I think it may be time for Patrick to look beyond the legislature – building an agenda and crafting initiatives that raise important issues even if the legislature will sit on them. There are lots of things he can do without them, even just using the bully pulpit to create debate.
And I also think Patrick has done little with his priority of getting folks more involved. The website and podcasts just don’t cut it. He needs more and so far I see little in the way of ideas. Anyhow, no one said he’d change the world overnight but I do wonder if he understands how little time he has left before he’s back in the campaign mire himself.
Please share widely!
and a good post. Welcome to BMG.
You say its an old line, but I’ve never heard it…but I’ve certainly experienced both aspects of this line…”a week is a long time but two years is no time at all”.
At least I’m not throwing things at my Tv. With such an easy comparison as we get to make, who can complain. Even nothing at all in the W column is better than what we have gotten used to… its an improvement.
some smaller goals he and the Senate and House leadership(or at least half of that equation) can agree to. I disagree with you about going outside of the legislature. The process doesn’t work that way. He proposes, they dispose. They need something they can put their name on. If he can get some leadership support and activate his citizen supporters he can get some stuff done. If he just antagonizes the legislature, he’s not going to get anywhere. I’d like to see him pass some things to make life better for working people in MA. I was disappointed he didn’t use much capital on closes those corporate taxloop holes.
One thing that I think has hurt Deval is just how many issues he has going on. A byproduct of the “throw everything at the Legislature and see what happens” approach has been that no fight really has a high profile. When Deval loses at tax loopholes, the game hasn’t started on education, won on government reorganization, is in limbo on casinos, has an unknown score on the budget, and was part of a team effort to win at marriage equality…it’s tough for a lot of people to tell who’s winning and who’s losing.
<
p>
In other words, the Legislature can pick its fights, knowing that all the noise and chaos around this full agenda obscures the individual fights. He haven’t had a high-profile Deval-vs-Sal moment yet…just a bunch of little ones. If Deval wants to apply popular pressure (which I’ve long maintained isn’t nearly as fearsome as some of his followers would like to think), you can’t do it across such a large range of issues.
<
p>
He needs a message calendar. This month is loopholes, next month is the budget, etc. Instead what we get is a general “fog of war”.
shouldn’t he and his advisors already know this??? I guess that’s whats troubling me. I expect a CEO to have executive skills. The flailing around of several initiatives coupled with the lack of consensus building is disturbing. I haven’t thrown the towel, but there are days, when “to the moon, Alice” has crossed my mind.
Neither Creedon nor his fellow committee memmbers were impressed. As a matter of fact they appeared downright hostile to the governors remarks.
<
p> DP will be a one term governor, that is if he doesn’t go to Washington in January of 09.
<
p>
“working years“??
<
p>
I think you’ve been inculcated to this view by years of Republican neglect. Can’t blame you, I suppose, since years upon years of poor performance have been masked, time and again, by intense bursts of clever, near brilliant, electioneering. No other explanation makes sense in the face of so many Republican inbreds with barely the cognitive ability to pick their nose successfully landing in office.
<
p>
But that’s not how Deval rolls, my friend. See, he doesn’t have to lie, like Romney and Bush, nor bluster and swagger like Weld and Guliani. This is what you want him to do (it’s implicit in your paragraph) and, as I say, I can’t blame you for it. It’s ingrained.
<
p>
But turn it around and consider your discomfort with the situation not as Deval failing but as most of us dissonant in the face of changing political reality. Maybe Deval included. Nobody said it would be comfortable, but they did say we’d have to commit. No going back now.
He proposes projects that the commonwealth can neither afford nor tolerate politically. When nothing comes to fruition, he has only to point to the legislature to avoid accountability.
<
p>
It’s an old Clinton trick.
I’s almost a year now and what has this guy accomplished? …Nada. If anything , things are getting worse. This guy is a “one term wonder” all the way. If there’s anyone left that hasn’t move out of this one party Satae in 2010, this guy is toast.
having such a monotonous opinion.
given that progressive efforts on health care and heating might prove directly beneficial.
Massachusetts is about to be sucked into the drain pipe.
What is the ultimate panacea for all of our travails?
