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I am in favor of job training

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I can’t be sure, but I’m almost positive that the four Democratic candidates for Senate have said the above phrase at some point during the campaign. So, my question for them is: what kind of job training? Pagliuca seems to favor job training related to math, science, and life sciences, but he never gets too specific. Capuano talks about emphasizing community colleges but again, never gets too specific. Coakley supports some type of voke-tech, but its all pretty hazy. Khazei is a bit more specific — supporting community colleges linking with businesses and the Workforce Investment Act. Job training is one of those motherhood and apple pie issues — everyone supports it. But almost no one can explain what really […]

The fate of 27,000 kids

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The bill that we saw last week looked very good. By the weekend we found that the Senate President had tasked the Senate Ways and Means Chair with redrafting portions of it. We have four major issues with the bill. There is an additional major issue that the Charter School Association has, which is related to language requiring three charter approvals in urban areas before other charters would be considered. A lot of theatrics yesterday, with an unexpected amendment by Senators Pacheco and Buoniconti, who want each charter application to be voted on in a local referendum. It was approved and then un-approved by almost identical votes. I tell you this because it points to three things: (1) It is […]

High Noon?

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High noon on the charter bill, and the Senate is still not in session. The State House News Service noted at 10:30 that “All was quiet outside Senate President Therese Murray’s office at 10 a.m., the appointed time for a caucus of Senate Democrats who are trying to regroup” and that “Teachers union and other union lobbyists were the only ones around. The Senate was scheduled to go back into session at 12. Thoughts to follow on where we are.

Small Employers, there is something you can do.

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Many people have received coverage via health care reform and that has been good for the Commonwealth.  However, it’s clear now, that there have been losers too— small businesses.  The Globe article yesterday highlighted the situation for small businesses today:  http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/11/15/blue_cross_rates_for_small_businesses_to_surge?mode=PF The state is holding hearings to examine the cause of these increases and to assess whether changes should be made to how small businesses purchase insurance.   We should examine what has caused these increases in rates, was it the merger with the non-group market (something that can only explain a very small increase, by my accounting), increases due to benefit mandates (like the Rx coverage decision made by the Connector), or simply health care trends (as the BCBS representative […]

Go back to the Governor's bill

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The Senate is going to be debating a bill that on the face of it lifts the charter school cap. But it is deeply flawed. Some of it goes back to the Governor’s first proposal on charters in February 2009. With the Race to the Top fund in the balance, he showed leadership in changing his view in July, when he issued a proposal that maximizes the possibility of receiving federal funds and (1) doubles the number of kids in charters, (2) leaves the rest of the existing in tact, with a framework to ensure that charter operators redouble their efforts to enroll special needs and English language learners. The Senate Ways & Means bill under consideration is deeply flawed. […]