MASSterList: Threading the GOP needle | Last-ditch Green Line effort | Energy showdown

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Threading the GOP needle | Last-ditch Green Line effort | Energy showdown

Happening Today


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The Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments in Commonwealth v. Eric Snyder; Commonwealth v. David Miller; and Commonwealth v. Eric Durand, John Adams Courthouse, Courtroom One, second floor, Pemberton Square, 9 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz keynotes the Network of Women in Solidarity's 9th annual Women's Conference. Reps. Jeffrey Sanchez, Liz Malia, and Marcos Devers are slated to host the event, State House, 9 a.m.

The Joint Committee on Education holds a rare Friday public hearing on H 4219, a bill that would change the way the state funds local school districts, Room A-2, 12 p.m.

Gov. Charlie Baker attends a fundraiser for Ludlow School Committee member Chip Harrington, who is running for state Senate in the 1st Hampden and Hampshire District, the Polish American Citizens Club, Ludlow, 6 p.m.

Down ticket trouble for GOP? Part II

In an item yesterday, we wondered how Donald Trump leading the Republican ticket this fall might impact local down-ballot races in Massachusetts. The somewhat conventional-wisdom conclusion: He’ll probably end up hurting local Republican candidates in this bluest of blue states.

But then State House News Service’s Matt Murphy came out with this stunning news, appearing in Commonwealth magazine: Republicans plan to put up challengers in only about 40 percent of House and Senate seats this fall. That’s right: The majority of seats are going unchallenged. Even for Massachusetts Republicans, this is extraordinary.

But state Republicans say it’s actually a deliberate policy to target very specific races they think they can retain and win – and that the strategy is aimed at a net increase in GOP seats. “We’re trying to work smart and efficiently, recognizing that this is a presidential year in an overwhelmingly entrenched Democratic machine state in terms of the top of the ticket, so we’re trying to make as much use of the year as we can,” said Mass GOP Chairwoman Kirsten Hughes.

OK, we get the theory and the limitations facing Republicans. And we also get the fact that Donald Trump, the future GOP presidential nominee, may well excite and attract a substantial number of blue-collar workers in some districts, such as in Revere, as MassLive’s Shira Schoenbergnotes.

But state Republicans are definitely trying to thread a very small political needle here. CommonWealth (SHNS)

Will Trump crown Warren?

Irony of ironies: Trump could end up hurting local Republicans while helping Elizabeth Warren. David Bernstein argues in Politico that the ascendance of Donald Trump may indeed help make Warren the leader of a new, powerful progressive movement in the U.S. Senate. While many have lamented her absence from the presidential race, Bernstein says Warren may be playing a long game that sees her emerge atop a newly constituted senate. “While Republicans decide which cliff to leap off, Trump’s nomination could unwittingly usher into power a small army of liberal women, following Warren into battle against wealthy money men like himself.” Politico

Energy policy showdown

It might seem obscure: A court hearing yesterday over how to pay for new natural gas pipelines in Massachusetts. But the legal case is actually a big, big deal, as the Herald’s Jordan Graham notes: “A showdown that could dictate the future of energy in the Bay State is now in the hands of the state’s highest court as justices weigh whether utilities can charge ratepayers a surcharge for new natural gas pipelines."

The issue is basically pitting the Baker administration, which favors some pipeline expansions in the state, against 
Attorney General Maura Healey and the Conservation Law Foundation – with an LNG company hovering in the background, it should be noted.CommonWealth’s Bruce Mohl has more on the court hearing. Boston Herald

Hospitals in talks with union to avert ballot question

This is interesting, as reported by the Globe’s Priyanka Dayal McCluskey: “Hospital industry executives are negotiating a deal with a major union for health care workers to stave off a November ballot question that could cost some of the state’s most prominent medical institutions hundreds of millions of dollars a year. At issue is a proposed ballot initiative by the Service Employees International Union, Local 1199, that would dramatically change the way health care is financed.” Boston Globe

Cities offer up $75M to save Green Line extension. But will it be enough?

In an attempt to save the proposed Green Line extension project, the cities of Somerville and Cambridge have taken the unusual step of offering to contribute a combined $75 million toward getting the delayed project back on track, reports Andy Metzger of the State House New Service (pay wall). The offer came as a regional transportation planning agency also took steps to shift another $152 million toward the earlier stages of the extension project, reports the Globe’s Tim Logan and Travis Andersen. But with project cost overruns now pegged at about $1 billion, will the combined $227 million be enough? The MBTA and MassDOT boards may vote on the fate of the Green Line extension project as soon as Monday.

