Governor's Forum in Franklin

We attended the Governor's Forum in Franklin, held at their beautiful Council on Aging building today. My companion was particularly impressed with the chocolate chip cookies! I guess I need to contact the Governor's staff to ascertain the source.

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I was impressed at the seminars and trips that were offered by the COA. One of the seminars being promoted was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Westwood/Walpole, called "Greening Your Lifestyle" with a synopsis of "Learn how to decrease your use of energy in your home and in your house of worship" and included workshops: Home Safe Home: Safer Alternatives to Household Chemicals; Water Conservation at Home; Green Your Lifestyle; Art Activity for Kids: Responsible for the Earth; Deeper Home Energy Reduction; The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in the Green Revolution; Solar Energy (Roof Panels & Photo-voltaics); Hosting Home Energy Parties & Carbon Neutral Buildings.

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It made me sad to realize that Middleboro G&E is so far behind the curve that they're only now discussing the supply side of the energy equation and not promoting the importance of reducing the demand side of the energy equation.

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But I digress!

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The turnout for the Governor's Forum was impressive. The crowd offered articulate comments and positive solutions about streamlining certain services, as well as updating the Ch. 70 formula for school funding.

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There was almost unanimous consensus about 1. overhauling the pension abuse by the few to restore public trust, 2. a graduated, progressive income tax, as has been suggested elsewhere 3. unanimous support for the Governor's insistence that "reforms" need to precede new revenues.

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I had the pleasure of sitting at a table with parents of Special Needs Adult Children who were living at home, but will loose services on July 1st.
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One woman explained that both she and her husband work and want to keep their son at home, but on July 1st, his day program and his transportation will be eliminated. That means that one of them needs to stop working to stay at home with him. She questioned if that made fiscal sense.

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The other couple have an adult daughter whose services will also end, but their daughter requires additional physical assistance since she is wheelchair bound. They need a chairlift for their garage and were initially told that MassHealth would pay for it, but then were told it wouldn't.

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Now maybe you're thinking "So what?"

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These are the people we used to warehouse in institutions.

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When we became enlightened, it became less expensive to provide support services to this special community within the community and this special community flourished and progressed. Some held jobs, run their own personal errands and function independently. They have friends among their peers, have parties, dances, sleepovers and do just the same things the rest of us enjoy. Many participate in the Special Olympics programs that are offered. And it has become a win-win with taxpayers saving money and this special community enjoying better lives as a result.

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The last comment of the evening commended the Governor for his casino proposal. Surely, that couldn't be the last word!

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The legislature has undefined predatory gambling on its fall agenda to close the budget gap.

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If we want to discuss closing the budget gaps with Treasurer Cahill's slot parlors that doesn't create jobs and the Treasurer's revenue/expense projections are illusory.

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There is no state in the nation with lower taxes than Massachusetts that has gambling. 49 of 50 states are in recession. Gambling isn't the solution to new revenues.

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It was disappointing that GIC legislation wasn't mentioned, but time ran out.

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We are faced with tough times and tough choices, and it was clear listening to tonight's crowd, we'll survive it by listening to each other.

Slots are not the simple solution

The current economic recession has led some to believe the solutions are simple when they're not.

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Beacon Hill looks like deer in the headlights, immobilized with inaction or the arrogance of one party rule. The Senate President hears only Cha-Ching and not the hard work involved in correcting long standing problems that might actually move the state forward.

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Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh offered --

First up, that lamentable Democratic gift to the public-employee unions known as the Pacheco law, which effectively ended the state's ability to contract with private firms for services they can deliver more efficiently than state workers. Although Senator Pacheco, the measure's proud papa, denies it, I have it on good authority that his signature "accomplishment" was thought up and written by lobbyists, then given to him to file. The Legislature passed it over a gubernatorial veto back in 1993, bringing the portcullis crashing down on Bill Weld's efforts to reap public savings by tapping the private sector.

Ever since, repealing Pacheco has been a reform that dare not speak its name. Not among Democrats, anyway.

