http://www.salon.com/2011/12/31/beware_of_mitt_say_bay_state_conservatives/singleton/ Mitt Romney’s Iowa surge coincides with a new Iowa TV spot in which he touts himself as a genuinely conservative businessman who will shrink and streamline the federal government. But some Massachusetts tax watchdogs and small government advocates who remember Romney’s days in the governor’s chair say: Iowa buyer beware. They note that Romney promised leaner government when he sat atop Beacon Hill from 2003 to [...]

Pioneer is releasing a new brief estimating the impact of the so-called “Cadillac tax,” targeted at high cost insurance plans, contained in Obamacare. The report finds that given our high premiums, a majority of workers in Massachusetts will pay the tax in 2018. On a more micro level, the report examines the impact of the excise tax on a small business employee, a police officer, and a teacher. The future looks expensive! For the 10 years following the introduction of the tax: Busine[...]

http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/gov-massachusetts-tackles-health-care-reform-again.html Now that the Supreme Court has closed the book on the first phase of health-care reform with its decision to uphold President Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Massachusetts is poised to kick off phase 2 — and like the first time, this could have implications for other states. Before the Massachusetts Legislature adjourns on July 31, chances are good that lawmakers [...]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2012/0710/Health-care-reform-How-has-the-individual-mandate-worked-in-Massachusetts There was a moment some 5-1/2 years ago when Peter Kastner looked at his monthly health-insurance bills and wondered whether breaking the law might make more sense. He and his wife were using a high-deductible plan with a $400 monthly premium, but it didn’t comply with the landmark 2006 law that transformed health insurance in Massachusetts. Paying the tax penalty for not com[...]

http://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/spinning_the_supreme_courts_he.php?page=all In the days before and after the Supreme Court’s decision, spin doctors were hard at work peddling their experts, positions, and takes on what might happen, and then what did happen and what might happen next. This is all to be expected, but the scope and the volume of the spin was extraordinary. “I have never seen so many lawyers and experts ready to comment,” said Allan Ripp, whose company, Allan Ripp Public R[...]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/07/06/44000_uninsured_massachusetts_residents_paid_penalty_in_2010/?page=2 Francisco Machado of Lowell had long gone without health insurance. Strong and healthy, he preferred to save the money or send it to family in Brazil, until pain and buzzing in his ear sent him to the emergency room. The $600 bill persuaded him to enroll in a plan offered by his employer, a cleaning company. Having coverage meant that the 45-year-old would no lo[...]

http://www.eagletribune.com/opinion/x1483813422/Column-Supreme-Court-issues-another-head-scratching-decision In a nutshell (literally): In Kelo v. City of New London, five nutty justices ruled that government can take property from private owners who resist selling their homes and small businesses, and give it to private developers as part of a redevelopment plan that would achieve higher property tax revenues for the city. New London, Conn., paid some compensation to the owners, took the proper[...]

http://www.politico.com/politicopulse/0612/politicopulse775.html IT’S HERE – Today is THE day. No more waiting, no more “what ifs?” to ponder. Two years, three months and five days after the first lawsuits against the Affordable Care Act were filed — the same day it became law — the Supreme Court will meet at 10 a.m. today to render its verdict on President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement. –The justices still have two more cases to decide in addition to the ACA. Those will[...]

http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/x1058723505/Previous-rulings-stir-skepticism-of-Supreme-Courts-ability-to-resolve-major-issues I’d try to make an intelligent guess about what the Supreme Court will do about Obamacare, if not for the court’s 2005 Kelo decision. In a nutshell (literally): In Kelo v. City of New London, five nutty justices ruled that government can take property from private owners who resist selling their homes and small businesses, and give it to private developers as part of a [...]

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2012/June/06/wed-opinions.aspx Chicago Tribune: Wisconsin Speaks. Again. Many of those voters also expect that, going forward, the dividends for Wisconsin residents, their school districts and other governments will continue to grow. As old labor contracts expire, public officials will write into the new contracts the other Walker-inspired personnel provisions — such as higher (but still relatively inexpensive) employees’ contributions to their[...]