When it comes to fighting anti-Semitism, Newton can learn from Swampscott

In a piece headlined “A Tale of Two Jerusalems,” the Jewish Journal’s Joshua Resnek reports on how two communities – Swampscott and Newton – reacted differently to recent anti-Semitic incidents. The bottom line: many Jewish resident are still furious and frustrated that a city meeting last month in Newton, called after recent anti-Semitic incidents at Newton schools, somehow evolved into a discussion about discrimination in general.

As we’ve noted before, sometimes trying to broaden a message blunts a message. In the case of Newton, good-intentioned efforts to link one form of prejudice and hate to other forms of prejudice and hate merely blunted the important message that very specific anti-Semitic incidents were occurring in Newton. City officials lost sight of that simple fact. Jewish Journal

GE’s Jeff Immelt finds a home in Boston

It seems General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, whose company is relocating from Connecticut to Boston, has found his own new abode in the city. The Boston Business Journal’s Catherine Carlock has the scoop: “Public records indicate Immelt and his wife, Andrea, are under contract to purchase a 3,565-square-foot triplex home at 36 Commonwealth Ave., a four-bedroom property located a stone’s throw from the Boston Public Garden. The condominium was listed for just shy of $8 million, or $2,243 per square foot, almost double its December 2007 sales price of $4.6 million. Features include a gourmet eat-in kitchen, a private deck, wood-paneled library and three fireplaces.” BBJ

Indy race explored Suffolk Downs option as bid sputtered

Organizers of the late effort to bring Indy Car racing to South Boston made a last-ditch effort to save the event by attempting to move it from Southie to Suffolk Downs, Joe Battenfeld of the Herald reports. Though some called the move a strategic one meant to appease investors, organizers went as far as to survey the horse track before pulling the plug completely. Boston Herald

The Massachusetts Senate has approved an agriculture bill that legalizes the sale of locally brewed beer at farmers’ markets and bans the use of plastic bags at those events, Shira Schoenberg of MassLive reports. The bill also gives farmers more options for selling raw milk to consumers and includes support for community garden programs. MassLive

The Department of Families and Children is falling short of its goal to expedite appeal hearings when children are removed from a home, Michael Levenson of the Globe reports. The problem is especially acute for low-income parents for whom obtaining legal counsel is a burden and comes as the DCF is on pace to remove a record number of children from their homes. Boston Globe

Cap raised on Walsh attorney hire

A defense attorney first hired by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh last fall in the wake of the Top Chef scandal has had the cap on his contract with the city lifted to $200,000, Kyle Scott Clauss of Boston Magazine reports. Nixon Peabody attorney Brian T. Kelly is earning $625 an hour from the city and was originally to be paid no more than $50,000. Boston Magazine

DC Dialogue
, NECN, 10 a.m. Rich Doherty, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts, on how to make college more affordable and the economic impact of the commencement season in Massachusetts; political analyst Scott Spradling discusses presidential politics

This Week in Business, NECN, 12:30 p.m. Guests: Jim Rooney, Greater Boston Chamber CEO, and a panel discussion on whether Boston is the city of “no,” hydropower policy, post-college job hunting, and the changing role of CEOs.

CEO Corner, NECN, 8:30 p.m. Timberland president Stewart Whitney on plans for growth, the switch from being a family owned company to corporate-owned business, and Timberland’s commitment to philanthropy and environmental causes.

On the Record, WCVB Channel 5, 11 a.m. Guest: U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, followed by a political roundtable discussion on current political events.

Matter of Fact with Fernando Espuelas, WCVB Channel 5, 11:30 a.m. Guests include: Francesca Chambers, White House correspondent for the Daily Mail, on the presidential race, and Diane Guerrero, an actress in the Netflix show "Orange is the New Black,” on her new book about her life as the daughter of undocumented immigrants, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, of the National Institute of Health.


Today's Headlines

Metro

Cities offer $75m Green Line lifeline - Boston Globe

Grand hopes dashed for Indy event - Boston Herald

Marty Walsh increases defense attorney’s taxpayer-funded contract to $200,000 - Boston Magazine

Boston public schools students may have consumed lead-tainted water - Boston Magazine

Wynn says construction will start this summer - CommonWealth Magazine

GE CEO Jeff Immelt has found a home in Boston - Boston Business Journal

Massachusetts

Lowell schools begin to address serious lag in minority hiring - Lowell Sun

Carney to pursue horse racing at Fairgrounds after casino bid dies - The Enterprise