CASINO GAMBLING! Reminds of the barker at the beginning of the movie: The Time Travellers. What a crock of steaming excrement. Promise them anything—-deliver nothing.
I like satae. But I don’t know anything about the one party kind.
…then you have to come up with something else for the next party, or the guests will talk…
Instead of launching into an ad hominem attack, try lightening up.
That’s the name of Deval’s vessel: the Ship of Satae.
<
p>
With a variance in protocol. When this ship goes down for the death plunge—Deval will not be in the bridge. He kicked some woman and her kid out of a lifeboat to save himself.
At the death penalty hearing yesterday before the Judiciary Committee, Sec. of Public Safety Kevin Burke read a statement from Gov. Patrick. State House News Service has the story and the full statement, but I can’t find it anywhere else- and because State House News is by subscription- I’m not going to post sections of it. And the statement doesn’t seem to be up on the Gov’s website. So these are my recollections from my notes and the statement.
<
p>
The statement was sort of strange- there was a very brief mention of the Gov’s opposition to reinstating the death penalty and a delivery of his testimony from 2005. But the main thrust was an admonition against the “annual ritual” of hearing a death penalty bill while “strategies that work (to curtail violence) go ignored.” It was a statement about his frustration in the legislative process. Needless to say, the committee chairs appeared taken aback, correcting the Gov. that this issue is debated every other year when there is a bill filed, because they have to. One chair reminded the Gov that we no longer have a sovereign king and suggested that he read the MA constitution. Another listed all the things that had been done by the Legislature to address violence. It seemed odd to have the Gov. criticize the very fact of our legislative system that requires us to hold hearings to debate proposed legislation, even legislation we may not like.
<
p>
So I ask you all, why do this?
<
p>
The Gov. could have simply stated his opposition and helped his supporters put this to bed. But instead, it felt like trying to make enemies of the people who agree with you. And for all the folks, myself included, who gave up their time to come and testify against the death penalty, why detract from the issue at hand? And wasn’t it the Gov. who cut from the budget the Shannon grants that gave people ways to address community violence? The Gov. will surely have a bunch of bills before this committee- why make the committee members angry for simply doing their job?
I will put aside the question of whether the Governor was unfair or unnecessarily upset some legislators.
<
p>
Whether Constitutionally required or not, spending time every other year on a highly contentious bill that’s not going to move forward is certainly a sign of institutional failure. Surely there are a lot of things that need addressing and spending precious time addressing the same arguments on the same controversy the same way every other year is dumb. Those of us who work in the private sector know what time-wasters contentious crap can be especially when it’s not productive.
KBusch – I hear you on the institutional failure bit. We basically have the same structure of Government in place since John Adams wrote it on his napkin in Quincy 200-plus years ago. Does it work still? Debatable.
<
p>
But the fact is – the legislature does have to hear every bill and there is no way around having a fairly sizeable death penalty hearing every two years. It could be worse though – the legislature used to have one-year sessions and every bill had to be refiled after every year and heard again. At least they got rid of that mess.
<
p>
And the hearings are part of what makes the Mass. legislature one of the most accessible in the country. Anyone who shows up at a hearing on any issue can testify -tons of folks show up on the death penalty whether the Bill has a chance or not. If we believe in a government of the people – opening up the gates of government in this way is a good thing we should support.
<
p>
In any event, Deval’s statement seems to have missed the boat on that – sticking his finger in the eye of the legislators and debasing the process of government. Not something I would have expected from a guy who champions grassroots activism.
In a sense the goal of the legislature is to reflect the will or the needs (or something like that) of the people. It is not to hand out microphones. So yes, I hear that there is something marvelously democratic about this process — or there was, but it’s not working for us if we end up as a debating society while bridges crumble, graduation rates tumble, healthcare’s a jumble, and tax payers grumble.
😉
Left that out, apparently.
In the future could you please refrain from using the term Republican so loosly? Some people might take offense. It is better to refer to them as NeoCons. Thank You for your attention 🙂
And God bless the the hard working people that stopped capital punishment in this state years ago for keeping a constant watch and turning out hundreds of people every two years to spend a day of their lives making sure it doesn’t ever come back.
shouldn’t he and his advisors already know this??? I guess that’s whats troubling me. I expect a CEO to have executive skills.
