(Organize away. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
If the leadership of a Town/Ward/City Committee has questions regarding organizing or re-organizing, some of the basics are noted below.
The MASSGOP is sponsoring training for Republican Town/City Committees through 2012. The first one is this weekend (see dates/times at the end of this post). Questions can also be answered by your State Committee man/women.
How many Committees are there? There are 351 Cities and Towns in the State. Each City has various Wards. Hence, it is possible for there to be over 450 Republican Town/Ward/City Committees. These committees are the legally organized, local bodies of the Republican Party.
How to Organize a Committee - Mass General Law (M.G.L.) - Chapter 52, regulates the process by which local political party committees are formed. Ward and town committee members of each party are elected at the presidential primary by those who vote in that particular party. The members of the various ward committees of a political party in a city constitute the city committee.
If interested Republicans in a Town/Ward have correctly organized by getting potential members listed on the primary ballot, an organization meeting will be held (April 6 to April 15, 2012) - see "A" below.
If a Committee did not get members on the primary ballot, or has to organize or re-organize at another date - see "B" below.
While Beacon Hill sweats yet another weekend awaiting word of who Carmen Ortiz is going to indict, it's interesting to see what words are mentioned the most in the Ware Report. To make the word map you see below I first downloaded the PDF version of the Ware Report. I then saved that PDF as a text document. Then using the Wordle.net tool I created the word map.
I imagine that some of the names that pop up on this as appearing frequently are the same names we'll see on Ortiz's indictment list.
The introduction of a continuing education requirement for a real estate agent in Massachusetts more than a decade ago did not improve the quality of service but rather limited the number of realtors according to a recent study by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University.
Like most occupational licensing rules, the continuing education mandate limited the number of professionals and, in turn, hurt the consumer while enriching full-time realtors.
The study found that the requirement decreased the number of real estate agents by 58%. The requirement pushed part-time real estate agents out of the market, leaving more business for the remaining full-time agents. Those agents who remained in the market saw their incomes increase by 17%.
In 1999, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors urged the legislature to require all real estate agents to complete 12 hours of continuing education classes every two years as a condition for license renewal. Agents who failed to take the classes were placed on in-active lists and allowed only to make referrals to licensed agents.
Looking at the number of complaints and other factors, the Institute found that the new requirement had no effect on the quality of service.
Powell suggests that Massachusetts should repeal the continuing education requirement for real estate agent licensing.
1) Turns out some people are fussing over Scott Brown paying his daughter out of his campaign account. Just wondering how that's any worse than Therese Murray paying her legal bills from her campaign account.
2) Speaking of Murray, is Tim's political career over? Why not turn over the cell records unless there is something to hide?
3) Read recently that Deval signed a deal to write two more books. Funny!
Next Tuesday, February 7, 2012 Friday February 17, 2012 will be the fifth anniversary of our first post. Five years later, we've become a force in Massachusetts Politics and collectively helped elect a Republican US Senator.
Look for some retrospective posts over the next few days. If you've got a favorite RMG Post, Story or Anectdote over the past 5 years, let me know in the comments.
Next week, in addition to being the 5 year anniversary of the founding of Red Mass Group, is the Conservative Political Action Conference. It takes place at the Marriott Wardman in Washington DC. For the first time, I will be attending.
If you are going let me know in the comments. If you're going and twittering please use the hashtag #RMGCPAC as I will have a cover-it-live going for most of the conference and will automatically put in those tweets.
I get in around 8 pm on Wednesday night. So if anybody is up for a late dinner. Let me know.
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, FEB. 2, 2012....Freshman Republican Rep. Paul Adams, redistricted by his colleagues out of his Andover-based seat, has decided to challenge state Sen. Barry Finegold in the fall rather than run against another freshman, Republican Rep. Jim Lyons, or follow through on his earlier pledge to move and run in a new majority-minority district in Lawrence.
Adams announced his candidacy for state Senate on Thursday with an emailed letter to constituents after weeks of speculation about his plans among members of the Legislature. Adams failed to return multiple calls from the News Service about his re-election plans since entering a settlement agreement last month with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance over alleged campaign finance violations during his first run for office.
In the letter, Adams whacked Finegold for serving in the House and Senate when a 25 percent sales tax went into effect and local aid to cities and towns was cut by hundreds of millions of dollars during the recession.
