Friday, March 13, 2009

More State Stealing in Massachusetts

Methinks he knows he's a one-termer (see third article down)!

Remember these?

The State Budget Swindle

Governor Guts State Services

Pigs at the State Trough

A Slow Saturday Special: Statehouse Slush Fund

Meanwhile, we have to live in the here-and-now:


"State deficit may hit $1b again; Senate budget leader, fiscal group sound alarm" by Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | March 12, 2009

As tax revenue continues to dwindle, Beacon Hill leaders are confronting an additional budget gap of as much as $1 billion this year, forcing lawmakers to choose between deep spending cuts and broad-based tax increases....

It also augurs for an almost unmanageable deficit in the next three years that can only be closed with a combination of painful spending reductions and new sources of revenue, primarily from broad-based taxes such as income and sales levies, said legislative leaders and budget specialists. The local aid account, which Patrick has already trimmed, could face even deeper cuts next year than proposed as part of his budget....

And seeing as the LEGISLATIVE LOOTERS are SENDING MONEY OUT of this STATE hand over fist, you can imagine my reaction to this horseshit!

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said there is little support among House members for an income tax hike, particularly after voters had called for cutting the rate from 5.5 percent to 5 percent in a 2000 referendum. Despite continued pressure from activists, the Legislature has not dropped the rate below 5.3 percent. Some legislators have suggested raising it to 5.4 percent, a hike that could raise $1.5 billion to $2 billion annually.

That's MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRACY for you! These fucking liberal DemocraPs never listen, and why should they? Shitheads in this state can't think for themselves! Not that Republicans are any better, but this state doesn't need DemocraP dictatorship! That's how we got into this mess!!!!

Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said that winning political support for an income tax increase would be nearly impossible. He said cutting spending is the first alternative, but was not sure it would be enough to solve the problem without devastating state programs.

First they tell us to vote to keep the income tax or services will be slashed, and now we find out they are anyway while the state looters have slush funds and tax money is given away to corporations. Honestly, guys, I'm sick of the shit shovel!

He suggested that a one percentage point hike in the 5 percent state sales tax could be preferable to an income tax hike. That would produce about an extra $750 million in state revenue.

How about NO TAX HIKES at ALL? How about that, huh?

In fact, let's see a 50% CUT instead, 'kay, you lying looters!

--more--"

And is there NOT ONE ACCOUNT the STATE can not keep BALANCED (other than there reserve accounts for their own use)?

"State may borrow to keep jobless benefits flowing" by Robert Gavin, Globe Staff | March 12, 2009

Un-effin-real!!!!!!!

Surging unemployment would require the state to borrow money in 2010, 2011, and 2012 to cover temporary shortfalls in the trust fund that finances jobless benefits and require Massachusetts businesses to pay substantially more in unemployment insurance taxes, according to a report from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Why don't you GET the $$$ from HOLLYWOOD or BIOTECH, shitters?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The interest-free borrowing from the federal government would cover benefits in the early part of those years until payments on unemployment insurance taxes, due by April 1, are received, said Robb Smith, director of policy and planning.

Why didn't they just put it in the stimulus?

Unemployed workers' benefits would not be interrupted. Under state law, unemployment insurance taxes paid by businesses would automatically rise an average of 28 percent by 2011 to keep the fund solvent, according to the report....

--more--"

Of course, the state may be DEEP in DEBT, but that doesn't stop our illustrious guverner from awarding ANOTHER 6-FIGURE TAXPAPEYR GIVEAWAY!!!

"Patrick awards state senator a $175,000 job" by Frank Phillips, Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick has awarded one of his earliest political supporters, State Senator Marian Walsh, a $175,000 job as an assistant director at a state bonding authority, despite declaring in the past that he would not honor patronage appointment requests from lawmakers....

He's broken so many of the flowery fart mists I've lost count. What a shit!

--more--"

Update:

Oh, you are going to love these next two items, readers:

Governor Deval Patrick, who campaigned on a platform to fight business as usual on Beacon Hill, has given one of his earliest political supporters a $175,000-a-year job as an assistant director at a state bonding authority, a position that had sat vacant for more than a dozen years.