Shouldn’t he and his advsiors already know this? … I expect a CEO to have executive skills.
<
p>
What should we do with this question? It seems like an expression of regret or a question for the 2010 gubernatorial election.
<
p>
Clearly one major difficulty is the dysfunctional legislature. The Governor has no constitutional authority over it by which to make it “undysfunctional”. What would your hypothetical CEO governor do under these circumstances?
executive experience in his background. He never so much as managed a push cart. He doesn’t have any executive skills yet he’s now the CEO of a $28 billion “company( State of Mass) He was hired on the basis of making his adoring followers “feel good” with his “together we can” mantra from his handler David Axelrod ( same political consultant that does Obama’s PR psycho-babble for him). Hence the amazing similarities between Obama’s and Deval” sell the “feel good” and don’t worry about substance approach.Also a major reason why Deval supports Obama while totally turning his back on the Clintons who made is success possible. There’s loyalty for you.
<
p>
As we recall, Deval never disclosed any details of any kind of plan during the election debates. He didn’t have to. He merely had his attack dogs Mihos and Grace beat the crap out of Heally while Deval smiled and yawned occasionally without ever being called on to present any kind of position or plan.
<
p>
So here we are a year later…clueless and sinking.
It’s laughable to hear now how the problem has gone from the hated republicans ( none left now) to a dysfunctional State House (as if it wasn’t 10 times worse when Republican Govs were there). Do you recall the hated Romney’s departing act was to veto 465 million in spending? Which Deval immediately reversed? …Then you wonder why this joke state is sinking like a stone? Deval is a figurehead joke. Prince Di Masi
is running this show at least until someone with some executive ability and spine shows up in the corner office. Why do you think the Republicans held that office all those years?
Every day more and more voters are saying “I told you this would happen”.
Earlier this week I attended a meeting with a number of democractic (what else is there) State Reps and Senators and couldn’t believe how the faithful have fled. The expressions of disappointment and concern about distractions in the corner office were repeated as we went around the room. This ship is sinking.
and that was part of what made good liberals feel good about him, i.e., that the man was able to think in more than soundbites, had a detailed grasp on policy, and was able to articulate plans. The mantra or slogan or whatever you call it resonated because there was depth to it.
is a successful governor? He’s proving to be a disaster.
This guy is a loser.
Could you take the time to correct or substantiate them? We’re waiting, too.
can’t you stay on topic and deal with the facts? Deval is a loser. Haven’t you figured that out yet? Ask your parents what the increase on their last property tax bill is… ya.. the one Deval said he was going to lower..Ya, that one…. not to mention that Romney was trying to tear down toll booths and this Deval loser is trying to put up new ones… If you ever get out of college and actually start paying taxes and tolls maybe you’ll get the point.
Speaking of staying on point: Please prove that Mr Patrick was as vague as you claim. You’re as accurate there as you are on your fantasy that I’m in college, don’t pay taxes, or am living off my parents.
is that Deval is incompetent and a loser as Governor. Those are the facts and they are indisputable. Any other spin you try to put on the facts is easily seen and quickly dismissed as bullshit. End of story.
It’s funny how you can get these visual impresions of people from their posts. With you I am picturing Archie Bunker
<
p> “case closed . Edith, get me a beer”
<
p>
roflmao
Rob Reiner socialist loser..still is today.
ROFLMAO!
Is that nay way to treat a fellow Republican …
The only response that T.O. ever finds acceptable is agreement. The shtick is that he is here to provide the truth, a truth we don’t want to hear because we’re an “echo chamber” — or we’re all immature, mostly gay college undergraduates.
<
p>
Prophets similarly spoke without footnotes — Elijah provided no web links — and likewise, though in stronger terms, condemned those who disagreed with them. Their pronouncements were likewise “indisputable”.
can’t you stay on topic and deal with the facts? Deval is a loser.
<
p>
From elsewhere on this thread, I suspect we are getting themes from right wing talk radio. In that alternative universe, yes, it is a “fact” that “Deval is a loser.” It doesn’t require proof. It’s plain as day. “Everyone” is saying it.
