We met for about an hour yesterday morning with the Governor to talk about the economy, politics, and the blogosphere. Here’s what went down.
Our Chief Executive was impressively informed, focused, and creatively proactive on a huge range of issues. We may not agree with Patrick every time, but he is a quantum improvement over the Three Nonentities who preceded him Cellucci, Swift and Willard. An Excellency worthy of the title.
The economy. Patrick is making a major economic policy address right now at MIT. We’ll post video coverage if we can get it (one of our suggestions at the meeting was that all major policy addresses be YouTubed so we can link to them here and you can comment). Our conversation in brief:
Whenever we asked, brass tacks came pouring out. International trade? Last year’s China mission has yielded a direct flight from Logan coming when Boeing rolls out its new long-range airliner next year. Foreclosure relief? A plan to securitize debt — increase the fraction of the house owned by the bank — in return for rescheduled payments. Detailed, practical, workable, rational. Good stuff.
His Excellency was generous throughout the meeting with praise for DiMasi and Murray, although he acknowledged his views and theirs do not always meet.
Finally, we talked about you. EaBo’s new status as a member of the progressive base, according to the Globe, was noted ;-). Ernie Boch was described by one person present as, “the collective Id of the State House.” We said many members of the community were dismayed by the now historic casino plan. We said we thought people here want to go to work for equality, inclusiveness, and effectiveness: together we can, if you will. Less prosaically, we advised focus on the “green economy,” which plays to our strengths as a state and will produce long-term jobs resistant to outsourcing. We applauded Doug Rubin’s recent effort here and its results, and urged Governor Patrick to wage a “permanent campaign:” to reach out ceaselessly to people across the state, from progressive activists to business leaders to homeowners to banks, and everyone in between. He’s very good at that, people like it, and it will help produce the results we all want.
Please tell us what you think we missed in the comments. Perhaps most important: The Powers That Be have noticed you.
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p>quan·tum (kwntm)
n. pl. quan·ta (-t)
The smallest amount of a physical quantity that can exist independently.
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p>Come on, I figured that you figured he was better than that!
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as with “quantum leap”, “quantum improvement” must be one of those counter-intuitive phrases like “meteoric rise”. who ever saw a meteor go up?
Depending on where one is on the Earth, meteors do sometimes seem to “rise” up from the horizon line. Like the sun, they only appear to rise but it does look that way if a meteor comes “out of” the horizon and “in to” the sky above your head.
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p>A quick google searxh reveals two other possible origins/definitions of the “meteoric” which are also consistent with the commone “metoric rise” phrase:
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p>1)Meteoric as in resembling a meteor in speed or in sudden and temporary brilliance.
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p>2) Those with much better Latin skills than me have said that the word meteor comes from meta+aeoros: to lift up. “Meteoros”, then, means “high in the sky” and is where we get the term meteorology for the study of the atmosphere.
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p>Just saying.
with the word loquacious in their username would make that comment. 😉
I would have thought based on the performance of the Bush administration that warfighting, economic policy, environmental management, and honesty in government were the most pressing issues on which the GOP needed elementary instruction by progressive Democrats, but now I see that vocabulary is also a requirement.
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p>True, if you type into Google “define quantum,” and take the first thing on offer you get your definition. Just like if you listen to George Bush you believe that our mission was accomplished in Iraq in 2003, and if you listen to Willard you think that his management of the Big Dig project was a model of effectiveness and efficiency, and his robust personal stewardship of the Del Valle killing was a paragon of leadership and results (I’ve helpfully linked to a definition of the latter term in case it too was a challenge).
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p>But if you can look beyond the most baldly superficial level, and examine the actual reality of our $509 billion fools errand in Iraq, or the miserable failure that was Republican Executive Branch execution (thus the name, “Executive Branch”) of the Big Dig-doggle you might get closer to an actual understanding of the way things work.
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p>Or, in the present case, you might see that one of the definitions of “quantum” is, “sudden and significant: a quantum increase in productivity.”
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p>No, no, no need to thank us. We’ll take your continuing avid posting here as evidence of the value you derive from your teachers here. Actually, we are glad to have you: we live to serve.
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p>(And, anyway, I am just teasing you: I can’t remember what your positions are on all those issues, or even if you are a Republican; thanks for playing, though.)
But one thing to consider is that, according to the National Priorities Project, 42.2 cents of each of our tax dollars go to military spending while only 4.2 cents/dollar goes to education.
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p>4 cents? Boy, do I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. This war has been so worth it. And so worth the ridiculous perpetual several trillion-dollar debt and worth the mountain of owed veterans benefits that the government is going to find a way to screw our deserving soldiers out of until the day they finally die.
