MassGOP Chairman Kirsten Hughes just sent out the following email.
You're going to love this...
This is unprecedented and I hope you will take advantage of this tremendous opportunity.
In 2014, the Massachusetts Republican Party will adopt its Platform and we want YOUR input. We want your candid feedback to help us craft the Platform which will be presented at our state convention in March.
To have your voice heard, please answer a few questions. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete and your opinion will be compiled with other Republicans across the state and presented to the Mass Republican Platform Committee on January 4, 2014. The Platform Committee would like to hear from YOU -- so this is your chance to help us shape this important guide for our Party.
If you aren't reading the Boston Business Journal's managing editor Craig Douglas regularly, you should be. He is providing some of the best commentary in the Commonwealth. This week he took on the yearly Beacon Hill Revenue Hearings.
Looking for some comic relief this holiday season? Then don't miss today's scheduled revenue hearings in the bowels of the Massachusetts State House.
Rarely does one have the opportunity to view so many rare and exotic creatures - in this case state lawmakers - in their natural environment. But once a year our elected few assemble in the cavernous Gardner Auditorium to slouch, snooze and gaze into space as a lineup of usual suspects - in this case lobbyists and economists - drone on about why the state's tax collections are heading to infinity and beyond. It is an annual ritual of people-watching at its finest.
Grab a cup of coffee and click through the link above. It is worth the time.
As we reported yesterday, John Boehner is holding a vote on the Murray-Ryan budget compromise bill today in the House of Representatives. There has been a split in the GOP in DC over this bill, and progressive groups have also found fault in the bill. That's why what is happening today is interesting.
When John Boehner was talking about retaking the House of Representatives, he said a lot about putting major legislation online for 72 hours for the public to read. Yesterday's release, and tommorrow's vote on, the Ryan-Murray budget compromise breaks that pledge. Ben Howe at RedState has put together a video showing Boehner's promises.
John Boehner has made a lot of promises over the years about the type of Congress he would lead as Speaker. As is often the case in Washington, it seems that his actions aren't lining up with his rhetoric. And so, here we are faced with a major budget vote and yet members of Congress are only being given 36 hours to read it, understand it and vote on this important legislation.
Is it the right move? Many are skeptical. Perhaps with time it could be shown to be the right direction. Or perhaps a better plan could be made. Unfortunately, in a Pelosi-esque maneuver, John Boehner has abandoned his promise to allow at least 72 hours between the time a bill is made available and when it is to be voted upon.
(Boston, MA; December 11, 2013) – The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University (BHI) estimates that Massachusetts state tax revenues will come in at $23.283 billion for Fiscal Year 2014, 5.3% above FY 2013. Meanwhile, revenues will be $25.132 billion for FY 2015, 7.9% above FY 2014.
The 7.9% increase for FY 2015 is largely driven by a surge in personal income. The New England Economic Partnership projects state personal income to increase by 6.0% in Calendar Year (CY) 2014 and 6.7% in CY 2015.
David G. Tuerck, Executive Director of the Institute and Professor of Economics at Suffolk University, and Paul Bachman, Director of Research, presented the forecast to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means this morning in the Gardner Auditorium at the State House. The legislature uses the BHI estimate, along with estimates provided with the Department of Revenue and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, to help determine the revenues needed for the upcoming state budget.
Total tax revenues for FY 2013 closed out at $22.12 billion, and FY 2014 revenues are on pace to exceed the predictions made last December of $22.19 billion. Sales tax revenues are expected to grow by 6.7% in FY 2014, while personal income tax revenues are expected to grow by 3.5%.
“Massachusetts is experiencing a firm recovery from the Great Recession and moving ahead with a tax cut required by law,” says Tuerck. “Growth is taking form in all of the major tax categories through FY 2015 with only a slight dip in miscellaneous taxes for this fiscal year.”
According to BHI projections for FY 2015, personal income tax revenues will grow by 9.3%, sales tax revenues by 2.2%, and corporate excise by 16.7%, while more volatile business excises and usually stable motor fuels tax revenue will grow by 31.3% and 5.8%, respectively. Total taxes for FY 2015 will grow by $1.91 billion over FY 2014.
“Both the U.S. and Massachusetts economies have survived the fiscal cliff and the government shutdown,” said Tuerck. “There is uncertainty at the federal level over the effects of Dodd-Frank, the Affordable Care Act, and eventual tapering of federal reserve policy. But the continued capacity of Massachusetts to outperform the rest of the country bodes well for strong revenue growth.”
