Lynne and Andy are right. The MSM’s perpetual blathering about how allegedly non-specific Deval Patrick has been on how he will pay for his plans is becoming very tiresome — because Kerry Healey’s position is far, far worse.
Healey, of course, wants to cut the income tax to 5% immediately, which will cost something like $700 million a year. She also wants property tax relief, and she’s signed the famous “no new taxes” pledge. [fast-talking announcer guy: Offer not valid on fees, use taxes, and property taxes set by local municipalities. Other restrictions may apply. Individual results may vary.]
Yet, as I noted months ago, she has made promises as extravagant as any other candidate in this race. This is all from her official campaign kickoff speech.
Government can guarantee that every citizen has certain opportunities in life, and it should always be generous in doing so….
I believe that Massachusetts should offer top-quality education from Kindergarten through college. In order to compete in this new global economy, our schools need not to be just the best in the nation, but as good as any in the world. To fulfill our promise to today’s children, we need to focus on education in new ways, creating enhanced opportunities for early childhood education, intensive early interventions for children with learning difficulties, and more time in the classroom for everyone. I also believe we need to make public higher education more affordable for everyone….
I believe it is our duty to care for those who cannot help themselves, both young and old…. They are not a problem for us; they are a priority. We pride ourselves on compassion in government here in Massachusetts, on helping those who cannot help themselves….
[I support] public college scholarships for Massachusetts students who score highest on the MCAS, and for National Guardsmen who fight to preserve our freedom….
I will find every opportunity to reduce fees and hold down property taxes, by giving a larger share of our state revenue taxes to our cities and towns….
What do our communities need? They need healthcare reform to help contain mounting insurance costs. They need housing incentives, so young people can afford to stay in the communities where they grew up, and school aid, to help with the rising cost of educating our children. And finally, our communities need support for their local police, so that citizens are safe and the only people who are in fear are the criminals. That’s why I’ve been fighting so hard for higher local aid, and more funding for housing and schools….
Our communities across Massachusetts are also entitled to see measurable improvement in our schools…. In our upper grades, we need to increase our emphasis on math and science and engineering. And for our youngest children, we need to start school earlier with high-quality early childhood education programs….
I propose … a longer school day and … after-school programs that keep kids occupied, supervised, and safe….
We should raise the age of mandatory school attendance from sixteen to eighteen years old, and expand our alternative education options so that all kids can have a real shot at success in their lives….
We must reduce the cost of public higher education for middle-class families….
Whew — got that? A laundry list of new programs and new spending to rival any candidate in this race. And not a word anywhere on how she can afford to cut taxes, dramatically increase local aid, and pay for all her new programs.
So before Scot ‘n’ the gang get too carried away with their idea that Kerry Healey’s financial program makes sense, maybe they should get out their own Spend-O-Meter and check her numbers. ‘Cause they don’t add up.
No one expects Kerry Healey to actually do any of that stuff. Therefore, she doesn’t have to explain how to pay for it. Everyone knows these are just empty promises from her.
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Deval’s the only candidate who actually has a shot at getting something accomplished in this state.
I think we need to bring a little more heat to the Mass press corps. I put up a post today asking why no one ever challenges Healey in one of those post debate media love fests about her constant assertion that Deval Patrick WILL raise taxes. I am getting sick of Healey making assertions and no one calling her on it. The frame the media has created for this election is that Deval is nothing but beautiful speeches that are light on details and that Healey is the overly aggressive wonkish one. That is BULLCRAP and it is getting really frustrating.
I agree with your assessment of Healey’s dodging. BTW, where can I find video (streaming or replay) of last night’s debate? I was phone banking and unable to see it.
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Thanks, Buff.
On Boston.com politics page.