Michele Bachmann Makes SNL

Posted on January 30, 2011 by billmanzi

Michele Bachmann tries again to deliver her alternative response to the President on Saturday Night Live. You just had to know this was coming.

http://widget.nbc.com/videos/nbcshort_at.swf?CXNID=1000004.10045NXC&widID=4727a250e66f9723&clipID=1279586&showID=61&siteurl=http://www.nbc.com?vty=fromWidget_Video

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The House Shuffles the Deck

Posted on January 29, 2011 by billmanzi

Speaker Bob Deleo made major changes in the House leadership yesterday, shuffling the positions of Speaker pro tempore, Majority Leader, and Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Out as Majority Leader was Rep. Jim Vallee, who was named Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, where Methuen’s Linda Dean Campbell will continue to serve as Vice Chair. The new Majority Leader is Ron Mariano of Quincy. Over at Ways and Means Rep. Charley Murphy lost that portfolio to Rep. Brian Dempsey of Haverhill, who handled the casino bill in the last session as Chair of the Economic Development Committee.

Dempsey has made a big move here. He is a truly hard working and effective Rep. Congratulations Rep. Dempsey. Rep. Mike Costello, representing the Amesbury/ Salisbury area, will leave his post at Public Safety and move to Chair the Financial Services Committee. Rep. Hank Naughton will take over as Chair of Public Safety. Another local move of note was the elevation of Rep. Steven Walsh to the Chair of the Health Care Financing Committee, replacing Rep. Harriet Stanley of Haverhill/Bradford.

A key portfolio for the Speaker is the Chairmanship of the Economic Development Committee, which handles expanded gaming. Rep. Joe Wagoner has been named by the Speaker as the new Chair of this Committee, which will see significant activity if a gaming bill is resurrected. Rep. Wagoner has been the Chair of Transportation for some time, and he will be replaced by Rep. Bill Straus as Chair of that Committee. The Joint Committee on Transportation will now have two new Chairs, with Senator McGee taking over that portfolio in the Senate.

As far as the leadership positions Rep. Charlie Murphy leaves Ways and Means to become assistant Majority Leader (whip), while Rep. Kathi-Ann Reinstein will be the second assistant Majority Leader. The new Speaker Pro Tem will be Rep. Patricia Haddad, who took over for Thomas Petrolati.

That is a whole bunch of change, with Speaker Deleo putting a firm hand on the House for what promises to be a very challenging session.

http://www.statehousenews.com/video/11-01-28deleo/player-viral.swf

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President Obama Stays on Competition Theme

Posted on January 29, 2011 by billmanzi

The President talks about what we need to remain a preeminent world power, including a first rate educational system, new investment in upgrading our infrastructure, and a commitment to clean energy that will produce jobs, new industry, and address the energy needs of our country. I have always been perplexed by Republican attacks on alternative energy. Our major economic rival, China, has invested heavily in renewables, and is already reaping the rewards of that investment. The President has built a new message that he hopes will show that we need to dramatically alter the way the federal government spends money, but we cannot run away from spending that we need to ensure that we remain the world’s number one economy. Without targeted investment in our future we are destined to fall back economically. The fight on this issue is just beginning.

The Orion website.

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Nathaniel Connors Wins SOAR Award

Posted on January 28, 2011 by billmanzi

Congratulations to Nathaniel Connors, who was recognized with the December 2010 SOAR Award.

METHUEN HIGH SCHOOL
S.O.A.R. AWARD
Nathaniel Connors . 11/16/10

METHUEN HIGH SCHOOL- Social Studies

Scott and Janet Connors

Methuen, MA 01844

Honors:
Currently enrolled in four Advanced Placement Course, including European History
Has made the Honor Roll every quarter the past three years
Scored a qualifying score of 3 on the Advanced Placement United States History Exam
National History Honor Society

Student Activities
High School golf, basketball and baseball
Relay for Life
Dutch Foreign Exchange Program

Community Involvement:
Volunteer at the Brue Blood Tournament
Assistant coach for the Massachusetts Elite AAU basketball team
Volunteer coach for the Methuen Youth Basketball Program
Participates in the Methuen Youth Baseball Program
Plays for the New England Storm in AAU basketball

Work Experience:
Referees for the Methuen Youth Basketball program
Referees in various Methuen basketball tournaments

Reasons for Recognition:
Nathaniel was chosen as the Social Studies Department’s recipient of the S.O.A.R Award because; he truly loves Social Studies and in particular United States History. Nathaniel has been an excellent social studies student who has distinguished himself academically in all four of his high school years at Methuen High School. He has been intellectually inquisitive and involved in all his social studies classes. His passion for history is evident because the time he spends on his own to learn more about subjects discussed in class. As a student, Nathaniel is not just a receiver of knowledge; he is an active contributor. Based on his credentials, there is no doubt he has a bright future ahead of him. He is a fine young man who is a credit to his family, friends, and teachers. For all of these reasons the Social Studies Department feels that Nathaniel Connors is most deserving of this month’s S.O.A.R Award.

