Smitty: Bash the Governor. Meddle with the Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education, trying to convince them to stop pushing for regionalization of school districts entirely. Ignore the educational benefits of having larger districts … [Read more...]
Cuts eliminate court session!
I received the following e-mail from the Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court, Judge Paula Carey, today [November 9, 2009]: NOTICE IT IS WITH DEEP REGRET THAT WE MUST TEMPORARILY CLOSE THE CONCORD SESSION OF THE PROBATE AND FAMILY … [Read more...]
Good News: Well deserved Angel Award to Etta Lappen Davis
Without Etta Lappen Davis, and people like her, more families would fail and more children would find themselves living on the streets. As it is, 800 kids a year on average find themselves homeless, with out families, and aged out of … [Read more...]
Line items matter – and a little transferability can be a dangerous thing – a case study
Here is a case study. In our state, the Chief Justice for Administration and Management [CJAM] has total control over a line item, 0330-0300 in which there is no itemization, nor any requirement that anything be spent on anything … [Read more...]
Reverse the curse – that is the only way to eliminate the 9C cuts and take care of the vulnerable
To find out what I mean by "reverse the curse" you will have to read to the end. No shortcuts, please! What "9C" describes is a law that Massachusetts must have a balanced budget at all times. Unlike the Federal Government, … [Read more...]
Incoming: Another billion plus in cuts including midyear cuts to “local aid”
Here is the link: http://www.thebostonchannel.co... When do we collectively say "enough", and protect the most vulnerable by raising revenue instead of cutting services to the vulnerable and letting our infrastructure degrade to third … [Read more...]
Mitt partly undoes the budget-cut damage
Within the Department of Mental Retardation line items, the governor restored $8.4 million out of the $9.8 million he had cut. The restored funding included the following:--A $2 million increase in the Turning-22 program. … [Read more...]