Card Check Battle

Posted on March 7, 2009 by billmanzi

The battle over the Employee Free Choice Act has begun to heat up, with President Obama signaling that he is in full support of the legislation. And as the battle draws near both sides are gearing up for battle with an ad war, with the tone getting especially nasty. The business ads frequently compare organized labor to organized thugs, and are completely over the top.

The President signaled his continued support in a videotaped message to organized labor. From the Wall Street Journal:

President Barack Obama told AFL-CIO union leaders Tuesday in a videotaped address that the controversial Employee Free Choice Act will pass, signaling his full backing for legislation that makes union organizing easier.

“We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act,” President Obama told more than 100 top labor officials in a closed-door meeting at the labor federation’s winter gathering in Miami, according to people at the meeting.

The bill will be filed in the Senate, where passage is uncertain. A Republican filibuster is assured, and blue dog Democratic support is tenuous. Labor seems ready for the amendment process in the Senate, and will target recalcitrant Democrats within their home states with a barrage of pressure. And the business community has really drawn the battle lines, with the Chamber of Commerce leading the anti card check fight. We will follow this battle closely in the weeks ahead.

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Governor Deval Patrick in Haverhill

Posted on March 7, 2009 by billmanzi

Haverhill Question for Governor PatrickGovernor Deval Patrick in Haverhill

Governor Deval Patrick visited the Haverhill Public Library yesterday to make the case for transportation reform, and an increase in the gas tax. The Governor was greeted warmly, but without question the Haverhill audience was strongly against an increase in the gas tax. The Governor was joined by State Senator Steve Baddour, as well as Republican Senator Bruce Tarr. Mayor Thatcher Kezer of Amesbury joined host Mayor Jim Fiorentini and myself at the event. Many Haverhill City Councilors were also in attendance. Without reviewing all of the transportation issues again the Governor was questioned on many different aspects of the plan, including the reform part of it, as well as the implications for the Massachusetts border cities and their businesses. Governor Patrick was both gracious and candid, talking about his recognition of some of the attendant problems of the potential tax increase, but laying out all of the problems we face as a Commonwealth in the transportation arena. He made the case for a comprehensive solution to our transportation problems now and not kicking the transportation can down the road any further. I am not sure anyone in that audience left convinced, but there was without a doubt a feeling of goodwill towards the Governor, who is a master in these settings. The Governor had made an earlier presentation in Lowell, and has been on the issue in these settings throughout the Commonwealth. I have attached some video from the event.

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President Obama Focuses on Health Care

Posted on March 7, 2009 by billmanzi

President Barack Obama focuses on the staggering unemployment numbers for February, as well as the urgent need for health care reform. And before we hear any criticism let us consider what our current health care system has brought. An unsustainable cost structure that would, if left unattended, swallow the entire economy. It is swallowing huge swarths of it now. The emphasis is right, the prescription is on the way.

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Gov Patrick in Haverhill takin…

Posted on March 6, 2009 by billmanzi

Gov Patrick in Haverhill taking tough questions on gas tax

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Testing twitter mobile

Posted on March 6, 2009 by billmanzi

Testing twitter mobile

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Central Catholic Over Everett in a Nail Biter

Posted on March 5, 2009 by billmanzi

Central Catholic High School, trailing for the entire game and down by one with less than 5 seconds to play, scored an incredible comeback to defeat Everett 47-44 at Reading High School. As usual the comeback was keyed by Billy Marsden, who sank four key free throws in those last 4.7 seconds to seal the Central Catholic win. Marsden was blanketed all night by Everett and held down, but broke loose at the end to drive the nails into Everett’s coffin. Carson Desrosiers was held down as well, with Everett’s outstanding (and tall) front line playing some great defense on him. But Desrosiers broke loose for a monster dunk as Central was making its run, setting the stands on fire and lighting up his teammates. Everett looked ready to knock out CCHS, but made a key strategic error by fouling Marsden in the backcourt with less than five seconds left while in the penalty, giving Marsden two free throws, which he made to seal the deal. Central Catholic will visit the Tsongas Arena in Lowell to play on Sunday, with their opponent yet to be determined.

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Methuen City Council Meetings Now on the Web

Posted on March 5, 2009 by billmanzi

The Methuen City Council meetings are now archived on the internet, with live broadcasting on the internet hopefully right around the corner. You may find the archives at this link.

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The Boston Elites Strike Back

Posted on March 4, 2009 by billmanzi

In remarks to a closed door meeting of state and municipal leaders Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi struck back hard at the State Senate, calling “reform before revenue” a “meaningless slogan.” From the State House News Service:

Taking direct aim at the central mantra behind Senate President Therese Murray’s transportation reform policy, Gov. Deval Patrick’s top transportation aide on Wednesday derided her insistence on “reform before revenue” as a “meaningless slogan.”