"For 16 years, my opponent, Barry Finegold, has voted to tax, regulate, and spend. His votes have damaged the state economy, eliminated thousands of jobs, and lowered your standard of living. The legislation he supports demonstrates how badly he's grown out-of-touch with the Merrimack Valley," Adams wrote.
Confirming what has been rumored for weeks, state Rep. Paul Adams, R-Andover has announced that he will not be seeking re-election. Instead, he will launch a bid to unseat state Sen. Barry Finegold, D-Andover.
"I'm thrilled to announce my candidacy for state senator," said Adams, in an open letter to residents of the 2nd Middlesex/Essex District. "While serving as your state representative, I've grown increasingly concerned about the fiscal health of our commonwealth, the continued unemployment and part-time job crisis, and the culture of corruption on Beacon Hill."
Andover Patch
This is a good move, Adams was doomed in his State Rep Seat, and while the Second Essex and Middlesex is a tough seat itself, Adams will definitely give Finegold a run for his money.
Remember when Democrat, and founder of the Occupy Wall Street' movement ('movement' - no pun intended) told us that marauding bands of people would run through the streets seizing everything from our factories? Remember that?
I guess those cities don't have enough tax paying folks who can support a police department?! Or maybe they aren't paying their fair share so the police can patrol the streets?!
I think it is a poor argument to suggest that there be a police officer for every convenience store around. But it is not a poor argument to suggest that if the store clerk had a gun that these things would likely not happen as often, or be as successful.
I guess if only the Syracuse store clerk had a gun, as did this guy in Syracuse, then the robbery would have come to a stop - and quickly! And as for Dallas - the store clerks are getting tired of being robbed there as well. Read here how the clerk pulled a gun on the would be robber and blasted the dumb ass into hell. And once again, a store clerk in Kansas City is alive and well because he had a gun when the robber showed up to take his stuff.
So Lizzy, cops can't be everywhere. And no matter how high our taxes are people will still rob stores when nobody is looking. So let us truly fight these marauding bands by having great big guns hidden under the counter. Please! If you really care about middle class folks - you will vote to allow them greater rights in carrying guns. Not only to protect their stores/places of work, but also to defend their very life when those marauding bands of thugs show up.
Increasingly, the middle class must defend itself from these marauding bands of thugs. Even if we took ALL of Warren Buffett's money (all $42 billion) it would only allow convenience store clerks around the country to defend themselves if the cop is hired, is on duty, and standing infront of the store in a place where these thugs can't see. Otherwise the store clerk has to defend him/herself using a gun.
So I guess we can assume you will vote to strengthen second amendment rights so the working middle class can defend themselves? Do I assume right? Or is it ONLY Wall Street investors we have to worry about?
US Attorney Carmen Ortiz is Making Beacon Hill Verrrry Nervous. Read why here.
We've heard on the campaign trail that RomneyCare = ObamaCare. Our healthcare policy director Josh Archambault doesn't agree. Read his take in Politico here.
Read about the changes Mass. will have to make to comply with the federal health care law here.
Josh also spotted a messaging tactic by liberals and supporters of the federal health care law who want the public to think Massachusetts is the same as the rest of the country, and that ObamaCare will have the exact same impact nationally as it has locally. Read about it here.
Boston Public Schools spends roughly $80 million each year, or nearly 10% of its budget, on transportation to bus kids across the city - Steve Poftak argues in this issue of Boston Magazine that much of that money could and should be going to classrooms. But is Mayor Menino ready to do something about it? Read more here.
Edu-crats in Massachusetts talk a good game about "innovation," but their policies prevent our kids from learning about America's unique legacy of scientific discovery. Read all about that legacy in today's Worcester T&G op-ed by Pioneer's Jamie Gass here
Enter Pioneer's 2012 Better Government Competition for your chance to win $10,000! We want your ideas for this year's theme - federal programs that can be devolved to the states across the following policy areas: Education, Healthcare, Regulations, Urban Redevelopment, Transportation, Interstate Commerce, Banking and Finance, and any others you can think of.
Click here to learn more about the contest and three easy ways to enter!
Save these dates!
› Removing the Barriers: Virtual Schools and State Regulations (March 1, 2012)
› No More Know-Nothing Laws: School Choice in Massachusetts (March 15, 2012)
http://www.pioneerinstitute.or...