Analysis: Massachusetts is still not Trump country - WBUR

Foes of legal pot say public misled on ballot initiative - Cape Cod Times

Abington now final hurdle for Southfield developer - Patriot Ledger

Worcester urban renewal plan gets mostly positive response - Telegram & Gazette

Worcester deputy police chief Steve Sargent is promoted to chief - Telegram & Gazette

Enraged Wellesley parent’s emails led to cancellation of Trump skit - Boston Magazine

The gateway debate over marijuana - CommonWealth Magazine

State fight for delegates divides Democrats - Boston Globe

Nation

Paul Ryan declines to endorse Donald Trump - Boston Globe

Strategist Mary Matalin leaves GOP. Here’s why - Boston Globe

**************Selling the GE SCAM to the public

WHERE'S THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS? 

A PUBLIC FUNDED HELIPAD instead of solving Boston's Grid Lock? or improving PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? 


Now the Bobble Heads need to figure out how to SELL a HELIPAD  to the public! 

Have you noticed how the Corporate Media PROPAGANDA MACHINES have jumped on board to promote the PROPAGANDA? 

Emails reveal Boston official 'choking' on generous incentives to GE

GE expected to complete move to Boston in 2018

Published  7:40 PM EDT Apr 06, 2016

BOSTON —5 Investigates and Northeastern University School of Journalism have obtained hundreds of emails from Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's office that shed light on the behind-the-scenes movements to bring General Electric to Boston.

The deal inked in January provides GE with property tax relief of up to $25 million from the city and up to $120 million in incentives from the state.

The emails started last June with the city of Boston "targeting the big companies ... most impacted by a Connecticut tax law change..."

No. 1 on the city's list -- General Electric.

By last September, GE executives were on their way to Boston, meeting Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker, but the meeting was top secret.

For the next few months, General Electric would only be referred to as "Project Plum" in the emails.

The September visit included a detailed tour for the GE executives, complete with a police escort, in which they were shown possible sites in the city.

The next day, the emails indicate the tour was hailed as a "big success."

The emails reveal city and state officials working for months, putting together the best possible deal for GE.

There were discussions about how much property tax relief to provide, which began at between $8 million and $12 million worth and grew to $20 million.

The increased incentives raised concerns in Walsh's inner circle.

"It's the number I'm choking on." wrote city assessor Ronald Rakow, concerned about the "disproportionately high" benefit given to GE in exchange for bringing 600 jobs to Boston.

The final deal provided even more property tax relief, up to $25 million.

Walsh's office now says the city assessor was reacting to an earlier version of the deal and that GE is now bringing 800 jobs and occupying more square footage in Boston.

However, in another email Rakow joked about the benefits being offered to GE: "I wish I had a multi-national corporation to relocate to Boston."

There were also concerns from the governor's office about gushing about the sweet deal being offered to the company.

The governor's chief of staff succeeded in removing a line in the proposal from Gov. Baker and Mayor Walsh to GE that called the deal "...the most substantial package of supports offered for a single business development in Boston."

"It is something that you might say," wrote chief of staff Steven Kadish in an email. "But not put in the proposal!?!"

GE is expected to complete its move to Boston in 2018.

This investigation was reported on for a seminar in investigative reporting taught by 5 Investigates' Mike Beaudet, who is also a journalism professor at Northeastern University. The following students contributed to the report: Stephen Daly, Adam Glanzman, Matthew Ingersoll, Kelly Kasulis, Catherine Lindsay, Alexandra Malloy, Daniel McLoone, Diana Novakovic, Owen Pence, Alejandro Serrano, Shondiin Silversmith, Miharu Sugie and Emily Turner.

VIDEO ON LINK

http://www.wcvb.com/news/emails-reveal-boston-official-choking-on-generous-incentives-to-ge/38901864


http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/techflash/2016/04/gov-baker-logan-airport-is-a-big-reason-ge-chose.html

Gov. Baker: Logan Airport is a big reason GE chose Fort Point HQ

Apr 6, 2016

Access to transportation is one of the key reasons that General Electric Co. set its sights on Boston's Fort Point neighborhood for its new headquarters, said Gov. Charlie Baker at a business luncheon in Waltham on Wednesday.

Not necessarily public transportation, he said, but air transportation.

Enlarge

El Al will begin flying into Logan Airport in summer 2015.

ADRIAN PINGSTONE

Logan International Airport, mere minutes away from where GE (NYSE: GE) plans to locate its headquarters in the Seaport, was likely one of the main drivers in GE's decision.