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p>Speaking of war and education, it’s a good thing Senator McCain is co-sponsoring that new Iraq GI Bill! Oh wait, he’s not…
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p>Thank god for the “fiscally responsible” (LOL) Republicans.
Education is primarily funded by state and local governments, so if those numbers are not included, (which I suspect they aren’t,) that statistic is quite deceptive.
I accidentally canceled my original comment and I hastily reposted the above. Thanks for pointing this out so I can clarify. My apologies and allow me to emend: “42.2 cents of each of our federal tax dollars…”
And quite understandable, as education is, for the most part, not a concern of the federal government, and national defense is.
…doesn’t mean we have to like it.
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p>I want the federal government to spend less of my tax dollars in the Iraq money pit and more on educating America’s children or subsidizing the college or vocational education of adults.
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p>If the money is taken from me and spent in my name, I’d like to actually get some return on my investment. Education will provide a greater return for this country then the malfeasant militarism perpetrated by Bush and Co.
I would also like to see less spending on Iraq, so that all of those resources to Afghanistan, where they belong.
…but certainly not all. There isn’t any foreign nation where I can see spending $3 billion per week making me or any other American significantly safer. If we’re going to spend $3,000,000,000 per week, I want to feel 3,000,000,000 per week safer.
http://finance.yahoo.com/banki…
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p>Defense is closer to 20%, but numbers only reflect how you twist them.
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p>Ouy of the entire defense budget, how much goes to VA, Veterans benefits, and the salaries of the armed forces. What you would call a fixed expenditure.
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p>Kinda drops the number even further. Although I suppose we could fire everyone in the armed forces and recruit a few folks when we are under attack. Although who would attack us?
…or Military?
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p>First, you don’t link to any statistics, you link to a Yahoo Financial front page. Second, if you feel that the statistics that I link to are inaccurate – 28 cents on current military and war, 10 cents on interest for military debt, and 3.5 cents on Veterans benefits – show data that disputes it.
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p>From the note at the bottom of the chart:
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p>And it doesn’t change my point – 44 cents, 22 cents, or what ever the “true” number is, it’s obscene that we are redistributing the billions of dollars of earned middle class and low income taxpayer money into a fraudulent war and the pockets of Eric Prince, Blackwater, Haliburton and the rape-happy KBR, making these people extremely wealthy.
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p>We should be reinvesting that money back into America and its people via education, not giving it to a war profiteer company like Haliburton which destroys its own equipment because the cost-plus contract it has with the government allows them to profit each time they purchase a new vehicle. That’s my definition of fiscal responsibility – call me crazy.
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p>Not only is the current Bush-lead government fiscally irresponsible, it’s in gross violation of its fiduciary obligation with war spending as Exhibit A. If you enjoy that kind of miscarriage of government and wish to reward said bad behavior, keep voting Republican and keep supporting their corrupt and bankrupt ideas.
Thanks for that quantum effort.
Keep the criticisms coming. As old J. S. Mill wrote:
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that Gary’s sense of the word Quantum, which comes from discoveries in physics circa 1900, was derived form Bob’s sense, which is closer to the original meaning. People like Max Plank, who I believe coined that sense of the word, were very surprised to discover that all matter and energy was not continuous, but rather collections of discrete chunks. Hence the “sudden and significant” jump between one particle, even if it’s a very tiny particle, and another or between one energy state and another.
Also I found my Mensa papers, so I’ll scan and email. Is the offer of a free case of Sam Adams still good. Oh don’t try to pawn the glass filled bottles off on me……
With the name blacked out? I can’t remember. Of course, the offer of a case is still good.
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p>Welcome to the club.
by both sides, I presume. We will all look forward to the details of today’s proposals. But even without those details, we can be pretty sure that his proposals will be much more effective as an economic stimulus than what the Federal Government has iniitiated, so much of which will just add to our foreign trade deficit. The Governor’s plan will create work when we need it the most, and it should lay the foundation for accelerated growth when the economy starts to rebound.
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p>Let’s hope both the reduction in low-value costs from the structural budget and the increase in high-payoff infrastructure investment can be embraced by the Legislature.
In the next post down, right here.
I’m glad to see he has already run this by the investment banks. It will be exciting to see some progress within the next 6 months. I am confident that this commitment will attract further private investment.
