's just earth shattering. Oh and he gave money to leadership in the legislature that writes laws that affects his business? I tell ya that is just earth shattering news Joe.
Wait Tim Cahill endorsed the guy that didn't want to roll back the income tax to 5%, and even cited that as his reason to? Ya don't say. Nothing to see here move along. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
Recently Eabo Clipper posted the not so earth shattering news that Tim Cahill endorsed a member of his former political party, Deval Patrick, when Patrick was running for Governor in 2006. While I'm not giving Cahill a free pass, in the interest of good fun, I'm not giving Charlie Baker a free pass either.
With regards to Tim's initial endorsement of Coupe Deval, the sad reality of party politics, particularly for elected officials, is that is the way the system works -its one of the very reasons Cahill became an Independent. Cahill a Reagan Democrat/Lunch Pail Dem, got sick of having the pressure of the Party to support candidates he shared nothing in common with, and decided to do something about it and became an Independent.
Of course talk/endorsements is cheap in politics and as we all know, what really matters is putting your money where your mouth is(just ask WilburWood, he LOVES campaign $$, its all he believes in). While Cahill occasionally endorsed Democrats as a reality of being inside the Party structure, Cahill's disdain for his Party's leadership is clearer nowhere than his record of political giving. Between 2000-present, Cahill gave a grand total of ZERO ($0) to Democratic candidates.
On the other hand, Charlie Baker's record on political giving to liberal Democrats is truly breath-taking. This goes beyond... "oh money bags CEO's just watching out for his interest", this is a long pattern of support for these people probably just for funzies or outright support for their politics. So while you and I were working for State House challengers(you know because there might be one too many Dems on Beacon Hill), Baker was tossing money towards these liberal incumbents.
I think now we know why Bill Delahunt got himself out of his re-election race. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll shows the generic congressional ballot in Massachusetts tied at 38%. You read that right. The general re-elect number for incumbents is tied with 24% undecided.
Voters are evenly divided over whether their own local representative in Congress deserves to be reelected: 38% say yes, and the identical number (38%) say no.
In this electoral environment the undecideds will break towards a legitimate challenger. So far we see legitimate challenges shaping up in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 10th congressional districts. Massachusetts may just get a whole lot more purple.
The latest Rasmussen poll numbers are out for Massachusetts and they paint a good picture for Republicans in the Commonwealth. Scott Brown has a 70% approval rating, Deval Patrick continues to have an approval rating in the tank 61% disapprove of his job performance, and Baker is surging while Cahill fades.
Since Brown promised specifically if elected to vote against the president's health care plan, it's not surprising to find that just 35% of those who Strongly Favor the plan approve of the new senator's performance to date. However, 96% of those who Strongly Oppose the plan approve of how Brown is doing.
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Massachusetts voters think the media is paying too much attention to Brown, while just six percent (6%) think he's not getting enough media attention. Nearly one-out-of-two-voters (49%) in the state, though, say the coverage is about right.
Recent coverage has focused on Brown's decision to be one of a handful of Senate Republicans who at least initially have supported a jobs-creation plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats. Because Brown's victory has been attributed in part to the so-called Tea Party backlash against the president's big government agenda, he has been criticized by conservatives for supporting Obama's jobs plan.
Thirty-six percent (36%) of Massachusetts voters have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party movement, while 41% view it unfavorably. Only 13% of voters in the state consider themselves a part of that movement.
Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters in Massachusetts think it would be better for the country if most congressional incumbents were defeated in November. Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree.
Voters are evenly divided over whether their own local representative in Congress deserves to be reelected: 38% say yes, and the identical number (38%) say no.
The Governor's numbers are available if you pay for access in the crosstabs. They don't paint a great picture for the Governor. In a head to head race Baker is virtually tied with Patrick with Cahill over 10 points behind. Exact numbers will be released tomorrow.
(Reed Hillman for AG! - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
GOP hopes for a take-down of "Marcia" Coakley go down in flames. Scott Brown advisor Peter Flaherty says he won't run against Coakley for AG. An unfortunate turn of events for the state GOP. Flahery said he wants to spend more time with his family.
Meanwhile no other candidate has emerged. Will M. Coakley get a free ride. Heaven help the Commonwealth, I say.
Based on other columns by Ms. Eagan, I was rather shocked to read this one. Surprisingly, she hits the nail right square on the head.
Make no mistake. This is why we're broke. This is why your neighborhood firehouses and libraries are shutting down and your kids' class sizes are going up - along with your property taxes. Your local politician might try to blame the recession or energy costs or whatever. Don't believe him.
The truth, Average Joe and Jane? You are paying more taxes and getting fewer services so that government workers - whose wallets already are fatter than yours - can continue to get theirs, and more. You'll be scraping by in retirement, assuming you can ever retire. They'll be retiring in their 50s, secure, with health care and pensions for life. And you paid for them.
