Author Archives: billmanzi

Angle Returns to the Field

Posted on March 16, 2011 by billmanzi

Yes indeed Sharron Angle is returning to do electoral battle in Nevada, announcing that she will run for the Republican nomination in the Second Congressional. That seat is being vacated by Republican Dean Heller, who is running for the Nevada … Continue reading →

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Speaker Deleo on Muni Health Care

Posted on March 15, 2011 by billmanzi

Speaker Deleo, in remarks to the Boston Chamber, reiterated his strong support for his plan to force localities to enter the GIC or produce a local plan that meets GIC cost benchmarks. The Speaker, in a press conference after the … Continue reading →

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Senate Polls Already?

Posted on March 15, 2011 by billmanzi

Yes it is time to start looking at data again, with Senator Scott Brown looking toward his 2012 re-elect bid. Despite many folks rolling their eyes (too early for polling) the data contains some interesting tidbits. Western New England College … Continue reading →

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Social Security and the Deficit

Posted on March 13, 2011 by billmanzi

With all of the political focus on the deficit and real solutions to the deficit problem social security is once again a focus of both left and right. Of course any serious notion of deficit cutting has to address the … Continue reading →

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Chairman Dempsey on Local Aid

Posted on March 10, 2011 by billmanzi

The new Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee took to the floor of the House to warn that local aid cuts may exceed the number put forward by Governor Deval Patrick. It has the making of a perfect … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Wisconsin Round Two

Posted on March 10, 2011 by billmanzi

Governor Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Republican Senate, using a parliamentary maneuver that seemed to take Democrats by surprise, passed legislation that took away the bulk of bargaining rights for public sector unions in Wisconsin yesterday. The Republicans stripped out … Continue reading →

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Muni Health Care Hearing

Posted on March 9, 2011 by billmanzi

The Legislature convened a hearing on municipal health care yesterday, which I was unable to attend.The Mass Mayors had Scott Lang of New Bedford, Kim Driscoll of Salem, and Tom Menino of Boston, amongst many, speaking for giving municipalities health … Continue reading →

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A Mystery to Me

Posted on March 6, 2011 by billmanzi

The Tribune ran two stories today talking about collective bargaining from the Massachusetts perspective. The first, from Bill Kirk, talked about the potential for the Wisconsin fallout to hit Massachusetts. Good piece worth a read. In the story I talk … Continue reading →

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All Praise Romney

Posted on March 1, 2011 by billmanzi

Who said civility in politics is dead??? We have heard both Governor Deval Patrick and now President Barack Obama go out of their way to highlight and praise the work Mitt Romney did in Massachusetts on health care reform. President … Continue reading →

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Blue Cross Clouds the Picture

Posted on February 28, 2011 by billmanzi

A Sunday piece in the Lowell Sun, written by John Coughlin of Blue Cross, manages to indirectly criticize Governor Patrick’s push to give greater flexibility to municipalities by giving them the option to join the GIC, by saying that we … Continue reading →

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