It’s clear that Dr. Kelley’s strongest issue is health care: “I ran for
Lieutenant Governor because I saw our health care system fall
apart. The middle class is losing its safety net for health care.” As
LG, Dr. Kelley sees himself as a kind of health care liaison to Beacon
Hill, saying it would be helpful for legislators to have a resource —
one who is elected — with some knowlege of the issue, both theoretical
and practical. He sees himself as the legislature’s guide and the
public’s voice regarding complicated issues of coverage and care, to
help leaders understand the practical consequences of what they’re
doing. Already, he says, “Leaders on
Beacon Hill are grateful that I have
that perspective.”
As for policy, Kelley supports government-level bulk-purchasing of
prescription drugs, and streamlining billing operations among health
insurers to reduce costs. [That sounds trivial and technical, but
simple paperwork, from medical records to billing is a hugely
inefficient: You ever read a statement from an insurer? Worse yet, ever
understood one? Well, apparently neither do they, and that costs money.]
Kelley
is in step with the apparent consensus that the high cost of living is
the main obstacle to economic growth in the area: As he says, “health
care and housing
costs are to the economy as Kryptonite to
Superman.” Regarding housing, Kelley believes in continuing the
rebuilding of the larger cities such as Worcester and Lawrence, in the
process making them more attractive for businesses to relocate. It’s an
interesting strategy: Use the “second cities” as cheaper places to
attract talent that otherwise would end up in Boston, Cambridge, or the
128 corridor.
We discussed local aid with Kelley at some length; again, he ties the
dwindling stream of local aid and unfunded mandates with the
cost-of-living issue of property taxes. Increasing property taxes
clearly puts strain on the finances of older people, who didn’t need
huge wealth to buy real estate back in the day, and still don’t have it
if they wish to keep their houses. He says he hears “all the time” from
cities and towns that lottery money is not making it back to
localities. As for raising the necessary tax revenue, he recommends
“growing our way out” of the problem, with aggressive marketing to
businesses. He mentioned a <a
href=”http://www.ncgov.com/asp/subpages/intention.asp?P=1&I=34″>North
Carolina program that actively recruits businesses thinking of
relocating as a model for Massachusetts.
Now, it’s been mentioned on this blog that Sam Kelley is not exactly
lighting up the fundraising circuit. Much has been made regarding the
relative fundraising abilities
of the candidates; I love a good horse-race as much as anyone, but I
admit I find such discussions a little … arid. A candidate should not
be defined by his/her dollars any more than anyone else is. And in any
event, we want this blog to be a
forum for ideas, not as a basis for an actual cash wager.
