Speaker Robert Deleo managed to get his tax package through the House last evening, winning passage of the $500 million transportation finance package by a 97-55 margin. That margin, sufficient for passage, would leave the Speaker some eight votes short of the two thirds necessary to override the promised veto by Governor Patrick. The bill now moves to the Senate, where Ways and Means will release the Senate version of this package today.
The Speaker now faces the unpleasant prospect of having the Governor in a position to make a veto stick, something that has not happened on important legislation in years. Eight votes is not an insurmountable obstacle for the Speaker, and my own guess is that he will be closer than that once he starts putting on the pressure. If the Speaker fails to achieve an override the question then goes to whether he will indeed just move on, leaving the Governor with an empty plate. I think that threat is more substantial than some may think, although a negotiated settlement with the Governor at $750-$800 million for this tax package is achievable. I get the sense the Speaker does not wish to negotiate, which would leave everyone back at square one. On to the Senate.
The Governor put out a statement that was very critical of the legislative package.
In January, I presented a budget that makes critical, long-delayed investments in our transportation and education systems. The plan I proposed will modernize our transportation system Commonwealth-wide; better prepare our children for work and life, including by bringing thousands of kids off the wait-list for early education programs and making college more affordable; and create tens of thousands of jobs well into the future.
This week, the Legislature presented their alternative. Theirs is a transportation-only plan that raises taxes on everybody to fix some of the deficit at the T for a few years–and little else. Our education needs are not even mentioned. Their plan was developed behind closed doors without public feedback or a hearing. And it is being hurried through the Legislature for a vote next week. I don’t see how it’s either good policy or good politics to raise taxes on everybody without being able to show that you’re delivering something at home. By proposing a pretend solution rather than a real one, the Legislature is kicking the can down the road again. That is a slow-growth or a no-growth choice. It does not bear our generational responsibility. And I will not support it.
We all have a stake in this debate. Whether you agree with my plan or the Legislature’s, make your voice heard. You can reach the Governor’s Office at 617-725-4005 and you can find your local legislator: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/MyElectionInfo.aspx
Governor Patrick, in the past, has routinely had his vetoes overridden by the Legislature. This time however the Speaker and the Senate President may find overriding the promised veto a bit more difficult. The Governor is rallying progressives in the Legislature to vote against the Speakers tax package, and will be looking to that group to provide him with sufficient votes to sustain a veto. They will more than likely be joined by the Republicans who will likely vote with the Governor to sustain a veto, and stop the Speaker’s package from advancing. The very old adage about politics making strange bedfellows will likely be borne out on the veto override vote.
The Speaker realizes his difficulty and sent out Chairman Dempsey to tell state house reporters that in the event his package fails the House will be moving on to the budget, and leaving transportation finance behind. The threat is obvious, and one that the Governor will need to ponder carefully. The Speaker is offering $500 million, and seems to be indicating he will reduce that offer to zero if the Governor manages to win the veto fight.
The Senate President, although carrying a substantially lower profile on this matter, still has some problems in her caucus. From the Globe:
The nose count was less clear in the Senate, where Patrick had scored some support by including long-awaited transportation projects in his plan. Already, the debate has confounded one member’s plans, as Senator Ben Downing, a Pittsfield Democrat, rescheduled his honeymoon flight to be on hand for the Senate vote, scheduled for Thursday.
“Not only do I not think that we have the votes to override, I don’t know whether we have the votes to pass it,” said one Democrat. “I don’t know what the House is going to do, but I think the debate on our side is far from a foregone conclusion.”
With the situation deteriorating you might think that there would be some negotiations, but both sides seem to be talking over each other rather than to each other. Funny thing is that serious negotiations between the Governor and Legislature could produce a deal in a relatively quick time frame, probably at a number of $750 million for transportation. It does not seem likely today, but maybe the weekend will bring cooler heads.
Rep. Linda Dean Campbell of the 15th Essex District, (Methuen and Haverhill) has posted her position on the upcoming transportation finance bill scheduled for a vote this coming Monday in the House on her Facebook Page. Her statement, expressing support for the Legislative revenue package of $500 million, but opposition to the Governor’s larger package, is below. The Speaker picks up an important vote for his tax package, as well as for his coming attempt to override the promised veto of that package, by Governor Patrick.
Dear Citizens and Elected and Appointed Officials of the 15th Essex District,
As you are aware, I will soon need to choose between a transportation proposal put forth by the House and the Senate, or a plan put forth by the Governor Patrick. To vote for the Governor’s plan, I believe is clearly not in the best interest of my district. To vote against the Legislative plan would jeopardize millions of dollars in transportation projects needed for our district.
Equally important to these considerations is the input that taxpayers in my District and have provided to me, along with those from across the state at hearings I attended in my capacity as a member of the committee on Ways and Means. I thank all of you for being part of this debate.
As a result of these conversations, and as a result my research to date, I have concluded:
For us to continue to attract investment and jobs, we need to reform our transportation system and improve our transportation infrastructure.
We must fix the infrastructure that we have now before building new infrastructure which we could not afford to maintain.
The manner in which we finance transportation in the Commonwealth needs to change. In this regard:
– Users of different systems need to contribute more directly.
