Blue Mass Group

Fact Check: Gomez Claim On Markey’s Effectiveness Doesn’t Hold Up

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez made headlines Monday for attacking his opponent, Democratic U.S Rep. Edward Markey, on national security.

But he also dropped a line he’s offered up several times of late: Markey, he said, hasn’t sponsored a single bill in the last 20 years that became law.

It’s a sweeping claim, designed to undermine the central rationale for Markey’s candidacy: that with experience, the Democrat has developed into an effective legislator.

. . .

Independent observers say the argument doesn’t hold up.

“It’s, at best, a shaky attack,” says Norman J. Ornstein, a resident scholar at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute and one of the country’s most respected Congressional observers. “I’ve watched Markey since he came to the House and I’ve written many times before that he’s one of the most effective legislators” in Congress.

Mr. Ornstein clearly needs a dose of unique perspective.

There are already 9 links “out there” that Lt. Gov. Murray will announce his resignation plans at 2:00 PM today.  Here is one such link.  I cannot speak for anyone else, but as for myself I understand that public life, its scrutiny, and the reality of lower pay then in the “royal tribe” of the CEO and private sector elite can be difficult with young children.  For myself, when I support someone for public office, I do so trusting them to serve, to stay the course, and to put the public interest first during their full term.  I can understand disagreeing as to what “the public interest” may be, and do not expect to dictate to those who are elected.  I have, however, been gravely disappointed by the large number walking away from elected office.

I am interested in a pledge from any candidate, before I support them, that if elected, they will serve out their full term.

Photo taken by me when Marc and I marched with a Patrick/Murray contingent in 2010.  As many know, Marc died in September of 2012.  At least he did not have to see so many of those he supported walk away from elected office to have a greater income.

Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray is planning on resigning, according to a number of sources.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray has accepted a private-sector post with a Worcester business group and is expected to resign from the administration next month, according to a senior administration official.

The move, contingent on a board vote later this morning, would make the former Worcester mayor president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Tim has been an outstanding Lieutenant Governor and public servant. I expect that this will give him some much needed time to spend with his young family.

Let’s assume the Keystone Pipeline was already built and it was exposed to the tornado that hit Oklahoma on May 20, 2013.

What kind of environmental disaster would we be looking at? On a scale from 0 to 10 with 10 being the Deep Water Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico 3 years ago, how bad would this disaster be? It is my understanding that the school that was destroyed yesterday where several children died was allegedly one of the most structurally secure buildings in the town.
1) Would the pipeline stop pumping a) when there was a tornado warning, b) only when a tornado touched down, c) only after several hundred (or thousands of) barrels had been pumped out onto the bare ground?
2) What if the power fails and communications towers fail before the pumping actually stops. Does the pipeline have the equivalent of “Check Valves” to stop the flow once the internal pressure falls below some known level indicating a breach in the pipe?
3) Can something be built (even out of steal), that can be truely “tornado proof”?

OR

Would the Keystone Board decide it would be cheaper to clean up and repair rather than build it strong enough to withstand a catastrophic failure?

Note: Before claiming that the pipeline is not in Tornado Country, keep in mind that we have had tornadoes in New England in the not too distant past.

While Sen Finegold has not been coy about his intentions (replying in the affirmative when asked by reporters if he was considering running for this office. for example), this is the first fundraising I have seen from him around the Treasurer race. Apparently he’s decided that either Rep Tsongas is not leaving any time soon, or that Senators Eldridge & Donahue represent too big a hurdle to that job when it opens. Or maybe it’s just the opportunity. Two letters below which both were part of the same appeal.

Dear

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to let you know about a friend and business contact who is making an exciting decision to run for State Treasurer. Barry Finegold is the State Senator from Andover. He’s represented the area for almost two decades as a town Selectman, State Representative and now Senator. Barry is also one of the founding partners of the successful Andover law firm, Dalton & Finegold.

One of the things I like about Barry is that nothing has ever been handed to him. He lived in government housing as a kid, and put himself through law school at night while working full time. Then he worked non-stop to build his law practice. He’s taken on tough election battles to get where he is and doesn’t take his job in the legislature for granted. That’s why I think Barry would be a great State Treasurer in 2014.

