Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Wakefield State Rep. voted with House colleagues this week in favor of Governor's transportation funding bill.
State legislators approved Governor Deval Patrick's transportation funding bill this week by a 97-55 margin, with Wakefield State Rep. Paul Brodeur joining his colleagues in voting for it. In a conversation with Wakefield Patch on Tuesday afternoon, Brodeur said that the current plan is "a work in progress" with considerable differences to be worked out between Governor Patrick and members of the House. Brodeur indicated that "there's been a little bit of hard feelings right now between the House and the Governor," with Patrick having indicated he would veto that version of the bill. "I think it's important to not come away from the table with nothing, and we have some very serious transportation needs," said Brodeur, citing for example …
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?
Massachusetts legislators this week answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. The …
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The governor's optimistic but state legislators don't sound so sure. What do you think?
Governor Deval Patrick is still bullish about his budget proposal, which will raise $1.9 billion in new revenue through an increase in the income tax, decrease in the sales tax, and various other changes to taxes, fees and deductions. But the men and women who have to pass the bill don't sound as eager to support a package many see as a politically-damaging measure. The Boston Herald quotes several Beacon Hill legislators who sounded notes of caution to outright opposition to the budget. Those quoted cited the 1990 election losses in the wake of an income tax increase, pressure on small businesses and the higher price of gas as reasons they were skeptical. And the governor's new web tools touting proposed transportation and education …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Do you agree with the governor's decision or was it too drastic?
All non-emergency drivers were ordered off the roads on Friday when Gov. Deval Patrick issued an executive order banning travel during the blizzard. (Editor's note: The ban is lifted statewide as of 4 p.m. Saturday.) Patrick's executive order is being praised by some and bashed by others, reported The Boston Globe. While former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who was in charge of the commonwealth during the Blizzard of ’78, praised the governor’s move, others called the order “tyrannical” and say the strict ban and hefty fines were too much, according to The Globe. Those caught violating the ban would face up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. What do you think? Do you agree with the governor’s decision or do you think the travel ban …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Markey is in, Lynch set to make an announcement Thursday and Brown reportedly considering throwing his hat into the race following Tuesday’s nomination of John Kerry as Secretary of State.
With Tuesday's official confirmation of U.S. Senator John Kerry to the post of Secretary of State, the field is opening up with folks vying for Kerry's seat in his unexpired term in the U.S. Senate. But before that even happens an interim senator has to be named. On Wednesday, Governor Deval Patrick announced his former chief of staff William “Mo” Cowan will be the interim senator and will serve until a new senator is elected in the June 25 special election. Patch reported in December that Cowan, a Stoughton resident, would be stepping down this month and returning to the private sector. Besides being Patrick’s former chief of staff, Cowan also served as chief legal counsel to Governor Patrick, having served in the Patrick-Murray …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Wakefield could see an increase of more than $800,000 in local aid under the governor's recent budget plan - but that all depends on whether it passes or not.
Wakefield stands to see a significant increase in state next year, under Governor Deval Patrick's proposed FY '14 budget plan. Town Administrator Steve Maio told Wakefield Patch on Monday that he had been surprised to see the proposed local aid increase as much as it did for the year, but also pointed out that the town was also seeing some of its local aid figures made more consistent with other area communities. "I am very cautious because that is predicated on (Patrick's) tax plan passing," said Maio, noting that the governor is proposing about $661,000 more in Chapter 70 school funds for Wakefield, or about a 13% increase. He also acknowledged that in the current era of tight fiscal budgets, proposed aid amounts are far more likely than…
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The governor's budget proposal for fiscal 2014 would raise $1.9 billion in new revenues through a combination of tax increases and eliminating some tax breaks. Is the state's economy ready for this?
After years of treading water in the state budget, Gov. Deval Patrick has put forth an ambitious $34.8 billion proposal for the coming fiscal year that would make significant investments in education and transportation by raising $1.9 billion in revenue, through a combination of tax hikes and eliminating some tax breaks. The question: Is the state's economy ready for this? To raise that funding, Patrick's proposal would increase the income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent, while doubling personal exemptions. It'd also lower the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent. Several tax breaks for both personal income and businesses would be eliminated. The gas tax would be indexed to inflation, ensuring gradual increases in what people …
Friday, January 25, 2013
Wakefield Democratic State Rep. credits governor for an ambitious and progressive approach, but is wary of the effect on the middle class.
Earlier this week, Governor Deval Patrick unveiled a 2014 budget that includes an overall spending increase of nearly 7% - a significant portion of which would fund state infrastructure and transportation renovations - as well as a higher income tax and a lower sales tax. While House Republicans quickly criticized Patrick's tax and budget plans on Thursday, it remains to be seen how firm the Governor's support will turn out to be among fellow Democrats. State Rep. Paul Brodeur, a Democrat who represents Wakefield with Republican Donald Wong, told Wakefield Patch on Thursday that the governor had outlined a very ambitious plan in his state of the state address. Brodeur also said that he likes the governor's progressive approach, but was …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tell us: do you think we need to increase taxes to strengthen education and transportation?
In his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night, Gov. Deval Patrick proposed raising the state's income tax by 1 percentage point and lowering the sales tax to pay for $2 billion in transportation improvements and early childhood education programs. "There is no good time to raise taxes," Patrick said. "I know how tough the times have been on the people and families of the Commonwealth. And though the worst of the recession is over, many, many families still face tough decisions and have deep anxiety about the future. I would not ask if I did not believe in my heart that investing meaningfully today in education and transportation will significantly improve our economic tomorrows." Income tax hiked to 6.25 percent Patrick said…
Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled legislation on Wednesday that would tighten gun control laws in Massachusetts while increasing funding for mental health services and enhancing background checks. Is this sensible?
Are new proposed laws regarding guns in Massachusetts and mental health services sensible and pragmatic steps? Or are they knee-jerk measures that won't increase safety? Gov. Deval Patrick introduced new legislation Wednesday along those lines in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn. "I am encouraged by the palpable consensus in our Legislature that the time for action is now. All of us must pull in the same direction to bring about real change in this state and across the country," Patrick said in a press release. The bill would require gun purchasers to undergo background checks at gun shows, reduce access to high-powered rounds of ammunition, and limit the number of weapon sales by licensed dealers to not more than one gun…
Nameless Conservative
8:53 am on Friday, April 12, 2013
Don't forget to save your receipt for the IRS to prove basis or they'll nail you. I'm thinking of something more along the lines of ping pong balls myself. I'm still ruminating why I sat on the fence when beer pong took off. I would've been Naples, FL laughing at all you shrubs in MA by now! more ›