Boston Celtic owner Stephen Pagliuca announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, bringing a fortune estimated at $400 million into the race. He starts this race with a first rate team of consultants (including Doug Rubin), but no political experience. He will be up on the air today, already buying a big chunk of ad time to introduce himself to the voters.
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/16977198001?isVid=1&publisherID=245991542
A report in yesterday’s Boston Globe talked of the plans of major Massachusetts health insurers to raise rates by ten percent next year. In a system that is already teetering because of unaffordable costs a ten percent increase will create major stress on employers, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and municipalities. It will also call into question the ability of Massachusetts to continue fully funding the health care reforms enacted under Governor Mitt Romney.
These increases have become the norm, and call into question the strategy of full coverage taking place before real cost containment. I support full coverage, but if true cost containment is not ever a part of health care reform then any other reforms are likely doomed to failure. Management and Labor will fight anew, arguing over which should shoulder the additional burden, when in fact neither can afford perpetual double digit increases. It is, as I have pointed out repeatedly, not sustainable for this country. For those that say that the current system is fine, do the numbers. Health care is consuming an ever greater percentage of our nations economic output, and will leave us a financial basket case if no action is taken, and taken soon. It is really not about ideology. It is about living within our means, and being honest with people about the financial limits that we face. Those limits mean we have to make difficult choices, and those choices will likely require vast political courage. Not as of yet in evidence.
Read the Globe story here.
The Methuen Mayoral Preliminary Election was last night, and I am grateful to this wonderful City for the support I received. I topped the ticket and now move to the November final. Turnout was nine percent for this election. It should be substantially higher in November. I am delighted by the result, and will work hard to achieve another victory in November. I offer my congratulations to Kevin Thompson, who finished third but ran a respectful and civil campaign. Congratulations to my opponent in November, second place finisher Al Dinuccio. Looking forward to a full discussion of the issues facing Methuen. I have posted the election results in pdf format below. On to November!
Today, September 15th, Methuen will conduct its preliminary election, with polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The contested races are for West District Councilor, and for Mayor. The polling locations are the Tenney School for the East District, the Timony School for the Central District, and the Marsh School and Park Garden Apartments for the West District. Please go out and vote today, and please consider voting to re-elect me as Methuen’s Mayor. It has been an honor to serve! Hope to see you out there today! Results posted here tonight.
Scott Brown, after stepping back from this potential race, has plunged back in to the U.S. Senate race on the Republican side after the withdrawal of Andy Card. Brown, at least at this point, seems to be the leading Republican candidate. He is joined by Canton Selectman Bob Burr. Chrisy Mihos seemed poised to abandon his race for the Republican nomination for Governor and enter this race, but alas he changed his mind. Senator Brown, at a minimum, should significantly up his statewide profile, and if he does lose this race could be positioned to run for statewide office in the future.
Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, in office less than a year, will be leaving on November 1. Aloisi had succeeded Bernard Cohen, presiding over some very tumultous times as Transportation Secretary. Aloisi had managed to quarell with or offend many key players in the transportation arena, including several powerful legislators. Aloisi will leave in advance of the major changes in the portfolio required under the transportation reform legislation passed recently.
Methuen will have a ceremony today marking the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This Ceremony of Remembrance will be at Methuen’s Central Fire Station and will begin promptly at 9:55. We will never forget the heinous act perpertrated against civilians, and our hearts and prayers remain with all of those who lost loved ones.
Sorry about the short notice, but Methuen will be conducting a H1N1 Informational Meeting starting tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Great Hall. It will be televised. We will follow this meeting with another at Methuen High School later this month. I have posted the agenda below.
City of Methuen
H1N1 Informational Meeting
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Searles Building – Great Hall
I. Introduction
II. H1N1 Where we are now
Methuen
Mass
United States
III. Influenza
Symptoms
Steps to prevent
Booklet – What to do if you have the Flu
IV. Schools
Monitoring Absenteeism
Exclusions
Closures
Classroom Based Sanitizer Program
V. Seasonal Vaccinations
When and where are the clinics
School program/flumist
VI. Moving Forward
Local Flu meeting
Regional Flu Summit
H1N1 Vaccinations
Priority Groups
VII. Closing
Bill Manzi.com 