"The airport has dramatically expanded its domestic nonstop capacity and international nonstop capacity with all kinds of plans to continue to grow its international nonstop capacity over the course of the next decade," he said at the Massachusetts High Technology Council's annual meeting at Bentley University in Waltham on Wednesday. "That starts to look really special and that's not necessarily something we think about when we think about why GE put Boston and Massachusetts on the map."

It underscores the importance of investments in "a different kind of transportation," and how those investments could play a big part in attracting global companies, Baker said.

GE officials have said ease of travel was one of many criteria used to find a headquarters location.

GE announced last month that it will spend as much as $100 million to build out its new world headquarters that will be based at 5 and 6 Necco Way in Fort Point, representing roughly 2.5 acres.

It remains to be seen how much GE would use Logan, as talks about a proposed "public helipad" are currently in the works.


City economic development chief John Barros told reporters earlier this week at GE's press conference that the helipad proposed in government officials’ pitch book to GE would be a "public helipad" and thus not be located on either the Necco buildings or the newly built GE headquarters building.


The city has considered multiple sites within both downtown and Fort Point that could be utilized by both hospitals and private corporations, Barros said. “We’ve got to find a location with true public access,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure this thing feels like a public helipad.” What’s more, Barros said, a public helipad would likely be funded with public dollars.


It's become evident that new flights to international cities are often considered a boon for Boston's tech sector. When El Al began offering service from Logan International Airport to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport last year, for example, Boston's tech and startup sector was grateful.

The flights were hugely beneficial to companies including CyberArk Software (Nasdaq: CYBR), Cybereason, and dozens of Massachusetts companies that have offices or major research and development teams in Israel.

Robby Bitting, spokesman for Boston-based startup accelerator program MassChallenge, said the flights were well received.

"We've found the direct flights to Israel have been great for us (many of my Boston-based colleagues have visited our Jerusalem office and vice versa) and so any time Boston is connected to other major cities that's a good thing," Bitting said in a previous interview.

Flights from Boston to Cuba could also be on the horizon.

JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) recently submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation to start daily service between Cuba and Boston.

JetBlue proposed 15 daily roundtrip flights connecting four Cuban cities with six U.S. cities, including the airline’s focus cities in South Florida, New York and Boston. Service from Boston to Havana would be one flight per day, while the airline said it would pursue four flights per day between Ft. Lauderdale and Havana.

Overselling the GE Taxpayer SCAM! MASSterList: Charter chicken | Et tu, Aetna? | Campaign finance ruling

Tea Bagger Guv Baker couldn't wait to promote a Republican SCAM with the GE GIVEAWAYS! 

Check out GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt's history.  

Where's the COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS of this SCAM? 

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was dumb enough to follow like a Bobble Head, as he slashes Public Education Funding. 

America’s Top 10 Corporate Tax Avoiders

1. General Electric

From 2008 to 2013, while GE made over $33.9 billion in United States profits, it received a total tax refund of more than $2.9 billion from the Internal Revenue Service.

G.E.’s effective U.S. corporate income tax rate over this six year period was -9 percent.

In 2012, GE stashed $108 billion in offshore tax havens to avoid paying income taxes. If this practice were outlawed, GE would have paid $37.8 billion in federal income taxes that year.

During the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve provided GE with $16 billion in financial assistance, at a time when its CEO Jeffrey Immelt was a director of the New York Federal Reserve.

GE has been a leader in outsourcing decent paying jobs to China, Mexico and other low-wage countries.

Mr. Immelt has a retirement account at General Electric worth an estimated $59 million and made $19 million in total compensation last year.

He is a member of the Business Roundtable, a group that wants to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security to 70, cut Social Security and veterans’ benefits, increase taxes on working families, and cut corporate taxes even further.

On December 6, 2002, Jeffrey Immelt said at an investors’ meeting, “When I am talking to GE managers, I talk China, China, China, China, China. You need to be there. You need to change the way people talk about it and how they get there. I am a nut on China. Outsourcing from China is going to grow to $5 billion. We are building a tech center in China. Every discussion today has to center on China. The cost basis is extremely attractive. You can take an 18 cubic foot refrigerator, make it in China, land it in the United States, and land it for less than we can make an 18 cubic foot refrigerator today, ourselves.” 

2. Boeing

From 2008 to 2013, while Boeing made over $26.4 billion in U.S. profits, it received a total tax refund of $401 million from the IRS. Boeing’s effective U.S. corporate income tax rate over this six-year period was -2 percent.

Boeing is one of the top recipients of corporate welfare in the United States and has outsourced tens of thousands of decent paying jobs to China and other low-wage countries.

