There was an interesting AP story today by Glen Johnson. He makes the case that the Governor’s slow and steady approach, with a focus on long-term solutions and change, is producing results and laying the groundwork for long-term success.
Glen writes in part: “Eighteen months later, Patrick appears driven more by the broader picture and the long term, a philosophy that has girded his maturing administration and may pay dividends if and when he decides to run for re-election in 2010.
The state’s first Democratic governor in 16 years has done a lot of spade work since taking office and believes the fruits are becoming apparent with time…Patrick also is poised for some other big-ticket wins: approval for a $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative, a Clean Energy bill, a $27 billion state budget he helped define and legislation to close corporate tax loopholes.”
For me, the Governor’s approach is very familiar. During the campaign, he focused on building the grassroots, traveling across the state meeting with voters, and developing an extensive library of detailed issue papers that were posted on the website. While we were criticized by some for not focusing on the traditional campaign techniques (ie – raising money), the long-term focus clearly paid off in the end.
I look forward to peoples responses to the AP article.
As it may be obvious, I remain skeptical of the Governor and his administration. From the AP article, it seems like Deval’s spin on marginal accomplishments means something totally different than what is in plain view.
<
p>But what could one expect from someone who is making million dollar book deals as the state is adrift!
<
p>I would say time has told. But Deval is saying slow and steady. What a dicotimy?
<
p>No re-education camps needed here! It seems as though the press, or some in the press, are serving that purpose.
<
p>I never thought I would live to see the day. But here in America anything is possible!
<
p>
A lot stuff on Deval’s style, which is more a Rorscach Test then anything else. Slow and steady only works out if you actually finish. However, the meat of the article is a list of Deval’s accomplishments. Sentences directly in front of the dashes are from the original…
<
p>– Convinced the Legislature to kill a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
(This reporter is confusing Deval with Sal DiMasi. Not sure how that’s even possible).
<
p>– Appointed an insurance commissioner who enacted an overhaul of auto insurance that is increasing consumer choice and lowering premium costs.
(Really? I’ve heard a lot on either side on this debate, but the fact that this move gives the insurance industry exactly what it wants makes me suspicious. Saved me about $5/yr).
<
p>– Wended his way through the decision-making necessary to implement the nation’s first universal health care law.
(Okay…so he’s doing his job of executing the laws passed by the legislature. Not the stuff of statuary.)
<
p>– Renegotiated state bonds on more favorable terms.
(I know nothing about this. I’m glad to hear this…how much of this is thanks to Deval, how much thanks to Cahill?)
<
p>This year, the team has:
<
p>– Seated the first Child Advocate to deal with child welfare issues.
(Excellent for him. Thumbs-up)
<
p>– Signed a landmark Oceans Bill regulating development in the first three miles off the Massachusetts coast.
(A second thumbs-up)
<
p>– Won approval for transportation and housing bond bills.
(Well, he’s paying the bills. Good)
<
p>The article then goes on to talk about Deval’s plans. What may or may not happen.
<
p>This list has seven items…to me, it includes three clear accomplishments of which he and we can be proud, and four washes. That’s not too bad, but not exactly reflective of the man’s term; heck, it even leaves out Obama’s implementation of a Secretaryship of Education (big props) and his Quixote-like pursuit of casinos (big raspberries).
<
p>The best news is that the victories seem to be of more recent vintage, which portends well for the future. While not dishonest, this article is a great spin on Patrick’s term, and benefits him to the extent that it appears before anyone unfamiliar with his record.
Sure they have similarities, but they are two different people…
I was typing this during the meeting of the Rules & Bylaws committee, so a couple wires got crossed.
Patrick got us in on RGGI and he also ratcheted up energy efficiency standards for state agencies. Two more pluses as far as I’m concerned.
Those are plusses, especially RGGI.
<
p>A major difficulty with evaluating Deval is figuring out “value-added”. A lot of what he has done is simply due to the fact that he is not a presidential candidate in waiting who hates this state. (True, he’s a Cabinet member in waiting, but let’s leave that for another day.)
<
p>I think that it is entirely fair to evaluate Deval not in terms of “better than Romney”, which is a low bar, but “value added” over a Gabrieli or Reilly governorship. Some of what he has done is obvious good government, and frankly I don’t think he gets big points for that. The Oceans Bill, for example. One can make the case Gabrieli would have done more for education than the bureaucratic shuffling Deval has accomplished.
<
p>I will say that over the last few months Deval is starting to get a better handle on the job, and has the potential to fashion his time at the helm into something of quality.
and I may not recall correctly, but I don’t remember Gabs being a big enviro guy. Might just be forgetting, but I don’t recall him pushing hard for Cape Wind, etc. So, oceans bill and RGGI might not have been slam dunks for him, or Reilly for that matter. I don’t think they’d be terrible on enviro issues, but they might not have pushed as hard as DP has.
<
p>Of course, they might have been willing to sign an expanded bottle bill, something DP’s steadfastly against, so there’s the flip.
Because the Massachusetts Board of Education has a strong role and because of the nature of educational governance at all levels here, little could be accomplished without bureaucratic shuffling. For better or worse, a restructuring of the bureaucracy was also a major piece of the last round of education reform here. Not saying who would have done best with it, but the restructuring is a precursor and some patience is required on this one.
Good to see someone in the media thinking about the positive developments and groundwork that the Governor has been laying and that are starting to pay off for him.
<
p>I tend to think the expectations of a lot of media and supporters (including myself) were completely unrealistic — shaped by Governor Patrick’s landslide and the fact that he was the first Democrat in the office in 16 years set those expectations running.
<
p>Its like everyone expects a repeat of Roosevelt’s 100 days – that a new executive will come in and in quick succession pass his whole agenda through a quiescent legislature.
<
p>The fact is, such occassions are amazingly rare in our history. Our system of Government is defensive in nature, rewarding incrementalism and careully-crafted consensus. I think the Governor get’s that its a long-term game and hasn’t let the distractions get to him. Good stuff.
this sentence
<
p>Carefully crafting consensus — a tough job, especially when you are not the only smart boy/girl in the room.
<
p>Newly elected executives come in with their priotities and plans only to run smack into the the already well developed campaigns of multiple smart special interest groups pushing their own priorities and plans. Some of the campaigns hope the newly elected will be their champion and push their campaign over the top, some of the campaigns with their own champions in the legislative leadership hoping the newly elected will be polite enough to just get out of their way.
<
p>
… take a moment and write the Globe and the author and tell them your sentiments.