Category Archives: Weekly Mass Political Summaries

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

Election Day 2010 came to a close last night after one of the most expensive and competitive election seasons in recent memory. The state saw contested races for

Governor, Lt. Governor, Treasurer and Auditor; several close and seriously contested Congressional races, races for thirty-five open seats in the Legislature and many

competitive races among legislative candidates.

 

Governor Deval Patrick and Lt. Governor Tim Murray were reelected with 49% of the vote. Republican Charlie Baker received 42% and Independent Tim Cahill trailed at 8%.

Both Attorney General Martha Coakley (D) and Secretary of State William Galvin (D) were comfortably reelected with large margins. Massachusetts will have a new Treasurer

and Auditor as both were open seats (Treasurer Tim Cahill ran for Governor as an independent and Auditor Joe DeNucci (D) is retiring after serving as Auditor for twenty four

years), with Steve Grossman (D) winning the Treasurer’s seat. Susan Bump (D) defeated Republican candidate Mary Connaughton by a narrow margin in the Auditor’s

race.

 

The Congressional delegation will remain entirely Democratic with all incumbents beating challengers, the closest race being in the tenth Congressional District, an open

seat following the retirement of Congressman Bill Delahunt (D). Democrat Bill Keating, the Norfolk County District Attorney, narrowly defeated Republican State Representative

Jeff Perry in a very hotly contested race.

 

The makeup of the Massachusetts Legislature will not materially change for the upcoming 2011-2012 Legislative Session as Democrats will retain an overwhelming,

veto-proof majority in both the House and Senate. There was a total of eighty contested races, the most since 1990, including thirty-five open seats—eight in the Senate and

twenty-seven in the House. At least six incumbent Democrats lost their seats in the House and Republicans stand to double their House membership from fifteen to thirty after

several close races are called.

 

In the Senate, Democrats had a clean sweep with all incumbent Senators running for reelection winning, and Democrats picking up all eight open seats to increase their

majority by one seat to 36-4. Democrats claimed the seat vacated by Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei, who was the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor.

Voters faced three ballot questions statewide and narrowly approved only Question 1, which repeals a new sales tax on alcohol purchases. The other two— repealing the

state’s affordable housing law and reducing the statewide sales tax from 6.25% to 3%— were both soundly rejected by voters.

 

Statewide Election Results

Governor

Patrick/Murray (D): 49%

Baker/Tisei (R): 42%

Cahill (I): 8%

Stein/Purcell (G): 1%

Treasurer

Grossman (D): 55%

Polito (R): 45%

Auditor

Bump (D): 49%

Connaughton (R): 46%

Fortune (G): 5%

Attorney General

Coakley (D): 63%

McKenna (R): 37%

Secretary of State

Galvin (D): 65%

Campbell (R): 33%

Henderson (U): 3%

 

The Eight Open Senate Seats

First Bristol and Plymouth

Outgoing Senator: Joan Menard (D-Fall River).

District: Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Lakeville and Rochester.

Senator Elect: Democrat Michael Rodrigues, a seven-term member of the House of

Representatives who headed the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional

Licensure.

 

Cape and Islands

Outgoing Senator: Robert O’Leary (D-Barnstable) – Ran and lost in the Democratic

primary for the 10th Congressional District.

District: Ten precincts of Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Harwich,

Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Yarmouth, Aquinnah, Chilmark,

Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury and Nantucket.

Senator Elect: Democrat Daniel Wolf, a Harwich resident, pilot and founder of Cape Air

Airlines.

 

Second Essex and Middlesex

Outgoing Senator: Susan Tucker (D-Andover).

District: Lawrence, Andover, Dracut and Tewksbury.

Senator Elect: Democrat Barry Finegold, an Andover attorney, seven-term member of

the House and co-chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and

Energy Committee.

 

Hampden

Outgoing Senator: Stephen Buoniconti (D-West Springfield) – Candidate for Hampden

County district attorney.

District: Portions of three wards of Chicopee, portions of five wards of Springfield,

Agawam and West Springfield.

Senator Elect: Democrat James Welch, a three-term House member from West

Springfield who is vice chair of the Committee on Bills in Third Reading.