Not like I would be surprised to see you prejudge his time in office, but by all accounts he inherited a budget deficit and basic funding crisis that would be hard to define as enviable. The pure fact that services are still running and taxes have not been raised would to me ring of accomplishment.
What I am wondering is, did you determine he had failed before or after he was sworn in?
governor here in the people’s republik could ever do was to CALL attention via the media, whatever that the one party Lege was about to SCREW YOU AGAIN? A GOP gov could NOT sustain a veto against a State House that is 93% DEM. At least they made the effort to VETO and voiced their objection in the Herald or TV /radio whatever…at least you could see it coming . This Deval loser doesn’t even do that. He just rolls over as a faithful Dem and lets Sal and the solons bitch slap him as governor trainee and designated figurehead… The one party “government” of this State is a friggin joke
Nice change of subject so I guess I answered your question satisfactorily. No need to thank me. It was my pleasure.
because he offered NO plan or revealed any strategy to govern.
He sold the feel good “together we can” crap to the believers and that was it. Absolutely no substance, just “feel good psycho-babble”.
If there was any doubt that this was a failure in the making we need only look at his record from the beginning thus far: 1.A gala inauguration with all the special interest groups that funded him cheering wildly (mindlessly). The Deval ego loved it.
2. The cadillac / drapes fiasco..a clear indication of what this egotist’s priorities are.
3. The ethics problem with the Ameriquest phone call.
4. The hiring of a campaign manager for a huge salary as his wife’s secratary?.
5. The ‘gag order” on his administrative and cabinet people
that they had to sign..So much for the full disclosure, people’s government he promised.
<
p>
His performance as governor?
<
p>
Some highlights..
1. Overturn Romney’s veto of $465M of Lege pork . Is this how you address the budget deficit he inherited”?
2. Overturn Romney’s attempt to get State Police to act as a defense against illegal immigration.
3. Pro illegal alien in State tuition
4. Complete FAILURE to meet campaign promise of lowering property tax which is out of control and rising.
5. FAILED to put the 1000 cops on the street breaking another campaign promise while it’s “murder du jour” on Boston city streets.
5. Overturn Romney’s attempt to close toll booths on mass Pike..instead ? put up new ones.
6. Total failure to go after criminal contractors responsible for Big Dig shoddy construction resulting in death. Instead political hack Marhta Coakley manages to prosecute and put out of business a mom and pop glue company ? what a joke.
7. Companies and people continue to flee this one party State every day.
<
p>
And you’re telling me that this State isn’t a friggin disaster? Those that choose to stay in Mass can only hope there are pieces left to pick up after this incredibly incompetent governor trainee is gone.
CEO’s are in essence managers of a single institution. Yeah there is tons of office politics, shareholders to deal with, the Board and its egos but being a CEO is nothing like being a Governor dealing with a set of independent minded pols in a co-equal branch of government. CEOs can dictate – a Governor must inspire, cajole, coerce and remain immensely popular with the public to have any pull with the legislature.
<
p>
Deval may be suffering through his lack of experience – but it is not executive experience he lacks – its political experience. He’d never held elected office before – 2006 was his first campaign for anything.
<
p>
But in Deval’s defense (cause I still think he’s the best thing to happen to politics in this State in a long while), the fault is not all his. The legislature – with its massive democratic majorities and rules that give all the power to two people, the Senate Prez and the House Speaker – is averse to listening to anyone. They have nothing to fear – no partisan competition and don’t feel they have to help Deval out – party loyalty or no party loyalty. The legislature is an essence a machine where gaining the favour of the party leadership is the most important part of the legislator’s job. Piss off the leadership and get nothing – bad committees, no budget earmarks, no bills. The patronage power of leadership over committee assignments and flow of legislation is the defining feature of the Mass. legislature and because of overwhelming Democratic majorities, leadership doesn’t have to do anything to pass bills so there is no give-and-take – just a one way street of ass-kissing leaders heels.
Please provide specific examples of his executive achievements.. sorry to say.. they’re aren’t any.