He’s part of a new generation of leaders that’s taking the tough votes to make the Commonwealth more effective and efficient. After all, the State Treasurer is essentially the CFO of Massachusetts—the position requires someone with both business and political savvy. Barry Finegold is that person. He’s said there is a distinct difference between being a legislator and a business owner—legislators make decisions and manage taxpayers money, while business people manage their own money.  When something goes wrong, it hurts their own pockets. Barry would treat every tax dollar as if it were his own. I think that understanding makes him uniquely qualified to be the next State Treasurer.

In the legislature, Barry worked in a bipartisan manner, and voted for what was best for his district, not what was politically popular. He hasn’t been afraid to take on the establishment and I’m sure he will continue to work in that fashion as Treasurer.

Barry is a hard working guy with big ideas that will make Massachusetts a better place to do business and raise a family. But we need your help to get him into a position where that is possible. The average State Treasurer’s race costs about $2 million from start to finish and the max an individual can donate to a state candidate is $500 per calendar year. Couples may donate $1000 per year. I’ve pledged to raise $X for Barry’s campaign before June 30 and I hope you would consider donating $500 (or another amount) to help me fill that pledge.

For your information, Barry’s campaign accepts secure online contributions at barryfinegold.com. In addition, personal or PAC checks may be mailed to The Committee to Elect Barry Finegold, 34 Essex Street, Andover, MA 01810. Couples may send one check if both names are listed on the checking account. If you would like to reach out to the campaign directly, please contact Autumn Gould at autumn@barryfinegold.com or at 339-832-2174.

I’ve attached more information about Barry for your perusal. I know Barry will make an outstanding State Treasurer in 2014 but to stay competitive in a wide open field, he needs to hit his fundraising goals prior to the June 30 deadline.

Thank you very much for considering this opportunity to help a quality candidate. Please let me know if you can contribute.

 

 

 

Barry Finegold is the State Senator from Andover who has years of public and private sector experience. He’s a father, husband, coach, business owner and public servant, but what makes him different from the rest?What does Finegold stand for?

Family man. Barry and his wife Amy have three children, Ava, Ella and Max. Barry is the coach of his daughter’s soccer team and cheers on his kids at each singing recital. Barry understands what it takes to be a parent, to keep kids safe, and to ensure they are getting a quality education.

Invested in public service for 20 years. Barry’s been a standout member of the House of Representatives and the State Senate. As the House chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utility and Energy, Finegold authored landmark legislation to protect homeowners by increasing the accountability of public utilities in response to a severe ice storms that knocked out power for two weeks. He took on the House speaker on expanded gaming and continues to be an independent voice in the State Senate, where he’s fighting for increased access to charter schools for low-performing school districts.

Norm-breaker. Barry has never been one to tow the line. During senate debate on pension reform, Barry proposed to raise the retirement age of select state employees each year to help deal with the state’s unfunded pension liability, even though that move was not politically popular. He challenges the status quo when the change will bring about greater efficiency for taxpayers.

Education is his top priority. Finegold knows that the learning environment of our students is as important as the lessons they are being taught. Barry believes the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which falls under the office of the Treasurer, can be made more efficient by offering towns pre-designed options for their buildings, rather than wasting money on “reinventing the wheel” each time a school is built. This will save tax dollars and allow for more schools to benefit from the MSBA programs and financing.

Government reform. Barry has been a consistent voice against the establishment and for making the Commonwealth more efficient and accessible. Barry was a key player in recent state ethics reform that provides increased responsibility and transparency across state government. He also helped fight for a comprehensive Rules package to improve government, limit the power of entrenched interests and make government more responsive to taxpayers.

Opportunity for jobs. Barry’s always been a voice for small businesses in the legislature; in the Senate, he lead a bipartisan effort to freeze the unemployment insurance rate, saving small businesses over $200 per employee. As Treasurer, Barry wants to leverage a portion of the state pension fund to invest in venture capital companies in Massachusetts to grow jobs locally and keep talented young people graduating from our outstanding universities in the Commonwealth. The difference between a legislator and business owner is that legislators make decisions with tax payer money; business people make decisions about their own money—when a deal goes bad, it affects their own pocket. As a businessman, Finegold understands both worlds and that makes him uniquely qualified to be the next State Treasurer.

