Gambling at the 3/4 pole

Posted on July 21, 2010 by billmanzi

The fate of casino gambling in Massachusetts has come down to the wire, with House and Senate conferees working to reach agreement before the July 31st deadline. With the closer deadline comes the possibility of a conference agreement that could be vetoed by Governor Patrick with no chance of a legislative override due to the end of session. Patrick has expressed his opposition to slots at the tracks, which Speaker Deleo has insisted be part of a final bill. Rep. Brian Dempsey, the lead House negotiator, played down the Governor’s potential role in the final outcome: From the State House News Service:

“I think we’re certainly mindful of various concerns, but I think the conference is clearly between the House and the Senate and we are focused on reconciling the differences between the two branches, and we’ll go from there.”

Democratic leaders are facing political pressure from the trade unions, who are threatening to sit out the November election cycle if a bill is not signed into law.

“If something doesn’t get done, I think it’ll be viewed, certainly by me and I think by our membership, as more than a missed opportunity,” said Frank Callahan, president of the Mass. Building Trades Council. “I think it’d be extremely difficult to get our members involved. I think they’d throw their hands up in frustration.”

A group of twelve Mayors has weighed in, sending a letter of support for the House version, which promises to get the locals additional local aid quickly, based on the more immediate financial results from race track slots. (I did not sign that letter.)

The impetus for a bill seems strong, but the clock is running down. Senator Baddour, on the radio program I hosted last week, indicated that he believed an agreement could be reached. Senator Steve Pangiotakos has expressed similar optimism. Who was it that said that in matters of gaming, “The House always wins”????

Should there be resort style casinos, and should the tracks get slots? What do you think?

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Where Is the Beef?

Posted on July 19, 2010 by billmanzi

The Republicans were all over weekend talk shows talking about their prospects for victory in November. Plenty of criticism for the President and Democrats on the deficit, but when repeatedly pressed for one area where they would make substantive change to reduce the deficit they repeatedly refused to do so. Chris Van Hollen had it right at the end of this clip when he referred to the Rep. Paul Ryan (R) “roadmap” for a balanced budget, which calls for major changes in medicare and social security. At least Ryan had the guts to put on paper what Sessions and Coryn took pains to avoid discussing. As with my earlier praise for Tea Party candidates honesty, until people in politics are willing to actually say what they mean a real discussion and debate cannot happen. And we need a real debate, with honest choices. How can these guys cut the deficit when they are afraid to mention one specific cut, and when they say that tax cuts that add billions to the deficit do not need to be accounted for in deficit reduction efforts. Nonsense. Chris Matthews does have this one right.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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McCain and Hayworth Get Nasty

Posted on July 18, 2010 by billmanzi

The Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Arizona continues to get nasty, with John McCain, thought to be in trouble, piling up a huge lead over former Congressman J.D. Hayworth. Hayworth has been badly tarnished by his participation in an infomercial for a company that essentially fleeces folks, with his first response that consumers should practice “caveat emptor”. He has since apologized, but has been put under an enormous barrage from Team McCain. He has been pounding Hayworth on the earmark issue, where ole J.D. has some pretty big vulnerability. McCain has put out a fact sheet highlighting Hayworth’s record on issues.

Hayworth’s Former Colleagues In The House, Rep. John Shadegg And Former Congressman Joe Scarborough Recall Hayworth “Beating The Hell” Out Of Fiscal Conservatives Who Stood Up Against Earmark Spending. “Scarborough then recalled one episode during his time in Congress when he and Shadegg were dressed down by Hayworth and Gingrich. ‘John Shadegg and I along with about seven, eight, nine Republicans used to give Newt Gingrich hell after Newt decided he liked earmarks and liked big spending. And [Gingrich] liked teaming up with Dave Obey and attacking us, and I’m quoting Newt, as “jihadists,”’ Scarborough said. ‘So Newt called us “jihadists” and I remember our friend JD Hayworth standing up in those caucus meetings and just beating the hell out of us.’ Hayworth, Scarborough recalled, was ‘saying how dare you do this to poor Newt, blah, blah, blah, blah. And all we were trying to do was balance the budget.’ ‘Yeah, that’s right,’ Shadegg responded. ‘J.D. was on the other side of those fights from us “jihadists.”’” (Andy Barr, “John Shadegg, Joe Scarborough laugh at J.D. Hayworth,” Politico, 2/25/10)

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13414652&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1

US Senate Primary Debate_July 16 from John McCain 2010 on Vimeo.