The following is an open letter to Joe Kennedy III from Congressman Connie Mack dated January 19th from Miami:
Dear Mr. Kennedy:
I am deeply concerned you have formed an exploratory committee as a prelude to a run for Congress in Massachusetts. Normally I would not be concerned about your entry into this race, except your father, Joseph P. Kennedy II, has been a paid apologist for the repressive dictatorship of Hugo Chavez.
As Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I have been vigilant in exposing the dictatorial aspects of the Chavez-led government of Venezuela and have been demanding action of the Obama Administration to stop the threat he poses for our American way of life.
This weekend's visit by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the latest example of why freedom-loving people must stand up and speak out loudly against Chavez and his corrupt enterprises like CITGO.
I realize the sins of the father should not be borne by the son. But your father's outrageous and vivacious support of the ugly, dangerous despot, Hugo Chavez, is beyond the pale.
I have a simple question for you Mr. Kennedy - Do you support your father's positions or denounce them?
All Americans await your timely response.
Sincerely,
CONNIE MACK
Member of Congress (FL-14)
Chairman, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee
PS - I am giving you a platform to condemn Hugo Chavez, not perpetuate using our nation's less fortunate as props for your father's pro-Chavez campaign.
With rumors swirling on Beacon Hill about the possibility of forthcoming indictments from the U.S. Attorney's office related to an investigation into patronage at the state Probation Department, Senate President Therese Murray on Tuesday declined to say whether she paid a Boston law firm for legal advice related to the probe.
"I hire outside counsel whenever I need to for professional services, so it's not something new. Go back and look at my statements from the past several years," Murray told reporters on Tuesday after detailing a new Senate prescription drug abuse bill.
Murray's year-end campaign finance report disclosed that the Plymouth Democrat paid $4,920 to Collora, a Boston-based law firm, from July through October in three separate expenditures for professional services. Asked if the payments were related to the probation investigation, Murray said she couldn't discuss an ongoing investigation.
"There's a lot of questions that I get that I don't feel I can go to Senate counsel to answer because it's not Senate business so I count on professionals to give me that advice and I pay them to do that," Murray said. Pressed again whether she sought advice on how to handle the Justice Department inquiry, Murray said, "I can't talk about that. That's an ongoing investigation, and I'm very, very supportive of that," Murray said.
On its website, Collora says it has one of the biggest groups of trial lawyers in the Northeast and focuses on "representing both individuals and commercial entities in complex civil litigation, professional licensing and discipline matters, and defense against allegations of 'white collar' criminal conduct."
Some time ago a friend turned me on to the energycollective.com, a thoughtful, interesting blog on energy ad climate issues written primarily by subject matter experts (scientists, engineers, etc) in the renewable energy field, mostly from a non-political advocacy perspective. It is a good resource for people who occasionally like to get a sense of what is going on in that market space without all of the political baggage that tends to be loaded onto it in the mainstream media (from both sides).
Of particular note for present purposes is the fact that the blog is underwritten by Siemens AG, an self-described "global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering" that, among many other things, will manufacture the turbines for Cape Wind, should that project ever actually break water. So we're hardly talking about a font of green skepticism here. To the contrary.
Anyhow, I recently stumbled on an interesting analysis from March of last year, by Willem Post of the Coalition for Energy Solutions. Titled "Examples of Wind Power to Learn From," the piece uses a series of examples of costly, failed or otherwise deficient wind power projects to illustrate the proposition that with current technology, political promises and rhetoric about such projects too often bear little resemblance to their reality. One of the examples is our very own Cape Wind (the emphasis is mine):
Various government entities, eager to show their greenness regarding global warming, passed laws to subsidize renewable power, so-called "green power", as if there is such a thing. Some governments even passed laws that declare hydropower as non-renewable, but, on reflection of its implications, reversed themselves and passed laws that declare hydropower IS renewable, as recently did Vermont's legislature.
President Andrew Jackson, Democrat, Populist: "When government subsidizes, the well-connected benefit the most". The renewables subsidies to the politically-well-connected often result in uneconomic wind power projects, some of which are described in this article.
