CONFERENCE ETHICS REFORM SUMMARY Transparency and Responsibility The Legislature’s comprehensive legislation to reform and strengthen the Commonwealth’s ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws. Ethics … [Read more...]
Archives for June 24, 2009
Tim Cahill on Slots: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
In my comment on the listserv, I said that despite the financial collapse, the supporters of predatory gambling in Massachusetts would probably argue that the bankruptcy of slots actually strengthens the need for slots in Massachusetts. I … [Read more...]
Swaptions horror show continues: UBS now has all it needs to demand termination payment
Bad news from the ratings agencies: a second downgrade to the Turnpike Authority's bond insurer has strengthened the hand of UBS, who seems now to be well within its rights to demand a "termination payment" on its swaptions agreements with … [Read more...]
Another Option for Addressing Local Aid and Financing Our Schools
Today our debate on taxes is stuck in mud because it requires agreement at the legislature to either cut services, increase taxes or authorize local government to tax. In the absence of a resolution, our local cities and towns are … [Read more...]
Another one bites the dust…
Good God what is wrong with our elected officials??? This AP story printed in the Globe is another example of "politicians gone wild"! Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday he's been having an affair with a woman he visited on a secret trip … [Read more...]
The Protests at DNC Fundraiser Over DOMA
Note: the Boston Herald covered the event here. I also posted about this at my Massachusetts political blog, Ryan's Take. Knowthyneighbor wrote about it here, and there are posts about it at Universal Hub, Queerty and Towleroad. Paul … [Read more...]
Deval, By Being There, Wins Again
The legislature was forced to come out with an ethics bill before Deval's ten days elapsed. The good news is they won't make receiving gifts a criminal offense. Someone has some balls. For once. Now the House and Senate will put some … [Read more...]
“Ka Ching!” Murray Blinks; Patrick, DeLeo Ahead on Ethics?
Matt Viser has the story on a possible ethics bill that falls short of what the Governor wanted -- God forbid the Democratic-controlled Legislature should ever lead the way on ethical matters! -- but is probably good enough: House and … [Read more...]
Has Cahill effectively announced that he’s running as an independent?
Having just thrown the state's health care law under the bus, it's hard to imagine that Tim Cahill thinks he can win the Democratic nomination for Governor. After all, the concept of universal health coverage is pretty important to … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania Common Cause Reveals Massive Gambling Gifts to Lawmakers
There are three questions for the people of Massachusetts: 1) How well is Governor Patrick's push for ethics reform likely to succeed if Beacon Hill is awash in the same kind of gambling money as Pennsylvania? 2) Wouldn't this be a good … [Read more...]