"Legislators argue that the earmarks are necessary to pump money into the local and regional economies and that controlling the flow of taxpayer money is one of the most crucial duties of their office."
Then GET IT OUT of THEIR HANDS!!!
See: Columbus Center Chutzpah
"Lawmakers feeding pet projects; Bacon comes home to every corner of the Commonwealth" by Matt Viser, Globe Staff | July 4, 2008
One item calls for $200,000 to be disbursed to the Boston Symphony Orchestra so the renowned group can renovate and repair Tanglewood. There is $25,000 in state taxpayer money to pay for the town of Halifax to have its 275th anniversary next July Fourth. There's enough to cover a merry-go-round in Holyoke, a ballfield in Fitchburg, and new seats at a theater in Medford.
Other set-asides approved yesterday included $50,000 for the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Beckett. The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, and the Bing Theatre in Springfield are all beneficiaries. The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, which charges $16.99 for admission, is getting $300,000 of taxpayer money, which a legislative aide said would go toward securing a Division II college basketball tournament.
We finally get something out here and the looters of Boston are bitchin'!
Pffffttt!
In the $28.2 billion budget approved yesterday by the House and Senate, there are scores of earmarks to fund pet projects in legislators' districts in nearly every corner of Massachusetts.
The earmarks are spread throughout the 266-page budget, making it difficult to determine the total amount. But it is a small number in the context of a $28.2 billion spending plan that relies heavily on higher taxes and spending from reserve funds to increase spending on local aid, education, and healthcare.
Many of the requests submitted by lawmakers to bring projects home to their districts were taken care of, giving legislators fuel for reelection campaigns this November.
"This budget is a good document," Representative Robert DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat and chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said yesterday during debate on the House floor. "I think it's a good document for each and every member of this House."
"You're there to deliver for your district," said Representative James R. Miceli, a Wilmington Democrat who secured several earmarks, including $200,000 for the Wilmington Historical Commission to rehabilitate an historic farm. "Show me a legislator who can't, and I'll show you someone who will not be there very long."
Meanwhile, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a major corporate tax reform package yesterday that will prevent corporations from declaring some of their profits in states with more favorable tax rates.
Say good bye to some companies then!
Since taking office, Patrick has been seeking the changes, which will raise $285 million in new state revenue next year, but his proposals had been rebuffed by House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi. "I want to thank my partners in the Legislature for their work in passing this important legislation," Patrick said yesterday.
The budget relies on a $1-per-pack increase in the state's cigarette tax, which will bring in $174 million, and uses more than $500 million in reserve funds.
Promises, promises!
The budget also includes a provision to lease Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton, a storied state-owned course that has fallen into disrepair while under management of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Under the plan, the state would lease the course to an outside manager. Town officials in Canton will first be given at least 180 days to decide whether they want to take the course over.
It is still uncertain whether additional adjustments to the budget will be needed. The state has been negotiating with federal officials over extending a Medicaid waiver that helps subsidize coverage for low-income residents. The waiver was set to expire June 30, but federal officials have allowed for a two- to four-week extension for more negotiations. The state budget assumes those will come out in the state's favor; if they do not, it could create a budget gap of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Republicans immediately pounced on the spending items during a time of rising healthcare costs and an uncertain financial future.
"Beacon Hill Democrats are addicted to spending, period," said Rob Willington, executive director of the Massachusetts Republican Party. ". . . This budget, which is coming three days late already, contains enough pork in it to make BLTs for the whole Commonwealth."
Legislators argue that the earmarks are necessary to pump money into the local and regional economies and that controlling the flow of taxpayer money is one of the most crucial duties of their office.--MORE--"
I used to be a Massachusetts lefty who laughed at the Republicans in this state.
Now I'm one of them (although locally it's all Christian fundis and McCain neo-cons, not Ron Paulers).
How much things have changed in less than two years.