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Theresa Robinson Wins Service to Seniors Award

Posted on July 18, 2010 by billmanzi

The Methuen Exchange Club recently held their “Service to Seniors” banquet at the Methuen Senior Center. This years recognition went to Theresa Robinson, who has done a great job at Methuen’s Senior Center. Congratulations Theresa, who embodies the spirit of giving that makes our Senior Center the great place that it is.

“Rene J. Morissette”
SERVICE TO SENIORS AWARD

The Methuen Exchange Club and Methuen Council on Aging proudly present this year’s “Rene J. Morissette Service to Seniors Award” to…

THERESA ROBINSON

Theresa officially began volunteering at the Methuen Senior Activity Center ten
years ago and became a Methuen Senior Activity Center Trustees last year.
Starting out small with just a project or two, today you’ll find Theresa involved
on a daily basis in nearly every event and program including the annual Holiday
Craft Fair, Arts, Crafts and Music Festival, health fairs, informational talks, the
daily lunch program, TRIAD Senior Safety Program and more! Intergenerational
programs are particularly dear to Theresa and she participates weekly in the
Adopt-A-Grandparent program with Methuen High students and year after
year in the Pen Pals Project with 3rd graders at the CGS Grammar school.
Theresa also volunteers her time helping with the Happy Hearts Choral Group
ever week, on occasion in the Thrift Shop or as a trip monitor for one of the
many tours offered though the senior center and is always one of the first to help
out with the big newsletter mailing twice a year! Theresa’s commitment to
helping others doesn’t end with the senior center. You might see her helping
with fundraising and awareness efforts for our US Military, Elder Services of
the Merrimack Valley, the American Cancer Society and more!

No matter the task, Theresa jumps right in! Don’t let her quiet demeanor fool
you… She’s an absolute powerhouse of versatility and volunteerism and her
participation and unwavering support Methuen’s Senior Center is nothing short of amazing!

Theresa Robinson Wins the Service to Seniors Award

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The President Slugs With Republicans

Posted on July 17, 2010 by billmanzi

The President took to the airwaves to pound Republican Senators for obstructionism, pointing to the filibuster against the extension of unemployment benefits and the lack of action on a small business tax relief bill. The President and the Democrats have been lectured repeatedly by the Republicans on the evils of deficit spending, and without question they have driven up the short term deficit to deal with the mess that was inherited. The idea of applying fiscal stimulus in the type of situation that President Obama found himself in on inauguration day used to be settled economic policy, but I guess that is now heresy in the Republican Party.

The Republicans seem to have two points on deficits that they like to make. The first is a sheepish admission that while they controlled Congress and the Presidency they ran up huge deficits. But they have learned their lesson. Back then it was just “standard practice” to not pay for things. From the Washington Monthly.

“it was standard practice not to pay for things,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. “We were concerned about it, because it certainly added to the deficit, no question.” His 2003 vote has been vindicated, Hatch said, because the prescription drug benefit “has done a lot of good.”

Standard practice indeed. Let us not forget that President Bush inherited a balanced federal budget from President Clinton, and piled on tax cuts while enacting a huge new entitlement with the prescription drug benefit, and allowing borrowing to fund the waging of two wars. But that hypocrisy is now over, according to Republicans. They are ready to stand tall against deficit spending. Which brings us to the present.

Point two of the Republican position on deficit spending is that tax cuts that add to the deficit need not concern us. Yes it apparently is sound fiscal policy to increase the deficit by cutting taxes, but unsound to increase the deficit to extend unemployment benefits. The Republican leadership in the Senate has made their position clear. From the Huffington Post:

“[Y]ou should never raise taxes in order to cut taxes,” said the Arizona Senator during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. “Surely Congress has the authority, and it would be right to — if we decide we want to cut taxes to spur the economy, not to have to raise taxes in order to offset those costs. You do need to offset the cost of increased spending, and that’s what Republicans object to. But you should never have to offset cost of a deliberate decision to reduce tax rates on Americans.”

So the next time Republicans lecture about the deficit it should be clear that the hypocrisy of their position is extraordinary.