This governor “trainee” is a big loser for this State. He’s incompetent.
incompetent governor to survive? Wow, will there be anbody left to turn out the lights as they are leaving the People’s Republik on their way to the Carolinas??
With all due respect to claims of Mr. Patrick’s executive incompetence – he headed a major division (Civil Rights) of the Deparment of Justice – 100s of lawyers, hugely controversial cases and from what I’ve heard, he gained huge respect for his work. That is testament to his management capabilities and acumen. But, it is not Boston political experience, which he lacks.
<
p>
But let’s just remember — the State House is like high school – its a fishbowl and when a new big fish enters the pond, the other clicky fish try to force them to toe the party line and if the new fish doesn’t — they ostracize him. And its worse when that fish is of the same species (i.e. Democrats) as the dominant fish in the bowl. The expectations for the big fish to play ball are that much higher – he’s expected to talk with them about everything before he takes ideas outside the bowl — they think its their bowl and he is just a visitor. Deval has to get a grip on the petty reality of State House politics – both effectively taking his case outside the bowl and working to build his own click inside it. To date he has done neither of those things particularly well.
<
p>
AND PLEASE CAN WE CUT OUT THE PETTY NAME CALLING !!! I’M NEW TO BLOGGING AND THAT STUFF IS A TURN OFF.
Most people’s understanding of how their legislature works for them varies inversely with the level of government. In other words, the closer the legislature is to the people, the better they understand its relevance to their lives.
<
p>
For example, residents of a small town know how their presence at a town meeting makes a difference when a two-thirds vote is needed for the school bond issue.
<
p>
Many urban residents understand what their city councils do, and are not shy about asking their city councilor to shepherd a zoning variance through the appeals board, fix their parking tickets, or place their teenagers in summer jobs. Sometimes they’ll even call up to tell their councilor how she should vote on a controversial city- wide issue.
<
p>
But if the beloved city councilor decides to move up and run for a seat in the state legislature, the councilor will soon discover that many of her constituents think the state capitol building is an awful place, a cesspool of corruption, an irresistible occasion of sin. She is warned to beware the devil incarnate wearing the mask of legislative leaders! They practice politics in there!
<
p>
Because they hear this type of refrain now more than ever, most wise candidates for higher office immediately assume the mantle of government reformer and promise to open up the process to the people, reduce the power of the tyrannical leadership, and throw the special interest lobbyists out of the windows of the capitol building.
<
p>
And, if they campaign hard and well, the reformers have a good chance of winning. They might even beat one of the notoriously entrenched incumbents who used to brag about being part of the leadership team.
<
p>
The first test legislative reformers will face, especially those who have beaten an entrenched incumbent by running against the tyrannical leadership, is figuring out how to ask these same leaders for a good committee assignment that will provide opportunities to advance policies important to the district. (With luck, the local press won’t describe that appointment as evidence of a deal with the tyrannical leaders.)
<
p>
Surviving that test, with or without a good committee assignment, sooner or later even the most aloof, independent, reform-minded legislator finds a good deal of strength and support in the many shared conventions and values of a legislative body.
<
p>
Legislators soon learn the fine art of compromise and coalition and get used to engaging in a hard-fought battle against traditional opponents one day, only to be joined in a temporary alliance with them the next. Agreements are made and compromises reached; indignation turns into relief when a compromise is reached. And, because the press characterizes these standard operating procedures as selling out or making deals, the reformers usually turn to each other in genuine dismay: “Nobody understands how this place really works.”
<
p>
Every state constitution gives legislative leaders broad guidelines regarding how and when to convene, recess, and adjourn legislative sessions. Sometimes the constitution will even outline procedures for passing legislation and appropriating funds. Within those guidelines each legislature establishes its own internal procedural rules.
<
p>
A leader’s constituents are the source of all power and authority for a legislative leader, a source that must be renewed at the ballot box every 2 years or so. Both the majority and minority leaders listen closely to the voters, and they are willing to use their power or position to make sure that constituents’ requests are handled promptly. Leaders will usually meet with any constituent-based special interest groups to discuss with them important statewide issues.