On Friday December 6, 2013 the Executive Director of Maryland's health care exchange resigned, as ongoing problems continue to plague Maryland's exchange website. The Wall Street Journal has the story.
Maryland's health benefit exchange Executive Director Rebecca Pearce resigned Friday amid ongoing efforts to fix the state's health insurance website.
No reason was given for her resignation and state officials would not comment late Friday on the reason for her departure.
The Journal continued:
The state's website woes came as a surprise because the state wsa believed to be in a good position to start signing people up for insurance starting October 1. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley a Democrat, immediately kicked off the state health-reform effort after teh 2010 Affordable CAre Act became law. The state was among the first to hire an exchange director when it hired Ms. Pearce.
In Massachusetts Jean Yang, the current Executive Director of the Health Connector authority has been with the exchange, as either the CFO or the Executive Director for many years. She has overseen the awarding of a contract to spend $69M, 20 x more than the original exchange, to build a health care exchange that does not function.
A fair question is, should Jean Yang resign or be fired? Maryland has taken that step. Should we be next?
The website woes that have stemmed from Massachusetts changing from a functioning Romneycare exchange to a malfunctioning Obamacare exchange have left 15,000 Bay State residents in jeopardy of losing health care coverage. The Boston Globehas the story.
About 126,000 people enrolled in health plans subsidized by the state have until March to choose a new plan and can keep their current coverage until then. But thousands of others are depending on a new plan to start on the first of the year, and some worry that their coverage will not be ready in time. Their anxiety has only been heightened by stubborn technical problems, such as a snag this week that blocked many people from signing in to the website.
The Globe continues...
Many people already receiving state insurance subsidies - through Commonwealth Care, the Medical Security Program for people who are unemployed, and the Insurance Partnership for small business employees - must re-enroll in a new plan, but the state extended the deadline for that group from Dec. 23 until March 24, giving them three more months on their current plans.
As many as 15,000 people who have completed applications do not fall into that category, and an unknown number of them could be uninsured on Jan. 1 if they are not enrolled through the Health Connector.
As recently as September of this year, the Commonwealth had a functioning on-line health care exchange. After a $69 Million dollar contract to change over to an Obamacare compliant exchange, we do not.
Is it time for Jean Yang the, $179,000 per year, person in charge of the Health Connector Authority to go?
The folks at Massachusetts Obamacare Exchange, The Health Connector, will tell you that their website is getting better. Someone has forgotten to tell the consumers that use the site.
Red Mass Group took a look at the past week, December 1, 2013 - December 7, 2013, in Facebook posts on the Health Connector's Facebook Fan Page.
(WGGB) - State Representative Sean Curran has announced he will not seek re-election in 2014.
In a statement released Friday, Curran states he believes Springfield "is making significant strides towards becoming one of the comeback cities in New England" and he is "proud that many of our gains have come about because we have voices on Beacon Hill willing to stand up for our hometown."
"It certainly is an honor and privilege to be one of those Representatives. But, I think now might be a good time to give others the opportunity to serve in the House. And so as such, with only nine months to the Democratic 2014 primary, I am formally announcing that I will not run for a sixth term to the Massachusetts House of Representatives," Curran explains.
Springfield a comeback city? Not if it keeps with Curran's preferred solutions.
South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela died peacefully yesterday at his home. He was 95 years old.
The anti-Aparthied revolutionary icon who spent 27 years in prison as punishment for his attacks against South Africa's racist regime also led his country to democracy & became the nation's first black president.
It wasn't easy. Mandela's renunciation of violence made it possible for him to work with then-South African president Frederik Willem de Klerk to find a political solution to the nation's troubles. His election in 1994 as President ended the nation's global status as an international pariah & paved the way for black South Africans to have full equality.
Perhaps Mandela's biggest contribution towards national healing was his creation & promulgation of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission that was charged with investigating past human rights abuses & had provided a platform for the airing of grievances. For South Africans across the political & color spectrum, the process of watching victims forgiving those victimizers who publicly asked for forgiveness was a cathartic one.
Like America's George Washington (& unlike most African leaders of the post-colonial era), Mandela never sought political power as a way to enrich himself. He stepped down from the Presidency & enjoyed his private life.