I've got one word of advice for all those new Republican candidates out there - you better not partake in this and you better do everything you can to end it. Or you may find yourself on the receiving end of voter anger just like the hacks in charge now.
I think the folks have had enough. From both sides.
Gov. Deval Patrick's tough talk on vacation pay perks in state government has landed with a thud in the Corner Office where his 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 Doug Rubin, got $11,000-plus in vacation pay upon leaving. Rubin, who made $128,000 as his top dog, now acts as the governor's re-election campaign guru, refused to comment.
But the governor, who blasted Massport for its buyback program on vacation and sick days, vowed to check into his own office after being informed by the Herald of the vacation time cash-in. "We want consistent policies throughout state government," Patrick said. "I'll have to look at it."
There are those that say there is a hack vs. Patrick Administration culture on Beacon Hill. Nothing could be further from the truth. Deval Patrick and those closest too him are Kings of the Hacks.
Red Mass Group is proud to announce that we are sponsoring the new musical "You're a Good Man Scott Brown" at the Improv Asylum. Our sponsorship night is Wednesday March 24, 2010. The show starts at 8 PM and the Red Mass Group get together starts at 7 PM. In addition David Kravitz of Blue Mass Group will be paying off the bet we made about the election by buying the editors a round of beer.
Some of you may be apprehensive going to a musical comedy by an improv troupe in Boston. You may think it is going to be very slanted and anti-Brown. Let me tell you, the guys and gals at the Improv Asylum are equal opportunity. I took six levels of Improv classes at the Asylum and these guys are good people. One of the owners is a National Guard tank commander. Not exactly a looney lefty. This show will be fair, and more importantly FUN.
As part of our sponsorship package we have two tickets to give away. So here is how you win them. A winner will be randomly drawn from the first 41 people to fill out the form found after the jump. I your name is drawn you'll get the two tickets. Below are the details.
You're a Good Man Scott Brown
Wednesday March 24, 2010
Doors Open 7 PM (BMG Bet Payoff soon thereafter)
Show Starts 8 PM
Improv Asylum Theater
216 Hanover Street
North End, Boston, Massachusetts
Tickets: $20 Red Mass Group Rate (Mention Red Mass Group to the Box Office Attendant)
(Thank you Senator Tisei. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
The Massachusetts Senate Republican Caucus is pushing for the repeal of the state's controversial nursing home tax on non-Medicare patients.
The tax was introduced in 2002, and was recently increased by the Patrick Administration to $19.17 a day. Over the last eight years, the Caucus has repeatedly filed legislation and offered budget amendments to eliminate the tax.
The latest Caucus proposal, Senate Bill 305, was filed in January of 2009 and heard by the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs on May 6, 2009. Ten months after the hearing, the bill is still awaiting committee action.
Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei has written to the committee on behalf of the Caucus to ask that the bill be reported out with a favorable recommendation. If the committee does not release the bill, the Caucus is prepared to file another budget amendment to repeal the nursing home tax.
The following is the text of Senator Tisei's letter:
March 8, 2010
The Honorable Patricia D. Jehlen, Senate Chair
The Honorable Alice K. Wolf, House Chair
Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
State House, Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Chairwoman Jehlen & Chairwoman Wolf:
I am writing to urge that you take swift and favorable action on Senate Bill 305, An Act to Repeal the Nursing Home Tax, which is currently pending before the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.
The nursing home tax - which was first implemented as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 state budget - constitutes an onerous penalty that unfairly targets those individuals who had the foresight to plan ahead and save for their long-term health care needs. Those who privately pay for their nursing home care and don't have to rely on the state for assistance should not be penalized by having to pay a tax.
When the nursing home tax was first introduced, non-Medicare patients were being assessed $9.60 a day. Now they are being charged $19.17 a day, nearly double the original assessment. To charge private-pay patients an additional $575 a month is not only unfair, but counterproductive, and places an unnecessary financial burden on our seniors and their families.
The Lowell Sun recently reported that only $15 of the $19.17 collected actually finds its way back into the system. The rest is being used by the Patrick Administration to help balance the state budget, and not for its original purpose of helping nursing homes remain financially solvent.
I have opposed the nursing home tax as bad public policy since its inception, and have been actively working for its repeal ever since. The Senate Republican Caucus has offered a series of repeal bills and budget amendments in each of the last four legislative sessions, and is prepared to raise this issue again during the upcoming budget debate if the committee fails to act in a timely manner.
As a member of the Elder Affairs Committee, I am urging you to expedite the bill's release from the committee with a favorable report. Doing so will allow the House and Senate to begin the process of repealing this misguided tax once and for all.
