The ongoing battle between taxicab and livery operators has heated up once again, with a renewed call for "fair and open competition" between the two services.
Speaking on behalf of livery operators, Sam Rosario, of 141 South Flagg St., told the City Council Tuesday night that the city's current rules and regulations governing the taxi/livery industry do not allow for the kind of transportation services the public wants or deserves.
He said that unlike taxi operators, livery services cannot pick up people who flag them on the street. Instead, livery operators can only pick up customers by appointment with a minimum of 12 hours advance notice.
The city of Worcester caps the number of licensed Taxi abs at 110. Why? What makes this select few so special that they get a government protected oligopoly? If someone wants to give me a ride, and I want to pay them for that service, why is the government coming in with punishments and fines? It's not like they are dealing crack here. Shouldn't the number of cabs on the streets be determined in the free market by basic supply and demand?
Larson asked Capuano, who finished in second place, to share the wisdom he learned on the campaign trail.
Capuano took to the microphone, looked out at his colleagues and condensed what he'd learned into two words. "You're screwed," he told his friends in the House, according to one attendee. The room's silence was broken only by soft, nervous laughter.
Capuano confirmed the gist of the message -- "I'm not sure of the exact wording," he told HuffPost, chuckling -- and said that he doubted his wisdom was anything they didn't already know.
Talking Points Memo is reporting that Michael Capuano is leaning towards voting 'no' on health care. This would be a stunning blow for Nancy Pelosi and the prospects of ObamaCare.
For conservatives, there is nothing more important than defeating this bill right now, nothing. We shouldn't find solace in the fact that we will do well in November. If this bill becomes law, it will never be repealed and the consequences will be devastating. We should support all potential 'no' voters regardless of party. This issue is too important. I will gladly thank Capuano if he votes against ObamaCare. And I intend to call his office to encourage his rebellion.
Few Democrats understand the mood of the country like Capuano. Unlike his colleagues, who have been sequestered inside the Beltway Bubble, he had his feet on the ground during the primary. He knows how people really feel about this bill. Plus, he owes the moonbats nothing. Both Capuano and Lynch must be kicking themselves for lurching left during the primary.
But Capuano may have his redemption. Stick it to them, Michael. They sold you out for that uber-liberal flake from Pittsfield. Someone in the Democratic Party should make a claim for the Reagan Democrats who have been abandoned by the new Democratic Party. This is a good place to start. Call his office and tell Michael Capuano, kill the bill.
Like many of you, I'm a big basketball fan and I'm excited for the upcoming NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. And just because I'm busy campaigning doesn't mean I can't take part in the March Madness fun!
So here's the deal: I want to give you guys the opportunity to watch the championship game with me. We're going to hold our own "March Madness" contest and four winners will be selected to watch the game with me. It's easy - all you have to do to enter is recruit four of your friends to become new Team Baker members. To recruit your friends, send them this March Madness link and ask them to sign up: here. You can follow that link to find more details about the contest.
Hope you'll join us for a little fun as we all continue working hard to make 2010 a great year for Republicans in Massachusetts!
I have a quick question for the Governor. If Charlie Baker is so bad on healthcare and his former employer is an evil health care insurer. Why, of all the choices available to you, did you chose Harvard Pilgrim as the health care provider for your political committee employees?
11/25/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 010000 Boston, MA 02207 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance $348.08
1/28/2010 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance $348.08
8/31/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Campaign Override Health Insurance Payment $348.08
7/23/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance $348.08
4/27/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance $348.08
6/29/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance $348.08
11/4/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance $348.08
6/2/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance Premium Payment $348.08
3/27/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance $348.08
9/25/2009 HARVARD PILGRIM HEALTH CARE
PO BOX 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. HEALTH INSURANCE $348.08
12/24/2009 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
PO Box 970050 Boston, MA 02297 Patrick, Deval L. Health Insurance $348.08
Faced with a Rasmussen Reports poll that shows his re-election chances fading, Deval Patrick went on the attack yesterday. Accusing Charlie Baker and Tim Cahill of being AWOL on solutions for Health Care. The problem for Patrick is that he is lying. Charlie Baker for years has been an advocate for transparent pricing of health care services.
The Eagle Tribune last month praised Baker's push for transparency in health care costs. Where consumers would be told the actual full ocst of procedures they are having, and allow them to shop for the best deal.
