Week Ending April 15, 2011
House Committee on Ways and Means Releases Budget
On Wednesday, the House released its $30.45 billion FY2012 budget, following the release of the Governor’s recommended FY2012 budget in January. The House’s budget attempts to close a $1.9 billion gap between spending and revenues but does not include any new taxes. To help close the budget gap, financial aid to municipalities was reduced by 7%. In addition, the budget contains an outside policy section which would give municipalities more control to design health insurance plans, including setting co-payments and deductibles, which would be exclusive from collective bargaining. The goal of the proposal is to offset local aid cuts by giving cities and towns a health care cost savings measure that House leaders have valued at upwards of $100 million. Public employee unions are ardently opposing this proposed change. The House is set to begin debate of the budget the week of April 25th. Amendments to the budget are due by 5pm today.
Expanding Gaming Hearing Date Set for May 4th
The Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies this week set a hearing date to consider bills that would expand gambling in the state. Bills heard will range from proposals to bring destination resort casinos and slot parlors to the Commonwealth to other means of generating new gambling revenue for Massachusetts. Although the House and Senate and Governor were generally in agreement about authorizing casinos in the state before the end of last session, the issue of whether slot machines should be allowed at the state racetracks ultimately derailed the bill’s final passage.
A poll this week by the Center for Policy Analysis at UMass Dartmouth found that 55% of residents support a plan for three destination resort casinos in the state. 23% of the 1,200 Massachusetts residents polled were opposed to the three casino plan and 22% were undecided. The poll had a margin of error of 2.8%.
Governor Signs Supplemental Budget Bill
On Monday Governor Patrick signed a $325 million mid-year spending bill which was passed by the House and Senate two weeks ago, with one significant veto. The Governor chose to veto $104,000 that was designated for the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, after the Barnstable Sheriff hired former State Rep. Jeff Perry at a salary of $110,000. Perry was the Republican nominee for the 10th Congressional district, which was won by Congressman Bill Keating (D). In addition to the $2.64 million for county sheriffs that the Governor highlighted, the spending bill includes $50 million for snow and ice removal, $30 million for Trial Court employee collective bargaining, $6 million for youth summer jobs and $100 million in additions to the state’s “rainy-day” fund.
Massachusetts Unemployment Decreases Slightly
Unemployment in the state was down .2% in March, according to a Patrick Administration jobs report. Massachusetts gained 3,200 jobs last month, as the statewide unemployment rate fell to 8%. The gains came from job increases in the leisure and hospitality sectors (2,100) and the professional, scientific and business sectors (1,500).
John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)
MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org
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