Oh, so we DIDN'T REALLY NEED ONE, did we?

State Senator Marian Walsh's appointment was approved yesterday by the board of the Massachusetts Health and Education Facilities Authority, which is dominated by Patrick appointees. The new post will give her a pay raise of nearly $100,000 a year. The agency said Walsh will head its new effort to reach out to other authorities and state agencies to create savings by pooling resources.

The FIRST THING you can do is RESIGN -- and then the REST of the BOARD can FOLLOW YOU!! That will save us some money!! Are you ANGRY YET like ME?!!!

Republicans sharply criticized Patrick yesterday for appointing Walsh, a nine-term West Roxbury Democrat, to such a high-paying post as the nation slides into serious recession and the state government is slashing its budget and laying people off....

I often wonder how many servings of shit Mass. DemocraPs have to fill up on before they puke. The appetite seems bottomless.

"Creating a job for Marian Walsh does not count as one of the thousands of jobs Governor Patrick promised to create in Massachusetts," said Barney Keller, the GOP spokesman. "Instead of rewarding supporters with high-paying jobs, the governor should focus on creating jobs for the thousands of unemployed taxpayers."

Two years ago, Patrick appointed Walsh's husband - Paul V. Buckley, a retired District Court judge - to the state's Industrial Accident Board, a post that pays $113,000 a year. That job will sharply increase his state pension....

Oh, so the GOOD GUV already HELPED OUT the HUBBY at YOUR EXPENSE, taxpayers!! What a DETESTABLE PIECE of SHIT this guy has turned out to be!! A SMELLY, SMELLY, STINK-SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*******************

Walsh, the Senate majority whip, will see a significant boost in her current $76,440 state salary. But the authority is not part of the state pension system, and her new salary will not boost her state retirement benefits. The agency, which secures tax-exempt capital financing for hospitals, colleges and universities, cultural and research institutions, and human service providers, has a private savings retirement system....

Walsh's credentials in public bonding are not as strong. She holds a theological degree from Harvard Divinity School and a law degree from Suffolk University. She has worked on state finance and financial regulation issues, serving as Senate chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Joint Committee on Banks and Banking. She also led efforts in the Senate to force private, nonprofit organizations to open their books to the public.

Walsh was one of the first state political figures to back what was then considered a long-shot bid by Patrick to win the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006. Within days after winning the governor's race, Patrick, having vowed to upend the political culture on Beacon Hill, told reporters that state legislators should not expect patronage appointments from him....

Oh, so DEVAL SOLD US SHIT, huh? I WON'T FORGET THAT!!!!!!!!!!!

--more--"

Meanwhile, over at the piggish statehouse:

"On way out, DiMasi left pay raises, promotions; Staff salaries hiked $65,000" by Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | March 13, 2009

And look who is YUKKING it up!

Robert A. DeLeo (right) succeeded Salvatore F. DiMasi as speaker, raising pay as he took office.

Robert A. DeLeo (right) succeeded Salvatore F. DiMasi as speaker, raising pay as he took office. (BILL GREENE/GLOBE STAFF/FILE)

Yup, the GOOD GUVERNER himself!

What was a bad week for Salvatore F. DiMasi when he resigned as House speaker turned out to be a great week for a dozen House staff members, who got raises and promotions on DiMasi's way out the door.

On his second to last day in office in January, DiMasi boosted the pay of 10 House employees, including his driver, Daniel Petrigno, whom he made a court officer, one of a cadre of uniformed men and women whose primary responsibility is keeping order in the House.

He gave thousands of dollars in raises to two other court officers and to staff members working for favored committee chairman. The pay increases ranged from 4 to 66 percent and cost $65,000.

That tally increased when his successor, Representative Robert A. DeLeo, assumed office the same week and immediately gave his entire staff raises, some as high as 56 percent. In the following weeks, he hiked the pay of several staff members working for his new leadership team....