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p>I have been extensively involved in the Devens Disposition process for a few years which was the inspiration for a previous Post so I laud the proposal for 16 targeted growth centers as a continuation of some very good work done at Devens. However the specific example at Devens is not one of its stellar projects as it is Strip Mall Planning. That being said check out the work of the Devens Enterprise Commission which is the model of a unified permitting authority proposed in the new Expedited Permitting Laws( which are the references to helping get Permitting down to 6 months mentioned in your discussion with the Gov). There are some great things being done out here.
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p>I trust Deval will listen to the call to get out of the Corner office and back into the field.
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p>Cautiously Optimistic about this.
I don’t see this on his agenda, He had lots to say about during his campaign, but what do you know, we haven’t heard anything about it since he got elected.
Half of the casino revenue was to be scheduled for property tax relief directly to the homeowner.
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p>But, he needs a plan B for this now. Any ideas?
The Governor and the Legislature announced this week that they have no plans to significantly fix our funding of local schools . This is wrong. We need to shift the financial burden from our local property taxes. Under the current system, many of our local communities are saddled with structural deficits and the only solution is to pit the legitimate needs of our kids against the legitimate needs of our fixed income seniors.
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p>Its interesting to note that Massachusetts is 47th in the nation in the level of state funding in its local schools – lower than New Hampshire. If you are frustrated with either the passage of overrides or the battle for overrides, there is another option.
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p>If the State adopted a 0.5% increase in the income tax and hardwired the additonal revenue for distribution locally on a per child per district basis, $1B in additonal revenue would be raised . Each community would be put in a financial position to fund its schools, and reduce its local property tax burden. We would be able to end the cycle of forcing those in our community, least able to afford property tax increases, to pay much more than is fair. By hardwiring the distribution, we would also eliminate the risk of state control over the use or allocation of the funding. Today this funding is allocated under an inequitable and arbitrary formula among the various cities and towns. Those towns that receive a larger share avoid property tax overrides, and those receiving a smaller share find themselves having to impose property taxes approaching 25% of many of their resident’s income in many communities — well in excess of a 0.5% income tax increase.
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p>If you want to learn more go to my diary:
0.5% for the Kids
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p>http://vps28478.inmotionhosting.com/~bluema24/u…
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p>If you agree with the proposal, please share this with your friends and colleagues and your distribution lists. If you want to be removed from this email list, please let me know.
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p>We raised this with the Governor yesterday and he is willing to consider the proposal but it needs broad grassroots support.
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p> You can register your support by visting the Chapter 70 Coalition Page on the MyIssues Section of www.devalpatrick.com and register your opinion.
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p>http://devalpatrick.com/issue….
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p>Vote yes on the issues listed there.
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p>Even better, forward this email or your views to your legislative representatives, the Governor’s Staff and the legislative leadership:
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p>Governor’s
Director, Education Policy
Michele.norman@state.ma.us
617.619.5633
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p>Senate
Senate President
Therese.Murray@state.ma.us
617.722.1500
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p> Chair, Joint Committee on Education
Robert.Antonioni@state.ma.us
617.722.1230
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p>House
Our Representative
rep.jameseldridge@hou.state.ma.us
617.722.2060
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p> Chair, House Ways and Means Comittee
Robert.Deleo@hou.state.ma.us
617.722.2990
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p> Thanks
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p>Bruce Leicher
Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts and New England residents flocking to the casino’s with their pay checks, disability checks, SSI, Social security etc. Get rich quick,. Instant millionaires all.
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p>The casino’s—the dream and fascination of our omnicient governor. Millions coming into the state coffers, when people can barely afford groceries and other necessities to sustain their families, because of skyrocketing energy and fuel costs. YES WE CAN. A casino in every region. Don’t worry about bills and obligations. Come to casino’s—and bring the deed to your home on top of your paycheck. Deval is going to make you a millionaire. And when you go bust—the state will underwrite you a new home—even better than the last one. Because you DESERVE it because you spent your last dime at the casino’s.
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p>Yup. The folks in MA will rue the day they let Sal get away of our casino’s.
I don’t recall Deval saying that the property tax relief was conditional on his passing of the Casino bill.
His promise to reduce the dependency on property taxes preceded his decision to support casinos.
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p>But I perceive the promise was to look for ways to achieve the same goal. He did, and he lost. Now he needs to look again.
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p>But he did have a moderate increase in Chapter 70 in his FY 2008 budget proposal, and somewhat less in FY 2009. However, those increases are eaten up by rising costs in the cities and towns.
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p>And he did promote the idea of the localities joining the State health plan, but the Legislature watered that down with the requirement of union approval. And he offered a local option meals tax to the cities and towns, but that was not enabled by the Legislature.
The Governor’s municipl partnership bill included the union approval, it’s members of the leg, that want to remove that requirement, he has been silent on that so far.
