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MA vs. US: Round 2: Employer Penalties

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Sorry, It’s been awhile. Although the MA reform was considered bi-partisan.  There were a few elements that Governor Romney vetoed when the bill was signed.  The employer “fee” was one important one.   Employer requirements or fees don’t make sense for a number of reasons.   There is an on-going myth that the employer’s money and the employee’s money are two separate things.  And, by requiring an employer to offer insurance or pay a fee will result in added benefits to the employee.  In reality, there’s really no evidence that this occurs.  Instead, employers respond by reducing their full-time workforce, or increasing the price of their goods (if that’s possible) both having a potentially negative impact on the economy. How do MA […]

Big kudos and 2 questions about the Aquapocalypse

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Fred Laskey and his immediate staff did an incredible job in addressing the water main break in Weston. Full stop. Hosannahs all around. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, my questions: (1) Why did so many towns with deep budget woes feel that they had to give out water? (2) Is boiling water really so hard? (My kids enjoyed it…) (3) Was the water we had available for a few days really so undrinkable? Was it considered drinkable in the 1990s? Have regulations changed and therefore perceptions about safety? Or was the water even by 1990s standards undrinkable? (4) And will Fred’s freshly minted halo get him over the hump with my friends in the watershed associations […]

Congratulations to Paul Toner

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The Cambridge Day News reported over the weekend that Paul Toner was elected new president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, taking over for Anne Wass. In a statement, Toner pledged that “MTA will lead the fight for positive change in order to improve our schools and support our students. “Where there are issues to be addressed, such as significant achievement gaps between our student populations, we will not shy away from these challenges,” he continued. “Teachers and their unions are not the problem; we have the solutions.” We hope to work with Paul and the MTA.

Addressing Staff Complaints

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Stefan (to his Hungarian friends István) Poftak has not said a word. No, not a word. But, alas, I know those furtive side glances and the all-too-confident smirk all too well. He has nailed down three consecutive blog entries and is feeling quite good about himself. But I have been working, comrade, I have been working! Read here.

Mr. Speaker, Why Stop With The CJAM?

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UPDATE: Eagle-eyed reader notes that the amendment was filed by Representative (and State Senate candidate) Mike Rush. This morning’s Globe reports on an effort by Speaker DeLeo to move the Chief Justice for Administration and Management from their rented office space to free space in the City Square Courthouse. DeLeo spokesman Seth Gitell cites multi-million dollar cost savings for the move. But the more cynical among us note the LEG’s seemingly eternal desire to micromanage the courts and trample the notion of separation of powers. So, if you aren’t just picking on the CJAM, you’ve got another potential $185 million in savings to work on. This spreadsheet has all the 2009 disbursements for rent payments by state agencies, captured from […]