Nathaniel Connors is December SOAR Winner

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Rahm Makes the Ballot

Posted on January 28, 2011 by billmanzi

Rahm Emanuel, after having been bounced off the ballot (for Mayor of Chicago) by an Illinois court, has been restored to the ballot by the Illinois Supreme Court. Rahm has led this race from the start, and is positioned to finish first in the preliminary election scheduled for next month. If he wins more than 50% he is elected, and he is knocking on that 50% door in recent surveys. Rahm is clearly a Chicago resident, and in my opinion deserved to be on the ballot. The Illinois Supreme Court was unanimous in its decision. A Rahm for Mayor video, featuring Bill Clinton, is attached.

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The President on You Tube

Posted on January 27, 2011 by billmanzi

You Tube got the first post State of the Union address interview with President Obama. Here is the President answering those questions.

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Governor Patrick Press Conference

Posted on January 27, 2011 by billmanzi

The Governor’s Press Conference on the budget. More on the budget in the days to come.

http://www.statehousenews.com/video/11-01-26gov/player-viral.swf

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The Governor's Budget Presentation

Posted on January 27, 2011 by billmanzi

The Governor unveiled his budget yesterday, looking to balance the books in the most difficult of times. The Governor’s budget is the starting point in the process, with the House and Senate both getting ready to produce their own versions. Traditionally that has meant major changes to the submissions of the Governor, and this year is likely to be more of the same.

The Governor’s budget cuts local aid by 7%, bringing total local aid cuts since 2008 to $481 million, or 37%. The Governor has proposed offsetting that cut to unrestricted local aid by giving municipal health care reform to municipalities, which he believes will save over $100 million statewide. Let us take a look at some of the key numbers underlying the budget.

1) Another supplemental, this one worth $400 million from some additional federal education money, will drive spending this year over $31 billion, up $1.7 billion over the budgeted amount of $29.4 billion.

2) His proposed budget is $30.5 billion, over the budgeted amount from last year, but $500 million below actual spending in this fiscal cycle.

3) The Governor’s proposal assumes revenue increases of over $600 million dollars, and draws $200 million from the state’s reserve account.

4) Municipal aid to education would increase under the Governor’s proposal, but the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimates a statewide cut of over $80 million when the loss of federal funds are factored in.

5) Health Care. The State budget has been staggered by health care costs, with over 40% of the budget going to cover health care. The Governor’s budget, in spite of recent history, proposes to hold total health care spending at this years levels. The Governor is unveiling aggressive health care cost containment measures, but with at least a 5% increase in enrollment in state health care programs the Governor appears to be banking on a savings of at least $1 billion here. From Michael Widmer:

“The number one question, far and away in this budget in terms of whether it holds together or not is essentially holding Medicaid spending flat while having a 5 percent growth in enrollment,” Widmer said. “It would be an historic achievement if the administration could pull that off.”

That is a big roll of the budgetary dice, and will be scrutinized closely by the Legislature. There will likely be adjustments made in this assumption, which could result in additional cuts to the budget, including local aid. Widmer is being diplomatic. It does not appear that he believes that the Governor’s assumptions on health care are correct. This story is just beginning.

http://www.statehousenews.com/video/11-01-26gonz/player-viral.swf

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Michael Widmer on Mayor's Corner

Posted on January 27, 2011 by billmanzi

Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation was the guest on the Mayor’s Corner last week. He was a great guest, speaking about pension reform, municipal health care reform, and the upcoming state budget. For my money the preeminent authority on the state budget.

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The President's State of the Union Speech (Enhanced)

Posted on January 26, 2011 by billmanzi

The President gave the State of the Union last night, laying out his policy goals (targeted spending, increased exporting, a five year freeze on federal discretionary spending, a defense of the health care reform bill, amongst other things), using the speech to frame the coming battle with Republicans over priorities for the next two years. The Republican response, delivered by Rep. Paul Ryan, seemed to me to suffer from the same lack of specifics that have plagued the Republicans for the last year. They will eventually have to produce a Continuing Budget Resolution for this year, since the current one expires in March. That will, along with the vote to raise the federal debt ceiling, will bring the flash point between the President and Republicans and could lead to the government shutdown I believe is coming.

The President threw out plenty for the Republicans to like, including an offer of tort reform in health care and reductions in the corporate tax rate. But the battle will be joined, even with the President moving towards the center. The Republican hard right is about to overplay, and with that overplay the President will be poised to recapture the center (and that big bloc of independent voters).

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