(edited for formatting. - promoted by Mike "DD4RP" Rossettie)
Friends,
Today I launched a new web video in response to Congress and the Administration's effort to fast-track the $2.5 Trillion health care legislation. President Obama has claimed that there's been enough discussion about healthcare and Niki Tsongas has been silent in response. We need to give the public the opportunity to review, discuss and express its opinions on this massive spending bill before a vote is cast.
Congress is scheduled for "Spring District Work Period" in just a few weeks-March 29th through April 9, 2010. District Work Periods are scheduled periodically throughout the year to allow members of Congress to return home to work directly with their constituents. However, Washington is planning a vote on the legislation just before lawmakers return home.
It is unthinkable that Niki Tsongas, who granted just two town halls in all of 2009, would cast a vote on the most significant legislation of her tenure, without giving the people a chance to weigh in on it. We have had enough of a Congress who isn't listening to us. Rep. Tsongas should refuse to vote until she returns to Massachusetts and she should agree to hold a series of Town Hall to give a voice to the people who are demanding one.
I believe we need real health care reform to reduce costs to consumers and that this can be achieved without raising taxes, massive spending or interfering with the personal relationships between a doctor and patients. Sign the petition today, and make your voice heard.
According to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, 3 level 3 sex offenders are working at a manufacturing plant across the street from a Boys and Girls Club, a pre-school, and an elementary school. While the state has restriction on where level 3 sex offenders can live, none currently exist on where they can work. members of the Republican house caucus are trying to change that.
State Rep. Paul K. Frost, R-Auburn, is a co-sponsor of House Bill 1437, filed last year, that would restrict a Level 3 sex offender from living, or working, within 1,000 feet of child care facilities.
There is nothing in the law today, says Mr.. Frost, that restricts residency or employment. Even though a judge may make parole restrictions, when parole is over, the restrictions would no longer be in place, he said.
"If you are a recovering alcoholic, you do not take an apartment above a bar," said Mr. Frost, regarding his rationale for the legislation now before the Judiciary Committee.
Where the Board determines that the risk of reoffense is high and the degree of dangerousness posed to the public is such that a substantial public safety interest is served by active dissemination, it shall give a level 3 designation to the sex offender.
The public shall have access to the information regarding a level 3 offender through the Local Police Departments and through the Sex Offender Registry Board.
There are 1,981 Level 3 sex offenders in Massachusetts.
Eric Steinhilber Formally Announces Candidacy for Cape and Islands State Senate Seat Vows to fight for tax cuts, job growth, and an end to corruption on Beacon Hill
Hyannis, MA. - Republican Eric Steinhilber, 35, of Barnstable, formally announced his candidacy last week for the State Senate from the Cape and Islands district before an energetic crowd at Tommy Doyle's Restaurant in Hyannis.
Joined by his wife and two small children, Steinhilber said, "Folks are worried about the direction of our country, our state, and most importantly about the future of their kids. They want a government that is pro-job creation, lives within its means, keeps taxes low, and stops risking the future of our kids and grandkids with trillions, upon trillions in debt. These are common-sense principles that unite us and I'm looking forward to fighting for them in this election."
Steinhilber blasted 'detrimental' policies on Beacon Hill, stating, "They have turned a $1 billion surplus into a $3 billion deficit, saddled our local towns with $30 billion in unfunded mandates, and burdened the people of this state with over $1 billion in new taxes." Steinhilber continued, "We won't put up with them anymore and we won't pay for them anymore. And on November 2nd, we can kick these policies to the curb where they belong."
In attendance was 5th Barnstable State Representative and 10th Congressional district Candidate, Jeffrey Perry. "I'm very excited that a true tax-cutting, pro-job creation Republican is running to clean up the corruption on Beacon Hill", said Perry, "Eric is someone who truly cares about our families, as he has two small children himself, he is someone who will fight for the people of the Cape and Islands on the issues they care about, and he is someone who will work to ensure that our children have a secure and bright future ahead of them."
Steinhilber detailed the recent indictments and numerous arrests of state legislators and called for an end to the corrupt one-party dominated state legislature, saying "They have been an embarrassment for our state and a poor example for our children."
Steinhilber closed his remarks by asking the crowd to stay engaged and that this race was a battle for the future of our kids and grandkids. "We have no greater calling than ensuring a free and prosperous future our children. It is our moral duty to pass this great American experiment on to them in better shape than we found it, to have policies in place that provide them with better opportunities than we had in our lives. This is our duty, this is our charge, and we will not fail them."
Steinhilber is a Realtor and serves as Development Director for the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound. He is also Vice-Chair of the Barnstable Economic Development Commission and Past President of the Hyannis Kiwanis Club.
Recently Eabo Clipper posted the not so earth shattering news that Tim Cahill endorsed a member of his former political party, Deval Patrick, when Patrick was running for Governor in 2006. While I'm not giving Cahill a free pass, in the interest of good fun, I'm not giving Charlie Baker a free pass either.
Red Mass Group is proud to announce that we are sponsoring the new musical 
