Tag Archives: Michael Widmer

Manzi in the Morning- Michael Widmer Interview

Posted on May 22, 2013 by billmanzi

Michael Widmer came on the Manzi in the Morning Program to talk about Transportation Finance, the State budget, unfunded OPEB liabilities, and reform in transportation. Widmer is the President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, and he is, in my view, … Continue reading →

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Governor Patrick and Big Data

Posted on March 24, 2013 by billmanzi

Much respected fiscal analyst Michael Widmer has issued a severe critique of the portion of Governor Patrick’s tax proposal that would expand the sales tax to include transactions in the computer software and data processing fields, calling the proposal a … Continue reading →

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Increased Massachusetts Revenue: Where Is It Coming From?

Posted on February 2, 2013 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick has unveiled a budget and tax plan that delivers just under $2 billion in new revenue to state coffers to fund transportation and educational initiatives. The Governor’s proposal does not simply rely on a straight increase in … Continue reading →

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More on the Governor's Revenue Proposals

Posted on January 21, 2013 by billmanzi

Governor Patrick, as we know, outlined a very ambitious agenda for revenues and new spending on infrastructure and education in his State of the Commonwealth speech last week. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center has come out with an analysis … Continue reading →

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Michael Widmer on the Massachusetts Budget

Posted on December 5, 2012 by billmanzi

Some comments from Michael Widmer, laying out some of the issues facing the Commonwealth, and some of the unpleasant options facing the State as we begin looking to the FY 14 budget. Widmer was a guest on WBUR, Public Radio.

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Tax Expenditures in the News

Posted on November 17, 2012 by billmanzi

What more exciting subject could there be besides “tax expenditures” to write about today? I can think of nothing else that I would rather do over this weekend than study the new report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation on Massachusetts … Continue reading →

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Municipal Health Care Review

Posted on February 11, 2012 by billmanzi

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, headed by Michael Widmer, has released an analysis of the impacts of the newly enacted municipal health care bill. I had a chance to talk about it this week on WCAP, and it is in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Reform, Municipal Finance | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Weekly Podcast- Staggering Municipal Retiree Health Care Costs

Posted on January 14, 2012 by billmanzi

I had a great conversation with Teddy Panos this week on WCAP, 980 on the am dial, talking about the new report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation detailing the staggering unfunded retiree health care obligations of ten gateway cities, including … Continue reading →

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Muni Health Care Reform in Doubt

Posted on June 19, 2011 by billmanzi

The Massachusetts Senate, via a late budget amendment, has added a provision dealing with retiree health care that would negate a large portion of prospective savings that their original bill provided. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, (thank you Michael Widmer) has … Continue reading →

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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 … Continue reading →

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