As has been widely reported, the legislature finally – after months of unnecessary delay – came to agreement on a big anti-gang violence bill and sent it to the Governor for signature.
So here’s an interesting question. Mitt Romney is out of state at the moment (hard to believe, I know, but it’s true). Which means that Kerry Healey is the acting Governor, and could sign the bill into law. Seems to me that would be a pretty nice thing for her to be able to do – it’s a tough anti-crime measure that seems very much in line with what she apparently sees one of her best issues.
But Mitt Romney probably wants to sign it too, not because he gives a crap about gang violence in Massachusetts, but because it makes him look tough on crime for his national audience. So: will he let Healey sign it, thereby handing her a great issue to run with in her campaign to succeed him? Or will he make her wait ’til he comes home so he can do it himself and wave it at Republicans in South Carolina? Or – most interestingly – will Healey go ahead and sign it without his say-so before he gets home?
Kudos, by the way, to Senator and Middlesex DA candidate Jarrett Barrios for authoring this bill, and for all of his hard work on getting it passed. It’s a big accomplishment.
Ask Barrios who really did the work to get it passed. You’d be surprised if he gives an honest answer
we get it. You don’t like Barrios. So what’s your version of who got the gang bill written and passed? And, more importantly, what’s your backup?
In order to be objective, why don’t you ask Barrios who he thinks insured its passage-ask him to name 2 people who “really” made this happen-and then publish the results on this website.
how about YOU ask him, and publish the results here?
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This is becoming a recurring theme around here (and not just from J.G.) – someone posts something that’s basically unsubstantiated, and then when someone else questions it, says “why don’t you just ask him/her/them?” Seems to me it’s incumbent on those who make the claims to back them up. Let’s try that for a while and see how it goes.
The Herald, not generally a huge Barrios fan, gives credit to him for the gang bill, and suggests that the delay might have been in part due to people who don’t like him and who didn’t want to give him a win. Do you know something they don’t?
You seem close to Barrios; just ask him who really made the gang bil a reality and if he answers honestly you’ll be very surprised David.
Also, David, you’re a little testy. Relax, don’t you realize your boy wonder is all puffery and for the 1st time ever he faces someone one on one in a race. You know what that means? Bye Bye Barrios and hello Gerry Leone!
Also, how come all you liberals aren’t upset that this gang bill will disproportionately put minorities behind bars and is further chipping away our civil liberties-oh, i forgot, your phony positions shift with the wind and who cares about consistency, I’m sorry to pose a rhetorical question. Now, go ask David, you’ll be very surprised. He Hee LOL
For myself, I approve of the gang bill because of the huge impact that gang and drug violence is having in urban communities around the state. It’s not a perfect bill (I’m not crazy about the increased penalties for perjury, for instance) but this is an issue that has to be addressed.
A lot of fluff in bill. It plays to surbabnites who have no clue about crime and are really not affected by gang violence.
Crime is being used by Kerry Healy as an issue the same way Iraq and terrorism is used by Bush. To scare, consolidate power, and trample on the Bill of Rights.
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Oh, and Jarrett Barrios is too.
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It is a fact, crime is down.
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Have you ever seen a law enforcement type not support a bill for stiffer penalties. Their job is easy.
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This is a joke, especially when all the problems are in an area running 3 blocks to the north and south of Blue Hill Avenue from Grove Hall to Mattapan Square.
But the dumbasses in Natick and Wakefield and Marlboro are scared. And that is who we play to. These politicians don’t care about crime or the people that live in those neighborhoods. And when someone shows concern about the excesses in the bill they are demonized. Right out of the Karl Rove playbook.
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The progressives are abandoning the black community with some of the details in the bill they supported.
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Oh, wait, This bill helps Jarrett. So as a good liberal I do what Jarrett wants me too.
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The federal perjury rules, which we have adopted are scary. And of course now that we have opend the gate it will be applied to other things. Then you can talk about prosecutorial abuse.
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OH, and everyone in the State House knows that the bill was done in spite of Barrios. It was for Kerry Healy in return for support on other stuff. – Health care perhaps?
Some solid stuff there Ernie; it seems you’re more politically astute than those that actually believe Barrios got this done himself on his white horse with his shining armour…LOL LOL