Posts
Comments

Archive for November, 2007

It’s a spending problem

Posted in Local politics, Nelson Benton, Pension Tidal Wave, Uncategorized on Nov 25th, 2007 Comments

The latest issue of MassINC’s CommonWealth magazine has a good article on the fiscal perils facing Bay State communities. Residents of Salem, Gloucester and Lawrence, all of which are dealing with significant deficits these days, might want to take note.
Unfortunately author Gabrielle Gurley devotes too much space to municipal leaders’ whining about how they need [...]

Read Full Post »

Telling ‘em what they want to hear

Posted in Ken Johnson, Presidential race on Nov 19th, 2007 Comments

In a scene from the “Seinfeld” television series, George Costanza is cornered by a bookstore manager. George, the series’ great spinner of unbelievable tales, has been caught trying to return to the shelves a $100 art book he had taken into the restroom.
“Excuse me,” the manager asks, “did you take that book with you into [...]

Read Full Post »

Together you can … pay more

Posted in State issues, Taylor Armerding on Nov 15th, 2007 Comments

I’m shocked - shocked - to hear the administration of Gov. Deval Patrick, not yet a year into its promised “Together We Can” utopia for all of us, already making noises about raising taxes. Just like I’d be shocked to find gambling going on in those casinos the governor wants to build in order to [...]

Read Full Post »

Perfect storm in Salem

Posted in Local politics, Nelson Benton on Nov 13th, 2007 Comments

Salem (Mass.) Mayor Kim Driscoll has become something of a role model for women like Gloucester’s mayor-elect, Carolyn Kirk, who are seeking to advance in the municipal arena.
But after a fairly tumulturous couple of years, Driscoll faces what is perhaps her biggest test yet.
In what might be described as a fiscal perfect storm, Salem was [...]

Read Full Post »

Labor Day’s vacation daze

Posted in State issues, Taylor Armerding on Nov 6th, 2007 Comments

I’ve got a simple solution for hard-pressed New Hampshire school administrators who are trying to figure out how in the world they’re going to squeeze 180 days of instruction into a year without starting classes before Labor Day: How about a fewer vacations during the school year?
The administrators are complaining about a bill filed by [...]

Read Full Post »

Don’t hold your breath

Posted in Nelson Benton, Uncategorized on Nov 5th, 2007 Comments

And don’t assume your loose change is safe in your pocket, just because legislation has been filed that would block proposed toll increases for those driving into Boston from the North Shore or MetroWest.
Legislators from those two regions are hopping mad over the recent toll increases approved by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority for those entering [...]

Read Full Post »