Author Archives: billmanzi

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 →

Posted in State News | Tagged | 2 Comments

Sales Tax Talk Moves to Seven Percent

Posted on April 26, 2009 by billmanzi

I had done a posting on the financial potential of a one percent hike in the sales tax a couple of days back, and I guess the numbers are not that hard to figure, since the House is now talking … Continue reading →

Posted in Methuen, State News | Tagged , | 6 Comments

President Obama’s Weekly Address

Posted on April 25, 2009 by billmanzi

The weekly address by the President, focusing on bringing innovation and fiscal discipline to government.

Posted in State News | Tagged | 4 Comments

Rampant Socialism

Posted on April 24, 2009 by billmanzi

With the Republican hit machine deciding that the term “socialism” should be the cornerstone of the attack on President Barack Obama new revelations about the Bank of America purchase of Merrill Lynch should provide some interesting discussion. New York Attorney … Continue reading →

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Sales Tax Increase on the Way?

Posted on April 23, 2009 by billmanzi

The media generated talk these days has many focused on the possibility for an increase in the sales tax as a way to forestall some of the major cuts put forward in the House budget. The Globe has run a … Continue reading →

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Gavin Newsome Enters the Fray in California

Posted on April 22, 2009 by billmanzi

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome has entered the California Governor’s race, which promises to be a real donneybrook on the Democratic side, with California AG (and former Governor) Jerry Brown, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Lt Governor John Garamendi … Continue reading →

Posted in National News, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Congratulations Martha Welch

Posted on April 22, 2009 by billmanzi

Martha Welch has stepped down as a member of the Historic District Commission, ending over twenty years of involvement with Boards and Commissions that deal with historic preservation in Methuen. She has served as a Methuen School Committee member, and … Continue reading →

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