But this year, Senate Republicans, who estimate the state could save $150 million to $300 million a year by aggressively contracting out, plan to try.

"If people are really serious about saving taxpayer dollars and making government more efficient, then we have to look at sacred cows like the Pacheco law," says Senate minority leader Richard Tisei.

Amen.

This is the same Senator "But For" Pacheco who experienced an ethical lapse when he attempted to prevent the Regional Casino Task Force from holding its public meeting in Carver.

Middleboro's Town Meeting Warrant contains an article to provide for Town Retirees, not recognized as a "bargaining unit," with health insurance benefits identical to those provided when they retired. Estimated cost? $200,000.

The state also needs to grant cities and towns either the unrestricted authority to join the state's Group Insurance Commission or GIC-like ability to design their own health-insurance offerings. Currently, every change in local health-insurance plans has to be bargained with the local unions.
"There are a lot of communities that can't get the unions to agree even to increase a $5 co-payment for a doctor's visit," reports Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
The GIC, by contrast, sets co-pays and deductibles and other insurance plan features without having to bargain the changes. If the ability of municipalities to join the GIC weren't subject to a union veto or if they had similar plan-design power, the savings would be large.

This from Kathleen Norbut --

I hope you have an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of spring in your life. We are surrounded by leaves that are growing and creating the annual canopy that I love.

My appreciation to all who are posting and offering ideas and opinions on revenues, Democratic principles, economic and environmental challenges and the current budget.

I continue to support the Governor's Municipal Partnership proposals including closing the telecom tax loopholes immediately. The room and restaurant tax will not impact the small community where I live, but I support the proposal for other communities to have options. Local government is hobbled by state and federal mandates including Prop. 2 1/2. I was informed yesterday that the Ch. 70 cuts proposed by the Governor for the current budget year greatly exceed the town's saving (Free Cash). If stimulus funds are not received in a timely fashion during this quarter to fill the Ch 70 cuts, the town will not be able to meet it's financial obligations. This is very serious.

I support a moderate gas tax increase and a moderate sales tax increase (.5-1.0%).

It is extremely frustrating to me that at this desperate time in our history we see the Legislature and Governor at odds over the process of revenue reconstruction. Surely we need reform before asking people to pay more taxes. The sluggishness of the Legislature is really not about deliberation, it is about decades of denial and protection of cronyism and abuse. I have been an observer for some time, the Liege has failed to make necessary decisions.

I live in a rural community abutting a potential casino site. I am a Health Educator, Domestic Violence activist and concerned citizen regarding air, water, food/agriculture and open space. I could care less is someone wants to spend their money at a casino, dog track or lottery ticket. However, as a concerned citizen and taxpayer, I have conducted countless hours of research on the above topic. It has been framed as economic development. It is economic development for the owners, investors and some ancillary parties including politicians who benefit from campaign contributions. It is not economic development for the region. It is motor vehicle congestion, air pollution, increased DUI and burdens upon municipal services, including overburdened education and public safety departments. It is severe negative impact on a region's environment. I did not develop my position in a vacuum or simply from a NIMBY framework. I have researched the impacts of expanded gambling on youth long before the current proposals came along. I have buried young people who died in car crashes and counseled young people in very serious trouble with gambling. My position evolved over 18 years of study.

As a former Selectman in a rural moderate income community, I am painfully aware of the need for more revenue to stop the erosion of services in our community and the state. We want to advance, yet I have spent the last decade watching a quickening backward slide emerge. Finding quick solutions that promise revenues but create additional burdens is foolhardy.

We need leadership that will stand with local government and citizens to thoughtfully and strategically match revenue proposals with policy, principles and long term vision. I would like to urge all activists to call upon the Liege and the Administration to swallow their collective pride, sit-down and present budget proposals to the people that are sound and sustainable.

I strongly support Governor Patrick's position to eliminate the current egregious pension abuses as well as blocking future abuse.

Kathleen Norbut
DSC memberMonson

Beacon Hill needs to get its act together, make the difficult decisions and stop following House Speaker "Racino" DeLeo, Senate President "Money" Murray, Treasurer "Slot Parlor" Cahill, and Senator "But For" Pacheco, down the "Yellow Brick Road."