Boeing even has its own taxpayer-funded bank known as the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Boeing has received so much corporate welfare from this bank that it has been dubbed “the Bank of Boeing.”

Boeing CEO W. James McNerney, Jr. made $23.3 million in total compensation last year. Mr. McNerney, as a memberof the Business Roundtable, wants to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security to 70 and make significant cuts to Social Security.

3. Verizon

From 2008 to 2013, while Verizon made over $42.4 billion in U.S. profits, it received a total tax refund of $732 million from the IRS.

Verizon’s effective U.S. corporate income tax rate over this six-year period was -2 percent.

In 2012, Verizon stashed $1.8 billion in offshore tax havens to avoid paying U.S. income taxes. Verizon would owe an estimated $630 million in federal income taxes if its use of offshore tax avoidance was eliminated.

In 2013, Lowell McAdam, the CEO of Verizon made $15.8 million in total compensation. He wants to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security to 70, and make significant cuts to Social Security as a member of the Business Roundtable.

4. Bank of America

Bank of America received a $1.9 billion tax refund from the IRS in 2010, even though it made $4.4 billion in profits and received a bailout from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department of more than $1.3 trillion.

In 2012, Bank of America operated more than 300 subsidiaries incorporated in offshore tax havens like the Cayman Islands, which has no corporate taxes.

In 2012, Bank of America stashed $17.2 billion in offshore tax havens to avoid paying U.S. income taxes. Bank of America would owe an estimated $4.3 billion in federal income taxes if its use of offshore tax avoidance strategies were eliminated.

Last year, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan made $13.1 million in total compensation, but he wants to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security to 70, and make significant cuts to Social Security as a member of the Business Roundtable.

5. Citigroup

Citigroup made more than $4 billion in profits in 2010, but paid no federal income taxes. Citigroup received a $2.5 trillion bailout from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury during the financial crisis.

Citigroup has established 427 subsidiaries incorporated in offshore tax havens.

In 2012, it stashed $42.6 billion in offshore tax havens to avoid paying U.S. income taxes. Citigroup would owe an estimated $11.5 billion in federal income taxes if its use of offshore tax avoidance strategies were eliminated.

Michael Corbat, the CEO of Citigroup, made more than $17.6 million in total compensation last year.

6. Pfizer

Pfizer, one of the largest prescription drug companies in America, not only paid no federal income taxes from 2010 to 2012, it received $2.2 billion in tax refunds from the IRS at the same time it made $43 billion in profits worldwide.

In 2012, Pfizer stashed $73 billion in profits offshore and has used aggressive offshore tax strategies to avoid paying U.S. income taxes.

Ian Read, the CEO of Pfizer, made $17.7 million in total compensation last year.

Hank McKinnell, Jr., who was Pfizer’s CEO from 2001 to 2006, received a golden parachute from Pfizer worth anestimated $188 million.

7. FedEx

In 2011, Federal Express received a $135 million tax refund from the IRS even though it made more than $2.7 billion in U.S. profits that year.

FedEx receives more than $1 billion a year from the U.S. Postal Service to provide air service for all express mail and priority mail shipments.

Frederick Smith, the CEO of FedEx, made more than $12.6 million in total compensation last year.

8. Honeywell

From 2009 to 2010, not only did Honeywell pay no federal income taxes, it received a $510 million tax refund from the IRS even though it made a combined profit in the U.S. of almost $3 billion.

In 2012, Honeywell stashed $11.6 billion in offshore tax havens to avoid paying U.S. income taxes. Honeywell would owe an estimated $4.06 billion in federal income taxes if its use of offshore tax avoidance were eliminated.

David Cote, the CEO of Honeywell, made more than $25.4 million in total compensation last year.

Mr. Cote wants to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security to 70 and make significant cuts to Social Security as a member of the Business Roundtable.

9. Merck

In 2009, not only did Merck pay no federal income taxes, it received a $55 million tax refund from the IRS, even though it earned more than $5.7 billion in U.S. profits.

In 2012, Merck stashed $53.4 billion in offshore tax haven countries to avoid paying income taxes. If this practice was outlawed, it would have paid $18.69 billion in federal income taxes.

Fred Hassan, the CEO of Merck from 2003 to 2009, received a golden parachute worth an estimated $189 million.

Merck’s current CEO, Kenneth Frazier, has a retirement account worth an estimated $14.4 million.  He wants to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security to 70 and make significant cuts to Social Security as a member of the Business Roundtable.

10. Corning

From 2008 to 2012, not only did Corning pay no federal income taxes, it received a $10 million tax refund from the IRS, even though it earned more than $3.4 billion in U.S. profits during those years.

