Category Archives: Information

Week Ending December 10, 2010

Prior to his weekly meeting with House and Senate leaders, Governor Patrick said that he is preparing a supplemental budget bill for FY2011 to fund mid- year spending deficits in numerous state programs.  Tax receipts have exceeded projections for the first half of FY2011, leaving the state with a revenue surplus. However, increased enrollment estimates for MassHealth and other social service programs will likely cut into this surplus. According to Governor Patrick, legislative leaders in both chambers have requested that he address the spending requests now. This would be a change from previous years in which the Governor waited until January to file any supplemental budget, in conjunction with the release of his annual budget. Tax collections are currently $500 million above benchmarks although greater demand for Medicaid is expected to reach $500 million as well.

Having said that probation reform would be his top priority, Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) announced this week that he would support moving the Probation Department into the Civil Service system. Republicans immediately criticized the proposal, saying that Speaker DeLeo and other legislators were responsible for the scandal and are thus more worried about protecting themselves than reforming the system. Released last month, the Ware report detailed systemic abuse and corruption within the Massachusetts Probation Department. DeLeo’s proposal is in conflict with the position held by Governor Patrick, who has repeatedly pressed for merging the probation department into an agency within the executive branch, arguing that housing the probation and parole boards under one roof would provide prisoners re-entering society with a smoother transition. On Monday, Governor Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker DeLeo announced the creation of a nine-member commission to overhaul the state’s probation system.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors released statistics this week which showed that the number of single family homes placed under purchase and sales agreements were almost unchanged compared to November 2009. This was the first time in the last six months that pending home sales had not decreased compared to 2009. Purchase and sales agreements last month were down 9% versus one year earlier. Kevin Sears, president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, predicted that based on the lack of a drop in sales this past month, pending home purchase agreements will continue to increase in December.

Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) measures business confidence in the state through a survey it sends out to its members. The AIM confidence index is currently at 52.1, a 3.2% drop since October. However, any score over 50 is considered in the positive range. If the business confidence in the state stays at its current level, it will be at its highest level since the end of 2007. The index reached its all time low in February 2009.

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

Week Ending November 24, 2010

Following the release of the Ware report, detailing systemic abuse and
corruption within the Massachusetts Probation Department, Speaker Robert
DeLeo (D-Winthrop) vowed this week to overhaul the department. DeLeo
also announced that Speaker Pro Tempore Tom Petrolati (D-Ludlow), who
had been implicated as engaging in legislative quid pro quo, would not
seek reappointment to his legislative leadership position. When DeLeo
became speaker in 2009, he retained Rep. Petrolati as Speaker Pro Tem,
the same position Petrolati had held under former Speaker Sal DiMasi.
Although Governor Patrick’s attempt to place the probation department
under control of the Governor’s office failed in the House earlier this
session, Speaker DeLeo said that probation reform would be his top
priority.

On Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approved a
plan for National Grid to buy half of the expected energy output
generated by the proposed Cape Wind offshore wind facility. DPU
officials acknowledged that residential customers could see their
electric bills increase by 1.3-1.7% while commercial and industrial
customers could see a 1.7-2.2% increase. Energy and Environmental
Secretary Ian Bowles said the benefits outweigh the costs of the project
and will allow Massachusetts to meet renewable energy and greenhouse gas
emissions reduction requirements. The DPU did not approve the second
National Grid contract with Cape Wind to purchase the remaining output,
saying that approving the contract now “would serve no clear purpose.”
On a related note, US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar this week announced
a Smart from the Start initiative which would allow the federal
government to identify priority wind areas for potential development and
accelerate the lease process.

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
BSA/AIA MA Public Policy Director
jnunnari@architects.org <mailto:afienman@architects.org>
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

Boston Society of Architects/AIA
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
http://www.architects.org <http://www.architects.org/&gt;

Week Ending November 5, 2010

With an extremely strong night for Republicans nationally on Election Day, Massachusetts was one of the few bright spots for Democrats in the country. In addition to the Governor’s race, Democrats emerged victorious in the campaigns for State Treasurer, State Auditor, Attorney General and Secretary of State. All nine incumbent Democratic Congressmen were re-elected and Democrats won the single open Congressional seat for the 10^th district. Democrats also maintained their large majorities in the State Legislature; gaining one seat in the Senate (now 36 -4) and losing at least 15 seats in the House once all races are finalized (likely 130 – 30).

In the Governor’s race, Governor Deval Patrick and his running mate, Lt. Governor Tim Murray were re-elected by a 7 point margin. Republican Charlie Baker emerged with 42% and Independent Tim Cahill received 8%. Green/Rainbow party candidate Jill Stein received less than 1.5% of the vote. Some are attributing Charlie Baker’s loss in part to his failure to get support from unenrolled voters and women, while others are pointing to the effectiveness of the Patrick/Murray GOTV operation in getting supporters to the polls. In the race to replace retiring state Auditor Joseph DeNucci, former Patrick Administration Secretary Suzanne Bump beat former CFO of the state lottery Mary Connaughton by the smallest margins of the night, 49% to 46%. Treasurer-elect Steve Grossman beat former state Representative Karyn Polito 55% to 45%. Both Attorney General Martha Coakley and Secretary of State Bill Galvin were re-elected by very comfortable margins (63% to 37% for AG and 65% to 33% for SoS).

In the state legislature, Democrats maintained a veto-proof majority in both the House and the Senate for the upcoming 2011-12 Legislative Session. However, there will be many new faces in both chambers as there were 8 open seats in the Senate and 27 open seats in the House.  In addition, at least 12 incumbent Democrats lost their seats in the House (with one further race pending a recount). In the Senate, the Democrats picked up all eight open seats to increase their majority by one seat, 36-4.  In the House, Republicans won four open seats formerly held by Democrats and increased their numbers in the House, though still a clear minority with 31 or 32 members of the 160 seat body.

After he was re-elected, the Governor on Thursday refreshed his call for the Legislature to reconvene before the end of the calendar year and pass the expanded gaming legislation that is still before them. Despite the politics surrounding the debate over expanding gaming earlier in the year, Governor Patrick this week said that a bill authorizing three destination resorts, that he and the Legislature agreed on, should be enacted and that any other differences could be saved for another day.

On Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue released the tax collection figures for the month of October.  The state collected $209 million more than expected and now has collected $430 million more than benchmarked over the first four months of FY2011.  Governor Patrick stated that he is optimistic that this represents the beginning of a trend and Massachusetts’ tax revenues will continue to increase – showing signs of a true economic recovery here.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors released statistics this week which showed a dramatic decrease in pending single family home and condo sales for the month of October. Purchase and sales agreements in October were down 22%. Massachusetts Association of Realtors President Kevin Sears predicted that based on the slight increase in pending home sales from September to October, prices for homes could continue to go down resulting in the number of home sales going up.

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
BSA/AIA MA Public Policy Director
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

Boston Society of Architects/AIA