Just remember this all the next time so high-minded, self-righteous, can't-smell-his-own-shit liberal lectures you about anything!
"State faces $1b more in cuts; Patrick says pain will be spread; local aid may suffer" by Matt Viser, Globe Staff | December 31, 2008
Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday that he was preparing for up to $1 billion in additional budget cuts, raising the specter of reductions in aid to municipalities, more layoffs of state employees, and drastic cutbacks in the services that state government provides to its residents.
What services? I just see a lot of wasted money and looting.
"There's a lot of pain, and it's going to have to be spread around," Patrick told reporters during a 30-minute briefing in his State House office. "Nobody's enjoying this. This is incredibly difficult."
Of course, it's okay to be "flushing . . . millions of dollars away supporting a highly profitable industry" when it comes to $300 million in taxpayer dollars for Hollywood is o.k., even as the price of a school lunch rises; paying $13 million for a computer software system that could have cost less than $3 million is all right because the winner was a close friend of the House speaker, even as my poorer-than-dirt district "has been struggling to close a $2 million budget gap."; the lottery shelling out "millions of dollars" for sports tickets for "lottery officials, their family members, and friends" is fine, even as schools are closing; making interest payments to banks to the tune of "a staggering $22 billion" for the Big Pit, as we call it around here, is required, even as bridges are neglected across the state; and again, paying off banks like UBS, who can "demand repayment of an additional $2 million a month beginning in January" while also receiving a "$179 million payment," while the state pension fund loses $1 billion dollars -- which still didn't stop the executive director from carving himself a nice "$64,000 bonus on top of his $322,000 annual salary."
Yup, the BILLION DOLLAR GIVEAWAY to the pharmaceutical corporations was a GOOD THING, even though "it's never been easy to turn a profit in biotech?" Flush that money away, too, taxpayer.
And look whose backs they are balancing the budget with: the blind, mentally ill, kids, and cripples!!
Of course, "one of the governor's pet projects, the $3 million Commonwealth Corporation, is only taking a 5 percent trim."
And that is not counting the troubles at the Turnpike!
"The authority was attempting to renegotiate terms of a complex financial deal with the banking giant UBS. Known as a swaption, the arrangement could force the authority to pay out a $450 million lump sum"
Of course, the war looters were next in line for a handout. And should the state be appropriating money for a "multimillion-dollar reconstruction" of golf courses?
Nor is it RECKLESS to BORROW the STATE INTO OBLIVION so they can PAY INTEREST to BANKS while SITTING ON $2 BILLION DOLLARS!
Need one final insult, Mass. taxpayers?
"Town officials... are trying to decide how much of a property tax break to offer and how they can secure state funding for infrastructure improvements.... although it could take several years for the studio to realize its potential"
Also see: Hollywood, Massachusetts
Hollywood (East) Disses Veterans
More Mass. $$$ to Movie Makers
Sorry, that wasn't it:
"$5m in tax breaks going to IBM for Littleton project
The Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council approved $5 million in state and local tax breaks for IBM Corp., which recently began a $63 million expansion in Littleton. IBM vice president Bob McDonald said the company plans to create 42 jobs at the site over the next decade. McDonald said the computer giant, based in Armonk, N.Y., has already begun renovating a building and hopes to move into it next month. McDonald said the tax incentives were important, but the company would have gone forward with the expansion without them. IBM has 4,000 employees in Massachusetts, including about 2,000 in Littleton (Boston Globe October 30 2008)."
Yup, but the CUTS are "difficult." This after they told you KEEPING the INCOME TAX would SPARE SERVICES!! How does it feel to be LIED TO AGAIN, Mass. residents!
Hey, how about CORPORATE or HOLLYWOOD SHARING the PAIN?
***************************
Patrick cautioned that his estimate of an up to $1 billion shortfall is as much in flux as the national forecast. Cuts to local aid - coming in the middle of the fiscal year, when municipal budgets have already been set - would probably force some municipal officials to immediately begin slashing services and laying off teachers and police officers....
The rest of the article is an excuse for Patrick with blame heaped on Republicans for earlier reductions in state spending -- even though those cuts were a QUARTER of what we are looking at now under the LIBERALS of Massachusetts!!! They are indeed WORSE than conservatives because LIBERALS LIE about how much they care about YOU!!!
Yeah, WHO FACES the brunt of the CUTS? The OLD and ILL!!!