Ironically enough, the report calls for "more transparency" about price and quality. This, in a report that features a glaring lack of transparency. Of course, the AG has legal cover: It's the Legislature's fault.
Also ironically, former Harvard Pilgrim Health Care CEO and current Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker has been calling for transparency for the past five years, for the same reasons.
But yeah, it would be very helpful to know that the success rate for knee replacements is better at the community hospital five miles away than at the much more expensive metro teaching hospital 40 miles away.
But the truth doesn't fit either Deval Patrick nor Barack Obama's agenda. Obama went on a full frontal attack on the health insurance industry yesterday. It's not a stretch to think Patrick's attacks were coordinated with the administration.
Prior to Joe Sheehan posting that Kerry Healey was running for Congress, Bill Hudak told the same to the Salem Evening News. Claiming even that Scott Brown called him to give him a heads up on the news.
The former lieutenant governor from Beverly was seriously considering a run for Congress against Democrat John Tierney, according to Bill Hudak, her would-be opponent in a Republican primary.
"You heard it here first," Hudak said at the beginning of a meeting with The Salem News' editorial board.
The source for Hudak's scoop was Sen. Scott Brown.
The senator relayed the information during a phone conversation with Hudak on Monday, Hudak said.
"(Brown) said that he had heard that she was thinking of running and that she had done some polling and it looked favorable," Hudak said.
That was the basis for the rumor that I had heard at about the same time that Joe posted on Red Mass Group. Did Brown call Hudak? We may never know as Brown's office declined comment.
We work and run hard every day. Our issues and positions
are those of mainstream citizens who have had it with the candiates put up by Big Business, Big Labor, Big Government and Big Media. Over the years, these fights at the Big Dig and against insiders have taken a toll on me but its a fight that is so worthwhile. Watching my home state fail is not a spectator sport. I have always told people the truth about their government.
As for our support, its more than I ever expected coming back into the Republican Party and growing. We have the message that is resonating with Republicans and Citizen Patriot groups alike. We can not win with 11% of registered voters who are Repulicans; neither could Senator Brown. I have put my positions on our website for everyone to read. I am for Main Street and my three opponents are for Wall Street. I humbly ask people to see the debates over the next three weeks with my Republican opponent and then see who best represents the interests of Small Businesses and Taxpayers who are up against a system the demotives a Saint each and every day. I am the outsider, the Populist, straight-talk on issues and you'll always get that. If you want the status quo vote for the Governor, the Treasurer, or my Republican opponent. They will certainly give you the status quo---they're all glitz and no guts. But, if you think our state needs a real outsiders view and a Governor who has taken the fight to the insiders before and won't ever let you down---then lets have a primary and fight for conservative issues and do the right thing for our Citizens. Christy
by: Christy Mihos @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 13:32:12 PM EST
- promoted by Paul R. Ferro)
State House News has reported that campaign manager Joe Manzoli has left the Christy Mihos campaign for Governor. I figure this is as good a time as any to have an open discussion about Christy Mihos.
As far as I can tell, people just don't want to vote for Christy. He has been treated as a candidate already in our rear view mirror. From day 1 of the campaign, dismissive opposition was clear among party insiders and activists. People disliked it when he left the party in 2006. They downright were downright angry with the way he ran his campaign, often going after Kerry Healey more than Deval Patrick.
Many of the Christy supporters that do exist have been an eclectic group of disorganized outsiders with various gripes against the Republican state party. Those gripes, and the involvement of Dick Morris (now former) have appeared as larger points of discussion than a clear vision of the direction Christy would like to take state government.
Christy has made proposals. He has called for reducing state payroll by $600 Million by cutting jobs and salaries. He supports lowering the sales tax to 3%. Yet these policy initiatives have taken a back seat to the follies of his campaign including lack of funds.
It must be frustrating to be Christy Mihos. There is an opening against Charlie Baker, particularly with the displeasure of the Tisei pick. Yet with Christy as the only other option available in the Republican primary he has not gotten any traction. Instead, we have seen some conservative activists leave the reservation entirely in favor of former Democrat Tim Cahill. Ouch.
The Republican State convention is rapidly approaching. What will happen with Christy? Will he get the 15% necessary? Will he find a running mate? Will he drop out?