Listen… because politicians have the reputation for talking too much and not listening to the people they represent. And in that same vein, I am going to end this soon.

Dream. Barry believes the people of the Commonwealth can achieve something bigger than the American Dream—the Massachusetts Dream. Here is Massachusetts, we set the bar a little higher for our way of life. Affordable health care, banning smoking in restaurants, legalizing same-sex marriage and cultivating superb higher education options—all these ideals started in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts dream is growing jobs and the economy. Its children growing up safely and well educated. Its seniors growing old with respect and security. And its growing greater opportunity for every generation. Barry’s achieved the Massachusetts Dream but he wants to make sure his children and your children have the chance to do the same.

PLEASE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID!

Imagine being a single parent of young children, facing serious illness, loss of employment due to that illness, the consequent loss of health insurance, and an eviction, all within a few months. Daniele Bien-Aime faced all of these issues in 2011. Missing work for breast cancer treatment cost her job. That meant not only losing her income, but also the health insurance that was essential to continue chemotherapy. With no income, she couldn’t pay her rent and her landlord attempted to evict her.

Luckily, Daniele obtained legal help from a legal aid organization called South Coastal Counties Legal Services (SCCLS). Her legal aid lawyer convinced her employer to rehire her and offer time off to finish chemotherapy. The attorney also successfully negotiated a settlement with Daniele’s landlord, who dropped the eviction lawsuit. Daniele and her daughters remain in their home; she has finished her chemotherapy; and is now cancer-free and back at work.

The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) provides funding to SCCLS and other legal aid offices like it across the state.  Over the past several years, funding for civil legal aid has been severely reduced, even as requests for legal assistance have escalated to unprecedented levels due to the continuing economic crisis.  As a result, legal aid offices are forced to turn away at least half of the eligible people seeking their assistance .

The Senate Ways & Means FY14 budget proposal that was released last week provides only $12 million in funding for MLAC (line item #0321-1600).  This level of funding is simply not enough and will force these programs to turn away even more eligible people in desperate need of legal assistance while facing complex legal problems such as homelessness, domestic violence, elder abuse, child custody, consumer fraud and denial of government benefits.

Senators Katherine Clark and Cynthia Creem have filed an amendment to the senate budget (#93) which would provide $15.5 million in funding for MLAC.  The Senate begins debating its budget on Wednesday!  Please call or email your state senator TODAY and urge him/her to fully support Amendment #93, and to convey that support to Senate President Therese Murray and Senate Ways & Means Chairman Stephen Brewer.  Or just contact Senate President Murray and Chairman Brewer directly at Therese.Murray@masenate.gov and Stephen.Brewer@masenate.org.

Thank you for supporting civil legal aid!

Deb Silva, Director

Equal Justice Coalition

(Cross-posted from the COFAR Blog)

The state improperly reimbursed the May Institute, a corporate provider to the Department of Developmental Services, for hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to company executives in excess of a regulatory cap on their salaries, according to the state auditor. 

The auditor’s findings confirm concerns we raised in April and May 2011 that the state may have paid Walter Christian, the CEO, and other executives of the May Institute more than the state’s approximately $143,000 regulatory limit on individual executive salaries. 

The auditor also found that Christian was improperly paid roughly $140,000 for a home health aide for his wife, day care fees for a grandson, the use of a minivan in Georgia, and a separate vehicle that he used when visiting Massachusetts.  Christian, who retired in January, had been living in Georgia for a decade while running the Massachusetts-based company, according to the audit report. 

Our blog posts in 2011 specifically noted that the May Institute appeared to be under-reporting Christian’s and other executive salaries as well as the number of people receiving those salaries, on Uniform Financial Reports (UFRs) submitted to the state Operational Services Division.  

The two posts also noted that the same under-reporting of salaries appeared to be the case with Vinfen and Seven Hills, two other DDS providers.  The state auditor focused solely on the May Institute, however. 

The state auditor’s report noted that a state regulation capped state reimbursements to providers for salaries and other compensation paid to their executives at $143,986 in FY 2010 and $149,025 in FY 2011.  Providers can pay their executives more than those amounts in salaries and other compensation, but the state is permitted to reimburse the providers only up to the threshold amount in a given year.  The state attempts to keep track of those payments via the UFR’s, which the providers are required to submit to the Operational Services Division on a yearly basis. 

