Category Archives: State News

Mayor Kim Driscoll Out of Senate Race

Posted on April 5, 2011 by billmanzi

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll announced today that she would not run for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2012, choosing to concentrate on her job as Mayor of Salem. She released a statement: “Plain and simple, I do think … Continue reading →

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Waiting for Superman Panel Discussion

Posted on March 29, 2011 by billmanzi

A Massachusetts panel discussion on the movie “Waiting for Superman”, including educational leadership of the State Legislature. http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

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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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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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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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The Billion Dollar Question

Posted on February 21, 2011 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick unveiled his budget for FY12, and we have talked about some of the ramifications of his recommended cut in local aid as well as his proposal on municipal health care. But little has been written, up to … Continue reading →

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The 12% Solution

Posted on February 12, 2011 by billmanzi

The President spent his weekly address on the upcoming budget submission, and on the federal deficit. He, like the Republicans in the House, has chosen to emphasize reductions or freezes in spending on the so called discretionary portion of the … Continue reading →

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