THEY LIED!
Related: State Wears Rose-Colored Glasses When Looking at Revenue
I'd say they were stained with something else, readers.
Of course, what do you expect when you are making estimates and assumptions off lies?
"More cuts loom as state faces $295m in red ink; MassHealth, other services blamed for drain on coffers" by Michael Levenson, Globe Staff | March 19, 2010
Massachusetts is potentially facing a new budget gap of up to $295 million this year, a grim forecast that state officials said could spell yet another round of painful cuts before the fiscal year ends in June.
Related: The Massachusetts State Budget
Just wanted you to see the lies and where the tax loot is coming from and going, readers.
Patrick administration officials blamed the gap on rising demand for the joint state and federal health care program for low-income residents known as MassHealth, increasing demand for homeless shelters, and on below-projected revenue from state fees and federal aid.
Yeah, it's all you poor people's fault!!!
Hey, we have millions to make interest payments to banks and bankroll losing concerns, but hey... it's you fault the treasury is broke, poor folk.
And no, the health care costs are not bankrupting us, right, liars.
Massachusetts, like other states, has grappled with more than two years of declining revenue as a result of the global economic downturn, which prompted Governor Deval Patrick to make midyear budget cuts four times last fiscal year and once already this year, in October....
I'm so sick of the Globe making excuses for the weasels of government while pushing the agenda that led us to that place.
Jay Gonzalez, secretary of administration and finance pointed to three major rating agencies, which reaffirmed the state’s healthy bond rating this month....
See who they are REALLY WORKING FOR and who they REALLY CARE ABOUT?
They get PAID FIRST, not you, taxpayers!
Related: Municipal Bond Milking
Barney Frank Benefited From State Debts
Yeah, he is a real help, isn't he, taxpayers? Profiting of the debt and sucking up tax payments.
Of course, good old Barney is always looking out for you, right, Bay-Staters?
Yup, either serving himself or the banks.
"State’s $295m shortfall kicks off political blame game; Amid attacks, budget chief defends Patrick" by Michael Levenson, Globe Staff | March 20, 2010
The news that the state is suddenly facing up to a $295 million budget shortfall for this fiscal year is prompting a lot of head-scratching about how it happened, concern among budget writers about where they may have to cut, and fuel for Governor Deval Patrick’s political opponents, who say the disclosure bolsters their arguments that the governor is mismanaging the state’s finances.
State officials say an increase in the use of MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program, is responsible for a large chunk of the potential shortfall. But administration officials were unwilling yesterday to shed more light on the problem or to say what was behind it.
After claiming that it was not because of the national health debate.
No that the monstrosity passed Obama about to cut the propping-up payments, 'eh?
And you have no right to know how your tax dollars are being used, Bay-Stater.
They have made that quite clear.
MassHealth officials declined repeated requests for an interview and released a statement that did not address what was driving the shortfall.
The lack of information caused confusion among legislative budget writers and policy specialists.
“Clearly, MassHealth is a significant share of the shortfall,’’ said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. “But I don’t know what’s causing it.’’
Related: Memory Hole: Why the Nation Doesn't Need Massachusetts Health Care
That give you a clue?
Jay Gonzalez, Patrick’s budget chief, said officials discovered the gap during a routine budget review this week and disclosed it as part of their obligation to detail the state’s potential liabilities to bondholders.
Translation: If it were JUST TAXPAYERS they would NOT HAVE SAID a WORD! See who the spineless political lackeys of this state serve?
He characterized it as simply part of managing the state’s finances in an economic downturn that has fueled increased demand for services, while sapping the state’s revenues.
“The big difference is that, as a result of this economic crisis, revenues dropped so steeply, and demand on programs increased so steeply . . . that those fluctuations have been more volatile than in a normal time and we’ve had to make adjustments,’’ said Gonzalez. “And that’s not a function of how we’re managing. That’s a function of the economy.’’
I'm so damn tired of the endless excuses of lying, looting government.
That has not stopped Patrick’s political opponents from going on the attack.
State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, an independent candidate for governor, has said it is further evidence for his contention that the state’s universal health care law is bankrupting Massachusetts, even though MassHealth is a separate, preexisting program.
Also see: Cahill the Conservative
Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker Jr., a former budget chief in the Weld and Cellucci administrations, has said Patrick was caught off guard by the problem, which he said displayed the governor’s “fundamental incompetence when it comes to the Commonwealth’s budget.’’
Baker neglected to mention that when he was in state government he, too, had to revise budgets when reality diverged from projections.
Related: Baker the Bozo
Yeah, we know you don't like him, Globe, which is why I do.
House minority leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., Republican of North Reading, said the shortfall was “simply another example of how the Patrick administration, despite being handed billions of dollars in federal bailout money and raiding 75 percent of reserves, cannot competently manage this fiscal crisis.’’
Gonzalez rejected those arguments, saying the disclosure showed that the administration was staying on top of emerging budget problems, a practice that has garnered praise from independent rating agencies, which reaffirmed the state’s healthy bond rating this month....
Again, telling you WHO is IMPORTANT to them!
Gonzalez said administration officials will decide over the next several weeks how to close the gap, with new cuts and additional withdrawals from the state’s reserve account possible.
Why are they still sitting on money?
Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, executive director of the advocacy group Health Care for All, said she was not surprised that the state is facing increased demand for MassHealth.
“We know that there is an added need for MassHealth, because the economic decline has meant more people have lost their jobs and have qualified for MassHealth programs,’’ she said. “Our help line has been inundated by calls from people who, for the first time in their lives, don’t have employer-sponsored health care and need to find out the programs and subsidized care available to them.’’
I'll bet they are SINGLE-PAYER COVERTS right quick!
MassHealth officials released a statement yesterday saying they were addressing the shortfall and trying to manage them internally.
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