We noted in our April 2011 post that the May Institute’s UFR listed only Christian and one other executive as making over the state salary threshold in 2009.  Yet, a federal tax form, which was filed by the May Institute with the IRS for the same fiscal year, listed 13 individuals in the company as making over $150,000 each. 

An OSD official maintained at the time that the state agency allows the state to pay costs in excess of the salary limit for clinicians working for providers.  However, COFAR’s May 2011 post noted that all 13 May Institute employees who made over $150,000 were not listed on the IRS form as clinicians, but as executive-level employees, starting at senior vice presidents on up to the president and CEO.  

In its report, the state auditor also found that several May Institute employees who were paid over the threshold amounts were managers and not clinicians. 

We think this report by the state auditor lends strong support to our call for a comprehensive, independent study of outsourcing of care by DDS.  The auditor’s findings also support the need for more funding for state-operated group homes for the developmentally disabled as an alternative to provider-operated residences.

But as I noted in a previous post, House leaders last month rejected budget amendments that would have both authorized a study of the DDS system and restored cuts made by the House Ways & Means Committee in the governor’s budget for state-operated residences.  There is one more chance for these amendments coming up in the Senate, of course. 

We applaud the state auditor for examining the May Institute’s payments to its executives.  We hope, though, that Auditor Suzanne Bump expands her review to include additional providers in the wake of our concern that this is a potentially wider problem than just one company.

On his website, Gomez falsely claims to be President of the Navy SEAL Foundation of New England. And it’s still up, three months after he got caught (screen-capped to avoid mischief). Add that to recent news of his financial dealings and his general willingness to put himself about principle, and it makes me wonder:

What else is he lying about in his biography? Was he ever really a Navy SEAL/pilot? Let’s see the proof before we believe it.

Remember how the country reached out to our city last month. There it is — unimaginably — worse: 51 dead as of this writing, many kids.

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for the Doors, died today at 74. As as aspiring rock-and-roll musician of 17 in the late sixties, Ray Manzarek was an icon and an idol. Though I realized as I matured that he was at best mediocre, that made no difference in 1967 when I wore out my copies of the first two Doors albums learning every note of every solo.

RIP, Ray Manzarak. An age has passed.

More amateur hour from Gabriel Gomez. First he takes a swipe at Rep. Ed Markey’s time in Congress by saying “Greeting Little League kids who are same age I was when Ed Markey was first elected to Congress 37 years ago!”

Then he proceeds to glow over Sen. John McCain’s presence at his big-ticket fundraiser this morning.  Sen. McCain was first elected to congress in 1982.  That’s 31 years ago, only a few years after Markey was first elected.

Stones, glass houses, etc.

I know you all get alerts from various advocacy groups to call your Senator today to urge her/him to support a budget amendment. The one below came into my email last night from Lew Finfer around youth jobs, youth leadership and anti violence programs are near and dear to my heart. And they are dear to my head because these programs really do make a difference in thousands of kids lives.

The Senate Budget Debate really starts tomorrow in separate Democratic and Republican caucuses, (or caucii?). Formal “debate” begins on Wed at 10:00 am. You can find the whole Senate Ways and Means recommendations for FY 14 here and with this site can actually monitor the debate. You can watch the live sessions here 

From Lew: 

Do you get tired of emails you get from our organization and myself about the year in year out call to do something about state budget cuts?

 

……YouthWorks, School to Career, Shannon, DPH Youth Violence Prevention Program and YARG, Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, let alone MAP, Youth Build…..

 

It can get tiring to have to fight these battles every year.

When a program, to use just one example,  like the state youth jobs program that was funded at $9 million only gets $2 million in this year’s House Ways and Means budget despite the need and despite all the meetings so many have attended with legislators, it can get discouraging.

We did get the full House to increase it up to $5 million….Senate Ways and Means recommended to $8 million….but now in this week’s Senate budget debate, we need $1 million more to just get back to level funding and then make sure this is the final level passed in the June House-Senate Conference Committee.

 

I wonder what goes on in the minds of the powerful legislators who decide these things….Do they think these programs are unimportant?  Are the proposed cuts used as bargaining chips to get the other branch to have to back what’s more important to them on some other budget program?  Are they mad at our or your organization or some person because they push for this?