Corning has stashed $11.9 billion in offshore tax havens to avoid paying U.S. income taxes. Corning would owe an estimated $4.165 billion in federal income taxes if its use of offshore tax avoidance were eliminated.

Wendell Weeks, the CEO of Corning, has a retirement account worth an estimated $22.8 million.   Mr. Weeks wants to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security to 70 and make significant cuts to Social Security as a member of the Business Roundtable.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/top-10-corporate-tax-avoiders

FROM: 

Bernie Sanders' Top 10 Tax Avoiders

—By Michael Mechanic

| Tue Mar. 29, 2011

So, without further ado, here's Bernie's tax-avoiders list. In this case, one of his staffers informed me, "refund" means "negative federal income tax liability." If you have any quibbles with his facts, let us know in the comments.

1) ExxonMobil made $19 billion in profits in 2009. Exxon not only paid no federal income taxes, it actually received a $156 million rebate from the IRS, according to its SEC filings. [Note: Our post last April reported that ExxonMobil was owed $46 million by the IRS.]

2) Bank of America received a $1.9 billion tax refund from the IRS last year, although it made $4.4 billion in profits and received a bailout from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department of nearly $1 trillion. 

3) Over the past five years, while General Electric made $26 billion in profits in the United States, it received a $4.1 billion refund from the IRS.

4) Chevron received a $19 million refund from the IRS last year after it made $10 billion in profits in 2009.

5) Boeing, which received a $30 billion contract from the Pentagon to build 179 airborne tankers, got a $124 million refund from the IRS last year. 

6) Valero Energy, the 25th largest company in America with $68 billion in sales last year received a $157 million tax refund check from the IRS and, over the past three years, it received a $134 million tax break from the oil and gas manufacturing tax deduction.

7) Goldman Sachs in 2008 only paid 1.1 percent of its income in taxes even though it earned a profit of $2.3 billion and received an almost $800 billion from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury Department.

8) Citigroup last year made more than $4 billion in profits but paid no federal income taxes. It received a $2.5 trillion bailout from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury.

9) ConocoPhillips, the fifth largest oil company in the United States, made $16 billion in profits from 2007 through 2009, but received $451 million in tax breaks through the oil and gas manufacturing deduction.

10) Over the past five years, Carnival Cruise Lines made more than $11 billion in profits, but its federal income tax rate during those years was just 1.1 percent.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2011/03/bernie-sanders-top-10-tax-avoiders

 

Friday, April 8, 2016

By Jay Fitzgerald and Keith Regan

Today: Kennedy meets media, MBTA tour of Kenmore station, Gov. Baker is leaving the state

