We met for about an hour this morning with the Governor to talk about the economy, politics, and the blogosphere. Here’s what went down.
Our Chief Executive was impressively informed, focused, and creatively proactive on a huge range of issues. We may not agree with Patrick on every issue, but he is a quantum improvement over the Three Nonentities who preceded him Cellucci, Swift and Willard. This is an Excellency of which we can be proud.
The economy. Patrick will make a major economic policy address tomorrow at 10.00 AM at MIT. We’ll try to post video coverage. In brief: an intelligent business-minded restructuring of state debt that will free around $3.8 billion over the next four to five years for infrastructure renewal across the state. A platform for growth, and good jobs when we need them most. The Life Sciences & Clean Energy plans, each of which will act as a substantial motor for growth in areas that play to our strengths as a state — assuming the legislature can look to the good of all, instead of individual districts. A total of 16 “Growth Districts:” specific areas tagged for extra incentives to spur development. A permitting process down from two to three years to six months, according to the Gov., not to mention cuts in state excise for small and medium firms. Hear the sighs of relief from small businesses: our main employers.
Whenever we asked, brass tacks came pouring out. International trade? Last year’s China mission has yielded a direct flight from Logan coming when Boeing rolls out its new long-range airliner next year. Foreclosure relief? A plan to securitize debt — increase the fraction of the house owned by the bank — in return for rescheduled payments. This is what we need: detailed plans that produce real improvements without increasing spending. Good government, in short.
His Excellency was generous throughout the meeting with praise for DiMasi and Murray.
Finally, we talked about you. EaBo’s new status as a member of the progressive base, according to the Globe, was noted. Ernie, you will be glad to know you were described by one person present as, “the collective Id of the State House.” Your Editors suggested that some of the more sensitive members of the community may have been dismayed by certain recent policy proposals, now history. We said we thought people want to go to work for equality, inclusiveness, and effectiveness: together we can, if you will. Less prosaically, we advised a focus on the “green economy,” which plays to our strengths and will produce long-term jobs resistant to outsourcing. We applauded Doug Rubin’s recent effort here, and urged Governor Patrick to wage a “permanent campaign:” to reach out ceaselessly to people across the state, from progressive activists to business leaders to homeowners to banks, and everyone in between. He’s very good at that, people like it, and it will help produce the results we all want.
Please tell us what you think we missed in the comments. The Powers That Be have noticed you.