 

I’m a little tired too, but I do believe that if we don’t do anything, that cuts would continue, so we do have to fight each year. Despite the terrible budget cuts, we have built back some restorations in part of the cuts to Shannon and DPH YVP and have added $1 M to what was in the past spent on YouthWorks. And on other terrain, we have a chance to increase the state minimum wage lawto help 580,000 low wage earners…

 

What you can do this week on the Senate Budget decision….

**You have between now and Wednesday mid-day, to ask your State Senator to co-sponsor these budget amendments and fight for them,

[see amendments below, the amendment number, and co-sponsors as of Friday afternoon....]

–Youth Jobs: YouthWorks   Amendment #703 of Senator Chang-Diaz and Amendment # 41 of Senator Wolf

–Youth Jobs: School to Career Connecting Activities   Amendment # 347 of Senator Brownsberger

—Shannon Anti-Gang Violence Grant Program    Amendment #436 of Senator Donoghue

–Safe and Successful Youth Initiative SSYI  Amendment # 695  of Senator Chang-Diaz

–DPH Youth Violence Prevention Program   Amendment # 700  of Senator Chang-Diaz

See also on amendments on Pathways from Poverty, Youth Build….further below

 

 Amendment 703 [YouthWorks] Youth At-Risk Job Programs    Senator Chang-Diaz

Ms. Chang-Diaz and Messrs. Donnelly, DiDomenico, Moore, Rush, McGee, Wolf and Knapik moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 7002-0012, by striking out the figure “8,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the figure:- “11,000,000”

 Amendment 41  Youthworks    Senator Wolf

Mr. Wolf and Ms. Chang-Diaz and Messrs. DiDomenico and Rodrigues moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 7002-0012, by striking out the figure “8,000,000″ and inserting in place thereof the figure: “11,000,000.”

Amendment 347  School-to-Career    Senator Brownsberger

Messrs. Brownsberger, Donnelly, DiDomenico, Rodrigues and Moore and Ms. Chang-Diaz moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 7027-0019, by striking out the figure “$2,870,000″ and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “4,100,000″

EPS 436

Amendment 436  Shannon Grants     Senator Donghue

Ms. Donoghue and Mr. Finegold and Ms. Clark and Mr. Rodrigues moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 8100-0111, by striking out the figure “$6,250,000″ and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “7,750,000″.

Amendment 695 Safe and Successful Youth Initiative    Senator Chang-Diaz

Ms. Chang-Diaz and Messrs. Donnelly, Rodrigues, Finegold, Moore and DiDomenico and Ms. Candaras and Messrs. Knapik, Welch and Kennedy moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 4000-0005, by striking the figure “4,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “10,000,000”

EHS 700

Amendment 700  Violence Prevention Grants   Senator Chang-Diaz

Ms. Chang-Diaz and Ms. Clark and Mr. Knapik moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 4590-1506, by striking out the figure “$1,501,220” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “2,000,000”

Amendment 293  Pathways to Family Economic Self-Sufficiency  Senator Donoghue

Ms. Donoghue and Messrs. Donnelly and Knapik and Ms. Clark and Mr. Eldridge and Ms. Jehlen and Mr. Finegold and Ms. Chang-Diaz moved that the bill be amended by inserting after section __, the following new section:-

“Section __. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller shall transfer $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the Commonwealth Corporation, under contract with the Department of Transitional Assistance, for the administration of a three-year pilot program called Pathways to Family Economic Self-Sufficiency. 

(b) Said pilot shall equip low-income families for long-term economic stability by providing enhanced preparation for, increased access to, and support for success in education and training programs leading to employment in high-demand occupations. 

(c) Eligible individuals include adults and teens with responsibility for the care of one or more dependent children who: (i) are receiving or have within the past two years received Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children, or, (ii) who are receiving or have within the past two years received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or, (iii) are receiving or have within the past two years received Mass Health benefits on behalf of her or himself or one or more dependent children, and, (iv) who are determined suitable for participation in the Pilot based on an assessment of education, work experience, interest in participation and other factors; 

(d) At least 40 percent of the Pathways participants shall be recipients of Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children at the time their participation begins. 