"Fiscal woes already mean wait, worry for ailing elders" by Kay Lazar, Globe Staff | December 31, 2008
More than 300 disabled senior citizens will enter the new year on a waiting list for basic home care services, not knowing when or whether the assistance might arrive, because of state budget cuts.
Just a couple of months ago, there was almost no wait for a home care aide who could help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and grocery shopping, the kind of services that keep people out of far more expensive nursing homes. But budget cuts announced Oct. 15 sliced nearly $4 million, roughly 3.6 percent, out of the program, said Al Norman, executive director of Mass Home Care. The association represents 27 nonprofits that, in turn, oversee delivery of the care.
Yup, NO MONEY for PEOPLE in this "liberal" state!!!!
The budget cuts resulted in a waiting list that, on Dec. 15, stood at 320 and is expected to grow, especially after yesterday's announcement from Governor Deval Patrick that the state may face a second round of budget cuts of up to $1 billion, Norman said.
"This is like walking below the sword of Damocles," he said, lamenting cuts to a program that "keeps people out of institutions and saves the taxpayers money." It serves 33,400 elders statewide.
Well, THAT sure makes SENSE, huh? Yeah, we got plenty of money to piss away in Massachusetts -- as long as you are a bank, war-looter, pharma-poisoner, or Hollywood!
The cuts have come amid a broader range of spending reductions that diminished services for some of the state's most vulnerable residents. Programs taking the biggest reductions, nearly $300 million, include the state's Medicaid budget, which pays for health insurance coverage, mental health services, dental care, and an array of other programs for low-income children and elderly residents....
Yup, ONCE AGAIN NOTHING for HEALTH!!!
What if SHE were YOUR GRANDMOTHER?
Phyllis Dubielak, at home recovering from a broken hip, is far down a 320-name waiting list for home care. The 84-year-old learned that she will no longer get physical therapy at home. (Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe)
Would YOU want to SIT and CARE for her all day?
COULD YOU, kiddo?
Among those waiting for home care is Phyllis Dubielak, an 84-year-old Bedford grandmother who fractured her hip in early November and now relies on a walker to get around. Dubielak has had home-based physical therapy since she was released from a rehabilitation facility a few weeks ago, but she just found out that service ends on Friday, and she does not yet feel able to live entirely on her own.
For that reason, she was especially eager for home care services to help her bathe and do laundry, she says. But given how far down she is on the waiting list, that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
"I fear getting in and out of the shower," said Dubielak, who has started wearing a medical alert button around her neck, so she can call for help if she falls again....
Yeah, WHO CARES if the OLD LADY goes for a tumble, 'eh?
As long as it is not YOUR MOTHER, right?
Meanwhile, the state appears awash in dough:
Related: The Lying Looter at the State Lottery
"Cahill ally ends lobby work for lottery vendor; Kelly had also represented firm competing for state job" by Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | December 31, 2008
One of state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill's close friends and top political fund-raisers ended his controversial lobbying work yesterday for a major state lottery vendor after it came to light that he represented both the company and one of its competitors in their pursuit of the same lucrative work with the agency that Cahill controls.
Nothing like picking up TWO CHECKS for the SAME WORK, huh? Probably BID UP the PRICE, right?
Thomas F. Kelly, who received at least $132,000 in hidden fees from
Oh, isn't that nice? The guy was LOBBYING for BOTH SIDES -- sort of like the bankers funding both sides of each war!!!!
Oh, gag!! The STENCH of CORRUPTION in pure-as-the-driven snow Massachusetts!!!!
More stink corruption.
This time it is influence-peddling, is it not?
"DA's office is sued over prosecution of drug case; Defendant alleges political interference" by John R. Ellement, Globe Staff | December 31, 2008
A Winthrop man and his lawyer alleged yesterday that the Suffolk district attorney's office surrendered to political pressure and decided against prosecuting the brother of an East Boston state representative on drug charges.
In interviews and in court papers, Pasquale Capogreco and lawyer Bernard Grossberg contend that the influence of Representative Carlo Basile led a judge to drop drug conspiracy charges against Anthony Basile in 2007 and has since blocked prosecutors from indicting his brother.
"His brother's a state rep," said Capogreco, adding that Carlo Basile "in the political game, and he's got political pull over there."
Capogreco has been indicted on charges of drug trafficking after allegedly trying to sell oxycodone to Anthony Basile. "How did I get an indictment when we were both in the car together?" Capogreco said. "All the blame is going on me, and he's home free with his family."