-Transportation funding needs to be distributed more equitably throughout the Commonwealth. It is too Boston centric.
-Currently, too much of the taxpayer dollars that the legislature allocates for transportation is being utilized to pay interest on transportation debt and personnel costs, as opposed to transportation infrastructure repair and improvement.
The Governor’s proposal to raise the income tax substantially at this time would damage our bond rating. The Governor’s proposal to build new infrastructure that we cannot afford to build or maintain at this time is not a fiscally responsible option.
We need to establish sources of Revenue for transportation that will be reliable and more predictable long term.
Reform:
Although the Legislature has taken direct action to prohibit excessive salaries, pensions and medical benefits for MBTA employees more needs to be done.
Our regional transit authorities need to be required to conduct a thorough analysis to improve service and cut costs. It is my observation that it is routine to see buses in the Merrimack Valley that have only a few people in them.
Although not entirely to my liking, the finance reform package that the Legislature has put forward takes action on all these measures with a very modest increase in the gas tax. It is estimated that the gas tax increase will cost the average driver, at most, an additional $30.00 per year and will not put us at any competitive disadvantage regionally within New England. The reason this increase is prudent at this time is that it will allow more of your tax money to be spent on transportation as opposed to debt service.
Please continue to provide me with your views, they are very important, and counter the narrow interests of lobbying groups.
I had the pleasure of having Matt Kraunelis on the Manzi in the Morning Radio Program this week to talk about Methuen’s Grey Court Poets, and the publication of his new book “Tackle Box”. Matt talked about his book, the publication of the new anthology by the Grey Court Poets, “Songs From the Castle’s Remains”. Matt has, for years, been a driving force in bringing the arts to Methuen, and it was great to have him on the show to talk about some of the new activity in that area. Check out his website, take a look at the Grey Court Poets Facebook page, and support these great artists by purchasing their books, which are truly enjoyable. I hope to have Matt and the group come into the studio at some point to talk about their work. Thank you author Matt Kraunelis.
The Legislature today unveiled their own transportation finance package, offering about half of what the Governor was hoping for to fund transportation. The announcement of the $500 million dollar package was made jointly by the Senate President and the Speaker, which makes legislative passage a formality. The Speaker and Senate President may pick up some legislative flack from those supportive of the Governor’s higher request, but you may now consider that opposition a mere formality.
So what is in the package? The Legislature will rely on a 3 penny increase in the gas tax (which will now be indexed to inflation) for $110 million, new tobacco taxes (including a $1 per pack increase for cigarettes)for $165 million, and will utilize at least a portion of the Governor’s recommendation to expand the sales tax to cover certain currently exempted computer services for $161 million, and add $83 million by changing the status of utilities, and some out of state business filers. The Legislative package envisions taking Department of Transportation workers off the capital budget by 2016, and forward funding the Regional T’s.
The Governor has not responded to this proposal, but I have pointed out from the start that the Governor, through his proposal, has forced the Legislature to make some hard choices. Some of those choices are now made. The Legislature has taken a pass on the so called “South Coast Rail Project”, the expansion of South Station, and other major projects slated for funding under Governor Patrick’s proposal. There will be some hearty debate about those choices in the weeks to come.
The call in to the Boob Leeblanc Radio Program this past week on WCAP by Tom Duggan of the Valley Patriot is an instant classic, well worthy of a podcast. I just can’t figure out why Boob hung up on Tom. Seemed like things were going so well.
Most of the controversy in Mayor Steve Zanni’s first year in office centered around his proposal to privatize the City of Methuen’s Information Technology Department. Not only was there disagreement on the substance of the proposal, but the Mayor and City Council disagreed on the proper procedure that needed to be followed after the filing of a “reorganization” by the Mayor (under the City Charter). Mayor Zanni, in this interview, talks about his proposal and why he still believes it would be a good thing for the City.
Mayor Steve Zanni visited the Manzi in the Morning Program, and took questions on some of the issues of the day. I appreciate Mayor Zanni taking the time out of a busy schedule, and I will post the Mayor’s interview by subject blocks. In this portion Mayor Zanni offers some comments on the solicitor search, as well as talking about his views on the potential for charter change that would make the auditor and solicitor employees of the executive branch in Methuen.
Methuen City Councilor Jamie Atkinson, looking to firm up Methuen’s zoning response to the new law allowing medicinal marijuana dispensaries, broached the possibility of a moratorium on the licensing of such facilities on his facebook page last week. The Councilor drew so much response, getting a full gamut of opinions on the subject. In light of that I invited him on to the Manzi in the Morning Radio program on 980 WCAP to discuss his thoughts. I appreciate him coming on the show on short notice. That interview is below. The Department of Public Health is due to promulgate the regulations we talked about this week.
Methuen City Councilor Jennifer Kannan, who announced her Mayoral candidacy at her St Patrick’s day fundraiser the week before, came on the Manzi in the Morning Radio Show to make that announcement to our listeners, and to talk about her candidacy. Our thanks to Councilor Kannan for coming on the show and taking our questions. She did say she was willing to debate, so look for a debate sponsored by WCAP as we get closer to the election.
Bill Manzi.com 