(e) The pilot shall be administered by the Commonwealth Corporation under contract with the Department of Transitional Assistance; the Commonwealth Corporation will administer a request for proposal to select the pilot sites. Qualified respondents must demonstrate their capacity for and experience in supporting the efforts of low-income families to prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment. Commonwealth Corporation shall engage an independent evaluator for the purposes of documenting implementation to support replication and evaluating outcomes of the Pilot.

 

Amendment 374  YouthBuild   Senator Donoghue

Ms. Donoghue and Messrs. Rodrigues, Moore, Donnelly, Welch, Brownsberger and Kennedy and Ms. Candaras and Messrs. Montigny, DiDomenico and Knapik moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 7061-9626, by striking out the figure “$1,500,000″ and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “2,770,000″.

Amendment 710 on 4590-1507  DPH Youth at Risk     Senator Jehlen

Teen Empowerment [earmark]

Ms. Jehlen moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 4590-1507, by striking out the words “that each organization previously included in the youth-at-risk grants shall receive in fiscal year 2014 a grant in an amount not less than that received in fiscal year 2013” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-

“that the department of public health shall award not less than $100,000 to the Center for Teen Empowerment, Inc.”;

and in said item by striking out the figure “$2,950,000” and inserting in place thereof the figure:-

“$3,050,000”.

Gabriel Gomez has been doing a lot of whining and complaining about his most current positions being accurately described in ads. But what has been missed is that Gomez just a few short months ago stated that he would support the weapons ban.

This is Gomez defending his most recent position opposing the ban on assault weapons and limiting high-capacity ammunition magazines:

Gomez said he does not personally own guns but that he has a “unique perspective” on weapons, having fired many of them during his time as a Navy SEAL.

Gomez’s thoughts on the weapons ban in his letter to Deval Patrick just a few months ago requesting the interim appointment to the Senate:

Two main issues that will dominate the political discussion during this appointment will be Immigration Reform and Gun Control. Given my Latino and Navy SEAL background, I have credibility to contribute thoughtfully on these issues. I support the positions that President Obama has taken on these issues and you can be assured I will keep my word and work on these issues as I have promised.

Got it? Gomez has a “unique perspective” on weapons and opposes banning assault weapons, but he also has the credibility to contribute thoughtfully on the issue and supports Obama’s position to ban assault weapons.

Has Gomez addressed any question without talking out the side of his mouth?

I have some advice to Gomez, this is how you should address any question asked of you; Don’t know, don’t care. I just want to be appointed or elected to the Senate.

Mitch McConnell has made it clear that he expects to fight 2014 on “Obamacare” yet again. And the GOP House has now taken its 37th repeal vote.

What I don’t understand, and what I didn’t understand in 2010, is why the Dems don’t make the GOP own every last rotten drop of their hostility to the uninsured, the sick, the less fortunate. The GOP voted against those who came up against “rescission”; those who went over their “lifetime limits” of coverage; those who had “pre-existing conditions”; those who couldn’t afford to see a doctor, and those who couldn’t buy insurance under any circumstances.

First of all … I know Obama has come to like the term “Obamacare”. Well, I don’t. People who think they don’t like Obama will not like the PPACA, even if they like what’s in it. It’s called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for a reason: That’s us it’s talking about; that’s us it affects — not him.

At last year’s convention, the Dems did a quite decent job of playing to the obvious strengths of the Affordable Care Act: They showed off families who would have otherwise been in dire straits, who had already benefitted from its provisions. I mean, the Republicans have voted against these people 37 times.

Shall there be no political price for that? Do you think you could make a pretty damn tough, accurate, and richly deserved political attack ad with these families? Isn’t it political malpractice – practically immoral — not to do so?

It was thought by many Democrats that once the benefits of the Affordable Care Act – regulatory and monetary – started to flow and become palpable to many Americans, that it would become self-evident to many Americans who was looking out for them. That may well be the case in the places where the Affordable Care Act is not being actively sabotaged: Oregon and Washington, for instance, have implemented their health care marketplaces and are seeing real competition with big benefits to consumers.

And as for the purportedly “up for grabs” voting demographic of the moment, it turns out that most Latino voters are quite protective of the PPACA.

“This is going to hurt Republicans,” said Matt Barreto, cofounder of Latino Decisions, a nonpartisan national polling firm. “When Republicans keep saying they will repeal the health law, Latinos hear the party is going to take away their healthcare.”