U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy will be available for brief media interviews prior to speaking at a NAMI-Massachusetts event, Great Hall, State House, 10:45 a.m.     MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola and other T officials will tour the newly renovated Kenmore Station, a portion of which was recently painted with actual paint from Fenway Park's Green Monster, Kenmore Station, 500 Commonwealth Avenue at 1 Brookline Avenue, 1 p.m.     U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, Housing and Economic Secretary Jay Ash, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton, Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack and others hold a press conference regarding economic development in Lynn, Lynn Museum, 590 Washington Street, Lynn, 2:30 p.m.   Gov. Charlie Baker holds a morning a cabinet meeting and then travels to Las Vegas to attend the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual meeting.     Charter compromise bill passes Senate, but still faces rocky future Some wondered whether a compromise charter school bill recently unveiled by leading senators had enough support to pass even the Senate. That conjecture was proven dead wrong on Thursday. In fact, the controversial legislation - which would increase the cap on charter schools in Massachusetts in exchange for significant funding increases for all public schools - easily passed the chamber on Thursday and is now headed to the House, where its future is not quite as rosy, reports Matt Murphy of the State House News Service. http://bit.ly/1UMUi2P (pay wall)   But most observers continue to believe that, no matter what happens on Beacon Hill, the issue of expanding charter schools in Massachusetts will ultimately be decided in a ballot-question showdown in November. So that raises the question: Why do some opponents of charter schools say they welcome a November showdown?     As Garrett Quinn of Boston Magazine notes, a new poll shows overwhelming support in Boston for lifting the cap on the number of charter schools. Granted, the poll was sponsored by the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association. But a recent WBZ and UMass Amherst statewide poll found 51 percent of likely voters supporting a ballot question that would lift the cap on charter schools, while 23 percent oppose the proposal, Quinn notes. So why the confidence by some opponents that they can prevail in November? Maybe it's all part of the game of political chicken. http://bit.ly/1SUuQVt     Campaign office says Baker can accept huge sums from outsiders The state Office of Campaign and Political Finance has concluded that the Massachusetts Republican Party can give federally raised donations to Gov. Charlie Baker's campaign committee, in a decision some critics say is a blow to state control of campaign finances, the Globe's Frank Phillips reports.http://bit.ly/1oIpkL5   First GE, now ... Aetna? Public records released in connection with General Electric's relocation to Boston show the city and state may be after another prize from the Nutmeg State, Jessica Bartlett of the Boston Business Journal reports. Emails reference officials noting that Boston is likely one of several locations trying to entice insurance giant Aetna, a Fortune 500 company, to move its headquarters from Hartford.http://bit.ly/25OYBy0 'We've never been a big hit with socialists' Back to the topic of GE, it was sort of refreshing to see General Electric chief executive Jeff Immelt firing back at Bernie Sanders for recently saying companies like GE are tearing apart the "moral fabric of America." Why? Because moralists who tend to see life in simplistic good-versus-evil terms need to be pushed back now and then when they make grossly over-simplified and unfair statements about who is and isn't moral. From Immelt's Washington Post op-ed: "GE has been in business for 124 years, and we've never been a big hit with socialists. We create wealth and jobs, instead of just calling for them in speeches. We take risks, invest, innovate and produce in ways that today sustain 125,00 U.S. jobs." And he notes that, yes, GE does pay taxes and it employs 1,000 people at an aviation plant in Rutland, Vermont, a facility Sanders has "never bothered" to visit, Immelt says. http://wapo.st/1SEptqV     Meanwhile, Warren unloads on Republican senators ... While Immelt unloads on Bernie, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren unloads on right-wing Republican senators who she says have "laid the foundation for their presidential front-runners," Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Writing in the Globe, she says Republicans have been obstructionists from day one of President Obama's presidency, right up to the current fight over Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. "Show some courage and put that oath ahead of party politics. Do your job - and start by considering the president's nomination to the Supreme Court." http://bit.ly/1YiDfDQ     GE launches local media blitz OK, one last GE item, from the Herald's Matt Stout: "General Electric Co. isn't done pitching itself as a good bet for Boston.The multinational behemoth - which is fending off criticism of the plum $145 million package of city and state perks it took to relocate its headquarters to the Hub - has launched a two-week radio blitz that lavishes praise on Boston and declares itself ready to begin a 'world-changing digital industrial revolution.'" The ads are running on 98.5 The Sports Hub, WBZ NewsRadio 1030, and WBUR. http://bit.ly/1Vd6bij   Gay rights group to Baker: Stop behaving like a Republican The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has disinvited Gov. Charlie Baker from a gala in which it planned to honor the Republican governor, saying it can't and won't honor Baker unless he cancels a weekend trip to a conservative Republican Jewish Coalition gathering in Las Vegas and embraces a state bill that would protect transgender people's rights, the Globe's Joshua Miller reports. Apparently, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, a Democrat who objects to Baker's refusal to take an immediate stand on the transgender bill, had some sort of role in Baker's disinvite. Baker, who has won wide praise for his stands on gay and lesbian issues, dismissed the group's move as "partisan politics."http://bit.ly/1Whnm1Q     Globe launches a 