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto!

Play By The Rules - Their Rules!

A few weeks ago, a friend sent the
following --




My goal is to get a debate going at the convention, and beyond. Once a specific proposal is out there, perhaps both sides could agree to a series of Forums, to discuss BOTH the benefits and costs.

My friend's intent is sincere, but the flurry of cheer leading articles proclaiming the desperation of Beacon Hill suddenly confronting the reality they've successfully ignored in the fiscal management of the Commonwealth and welcoming ANY source of revenue defines NOW.

Slot Playbook defines some of the rules.

Casino Propaganda At Its Best makes clear the plan. There will be NO debate.

Purveyors of Predatory Gambling can't afford for you to think or to review the facts.

You might get the facts. Treasurer "Slot Parlor" Cahill can't afford that!

As fellow blogger, Ryan Adams pointed out -- Casinos Can't End Fiscal Mess

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! is the model to emulate.

Just watch Senate President "Money" Murray.

Let's Move On!

Ooops!
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Maybe I missed it, but I don't believe I've ever seen anyone commit political suicide by stupidity as quickly and successfully as Tim Cahill once they floated the balloon of potential candidacy in an undetermined party.

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If there is another contender, please post. Even Gary Hart lasted longer.
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Once you get those damned Progressives pissed off, you know what they do! They work their butts off to elect someone else! Except in this case, they don't have to work very hard. Cahill is doing quite nicely all by himself, thank you very much!

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Ryan Adams has a good point about needing a new State Treasurer. Maybe we could find one who can come up with more than PRELIMINARY BOGUS numbers before presenting a proposal.

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Hang it up, Tim! You blew it!
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Time to move on to more important issues!
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To all:
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Tim is TOAST. (Someone needs to tell the media to prepare the political obituary!)

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We have more important things to do.
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It's time to move on and defeat slots and casinos in the Commonwealth.
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Cahill: Not a Real Democrat
Gotta love two ineptly handled, PR-disasters coming out of Cahill's office in two days. That's impressive. Run, Cahill, Run!! Massachusetts needs a new State Treasurer.

Bonus points for the Globe editorial slamming Cahill today on his disaster of a slot plan. It was a stupid plan and he deserved the thrashing.
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leftinlowell
State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill often says that the Massachusetts Lottery has enjoyed unprecedented growth under his leadership. But a review of lottery records shows that exploding administrative costs at the agency have soaked up a large portion of the new revenue, limiting the amount it shares with Massachusetts cities and towns.
Since Cahill took over five years ago, administrative spending has ballooned by nearly 50 percent, with higher costs for advertising, telephones, computers, and lottery ticket printing, including outside contracts signed with some of the treasurer’s campaign contributors.
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Blue Mass Group

Ryan's Take

The Crappification Plan
What's wrong with Cahill - part 2
Big Blonde Doofus For Governor...

Treasurer Cahill's Suicide Pact?

The Handwriting Is There

Treasurer Cahill's Suicide Pact?

My friends and fellow bloggers accomplish such a noteworthy task of addressing the gambling issue with solid information and a wide range of presentations, that generally, I watch with little comment.

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Treasurer Cahill's proposal today is simply too outrageous to ignore. His political scheming transparent.

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It's still unsettling that he has repeated the same tired figures that have been proven wrong previously by others and ignored the surrounding issues that have been studied and aired. And this man is supposed to handle the state's money and he can't even get the figures right?

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Clearly, I'm not alone when I begin to see condemnation from others.