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p>I hope that you took time to specify that you were referring to Deval’s eternal campaign, and not Barack Obama’s. You were, right?
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p>Definitely agree on permitting reform and debt restructuring. I’m sorry that education was not apparently a topic you thought to discuss. And adopting the idea of “picking winners” which starts with winning sectors (green, “life”) and so often narrows to trying to out-guess the stock market (this green v that green) — it makes me nervous when a business-minded governor tries that because they so often fail. How much better could Deval do?
And as you might have guessed, your remark “I’m sorry that education was not apparently a topic you thought to discuss”
leads me to bring up my #1 activist issue and to say:
I’m sorry that health care reform and the budget-buster individual mandate law was not apparently a topic you thought to discuss.
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p>I’m learning a lot from what was discussed but I and others need to learn more about the Governor’s stance on the individual mandate law, including:
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p>How does Governor Patrick justify the exorbitant amount of new state spending to pay for 90% of the “newly covered” under the Connector plans that have full or heavily state subsidized private HMO policies?
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p>How does Governor Patrick justify spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to create and run a new healthcare bureaucracy (the Connector) that includes taxpayers buying high-priced PR and advertising campaigns for private health insurance interests. This isn’t health care!
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p>These spending items are factual details of the state’s health insurance law that the MSM never reports. Hhmmm.
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p>How does Governor Patrick justify the state Department of Revenue charging financial penalties (up to $912.00 a year) against tens of thousands of state residents–the number of people fined might reach ~250,000!–simply for not being able to buy a private insurance policy and not being granted state permission to remain uninsured (called a “waiver”)?
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p>How sincere was Governor Patrick when he was speaking with editors at the Berkshire Eagle, as included in a recent Op-Ed “Money woes confront state health program”:
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p>”…there’s a view out there that as long as private insurance is a part of health-care reform, we’re never really going to break the back of the pattern.” He called for serious
consideration of a single-payer universal health care solution by the next administration in Washington.”
A good moment for the Governor and BMG. On our end its further recognition of how this type of online community can make a real difference (which I’m sure you all knew) – being a brutally honest yet ultimately responsive and positive font of progressive opinion – so let’s keep it going.
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p>On his end, it shows how he really does want to stay grounded, is willing to listen and recognizes the use of non-conventional media and taking friendly criticism.
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p>From the ashes of the casino bill good things can yet grow. The Guv may owe Sal for that after all.
You’re so easy.
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p>1: Talks the talk
2: You swoon
3: Blows it with lousy casino implementation, lousy GIC implementation, lousy pension reform implemention, no police detail changes, ethically challenged book deal, but…he
4: Talks the talk
5: You swoon…
2. We swoon
3. Gov does something wrong
4. We tell him it’s wrong (at length)
5. He does something right instead
6. We swoon
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p>I am not interested in a comprehensive assessment of his character or administration. Not yet. I am interested in whether he does the right thing or not. And our record reflects that. I don’t think that’s very hard to understand.
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p>You and some others on this board are a hell of a lot more predictable:
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p>1. Gov does something right
2. We praise Gov
3. You say “Yer all a bunch of Deval shills!”
4. Gov does something wrong
5. We say so
6. You say, “See — he really is a dolt.”
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p>That way, you’re satisfied no matter what we say. And that’s why you hang around, isn’t it? We never disappoint — least of all in disappointing.
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p>What’d I miss? What’d he do right, a speech?
…Falling in love with love is playing the fool…”
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p>Gentlemen – this unusual opportunity is a tremendous tribute to BMG and its ability to influence and mobilize opinion.
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p>The Governor and Mr. Rubin may feel you can be counted on to support the Administration’s plans mindlessly – me, I think you’re smarter than that.
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p>I listened to the speech, I read Chairman DeLeo’s letter about what would be bonded and when and I came away with one sinking feeling – Hey, we got a new credit card, so we can pay off that old one and now we’re debt free!
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p>(PS – the quantumness of Patrick would be better measured if any of you had ever actually MET Romney, Cellucci, Swift or Weld – or do you just take dictation from Frank Phillips?)
is that a joke?
Oh, PP, you know better than that – though I’m pleased to say that I’ve never met Mitt Romney.
I prefer to think of myself as a guilty pleasure. But as long as the spelled the name right. That’s what grandpa taught me.
That Forrest Gump was referring to? Good Lord.
Thanks for doing this.
Even despite the economic challenges I think Patrick can do a lot as long as Di Masi does not block any idea that he does not see as his own.
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p>Recreating the Devins model is a very good idea, and this should also be tied to building more affordable housing.