Vendors, owners, financiers often claim "trade secrets", whereas in reality they want to obfuscate wind power's shortcomings, a too-generous subsidy deal, or other insider's advantage. It would be much better for all involved, if there were public hearings and full disclosure regarding the economics of any project receiving government subsidies, to ensure the people's funds receive the best return on investment...
EXAMPLE: EXPENSIVE POWER FROM WIND FACILITY IN LONG ISLAND SOUND
Cape Wind Associates, LLC, plans to build and operate a wind facility on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore of Massachusetts. The wind facility would have a rated capacity of 468 MW consisting of 130 turbines @ 3.6 MW each made by Siemens AG, a German company, maximum blade height 440 feet, to be arranged in a grid pattern in 25 square miles of Nantucket Sound in federal waters off Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Island.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approved a 15-yr power purchase agreement, PPA, between the utility National Grid and Cape Wind Associates, LLC. National Grid agreed to buy 50% of the wind facility's power starting at $0.187/kWh in 2013 (base year), escalating at 3.5%/yr which means the 2028 price to the utility will be $0.313/kWh. The project is currently trying to sell the other 50% of its power so financing can proceed; so far no takers, because significant quantities of less expensive power from other renewables is available...
READ THE REST at CriticalMASS
Lizzy claims that US Senator Scott Brown and Washington, which is where her BFF Barack Obama lives and works, simply 'don't get it'. She claims that it is unfair of Warren Buffet to pay a lower tax rate than hard working middle class folks - like you and me and Lizzy, I guess...
Senator Brown opposes what's called the Buffett Rule, which would get rid of the special tax breaks that allow a billionaire like Warren Buffett to pay taxes at a lower rate than his secretary. President Obama, in his State of the Union speech, called on Congress to enact the Buffett rule to require people making more than $1 million a year to pay at least 30 percent in taxes.
Just last week, Scott Brown said in an interview that he thinks Mitt Romney and Warren Buffett should get special tax breaks that are not available to most Americans.
It's a funny thing, but I guess Lizzy doesn't much read the newspapers these days. When evil Mitt Romney released his tax returns last week it was revealed that he paid +/- 14 percent rate and then gave an additional 16% in charitable contributions for a total well over the 30% that Lizzy thinks we OWE the federal government. I guess she doesn't much understand why he pays that rate and that it is not illegal. In fact, it is the law that he pay those rates.
Ya see Lizzy, the federal government wants people with investment income to pay a lower tax rate than they do on earned income because they want to encourage investment. Investments give companies the financial backing needed to further invest in people (jobs) and capital equipment so they can grow their businesses. If capital gains were taxed at the same rate as income then money would move away from the marketplace, taking with it the jobs and innovation it has created. It is really simple economics Lizzy.
Or maybe Lizzy didn't see this little writeup about Warren Buffett's secretary. The story provides the facts revealing that Buffett's secretary likely makes between $200k and $500k given her effective tax rate. I think the secretary can defend herself and her tax status without the help of Lizzy Warren. But if Lizzy Warren is so unhappy with how much Warren Buffett pays in taxes then she can call him up anytime. I would try calling the office of her BFF Barack Obama, because Buffett and Obama are joined at the hip lately. Just ask Buffett why he didn't give as much in charity as Mitt Romney? Or she could ask why he just simply doesn't pay more in taxes voluntarily as is possible by visiting this site - the office of national debt.
And lastly, if Washington is so screweed up then why doesn't she complain about the Democrat Party, seeing as they control the White House, and the Senate, and also have a fair portion of the House of Representatives. They control 2/3rds of Washington, yet Lizzy wants to bash a single, seemingly moderate and level-headed Republican newcomer.
Look, Lizzy is a carpetbagger that wanted to run for office somewhere. If she really wanted to replace a troublesome GOP Senator then she could have relocated to anywhere in the country and chosen to oppose a far right conservative. Instead she came to Massachusetts and is blaming a guy that has been in office for 3 years for all the problems she sees with Washington.
If she wants to truly find out what is wrong with Washington she should start with her own political party. I would like to see her yell and scream at someone with a "(D)" next to their name on the ballot just to see how fair and balanced she is, and how hard she is truly fighting for middle class folks.
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[Ashland, MA] - Sarah Schultz will announce her candidacy for the 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk State Senate seat Saturday evening at her campaign kick-off event.