The Republicans deserve to be whipped on the deficit, but the Democrats continue to lose the political fight on this issue. And the reason they continue to lose is that they are not showing the public that they consider this a serious issue. They have not explained the difference between the benefits of short term spending and the real tough decisions that lie ahead for the country on this. And while the President has put together a deficit commission over the objections of Republicans the report will not be issued until after the November elections. The Democrats also need to realize that even for good causes like unemployment benefits being extended they cannot just ignore the deficit as an issue. They need to deal with the continuing assault that has been launched by Republicans, and spend some time and political capital fighting back on this.

Read the Washington Monthly posting here.

Read the Washington Post story here.

Read the Globe article on Scott Brown filing his own unemployment bill here.

Federal Deficit Clinton Years

Posted in National News | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Lawrence in the News

Posted on July 16, 2010 by billmanzi

With Lawrence in the middle of some pretty steep budget cuts there has been plenty of political back and forth over layoffs, union contracts, and other hot topics. Chief of Staff to Mayor Lantigua Lenny Degnan appeared on WGBH to talk about some of those issues.

http://www.wgbh.org/media/player.swf

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Haley and Deval

Posted on July 16, 2010 by billmanzi

The Republican Governor’s Association, already having blotted out Treasurer Tim Cahill, are now trying to do the same for Governor Deval Patrick, launching a new wave of negative ads against the Governor. (And they are still carpet bombing Tim Cahill for good measure.) The Governor has responded with an internet ad mocking Baker, and hitting him back. You can be assured that the Democratic Governor’s Association will be weighing in at some point with some hard hitting ads on Baker. They don’t have an Independent Governor’s Association, do they???

And in case there was some hope that the RGA would run out of money Haley Barbour and the RGA put $19 million in the bank last quarter, bringing their cash on hand to $40 million. The RGA has extended the latest ad buy through August.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13193047&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=D4964A&fullscreen=1

RGA Ad – Deval Patrick: “Taxes” from Republican Governors Association on Vimeo.

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Methuen Relay for Life Recognized

Posted on July 14, 2010 by billmanzi

I joined the Methuen City Council in recognizing Methuen High School students Rachel Sterner, Jenna Fabrizio, and Lauren Loffredo, along with teachers Dave Lacroix and Carol Guselli, for their tremendous effort in putting together Methuen’s Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. This year the Methuen Relay raised over $214,000, well over the initial goal of $171,000. Congratulations.

Citation for the Relay for Life

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Allison Fitzgerald is July Artist of the Month

Posted on July 13, 2010 by billmanzi

Methuen Artist’s Work on Display in the Mayor’s Office & Mann Orchards

Mayor William M. Manzi has named Allison Fitzgerald as July’s Artist of the Month. Allison is an expert photographer and artist. She has recently returned to Methuen after working in the Bio-Tech field in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at Delaware Valley College. She is now pursuing a career in professional photography. Allison’s family owns Mann Orchards, the oldest business in Methuen. Local artist Merry Beninato mentored her through grade and high school. During her education she focused on oil paints and graphite. Currently, her photography includes landscapes, pets and wildlife. To view a portion of her portfolio you can visit http://www.c2hdesigns.com and visit the gallery on display at the café of Mann Orchards.

Mayor Manzi stated, “Allison is one of the many talented artists living and working in our community. It is an honor to display her artwork and photography. I am glad that she has returned to her hometown and is continuing the Fitzgerald tradition of giving back to her community. I encourage people to come to my office and view Allison’s fine work.”

The Methuen Artist of the Month Program was created by Mayor Manzi four years ago in order to give members of the Methuen Arts Community a forum to display their work and to encourage participation in Methuen’s growing and vibrant creative economy. Methuen artists interested in being considered as Artist of the Month should contact the Mayor’s Office.

Allison Fitzgerald, July Artist of the Month

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Cahill Strikes Back

Posted on July 12, 2010 by billmanzi

Treasurer Tim Cahill, sagging under a new barrage of negative ads from Haley Barbour and the RGA, attempted to hit back with an internet ad today, calling Charlie Baker untrustworthy because of his involvement with the Big Dig and highlighting inconsistent Baker answers on his role in that project. Yes Tim is revved up, but it is hard to combat million dollar ad buys with an internet ad viewed by 300 people.

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