Grossberg, who has persuaded Judge Carol S. Ball of Suffolk Superior Court to look into the misconduct allegations against the office of District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, said that charges against Capogreco should now be dismissed because of the handling of the case against Anthony Basile.
"It's just unconscionable that the district attorney's office doesn't either indict both or dismiss against both," Grossberg said. "It's certainly not equal protection under the law. . . . It's clear, unequivocal prosecutorial misconduct."
But in separate interviews yesterday, Representative Basile and Conley's top aide, First Assistant District Attorney Joshua Wall, denounced the allegations as false claims by a desperate man.
"I never called any prosecutors, any police, anybody, for preference on my brother," said Carlo Basile, who won a special election Sept. 25 and took his first oath of office Nov. 1.
Wall said the evidence shows that Anthony Basile got into Capogreco's car on Oct. 25, 2007, with $7,400 in cash, intent on buying prescription painkillers. But because Basile never consummated the deal before Boston police pulled over the car, there is no legal basis for prosecuting him for drug possession or drug conspiracy.
Wall also denied that political influence was involved.
"Neither the police investigation nor the grand jury investigation provided any evidence that Mr. Basile possessed the drugs," Wall said. "Representative Basile has reached out to no one in this office. He didn't send an e-mail. He didn't leave a message. He didn't have any communication. Same answer for his surrogates."
Anthony Basile and his lawyer, Sean Donahue, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
At the heart of the influence allegations is a revision Boston police made to the original arrest report and the way former East Boston District Court Judge Paul Mahoney and Clerk Magistrate Joseph R. Faretra reacted in October 2007 when Capogreco and Anthony Basile were arrested and appeared in court.
In an earlier ruling in Suffolk Superior Court, Ball wrote that the case appeared to get unusual treatment in the district court, including Mahoney's decision to essentially dismiss drug conspiracy charges against Anthony Basile one day after his arrest.
"The Commonwealth concedes that since Basile faced a felony charge, the district court was without authority to do this," Ball wrote. "Of note is that Basile is the brother of a Massachusetts state representative."
The judge also pointed out that Boston police identified Basile as the passenger or "pass" and first wrote that "pass removed a plastic bag containing 100 (80 mg) tablets of OxyContin from right front pocket." But this Febuary, an updated version blamed a typographical error and linked all of the drugs to Capogreco alone.
Wall, in the interview, said that when read in its entirety the original sentence clearly identifies only Capogreco as the person handing drugs to police. In her ruling, Ball applauded prosecutors for being precise, but said she was skeptical of prosecutors' assertions they could not charge Basile with drug violations.
Mahoney did not return a telephone call seeking comment. Faretra, the clerk magistrate, said in a phone interview that he handled the case ethically and was not influenced by the state representative, whom he acknowledged knowing.
"The matter went before the judge," Faretra said. "I can't tell a judge what to do."
Faretra said he does not recall meeting with Anthony Basile on Oct. 26, 2007, as Capogreco asserts in a sworn affidavit. Capogreco, meanwhile, is free on bail but faces 10 years in prison for what he said was his first arrest. "They are making me out to look like a Colombian drug lord here," he said.
That's why you can't trust anything presented to you by the protectors of power and privilege (unless the agenda-pushers want you gone) -- AmeriKa's MSM newspapers and government.
And what is the nswer to every problem in Massachusetts, readers?
I'll give you a hint: it starts with the letter T!
"Cape towns seek to extend room levy to private homes" by Erin Ailworth, Globe Staff | December 31, 2008
A summer rental could cost vacationers hundreds of dollars more in taxes next year if some Cape Cod towns get their way. State legislators are being asked to approve a request to impose room taxes on rentals of private homes and condos, popular havens for visiting families hoping to save on their seaside getaway.
That's right: RAISE MORE TAXES!!!
Do me a favor, anyone reading this and thinking of coming here... DON'T!
Stay as far the fuck away from Massachusetts as you can.
In the next legislative session, state lawmakers will consider requests from Provincetown and Brewster seeking to expand the current 9.7 percent tax on hotel, motel, and inn room charges to include short-term rentals of three months or less. Under the proposal, approved by voters in those towns in November, homeowners would be taxed about $97 for every $1,000 charged for a rental - a cost likely to be passed on to vacationers.
So DON'T COME HERE!! It is EXPENSIVE ENOUGH out on the coast!!
Seasonal workers and others who rent short-term housing on the Cape for job reasons would be exempt from the tax....
Translation: ILLEGALS and those that shack 'em up are EXEMPT from the TAX!!
How do you like that, Mass. business person?
