Related: Governor's Cup
"Upbeat Patrick vows no cuts in school funding" by Michael Levenson and Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | January 22, 2010
Governor Deval Patrick, confronting a restive electorate battered by the economy, pledged last night to protect cities and towns from cuts in school aid in next year’s budget and to try to harness the voter anger that propelled Republican Scott Brown into the US Senate this week.
“Be angry, but channel it in a positive direction,’’ the governor declared in his third annual State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Legislature. “It’s easy to be against things. It takes tough-mindedness and courage to be for something.’’
In his speech, the governor, mindful of the tough reelection campaign he faces this year, celebrated the accomplishments of his first three years in office and sought to connect them to the lives of everyday people.
What accomplishments? Pissing us all off?
Several times, he named citizens who he said had benefited from his initiatives....
Oh, he's shameless, too. Picking and choosing like he's writing a WMD report for the Bush administration!
a state-subsidized loan....
Yeah, that's his way of saying he loves you -- by helping banks!
Patrick stressed his fiscal stewardship, saying that Massachusetts was one of the few states in the country able to borrow money to fund its student loan program.
Has he been to a psychiatrist for this condition?
He also touted his administration’s implementation of the state’s health insurance plan, saying 97 percent of residents are now insured. He did not announce any major new initiatives. Instead, he pledged to achieve long-standing goals from his 2006 campaign: to improve the economy, lower the cost of health insurance, overhaul criminal offender record laws, cut property taxes, and streamline state government....
You have HAD THREE YEARS to DO ALL of THAT!!
“That must be our agenda, and I will not be satisfied until it’s finished,’’ Patrick said. “And neither should you.’’
Yeah, but it is GOING to be FINISHED WITHOUT YOU!!!
Pfft! What a slime-ball!!!!
Patrick argued that Massachusetts is recovering from the recession more quickly than other states. For the first time in 20 years, more people are moving into the state than moving out, he said. Business confidence is improving. Home sales have increased.
Yeah, the fact that no one find work to move and illegals are flooding this state is a good thing to the governor.
Related:Mass. Migration: Mixed Messages
Not to the citizenry, though. Why do you think we are angry?
But on perhaps the most important metric, jobs, he acknowledged that the state unemployment rate leapt to 9.4 percent in December from 8.7 percent in November, reversing two previous months of significant declines. “Unemployment, even with the disappointing numbers released today, is not as high here as the national average....’’ Patrick said.
Like WE CARE about COMPARISONS!!
Yeah, WE GOT IT GOOD, guv! Great political savvy and strategy! Can you BE ANY MORE OUT-of-TOUCH with us?
You really need to STOP GOING where EVERYONE AGREES with you for PRESS EVENTS, dude. You have to get outside that Globe bubble.
Highlighting his efforts to expand the clean energy industry, Patrick said his initiatives had set national standards. The solar industry here, he said, has more than doubled the number of jobs it has and quadrupled the number of companies in the state, since he took office.
Pfft!
Related: Slow Saturday Special: Evergreen Turns Brown
State Keeps Watering Evergreen
Yeah, what a great deal that has been for us, huh?
Underscoring the critical area of public education, Patrick highlighted a bill that he signed into law this week that will make it easier for school administrators to override collective bargaining contracts and overhaul failing schools. He said that despite looming cuts in other areas, he would not, for the next fiscal year, slash the $4 billion state fund that goes to public schools. The governor is due to present an initial budget plan within days.
He thinks that will save his broiled political butt? Pfft!
Patrick delivered the speech in a difficult political climate. Massachusetts Democrats are still reeling from the election of Brown to fill the seat held by Edward M. Kennedy for nearly 47 years. Attorney General Martha Coakley, who lost the race, attended the speech last night, smiling and waving when Patrick acknowledged her, as state Auditor Joseph DeNucci held her hand aloft....
Yup, all the arrogant Democrats of this state didn't learn a damn thing.
Charles D. Baker, a former Weld administration budget chief, posted a video on his website last night in which he assailed the speech and said, “Beacon Hill is broken, and our state is a mess.’’
“Let me sum up in one sentence what Governor Patrick will take 30 minutes to claim in tonight’s State of the Commonwealth address: Massachusetts is just fine, and we’re making progress,’’ Baker said. “We all know he’s wrong.’’
Yup.
The House minority leader, Bradley H. Jones Jr., Republican of North Reading, was also critical. “No amount of hope and happy talk in tonight’s speech is going to help you deal with the real problems we face, either fiscally or beyond,’’ he said after Patrick’s speech.
Patrick said he was aware of his critics, and he warned them “not to doubt my resolve or my determination.’’
Pffft! Shut up. Just shut up.
And DON'T DOUBT OURS, either!
“I also hear a public deeply frustrated with the pace of change, who need a little help from us right now so they can help themselves,’’ Patrick said. “Our job is to be leaders for them.’’
Yeah, YOU FAILED, and that's why we are going to boot your ass!
After the speech, aides said, Patrick traveled to Springfield....
Yeah, thanks for adding to the carbon footprint at our expense, asshole.
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