Some questioned whether it was appropriate for an outgoing speaker to be so generous, especially given the ethical cloud hanging over DiMasi when he left, or for any raises to be given at all, in such grim economic times.

Answer: NO FRIKKIN' WAY!!!

"Now is clearly not the time for us in government to be seeking pay raises, " said Representative Karyn Polito, Democrat of Shrewsbury. "I'm hearing daily from individuals and families who are suffering more than ever. It is incumbent upon government officials to demonstrate a connection to our constituents. We may need to consider salary freezes, hiring freezes, and furloughs as a way to balance our budget during this crisis."

Maybe some tar, feathers, and a dunk in the harbor would get to them.

DeLeo spokesman Seth Gitell defended the raises for aides of the new speaker and the new leadership team, saying in an e-mailed statement that they "reflect entirely new jobs and expanded responsibilities."

These guys NEED a DUNK!!!!

"Robert A. DeLeo created an additional House committee chairmanship that carries a $7,500 stipend on top of legislators' base salary of $61,440"

So the new speaker is a lying sack of shit, too, huh?

Combined with increases DiMasi gave out in spurts over the past year, the two House speakers bumped staff pay more than $900,000 over the past 11 months as the national economy began a precipitous decline and the state confronted an ever greater deficit.

Yup, BUMPED THEIR OWN PAY a MILLION DOLLARS while they are RAISING TAXES and GUTTING SERVICES for the rest of us!! Welcome to Massachusetts, land of the liberal DemocraPs!!!!!!!!!!!

DiMasi could not be reached for comment.

What, he out playing golf?

Many of the increases in staff salaries were made as lawmakers themselves were receiving an automatic 5 percent pay raise in January that added more than $500,000 to the House payroll. Just 17 out of 160 representatives, including Polito, declined the raises, citing the weak economy and the financial struggles of their constituents.

And may GOD BLESS THEM and DAMN the REST!! I'll be WAITING in HELL for them where I will FEAST UPON their DISEMBOWELED ENTRAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DeLeo was not among those 17.

Of COURSE NOT!!!!! Meet the new scum, same as the old scum!!!

In his last days in office, DiMasi gave raises to aides of Representative Joseph F. Wagner, Democrat of Chicopee, and Representative John J. Binienda, Democrat of Worcester, according to payroll records....

"The hardest thing about being a chairman is keeping your staff happy," said Binienda, who now chairs the Rules Committee.

Yeah, FUCK the VOTERS and RESIDENTS you are supposed to be WORKING FOR!

Wagner said the small raises his aides received were more than offset by cuts he made in other parts of his office budget....

Oh, that's rich!!! That bit of Orwellism will fatten you up plenty! Take a huge bite of that lie and choke it down, readers. So if he didn't get the rise we can't afford, the taxpayers could have saved even less.

You know, I'll do the job for 40,000, how about that? If it ain't enough for you shitters, GET OUT!!!!!!!!!

But Representative Daniel E. Bosley, Democrat of North Adams and one of DiMasi's closest allies, said he specifically did not ask for staff raises, though his employees deserved them.

"We're in fiscal crisis," said Bosley, who chaired the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. "We were down two people and didn't ask for permission to hire because we were in a fiscal crisis. My kids were working 12 or 14 hours a day. I would have loved to have given them something, but I chose not to do that."

Spoken like a true joo, Bos: The Big Boss Bosley

Then why write in a biotech $$$ pipeline from state tax coffers to Israel, dude?

Since his resignation, DiMasi too has been collecting checks compliments of the Commonwealth. Last month he started receiving a state pension of just under $60,000 a year, according to the State Retirement Board. The benefit is based on 33 years and three months of service. He received credit for a full year of service in 2009, even though he resigned in January.

Translation: the fat, slimy shit grabbed two more handfuls of cash before he stopped "serving" you, taxpayer!!

--more--"

Pretty obvious that the Mass. Democraps are simply SERVING THEMSELVES, isn't it?