'reinvention initiative' Dan Kennedy at Media Nation reports that Globe editor Brian McGrory has issued a challenge to his staff members to completely rethink how the Globe newsroom operates, amidst a continuing revenue decline hitting all newspapers. The Globe is also bringing in some outside consultants "who have thought long and hard about these issues and are deeply knowledgeable about what's been tried at other news organizations and how it's worked," McGrory writes in a staff memo. http://bit.ly/1TFJKBe     Solar compromise bill sails through Senate Either the solar compromise bill was really good - or lawmakers were really sick of hearing about solar issues. No matter what the reason (or combination of reasons), the state Senate yesterday overwhelming approved the compromise solar legislation, a day after the House overwhelmingly OK'd the same measure, as reported by State House News Service's Matt Murphy in the Boston Business Journal. http://bit.ly/1SUveDA     DeLeo pledges no new taxes Speaker Robert DeLeo says the House version of the proposed fiscal year 2017 budget will contain no new taxes when it's released next week, Peter Francis of the Eagle-Tribune reports. DeLeo addressed a business expo audience on Thursday and said the entire state would see ripple effects of the relocation of GE to South Boston. http://bit.ly/1NaP8po Lawmaker targets cash-out windfalls for state retirees Rep. Colleen Garry plans to file legislation that would set a cap on how much unused time off the state will buy back from retirees, a move spurred by reports of blockbuster payouts to retiring public college chiefs, Christopher Scott of the Lowell Sun reports. Garry's legislation may place a salary-based cap on how many unused days the state will buy back. http://bit.ly/1SEkSFe     New Bedford councilor suggests licensing panhandlers New Bedford City Councilor Ian Abreu is proposing the city require all panhandlers to obtain a free license from the city, Kathleen McKiernan of the Standard-Times reports. Abreu said the proposal would enable the city to offer services to the individuals who seek the licenses and is just the latest effort by the city to address the issue of downtown panhandling. Officials briefly considered a law similar to the one Worcester adopted, but that law has since been struck down by courts after a challenge from the ACLU. http://bit.ly/1Xl1dho     State says Brewster can't withhold video The Supervisor of Public Records has rejected an argument from the town of Brewster, which said it didn't have to release a video-which may show the town moderator criticizing voters after Town Meeting-because it was produced by a third-party vendor, reports K.C. Myers of the Cape Cod Times. The town is still declining to release the video, citing privacy concerns. In the reported disparaging comments, the moderator allegedly calls one of the voters an alcoholic. http://bit.ly/1SiUO1O   Sunday public affairs TV Keller at Large, WBZ-TV Channel 4. Guests Darnell Williams of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and Marcela Garcia of the Boston Globe, 8:30 a.m. DC Dialogue, NECN, with Jim Brett of the New England Council, Rep. Niki Tsongas and HHS Regional Director Rachel Kaprielian, 10 a.m. This Week in Business, NECN, with Shirley Leung of the Boston Globe and Doug Banks of the Boston Business, 12:30 p.m. CEO Corner, NECN, with Feld Entertainment CEO Ken Feld, who company owns Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice and Monster Jam, 8:30 p.m. On the Record, WCVB-TV, with guest Doug Rubin, head of Northwind Strategies and a Democratic advisor, 11 a.m. Matter of Fact, WCVB-TV, with Fernando Espuelas, 11:30 a.m. CityLine, WCVB-TV, with host Karen Holmes Ward, 12 p.m. TODAY'S TOP STORIES Metro headlines Mass. GOP settles issues raised with state Office of Campaign and Political Finance on salaries and office rent Massachusetts Senate says 'no' to Gov. Charlie Baker's charter school proposal UMass Faculty Senate postpones hate speech resolution vote to address freedom of speech concerns Hours of debate as Massachusetts Senate weighs controversial charter school bill Boston launches new program to address lead water contamination dangers - The Boston Globe AG Maura Healey targets human trafficking Should Brian Joyce resign? Mum's the word from his colleagues - The Boston Globe 'Nobody likes being around poor people,' Steve Wynn reportedly says - The Boston Globe State headlines  New Bedford city councilor proposes licensing all panhandlers Garry looks to deflate 'golden parachutes' for retiring state workers - Lowell Sun Online Governor approves bigger Plymouth County DA's office in downtown Brockton GateHouse Media, others want to block ad-blocking web browser from ex-Mozilla CEO - Boston Business Journal Will Aetna follow General Electric's footsteps? Competition to court Connecticut company heats up - Boston Business Journal MBTA Official Says Service Cuts Still An Option State Police Are Cracking Down on Distracted Drivers And when we get behind closed doors ... - CommonWealth Magazine New grants to help expand addiction treatment | Local News | salemnews.com State says Brewster officials must release video MBTA board wary of Bourne commuter rail Quincy spent $12,500 on canceled special election Mass. House Speaker pledges no new taxes | Haverhill news | eagletribune.com Gov. Baker touts budget reforms, economic development to Blackstone Valley chamber Grim Worcester school budget forecast includes staff cuts, increased class sizes Charter school poll shows support for ballot measure - The Boston Globe Regulators: GOP can use federal funds to aid Baker - The Boston Globe Another tower for Boston! This one comes from 1991 - The Boston Globe Peace organization files ethics complaint against state senators - The Boston Globe Democrats hit Baker on N.C. travel stance - The Boston Globe Police to launch statewide crackdown on texting while driving - The Boston Globe National headlines    Donald Trump looks to home-state voters to get his campaign back on track - The Boston Globe Americans overwhelmingly view Trump negatively, poll finds - The Boston Globe Capuano: Clinton, Sanders - not Warren - will unite party Warren, Brown: Treasury should probe Panama Papers scandal for U.S. links - POLITICO Senate Republicans, do your job - The Boston Globe Send tips and comments about MASSterList to jay@massterlist.com.