(I just got off the phone with Tim O'Brien. He confirmed to me that Healey is not running. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
Update: Healey 2006 campaign manager Tim O'Brien has told Karen Anderson of WBZ that Healey will not be a candidate in 2010. Anderson's tweet says:
Kerry Healy is NOT running for Congress according to her aide... Despite rumors... Tim O'Brien says, "She will not be a candidate in 2010."
Ya win some grapevine rumors/ ya lose some. - Rob Eno
The rumor mill is spinning pretty crazily right now, but I'm hearing from two very, very reliable sources that former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey may be about to throw her hat into the 6th Congressional District race. I'm hearing this from two reliable parties from very different sides of the party, and think it's about as solid as it gets. Healey will jump into the race for Congress joining Bill Hudak in the primary, and eager for a chance against Massachusetts congressional delegation runt of the litter John Tierney.
It should be remembered that Healey actually held a fundraiser in her Beacon Hill apartment for Hudak back this winter, and was supporting him early on. Hudak has gained some serious steam up in the 6th, but is facing some criticisms for giving credence to "birther criticisms" and allegedly posting some questionable pictures of Obama on his property in the 2008 election. Hold on to your hats folks, it's going to be a wild ride... and guess what, you heard it here first.
(Get the Lawyers ready. This is unconstitutional on its face. Bring em to the Supremes if they try this. It's time to fight. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
The Dems in the House are preparing to change the rules so they can "deem" the Senate healthcare bill passed without ever voting for it.
House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter is prepping to help usher the healthcare overhaul through the House and potentially avoid a direct vote on the Senate overhaul bill, the chairwoman said Tuesday.
Slaughter is weighing preparing a rule that would consider the Senate bill passed once the House approves a corrections bill that would make changes to the Senate version.
Slaughter has not taken the plan to Speaker Pelosi as Democrats await CBO scores on the corrections bill. "Once the CBO gives us the score we'll spring right on it," she said. . . .
House members are concerned the Senate could fail to approve the corrections bill, making them nervous about passing the Senate bill with its much-maligned sweetheart deals for certain states.
"We're well beyond that," Pelosi said Tuesday, though she did not clarify.
It is even theoretically legal, although it stinks to high heaven.
Unlike in the Senate, where individual Senators have broad discretion to steer debate and introduce amendments, the legislative process in the House is rigidly governed by the Rules Committee. This limits the Republicans' options in fighting a self-executing rule for Obamacare. As one Republican House staffer put it to me today, "the Rules Committee can do just about anything if they can get the votes to pass the rule."
This is an exercise in raw political power. Is it any wonder that a recent Rasmussen poll showed that only 21% of American voters consider the federal government to have the consent of the governed?
(Here is the contact page for the SJC. Please contact them at 617-557-1020 to express your displeasure. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
In a stunning decision, today the Supreme Judicial Court said that the Second Amenment to the United States Constitution does not apply to Massachusetts.
In a victory for police, district attorneys and other gun-control advocates, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled today a state requirement to secure stored guns does not violate the Second Amendment - because an individual's right to bear arms only applies to federal jurisdictions, not the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The ruling comes in the case of a Billerica man whose son had ready access to his hunting rifle - which police discovered when they went to investigate why the kid was firing a BB gun at a neighbor's house. Richard Runyan was charged with failing to keep the rifle stored safely as required by state law. A lower-court judge dismissed the charge under a 2007 Supreme Court decision that invalidated Washington, DC's gun-control law.
So I now imagine that we will be seeing the following in Massachusetts: The return of Nativity Scenes on every town green, the recital of the Lord's Prayer to start the School Day, arrests without the reading of Miranda rights, search and seizure without a warrant, amongst others. If the Commonwealth can blatantly ignore one amendment to the Constitution of the United States through a ruling of the Supreme Judicial Court, it can ignore them all right?
STATEMENT OF JEFF PERRY IN RESPONSE TO
SJC DECISION UNDERMINING THE SECOND AMENDMENT
"I strongly disagree with the Supreme Judicial Court's decision today
that the Second Amendment to the Constitution does not apply to
Massachusetts.
The Second Amendment plainly guarantees Americans a personal and
individual right to own a firearm. This part of the Bill of Rights is
based on our founders' appreciation of the need for citizens of a
democracy to protect themselves from tyranny.