He formed the Nelson Mandela Foundation & The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund as a way to do charitable work.
Mandela was a selfless humanitarian & a genuine statesman. He will be greatly missed. RIP, Madiba.
It is expected that all candidates and campaign managers will attend. This training is also for State Committee Members and Town Committee Chairs and members.
I can't post the graphics but here's the text:
Save the date!
I wanted you to be the first to know about a new MassGOP all-day workshop in Marlborough we are having on February 15th. This will be a fantastic opportunity for candidates, campaign staff members and activists. The workshop will teach you the fundamentals of...
(Your GOP team. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
From a memo distributed this evening by MassGOP Executive Director Rob Cunningham to the State Committee members. I've reproduced it exactly for your reference.
(This is a great pick up opportunity for Republicans
- promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
Thinking local is the key to victory for Democrats. With Rep. Turner retiring what are the prospects for a GOP pick-up in 2014?
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, Rep. Cleon H. Turner, D-Dennis, formally announced that he will not seek re-election and will retire on Jan. 6, 2015, after ten years of service in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Turner said that he ran for the Legislature because he wanted to reconnect the state government with community needs. Having bridged that gap, he said Wednesday, he is proud of his work with town administrators, selectmen and other local officials in formulating and passing home rule petitions and dealing with state agencies.
"Reminding my colleagues that Cape Codders are not all rich and that Cape communities have significant issues with housing, homelessness, education funding, elderly issues, mental illness and other issues remains a challenge that I will continue to work on in my final year in office and that the Cape delegation mustn't give up on," Turner said.
Anybody up for the race? The Cape doesn't seem to be as conservative as RMGers seem to think. Turner was pretty liberal.
According to public records the recently redesigned Health Connector website, referred to as HC 2.0, cost twenty times more to develop than the initial Health Connector Exchange. A review of public records, confirmed by Health Connector spokesman Jason Lefferts, shows that $3,449,520 was spent on initial development of the Romneycare Exchange. The Health Connector has signed a $69M contract for the still malfunctioning Obamacare exchange, of which $11,000,000 has been paid according to representatives of the Health Connector.
In an emailed statement Lefferts told Red Mass Group, "total payments to CSC [the HC 1.0 contractor] from Jan. 2007-Sept. 2009 total $3,449,520." As time went on tweaks to the code and maintenance were needed, Lefferts continued, "additional website development and maintenance costs from 2009-Sept. 2013 total $5,290,124."
The Boston Herald has reported heavily on the development of the new website. Consistently reporting that the new site cost $69,000,000. That is an approximate 20 time higher initial cost.
It's official Charlie Baker has picked former state rep Karyn Polito as his running-mate.
Some quick observations:
1) The ticket is a pretty good fit geographically. Western MA voters should be happy.
2) Polito did reasonably well in 2010 in her unsuccessful run for state Treasurer against Steve Grossman. She also has legislative experience.
3) The Yankee-Italian makeup is not to be discounted. See Weld-Cellucci during the glory years. In the Cellucci mold, she brings a decent resume of experience in the House; she would be tasked with interacting with the legislature.
4) Conservatives should be pleased generally and the Tea Party shouldn't complain. Polito is no RINO (a term we hate).
5) The Polito pick is a move to diversify the GOP slate statewide (expect more to come even if finding candidates for all four major statewide seats is a struggle.)
6) This should mildly worry the Democrats who have no break-out candidate and are yielding the slow-motion month of December to the MA-GOP.
7) Inside sources suggest that Polito's pick is an endorsement of the NewMasssPlaybook which emphasizes minimizing the electoral gap for GOP candidates in urban districts. No wonder the GOP's convention will take place in Boston next year.
8) As in 2010, the GOP ticket allows candidates to max out on donations before year end, an advantage that can't take place on the Democratic side.
Moments after Charlie Baker announced he was running as a team with Karyn Polito the Massachusetts Democratic Party furiously tweeted out a link to the following press release:
BOSTON - While Republican Charlie Baker attempts to reinvent himself following his failed 2010 gubernatorial campaign, the Boston Globe yesterday revealed Baker is cooperating with Tea Party backed Karyn Polito "behind the scenes" about teaming up to form the Republican Party ticket.
"In spite of what he's saying, he is the same Charlie Baker who ran in 2010," said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Tom McGee. "Charlie is crisscrossing the Commonwealth trying to reshape his image but privately he is trying to appease the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party."
