| 3. Jay Barrows gave floor speech in support of health care price controls
Fred "Jay" Barrows (R-Mansfield) gave a floor speech in support of what the Boston Business Journal has termed "Soviet-style" health care payment reform. In his speech he "challenged those who oppose this plan" to offer their own plan. That is classic progressive thinking, and not something you usually hear from Representative Barrows.
The absence of a "plan" to fix a "problem" that exists because of government, doesn't always mean you should vote for more government. The Pioneer Institute, who was against this bill has a lot of ideas in the space, so there were alternative plans.
I'll offer one - repeal Romney Care. Go back to a purely market driven approach, where people actually pay for the services they recieve. Get rid of third party payment except for catastrophic coverage. You'll see the market drive down costs.
4. Dizoglio giving Torrisi a fight
The Eagle Tribune is saying that David Torrisi (D-North Andover) is facing a tight fight to retain his seat, and that is just in the primary. The winner of which will face Karin Rhoton in November, in one of the GOP's best pick-up opportunities.
State Rep. David Torrisi has not had a primary opponent in many years. In fact, he ran unopposed altogether in 2006 and 2008. But two years after a close race, the seven-term Democrat may find himself in another tight race, this time for the Democratic nomination for the 14th Essex House seat.
In 2010, the North Andover Democrat found himself with two Republicans vying to challenge him for the seat in that general election. Republican business owner Kevin Begley won his party's nomination, but Torrisi held onto his seat by winning big in Lawrence. He lost North Andover by 439 votes out of about 7,500 cast in the town.
This year, redistricting has brought Torrisi, 43, a new challenge: Three unfamiliar precincts in Methuen, the hometown of his primary challenger, that have just as many registered Democrats as the five precincts in North Andover he has represented since 1999. On top of that, half of his Lawrence precincts were shifted to other state house districts.
5. Tisei reiterates he's not in favor of the Ryan Budget
Less than five hours after Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan as his running mate, Richard Tisei reminded everyone that regardless of what John Tierney Says, He is not in favor of the "Ryan Budget"
Congressman Ryan, whether one agrees with him on every issue or not, is a serious politician who sees our country's economic problems in clear terms. I don't agree with him - or anyone else - on every single issue. I do believe that it's critical that we have leaders from both parties who aren't in denial about the problems we face and who are determined to resolve them. The days of name-calling need to end. The people expect no less and are entitled to no less. They're also sick to death of politicians who, ignoring the country's peril, spend their days only to make cheap political points.
My opponent, John Tierney, can't say my name without repeating the tired and unbelievable line that I'm an "extremist." Most of the voters join me in finding that absurd as well as laughable. What's extreme is ignoring our fiscal peril. That's an unacceptable dereliction of duty. We need problem solvers who look beyond party and who are willing to step up to the plate and lead. I hope to be that Congressman and it is my hope that Congressman Ryan and Mitt Romney will also be such leaders.
Today, you'll hear (yet, again) from John Tierney that I supported the Ryan plan. Ask him for his source, next time you hear it. As a matter of fact, I said that it was a "good starting point for discussion," just as the President's Simpson-Bowles Commission was a good starting point for discussion. Unfortunately, both John Tierney and the President have ignored the Commission and have spent their days making cheap political points in decrying the Ryan plan. |