I believe our Constitution must be strictly construed, and I think
public confidence in our government is undermined whenever courts
purport to change the Constitution's meaning unilaterally. I find it
especially offensive that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the highest court of the state that was home to the battles of Lexington and Concord, would seek to avoid the individual liberties guaranteed by the Second Amendment mere weeks before Massachusetts residents celebrate Patriot's Day.
As a former police officer, I agree and understand the need to have reasonable public safety laws; however, the Court's decision today does much more than simply uphold gun safety laws, it sadly erodes an individual right."
Jamison Tomasek is running for State Senate in the 2nd Essex and Middlesex district. Current State Senator Susan Tucker has announced she is not running for re-election creating an open seat. He first announced his candidacy here at Red Mass Group on December 17th. Jamison had $2,050.01 cash on hand according to his 2009 year and report with OCPF. He is the only active candidate that had a Year-End filing.
Jamison Tomasek is a CPA and guest lecturer at Bentley University. He has served as Chairman of the Kimball Public Library Board of Trustees, President of Kids College, (a nonprofit organization providing enrichment programs for children) and Executive board of the President's Club (alumni organization) of Bentley University. More information can be found on his campaign website Jamison2010.com or his facebook page.
The 2nd Essex and Middlesex district is consistently better than the state average for a Republican. However, it has widely varying results in recent elections. Turnout is key, where the heavily Democratic city of Lawrence is put against the more Republican towns of Andover, Dracut and Tewksbury. Dracut and Tewksbury were won by both John McCain and Kerry Healey outright. In the 2008 Presidential election, Lawrence had the highest turnout (total voters) of any municipality in the district, while in the 2010 special election it had the lowest.
Susan Tucker (D) did not have an opponent in 2008 or 2006. In 2004, she defeated Deborah Jones (R) by a 72% to 28% margin. In 2002, she defeated Maria Marasco by a 63% to 37% margin.
"Some of the potential policy implications of this interim framework have the potential to be a real threat to recreational anglers who not only contribute billions of dollars to the economy and millions of dollars in tax revenues to support fisheries conservation, but who are also the backbone of the American fish and wildlife conservation ethic," said CSF President Jeff Crane.
Morlock, a member of the CSF board, added, "There are over one million jobs in America supported coast to coast by recreational fishing. The task force has not included any accountability requirements in their reports for evaluating or mitigating how the new policies they are drafting will impact the fishing industry or related economies.
"Given that the scope of this process appears to include a new set of policies for all coastal and inland waters of the United States, the omission of economic considerations is inexcusable."
This is not the only access issue threatening the public's right to fish, but it definitely is the most serious, according to Chris Horton, national conservation director for BASS.
"With what's being created, the same principles could apply inland as apply to the oceans," he said. "Under the guise of 'marine spatial planning' entire watersheds could be shut down, even 2,000 miles up a river drainage from the ocean.
"Every angler needs to be aware because if it's not happening in your backyard today or tomorrow, it will be eventually.
(Joe, Joe, Joe. You do know that the Attorney General has oversight of insurance companies right? Or did you miss Marcia Coakley's constant droning about it. So what you are saying is that the CEO of an insurance company gave a politician that runs an oversight agency $250? Well that's just earth shattering. Oh and he gave money to leadership in the legislature that writes laws that affects his business? I tell ya that is just earth shattering news Joe.
Wait Tim Cahill endorsed the guy that didn't want to roll back the income tax to 5%, and even cited that as his reason to? Ya don't say. Nothing to see here move along. - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
Recently Eabo Clipper posted the not so earth shattering news that Tim Cahill endorsed a member of his former political party, Deval Patrick, when Patrick was running for Governor in 2006. While I'm not giving Cahill a free pass, in the interest of good fun, I'm not giving Charlie Baker a free pass either.
With regards to Tim's initial endorsement of Coupe Deval, the sad reality of party politics, particularly for elected officials, is that is the way the system works -its one of the very reasons Cahill became an Independent. Cahill a Reagan Democrat/Lunch Pail Dem, got sick of having the pressure of the Party to support candidates he shared nothing in common with, and decided to do something about it and became an Independent.
Of course talk/endorsements is cheap in politics and as we all know, what really matters is putting your money where your mouth is(just ask WilburWood, he LOVES campaign $$, its all he believes in). While Cahill occasionally endorsed Democrats as a reality of being inside the Party structure, Cahill's disdain for his Party's leadership is clearer nowhere than his record of political giving. Between 2000-present, Cahill gave a grand total of ZERO ($0) to Democratic candidates.