<
p>
Most people don’t realize that speakers and senate presidents get elected a second time-to their leadership posts. Anyone who thinks that these votes are locked up because of past favors, appointments, or room assignments is reminded of the oldest political comeback in the world, What have you done for me lately?
<
p>
Every day is the day before an election for a legislative leader who wishes to keep the support of his or her own party members. And every day is an opportunity to demonstrate one’s ability to lead the legislative process, that is, exercise real power and make some daily decisions that either move forward or stop a proposed policy change.
<
p>
Leadership’s job is to schedule the policy debates. For the most part, they manage hundreds or thousands of debates on policies that others propose. These proposals, in the form of bills and budget amendments, come from leadership teams, committee chairs, geographical or ideological caucuses within the legislature, rank-and-file members, the governor, special interest groups, and the media.
<
p>
The leadership evaluates the strengths of the often-conflicting positions on every proposed bill or budget amendment, and then tries to put together a majority coalition around the most acceptable solution. Because leaders do not have the time to do this for every bill, they work hardest on bills the public and their members clamor about most.
<
p>
Sometimes legislators debate and debate major issues with no progress until both the problems and the debaters drop from exasperation or exhaustion. If the leaders are unable to identify and build a majority coalition, they have failed in their main function. On the other hand, if the problem has disappeared because it didn’t need to be fixed in the first place, the leaders were probably giving the debating parties room to display their oratorical skills and ideological purity.
<
p>
Bottom line: The speaker and senate president cannot avoid conflict; they must confront problems, resolve them, and sometimes take the blame for them. Both leaders must take responsibility for unpopular new laws-unlike rank-and-file members, who can explain away their lack of effectiveness by blaming it on leadership.
<
p>
From Real Clout
But the power of our legislative leadership is immense over everything that happens on Beacon Hill. Yes – theoretically if leaders get too far out in front of their members they can be taken down (but that never happens). The levers of power in the House and Senate are so massively skewed toward two people that average members are really just spectators to a lot of what happens. They vote on what leadership allows to come up.
<
p>
Part of the reason for this power imbalance is frankly one-party domination. Nancy Pelosi in the US House has to bring together a wide ranging caucus to win close party-line votes. That gives her members power to negotiate and give-and-take. In the Mass legislature leaders don’t need individual votes to win because their majority is so massive. Not be with leadership means your fingered as a troublemaker – standing out for your neck to get chopped off.
<
p>
There’s a reason so little attention is given by the big Boston media to anyone other than the big three. No one else is seen as mattering. And the resources of the legislative in staff are all with leadership or leadership’s to offer. Without brainpower you can’t wield power and leadership – through their own offices and the Ways and Means Committees – have much of that resource to themselves.
<
p>
I love legislative bodies but I worry that the Mass. legislature is not working as it could. Two person control of so important a branch is not a positive development.
when the majority party has a slim majority and every vote counts. A large majority means that Members can vote against their Leader when their constituents or concience demands.
<
p>
Tip O Neill learned over 50 years ago as the first Democratic speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
<
p>
And look what’s happening now in the House as the pro Casino legislators including a well regarded Chairman are openly calling on the Speaker to send the Casino bill to any Committee except Bosley’s so it can get a “fair” hearing.
<
p>
It would be logical that a large majority would allow members more freedom – but Beacon Hill is not logical and especially in the House, where competition to get a chairmanship (and the money and staff that comes with it) is severe, it means that as in parliamentary systems, the party whip remains strong. And it would be true if things actually came up for votes..but the power of leadership is most significant over the flow of legislation. Hardly ever does something hit the floor without overwhelming support.
<
p>
And believe me…peer pressure and implied threats that if you buck leadership too often you are in the dog house are a huge weight on legislator’s ability to vote freely. There still remain very few votes taken when Dem members actually buck leadership. That is partially because they may agree with or don’t care about the measures, but its also because they don’t want to be seen as difficult, ruling out opportunities for advancement in the chamber.
<
p>
Even on the most conscience vote of all – gay marriage – leaders twisted elbows (of course though in that case the majority was slim because they need 3/4rs to win).
<
p>
Beacon Hill is a very insular and hierarchical place where the rules, norms and resources give legislative leaders inordinate power over everything that happens. That is the fact today – maybe in Tip’s time it was different.