HELLO. There is nothing essential about Latino descent that makes one value health care. If the pro-PPACA message is working with this demographic, then why not beyond?

But – there will be the states that have refused to expand Medicaid. There are the states trying to kneecap the exchanges — self-sabotage in the end, but still. And indeed, there will be real challenges of implementation, even with good faith involvement from policy makers. All these will be used by the saboteurs themselves — and the ignorant enablers in the press — that it’s failing somehow.

But the reasons for the PPACA’s existence aren’t going away. And if not, then the GOP has a lot to answer for.

Since the GOP has positioned itself against Patient Protection and Affordable Care, why should we not agree in the strongest possible terms? I anticipated in 2010 that we’d make the opponents pay a price. How can we not do so in 2014?

The status quo is not working. “Something” has to be done. Generous direct “donations” from the Waltons and Koch Brothers, as well as strong support from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) have helped “Citizens First” realize our goals. Truly, public safety is a civil right; we shall overcome.

CF proposes a national movement to ensure that no citizen be protected by a single union stifled Police Officer or Firefighter again. For too long the patrolman and firefighters unions have stifled innovation in our neediest municipalities. We need reform. We need to put citizens first, and not put the needs of adults before public safety.

Studies show that the US is not safe, and we rank near the bottom of international rankings as defined by the Public Safety Metric (PSM). Bold action needs to be taken.

CF, in conjunction with our affiliates at AEI, propose a trailblazing new vision of Public Safety Reform. Our lobbying networks have dubbed our reform efforts No Citizen Left Behind. Below is a synopsis of how our federal legislation will work to ensure national safety proficiency for all by 2025.

Firstly, we will track all police stations and fire stations in every municipality in the United States. We will collect public safety data and then grade all states, cities, towns, and municipal districts accordingly using our public safety metric (PSM) devised by public safety scientific experts. Underperforming police and fire stations will now be held accountable. As part of a “turnaround” plan these stations will receive a “fresh start”. All police officers and fire fighters will reapply for their positions. Department Chiefs at these stations will hire no more than 50% of the former staff. Certainly, accountability will shake up the status quo.

Through this “incubator of innovation”, new charter stations will rise from the ashes. These charter stations will create a board of directors, most notably bankers and politicians who have no experience in police work or fire. These stakeholders will create charters that will operate outside the jurisdiction of traditional stations. Police facilitators and Fire Stoppers will be non-union employees at will. Licenses, experience, pensions, and pertinent training will no longer be a barrier for stakeholders to create a culture of innovative transformation. The charter board of directors will ensure that the safety improvement plan is carried out. In this way real accountability will be realized on a national level.

In order that this bold, innovative, and trailblazing venture be realized a few earmarks must be incorporated into NCLB. Most notably a corporate enterprise tax credit must be adopted in order to stimulate reform “buy in”. Listen up hedge funders! After NCLB passes an enterprising tax loophole, which will benefit ALL citizens, will be enacted. Through venture philanthropy bankers can now raise money for their innovative charter stations. These monies can now be used as tax deductible donations for your “for profit” companies. Other benefits include real estate, building contracts, and inside knowledge of public safety buying trends. We encourage all police and fire related corporate enterprises to hop on board this gravy train. If you don’t, one of our subsidiaries certainly will and you may be on the short end of our free market! Remember, SAFETY FIRST!

PS: If this post doesn’t make any sense to you, research how education reform has “worked” since 2000. Hopefully, readers can make a connection.

Daniel Kurtzman:

“Since President Obama took office, the Democratic Party has lost nine governorships, 56 members of Congress, and two Senate seats. In his defense, Obama said, ‘Well, I did promise change.’” –Conan O’Brien

“Well, congratulations, President Barack Obama, Conspiracy theorists who generally can survive in anaerobic environments have just had an algae bloom dropped on their fucking heads, thus removing the last arrow in your pro-governance quiver: skepticism about your opponents.” –Jon Stewart on the IRS scandal

“President Obama said in his last press conference that he wants to close Gitmo. Gitmo? How about closing Dodger Stadium? How many people are being tortured there night after night?” –Jay Leno

