Attending the Governor's Forum in Franklin, the Governor's approach was to seek ideas, after explaining that we are in deep, deep doo doo.
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After the Governor offered his few words, essentially explaining that when you think you've got a real mess, there are opportunities to be found. There are creative solutions that Bay State residents have to offer.
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After the Governor offered his few words, essentially explaining that when you think you've got a real mess, there are opportunities to be found. There are creative solutions that Bay State residents have to offer.
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The Governor was listening!
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Maybe I should have taken notes, but allow a few of my recollections--
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One woman pointed out that the school system has a "nurse" who deals with the school children that is partially reimbursed on the Cherry Sheet. The school system also has a public health clinic that is reimbursed at a higher percentage through another program that is pretty much a duplication of the school nurse.
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Maybe I should have taken notes, but allow a few of my recollections--
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One woman pointed out that the school system has a "nurse" who deals with the school children that is partially reimbursed on the Cherry Sheet. The school system also has a public health clinic that is reimbursed at a higher percentage through another program that is pretty much a duplication of the school nurse.
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Have we heard the teachers' union or school administrators protesting this?
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Another school administrator pointed out that to file for Medicaid reimbursement, the form changes each year, the instructions confusing, the reimbursement goes to the school, the program or into general government. She also indicated that some administrators have given up filing the forms.
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The Governor was familiar with the problem and addressed it at length.
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When the subject of cuts for programs for the disabled was discussed, one mother said 'cut the supervisors, but leave the case workers.'
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Similar sentiments were echoed during the Taunton Forum when someone said those with higher seniority should be the ones who were cut leaving the lower paid "workers."
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As the Governor rightly pointed out, now is the time to determine what we expect of government, what services we're willing to sacrifice and what we're willing to step up to the plate and support increased taxes to provide.
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But that's not all.
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Now is the time to redefine government, streamline the way services are delivered and come up with creative solutions.
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When it comes to services for children, the disabled and the elderly, services that I have yet to hear someone propose cutting, there are a dizzying array of agencies, bureaucracies, programs, employees, funding sources, regulations that provide those services.
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And just as we recognize that someone has been omitted, we create another program, service, agency and mechanism to cover that need.
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This is what the Speaker of the House DeLeo had to say about Transportation Reform:
On transportation reform, the House voted to eliminate the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the so-called "23 and out" pension policy at the MBTA. It also voted to place MBTA employees into the GIC for health insurance purposes so that real savings can be realized.
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One of the people present at the Governor's Forum in Franklin spoke at length about "Transportation" and the necessary reforms. He made sense.
.
The Governor listened.
.
The Speaker has not listened!
.
Another school administrator pointed out that to file for Medicaid reimbursement, the form changes each year, the instructions confusing, the reimbursement goes to the school, the program or into general government. She also indicated that some administrators have given up filing the forms.
.
The Governor was familiar with the problem and addressed it at length.
.
When the subject of cuts for programs for the disabled was discussed, one mother said 'cut the supervisors, but leave the case workers.'
.
Similar sentiments were echoed during the Taunton Forum when someone said those with higher seniority should be the ones who were cut leaving the lower paid "workers."
.
As the Governor rightly pointed out, now is the time to determine what we expect of government, what services we're willing to sacrifice and what we're willing to step up to the plate and support increased taxes to provide.
.
But that's not all.
.
Now is the time to redefine government, streamline the way services are delivered and come up with creative solutions.
.
When it comes to services for children, the disabled and the elderly, services that I have yet to hear someone propose cutting, there are a dizzying array of agencies, bureaucracies, programs, employees, funding sources, regulations that provide those services.
.
And just as we recognize that someone has been omitted, we create another program, service, agency and mechanism to cover that need.
.
This is what the Speaker of the House DeLeo had to say about Transportation Reform:
On transportation reform, the House voted to eliminate the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the so-called "23 and out" pension policy at the MBTA. It also voted to place MBTA employees into the GIC for health insurance purposes so that real savings can be realized.
.
One of the people present at the Governor's Forum in Franklin spoke at length about "Transportation" and the necessary reforms. He made sense.
.
The Governor listened.
.
The Speaker has not listened!
.
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