Ouch! Senate leaders responded through the Chair of Ways and Means, Steven Panagiotakos:

Senate leaders said they were bewildered by the criticism.

“I don’t even know what to think,” said Senate Ways and Means chair Steven Panagiotakos.

“I would say it’s certainly not meaningless to the citizens of Massachusetts,” said Panagiotakos (D-Lowell). “Everywhere I’ve gone, people have thought that was the proper approach: clean up the transportation system, make it as efficient as possible, then you have an idea of how much it’s going to cost.”

The Republicans piled on Aloisi as well, with Sen. Richard Tisei slamming him over his recent comment that as a staff lawyer for the Turnpike Authority it had not been “his job to tell people the truth”.

Referring to a Boston Globe column in which Aloisi was quoted saying that during his time as a top attorney at the Turnpike Authority, “It wasn’t my job to tell people the truth,” Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei questioned Aloisi’s credibility.

“I find it kind of surprising that somebody who was quoted over the weekend saying he wasn’t paid to tell the truth over the Big Dig is now promoting a transportation plan where you have to wonder if he’s being paid to tell the truth now,” Tisei said. “The administration doesn’t have a lot of credibility right now.”

Secretary Aloisi also said, according to meeting participants, that he would recommend that the Governor veto a nine cent increase in the gas tax. Secretary Aloisi did not just pull the nine cent figure out of his hat. That number increasingly has been coming out of the Senate side as the upper limits of what that body might accept for an increase. With Aloisi now openly threatening a veto of that number the Governor has decided to raise the stakes with Senate leadership, and return some of the political fire directed at his proposal. The Governor has also hit the road to throw his personal weight behind the transportation package, traveling around the state to hold events where he can explain his position and take questions from concerned citizens. It is a powerful tool to use, and shows that the Governor is fully engaged in trying to win support for his proposals. The Transportation Policy Chess match continues. Senate leadership, your move!

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Methuen’s FY2009 Budget Cuts

Posted on March 4, 2009 by billmanzi

I brought forward the cuts to Methuen’s budget that were necessitated by the mid year cut to local aid imposed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We have made the cuts without the necessity, in this fiscal cycle, for layoffs of personnel. These cuts have required us however to sacrifice services and impose some pain. I have exempted, in this cycle, the Methuen Senior Center and the Nevins Library from mid year cuts, as these two entities would have seen dramatic service cuts immediately had they faced the budgetary ax. The City Council last night approved these cuts unanimously.

Insurance premiums: $74,573

Public Works, electricity: $180,000

Fire, overtime: $125,000

Tailings: $154,845

Police, safe haven coordinator: $24,699

Police, election and polls: $6,615 (already saved from this year)

Police, rapid response SWAT team: $11,969 (cut from training)

Police, honor guard equipment: $630

Police, printing/communication: $7,000

Police, travel for meetings in state: $8,463

Police, bullet-proof vests: $12,000

Police, tuition (for training): $3,000

Police, fuel: $5,000

Police, photocopy supplies: $2,000

Police, vehicle maintenance: $25,000

Police, drugs and medical supplies (first aid): $3,182

Police, office supplies: $3,361

Police, firearm supplies: $5,329

Police, identification cards: $2,000

Police, new personnel uniforms: $1,348

Police, cruiser equipment: $3,400

Total: $659,418

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Obama Rides High in WSJ Poll

Posted on March 4, 2009 by billmanzi

President Barack Obama continues to be very popular with the American public according to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey.

Overall, two-thirds of all Americans say they feel “hopeful” about Mr. Obama’s leadership and plans, compared with 28% who say they feel “doubtful.”

The President continues to get high marks in many areas, and is still the choice of a wide majority in terms of stewardship of the economy. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel attributes the President’s popularity to the American publics trust in him.

“The American people trust him and like him,” Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, said in an interview. “That’s how you make change possible, because it’s not threatening but accessible.”

And the survey holds continued bad news for the Republican minority, with the public appearing to question their motivations in a bad way.

The poll had bad news for the Republican opposition. By a margin of more than 2-1, Americans trust the Democratic Party over the Republicans to get the country out of the recession. Views of the GOP are near an all-time low. And more than half of all adults say that Republicans in Congress have opposed Mr. Obama’s proposals more to gain political advantage, compared with 30% who say Republicans have done so because they are standing up for their principles.

Republicans have tried to separate the President personally from his programs, but that strategy has not worked. Minority Leader Boehner continued on that tack.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) predicted that Mr. Obama will have trouble moving his agenda. “Everyone knows that the president remains popular, but let’s be honest: The solutions Democrats are pushing are not,” he said in a statement.

The survey showed deep support for the President from Democrats, and a fine showing amongst independents. But he showed slippage amongst Republicans, which should have been expected.

The President continues to use his deep popularity to drive substantial change in the system. The upcoming battles on the budget and on health care will put that popularity to the test. Read the Wall Street Journal article here.

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