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The following is reprinted with permission, but frames the discussion in terms of the Treasurer's political opportunism --

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Okay, I promise I didn't know anything about Tim Cahill's attempt to push for slot machines when I raised this issue earlier. But truly, in my opinion, this ranks as one of the worst economic and political moves I have seen in a long time.
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Let's be clear: The Treasurer of the Commonwealth is explicitly proposing that we introduce a huge new form of addiction to the state in order to cover the political and economic mistakes of the past, wreck thousands of lives, in order to advance his political career and reward people in his circle.
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Let's start with the merits of the proposal. I have only begun to review it, so I will save a more detailed commentary for later. But here are a few observations:
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First, slot machines are the star form of predatory gambling. This is not social gambling (office pool, poker with the guys). This is scientifically researched mega-rip-offs -- targeted at low income people, seniors, women, and especially video-prepped teens. This is not a Republican base.
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In addition:
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1) The numbers are made up, since they measure revenues without expenses (to the state). What business could get away with this?
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2) If any benefits exist, they are front-loaded; costs are painful, permanent, and back-loaded
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3) Slot parlors around the country are collapsing; Rhode Island may have to use PUBLIC money to buy out their own racetrack slot parlor
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4) Casinos around the country are defaulting on bonds right and left, even though they rely on slot machines as the greatest form of their income; why would Massachusetts do any better?
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5) The governor himself has warned of the "social costs" of slot machine gambling
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6) Which are extremely severe. Slot machines were referred to by the National Gaming Commission as "the crack cocaine" of gambling. If you want me to point you to the mammoth amount of science out there, just say the word: it will overload your hard drives. Check this Casino Free Mass video out : http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=jNL3FzU_ glU&feature=channel_ page
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7) It cannibalizes the lottery, on which we already spend $800 per capita ($3,200 for a family of four ON AVERAGE)
On top of this, we have the political questions... .
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1) UNLEASHING PUBLIC CORRUPTION: We have just seen the explosion of the careers of a State Senator, a Boston City Councilor, and the Speaker of the House because of lobbyist relationships; the public is calling for a much higher standard of ethics in government; the governor just appointed a commission to set higher standards; and now the TREASURER, whose friend received $100,000 from a lot company, is proposing that we introduce one of the worst forms of quasi-theft in order to benefit his friends?
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2) OPENING SHOT IN A BLOODY INTERNAL WAR: This is clearly an opening salvo in the Tim Cahill for Governor Campaign, which makes no sense. Some of you may know him better than I do, and can defend this action, but I question the wisdom of a person who has shown little imagination or intelligence in his current position taking on a governor and dragging him down so that we can have another Republican in the corner office. There are of course scenarios when we should have primary challenges, but this isn't one of them. I would have expected an anti-gambling challenge to the governor, rather than a pro-predatory gambling one. The Democratic primary is so late in this state that few gubernatorial candidates can survive a massive fight and then heal the wounds and replenish the coffers fast enough to win in a general election seven weeks later.
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3) WORST POSSIBLE TIMING: Has the Treasurer looked at the how people are doing out there? Do you know anyone who has a lot of f "disposable income" to pour into a slot machine?
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4) WORST POSSIBLE MESSAGE: Hey, kids, remember all that stuff we told about working hard, staying in school, saving your money, and trying to achieve your dreams? The TREASURER, that is, the guy who is supposed to be taking care of our money, says you should just forget all that!
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Okay, I am ready to hear what people have to say. But IF you agree with me, then please 1) call your rep 2) call the Treasurer's office and finally - vote on this Channel 5 Poll.
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Thank you...
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Bob Massie
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The Spectrum Report was commissioned at the behest of Governor Deval Patrick. It's worth a review. Could someone please make sure that Treasurer Cahill gets a copy? It seems he hasn't read it.

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Spectrum Gaming Group is an independent research and professional services firm, which does work on behalf of government agencies around the world. Following an open and competitive bidding process, the company received an $189,000 contract in February 2008. The analysis prepared by Spectrum Gaming contains information relating to economic impacts, employment and wage analysis, social impacts and gaming regulation.

The Handwriting Is There

Friend and fellow blogger at Carl's Casino Quotes wrote about Indiana in A Match Made In Casinos on Thursday, February 19, 2009. In it, he included an article that is no longer archived at MSNBC about Indiana panel approves tax breaks for 3 casinos.

