As one of the long time community activists organizing to strengthen our neighborhoods and our communities through the Coalition of Social Justice and the Coalition against Poverty in the various South Coast cities and towns, I can tell you first hand how low and moderate income people have been carrying more than their fair share of the pain imposed by past budget cuts.
As members of ONE Massachusetts, we've been learning a lot about the various tax credits offered to corporations, especially the Film Tax Credit. We've studied reports from DOR and Mass INC, and are not convinced that we get a good return on the dollars we invest by paying 25% of the enormous salaries, the likes of Tom Cruise.
The Governor has taken an important step by imposing a temporary cap on the film credit although it still allows $50 million dollars in credits for FY11 and FY12. We'll be supporting this proposal, and may even be suggesting more!!!
I am not surprised the film industry is complaining, but at least they agree that the responsibility should be shared.
In these difficult times every sector of the economy must contribute to the well being of the Commonwealth.
http://www.mass.gov/bb/h1/fy11h1/
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For the able-bodied and minded…but certainly not for the disabled. Please allow me to direct your attention over here:
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p>http://vps28478.inmotionhosting.com/~bluema24/d…
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p>The Governor is closing down state facilities for people with developmental disabilities and not putting the “savings” back into an already fragmented community system.
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p>Even the Governor’s cheerleaders in the vendor organizations are dismayed.
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p>This is not “progressive” budgeting. This is reverse Robin Hood…taking from the weakest of the weak and redistributing it elsewhere.
I’m not happy with the budget either, although I suppose it could be worse. He was communicating better though, finally, with a compassionate and understanding tone.
liveandletlive, tone isn’t as terribly important to me as a budget that reflects our priorities. I am not and have never been a vendor cheerleader, but this budget communicates a tremendous failure on the part of the administration. It claimed it would close the facilities – but never fear families – we are plowing the proceeds back into community programs. It was alleged that the new investment into community programs would allow them to adequately support this very disabled and fragile population. But we’re not seeing that. So these very fragile and very disabled people are being shoe horned into inappropriate placements and into a system ill equipped to manage their care, without the resources necessary for that care.
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p>This is not a failure of tone or communication. This is a failure to tell the truth. Reverse Robin Hood. Taking from the poor, disabled and weak (who mostly don’t vote)…and redistributing it elsewhere (likely to those who do).
in order for him to connect with the voters and have them open their ears to listen.
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p>I know there is a lot of outrage regarding the closing of DMR facilities. Monson Developmental Center will a huge impact on the region I live in. I am familiar with the people who live in that setting, although it’s been more than a decade since I worked there.
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p>I am not all that “informed” about the impacts of sending these people to community based settings. I know of a few group homes, as well as individuals who are living in private households and accepted as members of the family. In any of the cases I’m aware of, there is no monstrosity of decline in care, or abusive situations, or discomfort for the residents.
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p>I do know that the buildings the government is trying to close are old, far from energy efficient, costly to maintain and run. I know that the people who remain in these homes are those who need extraordinary care with medical needs and help with personal care.
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p>I think a better idea than scattering these people about into small group homes and individual households would be to build one smaller, energy efficient, modern, hospital type (yet comfortable and homelike) building in the area where the closing building currently exist. I know these people have great medical needs. Keeping them together will definitely make it easier(and more cost effective) to provide co-ordinated care for all of their needs, from diet to physical therapy, to dental, and more.
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p>Has that idea been proposed to the Governor? It does seem more cost effective than building homes scattered across the state, as well as being a better solution for the resident. Do you think that is a good idea?
energy efficient moderate sized medical facilities pass on and the population declines, the buildings can be transformed for use by disabled veterans or the elderly.
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p>I think it would be a great investment. Too bad it’s not shovel ready, for stimulus funds.
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p>I agree, these people are getting the short end of the stick. Good luck to you and keep fighting.
has been a message from ONE Mass for over a year now. First in a plea to the Governor to look to new revenue sources through the Tax Expenditure budget and the rainy day fund rather than balancing the FY09 budget with 9C cuts in the fall of 08.
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p>And here we go again, this time thanking the Governor for proposing to close some some of the sales tax loopholes and temporarily suspending some tax credits to find $151 million dollars of new revenue for the FY11 budget AND urging the Legisalture to find more. (No question he could have found more, and we wish he had so we could begin to repair and restore the public strucutres that help our physically and mentaly disabled friends and neighbors for whom you advocate so well, live in peace and security.)
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p>One more thing to ask you if I may. Please think about including a revenue message in your advocacy here. As I asked Amberpaw to include in her advocacy for indigent childrn.
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p>Finally, both Lew Finfer and I would like to invite you to come to one of the two workshops we hare having to learn how to insert a revenue message in your legislative advocacy.