On the other hand, Charlie Baker's record on political giving to liberal Democrats is truly breath-taking. This goes beyond... "oh money bags CEO's just watching out for his interest", this is a long pattern of support for these people probably just for funzies or outright support for their politics. So while you and I were working for State House challengers(you know because there might be one too many Dems on Beacon Hill), Baker was tossing money towards these liberal incumbents.
I think now we know why Bill Delahunt got himself out of his re-election race. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll shows the generic congressional ballot in Massachusetts tied at 38%. You read that right. The general re-elect number for incumbents is tied with 24% undecided.
Voters are evenly divided over whether their own local representative in Congress deserves to be reelected: 38% say yes, and the identical number (38%) say no.
In this electoral environment the undecideds will break towards a legitimate challenger. So far we see legitimate challenges shaping up in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 10th congressional districts. Massachusetts may just get a whole lot more purple.
The latest Rasmussen poll numbers are out for Massachusetts and they paint a good picture for Republicans in the Commonwealth. Scott Brown has a 70% approval rating, Deval Patrick continues to have an approval rating in the tank 61% disapprove of his job performance, and Baker is surging while Cahill fades.
Since Brown promised specifically if elected to vote against the president's health care plan, it's not surprising to find that just 35% of those who Strongly Favor the plan approve of the new senator's performance to date. However, 96% of those who Strongly Oppose the plan approve of how Brown is doing.
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Massachusetts voters think the media is paying too much attention to Brown, while just six percent (6%) think he's not getting enough media attention. Nearly one-out-of-two-voters (49%) in the state, though, say the coverage is about right.
Recent coverage has focused on Brown's decision to be one of a handful of Senate Republicans who at least initially have supported a jobs-creation plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats. Because Brown's victory has been attributed in part to the so-called Tea Party backlash against the president's big government agenda, he has been criticized by conservatives for supporting Obama's jobs plan.
Thirty-six percent (36%) of Massachusetts voters have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party movement, while 41% view it unfavorably. Only 13% of voters in the state consider themselves a part of that movement.
Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters in Massachusetts think it would be better for the country if most congressional incumbents were defeated in November. Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree.
Voters are evenly divided over whether their own local representative in Congress deserves to be reelected: 38% say yes, and the identical number (38%) say no.
The Governor's numbers are available if you pay for access in the crosstabs. They don't paint a great picture for the Governor. In a head to head race Baker is virtually tied with Patrick with Cahill over 10 points behind. Exact numbers will be released tomorrow.
(Reed Hillman for AG! - promoted by Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno)
GOP hopes for a take-down of "Marcia" Coakley go down in flames. Scott Brown advisor Peter Flaherty says he won't run against Coakley for AG. An unfortunate turn of events for the state GOP. Flahery said he wants to spend more time with his family.
Meanwhile no other candidate has emerged. Will M. Coakley get a free ride. Heaven help the Commonwealth, I say.
Based on other columns by Ms. Eagan, I was rather shocked to read this one. Surprisingly, she hits the nail right square on the head.
Make no mistake. This is why we're broke. This is why your neighborhood firehouses and libraries are shutting down and your kids' class sizes are going up - along with your property taxes. Your local politician might try to blame the recession or energy costs or whatever. Don't believe him.
The truth, Average Joe and Jane? You are paying more taxes and getting fewer services so that government workers - whose wallets already are fatter than yours - can continue to get theirs, and more. You'll be scraping by in retirement, assuming you can ever retire. They'll be retiring in their 50s, secure, with health care and pensions for life. And you paid for them.
I've got one word of advice for all those new Republican candidates out there - you better not partake in this and you better do everything you can to end it. Or you may find yourself on the receiving end of voter anger just like the hacks in charge now.
I think the folks have had enough. From both sides.
State House News has reported that campaign manager Joe Manzoli has left the Christy Mihos campaign for Governor. I figure this is as good a time as any to have an open discussion about Christy Mihos.
Recently Eabo Clipper posted the not so earth shattering news that Tim Cahill endorsed a member of his former political party, Deval Patrick, when Patrick was running for Governor in 2006. While I'm not giving Cahill a free pass, in the interest of good fun, I'm not giving Charlie Baker a free pass either.