As a resident of Ashland for nearly 14 years, Schultz has grown up in the district. She is a graduate of Ashland High School, and attended the state's flagship university, UMass Amherst.
"Growing up in an area you become invested in the successes of the people and local businesses." says Schultz. "Running for office and working to legislate resourceful, effective policies is my way of helping our communities succeed."
Schultz is running on three basic principles; bringing diversity to a one-sided legislature, assuring balance in the legislative process, and acting as an independent and ethical voice for our communities. Schultz will focus on increasing educational opportunity and school choice, decreasing state regulations on businesses, and limiting taxation on various goods, property, and services.
Schultz will hold her campaign kick-off event this Saturday evening at the American Legion Hall in Ashland. The event will begin at 7:00pm. In attendance will be guest speaker Representative Paul Adams.
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In light of the recent allegations of Tim Murray using his position to get jobs for his political allies, it is worth remembering that in the fall of 2007 the Patrick Administration tried a hostile takeover of the MassHousing Board. The following is a 2007 brief from State House News Service.
PATRICK OFFICIALS ATTEMPT OUSTER OF MASSHOUSING DIRECTORS
Patrick administration officials are seeking to take control of the panel that oversees the independent state agency charged with creating and preserving affordable housing, going so far as to call a board member's boss to get his resignation, according to the board member. Michael Nickley, senior vice president at Rockland Trust and a member of MassHousing's seven-member board of directors, said a top Patrick aide, Undersecretary Tina Brooks, lobbied his president and CEO, after he refused to resign. "I believe her acts were unconscionable," Nickley said in a phone interview, noting that Rockland Trust is a state-chartered institution and comes under the state Division of Banks. His boss, Christopher Oddleifson, supports him, he said. Nickley, who has been on the board for over six years and whose term expires next September, said he has sent a letter to her boss, Gov. Deval Patrick, asking for "corrective action." Brooks had told him that the governor has a "housing agenda and the governor wanted to install a team that supports that agenda," he said. WBZTV.com reported Wednesday that Brooks also asked Elena Fernandez, who works with IBM Lotus Software, to resign, but Fernandez also resisted. Patrick aides and Fernandez did not return phone calls seeking comment. The moves come as the Patrick administration considers revisions to the Chapter 40B statute on affordable housing for cities and towns. The MassHousing Board of Directors, which includes Patrick budget chief Leslie Kirwan, meets on Nov. 13 at 2 pm at One Beacon Street.
It seems this administration is fond of playing politics with this supposedly independent quasi-public agency.
It got me thinking of the amount of money that goes into Murray's coffers from politicos in Dracut, especially Selectman John Zimini. It's no secret that Zimini was out of work until last year (or was it earlier this year, I can't remember) when he landed a state job. Since July 1, 2009, Zimini has donated $500 to Murray, Zimini's wife has donated $650, and Zimini's daughter has donated $500. That's $1,650 in over a year from one family (and most of it was at one fundraiser in June). Since 2007, the Zimini family (and the committee to elect John Zimini) has donated a total of $2,775 to Murray.
Looking back at records from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance the contention of this blogger seems to be true. No occupation was listed on Zimini's donations in 2007, 2008, or 2009 when he gave over the $200 reporting threshold in those years. Even though he worked for Suzanne Bump in the Executive Office of Workforce Development as an investigator at that time. In June of 2010 he finally listed an occupation, that of "Investigator with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on a donation. 2010 was coincidentally the year that three members of the Zimini family, John, His Wife Kristin, and his daughter Alyssa gave $500 each to the Tim Murray Campaign on June 29, 2010.
Click on image to zoom in.
By August of 2010 it was reported on DracutForum.net) that Zimini was working for Mass Housing.
John Zimini has been careful to recuse himself since it became public knowledge that he works for Mass Housing. Thats good to hear. And it will probably help him some in his election in the spring, because the Louisburg Square issue will follow him there.
So it seems that the timing on Zimini getting the job with MassHousing coincides with his family giving the Murray re-election campaign $1,500 in June of 2010. This is more money than he or his family had previously given to the Lieutenant Governor. It represents over 50% of the total money given to Murray by the Zimini family.
This hardly seems coincidental. I have been, as yet, unable to find the exact dates of the firing by Suzanne Bump and the Hiring at MassHousing. I will be filing public records requests for both of those dates tomorrow.