Just because a few newish reps from casino-wanting New Bedford mouthed off a bit in the papers that they want the Bill to go to a special committee doesn’t mean that it will. DiMasi will send it where he pleases and they will have nothing more to say.
<
p>
Although I do think DiMasi will not be able to duck this one coming up because gambling is so high-profile — but not because his members pressure him to.
<
p>
Don’t count on it. House and Senate rules are very clear about which bills go to which committees and the pro casino Legislators know it. That’s why some of the pro Casino folks are asking the Speaker to waive the rules and establish a special committee.
<
p>
<
p>
This is going to be a lively debate with lots of opportunities for all of us to share our informed and uninformed opinions with our own Legislative delegation.
And Sen Creedon is the WRONG man to cross swords with!
WINS
(Joint) WIN–Gay Marriage constitutional ammendment
WIN–Reorganization plans passed
WIN–Key parts of municipal partnership act
<
p>
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Signs Regional Greehouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
Recinds Romney State Trooper policy
Files, signs first budget
Diverse and qualified appointments in Administration, State Boards and SJC
State health officials rescind Romney stem cell policies
Job growth and several companies agree to expand in Massachusetts
Puts forward ambitious capital plans for transportation and higher education, proposes $1 billion life science initiative, advances a plan for more cops on the streets, a Springfield task force, and a resort casino plan
<
p>
What are the legislature’s accomplishments this year? Gay marriage, abortion clinic buffer zone, film industry tax credits…
Patrick has some notable achievements no doubt – his election no doubt turned the table on the gay marriage amendment and for that alone he deserves tremendous credit -but what I still feel is lacking is a underlying theme, a raison d’etre a cross-tab for all the things he is trying to do.
<
p>
His campaign had that – “Together We Can”. His administration doesn’t. And while slogans are trivial, underpinning “Together We Can” was a campaign built from the bottom up – the campaign lived the slogan and gave it life. The administration lacks a strategy – it has tactics but no overriding strategy – no here is where I want to go in a year, two years, three years – here is my vision for the State – something people can relate to. He is gonna win some fights and lose others – that is political life, but I just fear that a candidate that conjured a vision of a better world has become a Governor lost in the day-to-day morass of governing.
<
p>
I take it you were being facetious whit that posting.
<
p>
The governor did in fact redecorate his office and got himself a nicely pimped out set of wheels. Other than that–he hasn’t done much—–thank god.
<
p>
With Charlie Rangle proposing a federal income tax that will max out for the middle class at 44%, Deval’s newly proposed revenue sources and George Soro’s business partner stating that the US economy is now on the express elevator “DOWN”, we should be just fine here in the commonwealth.
following this formula: “Democrats in Congress fail to pass (fill in the blank).” In most of these cases, veto overrides or Senate votes requiring a supermajority, a better description would have been “Republicans in Congress block (fill in the blank).”
<
p>
Right wing radio has started this meme that Deval hasn’t accomplished anything. But as YDsRock has listed above, the Governor actually has had some significant victories. I’d add to the YDsRock’s list, attraction of new jobs / business expansion to the state, and most importantly, a change in the political conversation from childish fantasy (when and how much are we going to cut the income tax rate) to adult reality (what are some options besides property taxes to pay for the services we want and infrastructure maintenance we need). To my mind, if there’s a headline here, it shouldn’t be “Governor fails to accomplish (fill in the blank),” it should be the “Legislature has yet to act on (fill in the blank).”
<
p>
“Hasn’t yet” doesn’t mean “never will.”
<
p>
If progressives want action on some of the proposals that haven’t been acted on yet by the Lege, we are going to have to go to work for them. We elected an articulate and compelling Governor to lead and speak for us. When we support him, we can make change. We moved the Lege on marriage. We can move it on other things if enough of us put in the effort.
the insurance industry after having funded Deval’s seven day innauguration gala is doing well and working far more advanced scams due to zero government oversight.
Jeez, what a dyspeptic thread.
It’s been 10 months. Relax.
and a face saving exit.
What with an approval rate of 56% and all…