Monthly Archives: April 2009

Budgetary Suicide

Posted on April 30, 2009 by billmanzi

Here is a clip with Braude and Mike Widmer. A good clip, but please note Widmer’s contention made near the end that the House budget is between $1 billion to $1.5 billion off in revenues. (I have been lowballing that … Continue reading →

Posted in State News | Tagged | 1 Comment

Republicans Attack Specter by Linking Him to Bush

Posted on April 30, 2009 by billmanzi

As Republicans squabble over the defection of Arlen Specter the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee unleashed a phone call in PA attacking Specter by reminding voters that he was endorsed by President George W. Bush in his last re-election campaign. I … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Political Fallout

Posted on April 29, 2009 by billmanzi

The House vote to hike the sales tax to 6.25 percent is causing some major political ripples on Beacon Hill, with both the Speaker and the Senate President expressing astonishment and outrage that the Governor would be critical of the … Continue reading →

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Methuen Swine Flu Preparations

Posted on April 28, 2009 by billmanzi

There has been much talk and concern about the “Swine Flu” outbreak, and although we have not had any recorded cases as of yet in Massachusetts I have asked our Emergency Management Team, our Public Health Director, and our School … Continue reading →

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Governor Patrick Takes to the Tube

Posted on April 28, 2009 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick cut a You Tube video to make his argument on revenue and reform, and once again threatened to veto a sales tax hike. The Governor now has the high ground on reform, and if he is smart … Continue reading →

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Arlen Specter to Switch Parties

Posted on April 28, 2009 by billmanzi

Senator Arlen Specter, in a major development, announced today that he is running for re-election as a Democrat. Specter was facing an almost certain loss in the Republican primary to Club for Growth guru Pat Toomey, who led Specter by … Continue reading →

Posted in National News | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Mass House Passes Sales Tax Hike

Posted on April 28, 2009 by billmanzi

The Massachusetts House, working into the night, passed a sales tax hike of 1.25%, bringing the sales tax to 6.25%. The House passed the increase after a day of hard lobbying by the Speaker, by a vote of 108-51. I … Continue reading →

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Governor Patrick Steps Up

Posted on April 27, 2009 by billmanzi

This morning I posted on the potential for a sales tax increase, and in that post I asked where the Governor was, and speculated about the potential for a veto threat from him. He must have read my blog. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Methuen, State News | Tagged , | 4 Comments

The Speaker Makes His (Tax) Move

Posted on April 27, 2009 by billmanzi

Speaker Bob Deleo has finally shown his hand on revenues, coming out for a 1.25% increase in the sales tax. Both the Globe and Herald are reporting that the Speaker will support this increase, with the hope that the increase … Continue reading →

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Governor Patrick Continues Slide in Polls

Posted on April 26, 2009 by billmanzi

Rasmussen Reports, in their latest Massachusetts survey, found that Governor Patrick continues a serious slide in the polls. It is reflective of the Suffolk poll that had similar results a couple of months back. Some of the notable findings from … Continue reading →

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