“NASA is taking applications for people who want to live on Mars. Now here are the requirements: You have to be between the ages of 18 and 40 and insane.” –David letterman

“Hooter’s is letting mothers eat for free on Mother’s Day. What better way to tell your mother that she raised a cheapskate and a perv?” –Conan O’Brien

Borowitz:

G.O.P. SPLIT OVER WHETHER TO WASTE TIME INVESTIGATING BENGHAZI OR REPEALING OBAMACARE

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—A deep divide has emerged within the Republican Party over whether to waste Congress’s time investigating Benghazi talking points or repealing Obamacare, G.O.P. lawmakers confirmed today.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Virginia), sounded the first discordant note at a press briefing this morning, telling reporters, “The time for wasting day after day investigating Benghazi is over. The American people are counting us to waste our time repealing Obamacare yet again.”

Onion:

Sasha Obama Suspicious After Doing A Little Digging Around On Benghazi

WASHINGTON—Saying that none of the facts quite add up, first daughter Sasha Obama, 11, reported being “highly suspicious” today after poking around the details of the 2012 Benghazi attack. “I’m sorry, but it just doesn’t make sense—first they blame the attack on a spontaneous demonstration, but now we find out the CIA talking points were secretly revised?” said the sixth-grader, sitting in the darkened White House library intensely scrolling through pages of articles about the controversy and classified Pentagon briefings. “Obviously, someone’s hiding something: the poor security; the al-Qaeda link; the leaked emails. All I’m asking for here is a simple explanation from the State Department and the White House, and I’m not getting one. I mean, who are they protecting here? And why?” Sasha went on to tell reporters she felt even more suspicious after former defense secretary Leon Panetta failed to respond to any of her 24 voicemails.

What exactly is wrong with this ad?

It accurately states that Ed Markey supports an assault weapons ban and limiting the size of magazines, the “kind used in the Newtown shooting”; and that Gomez does not.

Gomez is now complaining, “Markey blames me for the horrific Newtown shooting”. Garbage. It does no such thing. The ad is as simple and decent as a contrast ad can be: “I believe this. My opponent believes that. You have a choice.”

It does amply demonstrate that Gomez holds an unpopular position among MA voters — and one whose consequences are unfortunately fresh in our memories.

You know, Mr. Gomez, no one is making you take that position. If you think that an accurate description of your position makes you look bad … well, only you can fix that.

An article worth reading from MGH physician Alasdair Conn published on 30 April in the Annals of Internal Medicine from the American College of Physicians. He begins:

We thought it would be a normal Marathon Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The Boston Marathon is always held on the third Monday in April and is a public holiday—Patriots Day. All state offices are closed, together with many businesses; but for hospitals, it is a regular working day. The MGH normally expects to receive about 15 to 20 marathon runners with hyponatremia and dehydration, many more are treated at the medical tents along the route of the marathon. For many this is a day that Bostonians look forward to each year as the unofficial start of spring.

It was not to be. At 2:50PM, an explosion rocked the area near the finish line, closely followed 11 seconds later by a second blast. Two minutes later, Boston EMS initiated a hospital ringdown; they contacted all of the Boston hospitals requesting disaster capability. Our answer is always the same; we have immediate capacity for 10 critical patients, 20 seriously injured, and we can accept unlimited “walking wounded.” I was paged as soon as the radio call came in; at this time we had no idea of the potential number of injured patients or of their severity. I looked at the current ED census—we were full and had one open stretcher bay in the entire department.

A key takeaway:

We worked with Boston EMS to hone our coordination and skills and performed numerous drills, often on a citywide basis. The simulated building collapse; the dirty bomb scenario at Logan airport and the repetitive activation of the MGH disaster response system—yes—on nights and weekends, all contributed to our learning and familiarity. This training and the iterative improvement in response by all involved made the difference on Marathon Monday. Our elected representatives who help fund these efforts have to be informed that this is money well-spent; this training made the difference and translated directly into lives saved.

Click here for the entire article.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PPP released their latest poll.

Markey 48
Gomez 41

Public Policy Polling’s newest survey of the US Senate election in Massachusetts finds Ed Markey’s lead over Gabriel Gomez growing to 7 points at 48/41, up from a 4 point margin right after the primary election 2 weeks ago

Gomez favorables are going south as well, down 6 points.