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The text of the full article is below, but in view of Treasurer Cahill's proposal, it would seem we need to do some fact gathering of the experiences of other states instead of continuing to accept the one-sided presentation of casino interests, including the paid casino mouth piece, Clyde Barrows.

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With all due respect, Treasurer Cahill has overstated the revenues and understated the expenses, but that's another post.

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What is striking about Indiana's experience are the similarities of the scenarios.

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The rosy scenario of a guaranteed revenue stream -

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A House [in Indiana] committee approved a bill to give temporary tax breaks to three Indiana casinos, including new ones at the state's two pari-mutuel horse tracks.

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Advocates said the casinos are struggling and

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need help to stay in business

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The same bogus argument of bailing out race tracks --

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Track officials said revenue from the slots was needed to keep their tracks and the horse racing in Indiana viable

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[a casino lobbyist said his client was] under severe financial distress and was paying high interest for loans it obtained to pay the slot licensing fees. He also said the track and the state had misjudged revenue projections from the slots.
"Quite frankly, the tracks blew it and so did the state," ....

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Indiana overstated revenues.

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Treasurer Cahill overstated revenues.

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First Indiana bailed out tracks. Then they bailed out slot parlors.

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Massachusetts is proposing slots to bail out tracks. Will we follow the same path?

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The handwriting is on the wall for all to see.

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All of this is before we discuss the impacts that aren't included, the construction jobs that are overstated, the cost of addiction (gambling's dirty little secret they don't want you to discuss) and the expenses that are understated.

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Massachusetts has been a wise trend-setter in many areas. Let's continue to be so and not follow the pack of casino lobbyists.

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By MIKE SMITH
updated 12:16 p.m. ET, Tues., Feb. 17, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS - A House committee approved a bill to give temporary tax breaks to three Indiana casinos, including new ones at the state's two pari-mutuel horse tracks.
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 17-7 Monday night for a bill to give tax breaks on wagering revenue for Blue Chip Casino on Lake Michigan, and casinos at Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Live at Shelbyville. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
Advocates said the casinos are struggling and need help to stay in business. Critics said many other businesses in the state are facing hard times in the sagging economy, and it was not fair to single out the casinos for special favor.


The General Assembly passed legislation in 2007 allowing Hoosier Park and Indiana Live — then called Indiana Downs — 2,000 slot machines each at their pari-mutuel venues.
Track officials said revenue from the slots was needed to keep their tracks and the horse racing in Indiana viable, and they agreed to pay $250 million each over two years to get the slots, as well as spend at least $100 million each to build the new casinos. The state imposed a graduated tax on revenue from slots at the so-called "racinos," which opened last summer.
Under the bill, tax rates on the slot revenue at the tracks would be cut 5 percentage points for each of the next five years, reducing their combined annual tax liability by about $18 million per year.
John Keeler, a lobbyist for Hoosier Park, said its parent company, Centaur LLC, was under severe financial distress and was paying high interest for loans it obtained to pay the slot licensing fees. He also said the track and the state had misjudged revenue projections from the slots.
"Quite frankly, the tracks blew it and so did the state," he said.
The bill also would provide a $15 million tax deduction to Blue Chip for one year, to be phased down and out over five years. The deduction is projected to cost the state about $5 million in lost tax revenue the first year and less in subsequent years, said Democratic Rep. Scott Pelath of Michigan City, the bill's author.
Blue Chip's business has taken a hit since the opening of the Four Winds casino in Michigan, which opened in August 2007 about 10 miles from Blue Chip and is owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Blue Chip saw its monthly revenue fall from $26.7 million in July 2007 to $16.1 million a year later — a decline of nearly 40 percent.
Ryan Soultz, a lobbyist representing Blue Chip, said the tax deductions would allow the casino to enhance its marketing efforts and draw more customers.
Several lawmakers who voted for the bill said they did so with reservations, but said casino revenue was important to the state — especially during this recession — and they wanted to keep the bill alive in some form.
Rep. Randy Borror, R-Fort Wayne, said the bill sent a wrong message to other businesses that were struggling. He was among the seven who voted against the bill.