Polito, who has become a fixture at Tea Party events in Massachusetts, was given an award in August by Tea Party extremist and former Republican Congressman Allen West. The event, billed as a "passing of the torch" from West to Polito, included remarks from the former Congressman who once compared President Obama to Hitler and called the Democratic Party a "21st Century plantation."
While Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly support marriage equality, Polito supported banning gay marriage and even served as campaign chair for Tea Party favorite Michael Sullivan's bid for the Republican nomination to fill John Kerry's U.S. Senate seat.
The "Tea Party" event in question was put on by the Hausman Memorial Free Speech Speaker Series, a Jewish lecture series held at the Ahavath Torah Congregation in Stoughton.
Seemingly the Democratic Party in Massachsuetts hates free speech. Of course Karyn Polito has also hob-nobbed with Sarah Palin in Boston, but two women talking doesn't really have the same sizzle does it?
Hi all, happy holidays. We have two really great media video clips for you - about 4-6 minutes each, both about what happens when the federal government oversteps its limits. Both well worth your time:
As Jim points out, this is not an anomaly, this is the philosophy underlying Common Core - in their minds it's unfair to suppose that kids have historical context. This seems more like a Race to the Bottom, the least common denominator, removing human agency from history.
In both healthcare and education, the evidence we've seen so far points to at least one clear conclusion: putting the federal government in control is creating more problems than it is solving.
Karyn Polito sent out a Media Advisory that she will be announcing her future political plans tomorrow. As Dan Winslow already pulled the prank of doing this and not announcing, it is pretty safe to say Karyn will not be.
All indications are that she will announce a campaign for Lieutenant Governor.
Karyn Polito To Make Announcement Regarding 2014 Election
Shrewsbury- Tomorrow, Karyn Polito will make an announcement regarding her plans for the 2014 election cycle at Brody's diner in her hometown of Shrewsbury.
"You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." - Rahm Emanuel
In the days after the Boston Marathon bombing representatives from Health Care for All used the tragedy as a chance to sell Obamacare, and Health Care Reform. Health Care for All you may remember had received $1.8M+ in Obamacare grants before this article was written.
Hannah Frigand, an employee of Health Care for All wrote the following on MySouthEnd.com
In Massachusetts we pride ourselves on the fact that all of our residents have access to health insurance. After a week where so many in the Commonwealth have been hurt both physically and mentally, it is important that people have access to the care that they need. The last thing that our neighbors should have to face after being victims of the Marathon bombing is insurance issues and medical bills.
I work for a free HelpLine at Health Care For All. Health Care For All is a non-profit advocacy organization the promotes quality, affordable health insurance for all Massachusetts residents. The HelpLine is a free telephone and internet service that answers questions about health insurance and connects people to their health coverage options. The counselors at the HelpLine are able to complete applications for free and low-cost insurance over the phone in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. We want to make sure that in this time of need, people know their options. You can reach the HelpLine at 1-800-272-4232 or at www.hcfama.org.
We can also refer people to our partner organization, Health Law Advocates, which offers free legal assistance for medical bills, as well as helps with health insurance grievances and denials.
Our organizations' thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families. We hope that we can do our part in helping to heal Massachusetts.
-- Hannah Frigand, HelpLine Manager, Health Care For All
The left stops at nothing, and doesn't let any crises go to waste.
On October 30, 2013 President Barack Obama gave a speech at Boston's Faneuil Hall, aimed at quelling a growing groundswell against the implementation of his signature achievement. Behind the President were 32 people, who were billed as supporters of the Affordable Care Act. But they were more than mere supporters, over half - by there own admission- were affiliated with the progressive community organizing, and advocacy group Health Care for All. And over the past few years they have been recipients of over $2.5M in Obamacare grants.
As reported previously by Red Mass Group, public documents show that in Fiscal Year 2012 and 2013 Health Care for All received over $1.8M in grant money to publicly advocate for people to sign up for Obamacare. In FY 2014 they are poised to receive more than $700,000 to continue this work. Including knocking on 40,000 doors in a canvass effort.
As we reported yesterday, John Boehner is holding a vote on the Murray-Ryan budget compromise bill today in the House of Representatives. There has been a split in the GOP in DC over this bill, and progressive groups have also found fault in the bill. That's why what is happening today is interesting.