 

First Middlesex

Outgoing Senator: Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell), Chairman of Senate Ways and

Means.

District: Lowell, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, Tyngsborough and Westford.

Senator Elect: Democrat Eileen Donoghue, an attorney, former Lowell mayor and

onetime candidate for Congress.

 

Middlesex and Essex

Outgoing Senator: Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield) – Candidate for Lt. Governor.

District: Malden, five wards of Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Lynnfield.

Senator Elect: Democrat Katherine Clark, an attorney and a second-term member of the

House from Melrose who served six years on the Melrose School Committee.

 

Norfolk and Plymouth

Outgoing Senator: Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy) – Candidate for Norfolk County

district attorney.

District: Quincy, eight precincts of Braintree, Holbrook, Abington and Rockland.

Senator Elect: Democrat John Keenan, a Quincy resident and attorney who worked as a

public defender, litigator and insurance fraud attorney and who has served as an at-large

Quincy City Councilor for four terms.

 

Norfolk

Outgoing Senator: Marian Walsh (D-West Roxbury).

District: Portions of three wards of Boston, Dedham, Norwood and Westwood.

Senator Elect: Democrat Michael Rush, a four-term member of the House from West

Roxbury, a history teacher and a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

 

The Twenty-Seven Open House Seats

Fifth Barnstable

Outgoing Representative: Jeffrey Perry (R-Sandwich) – Candidate for Congress in the

10th Congressional District.

District: Three precincts of Barnstable, one precinct of Bourne, two precincts of

Mashpee and the town of Sandwich.

Representative Elect: Republican Randy Hunt, a Sandwich resident, certified accountant

and two-term member of the Sandwich Board of Selectmen.

 

First Berkshire

Outgoing Representative: Daniel Bosley (D-North Adams).

District: The towns of Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams, Savoy, Williamstown,

Charlemont, Hawley, Heath, Monroe and Rowe.

Representative Elect: Democrat Gailanne Cariddi of North Adams, a twenty-year City

Councilor.

 

Second Berkshire

Outgoing Representative: Denis Guyer (D-Dalton).

District: The towns of Becket, Cheshire, Dalton, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough,

New Ashford, Peru, Richmond, Washington, Windsor, Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland,

Colrain, Leyden, Northfield and Shelburne, Cummington, Middlefield and Plainfield, and

a precinct of the City of Pittsfield.

Representative Elect: Democrat Paul Mark, a Hancock resident, attorney and member of

the IBEW.

 

Eight Bristol

Outgoing Representative: Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) – Candidate for the State

Senate.

District: Portions of five wards of Fall River and the town of Westport.

Representative Elect: Democrat Paul Schmid, a Westport resident and member of the

Westport Board of Selectmen.

 

Ninth Bristol

Outgoing Representative: John Quinn (D-Dartmouth) – Candidate for Bristol County

sheriff.

District: The town of Dartmouth, a precinct of Freetown, a ward of New Bedford and a

precinct of Lakeville.

Representative Elect: Democrat Christopher Markey, a Dartmouth resident and attorney

who runs a law office in New Bedford.

 

Sixth Essex

Outgoing Representative: Mary Grant (D-Beverly).

District: The City of Beverly.

Representative Elect: Democrat Jerald Parisella, an attorney and assistant city solicitor

for Salem.

 

Seventeenth Essex

Outgoing Representative: Barry Finegold (D-Andover) – Candidate for the State

Senate.

District: Six precincts of Andover, portions of two wards of Lawrence and two precincts

of Tewksbury.

Representative Elect: Republican Paul Adams, an Andover resident and longtime

Republican political and policy consultant.

 

Second Franklin

Outgoing Representative: Christopher Donelan (D-Orange) – Candidate for Franklin

County sheriff.

District: The towns of Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Orange, Warwick and Athol.

Representative Elect: Democrat Denise Andrews of Orange, a business consultant and

twenty-five year employee of Procter and Gamble and member of the Governor’s

Advisory Council for Non-Discrimination.

 

Sixth Hampden

Outgoing Representative: James Welch (D-Springfield) – Candidate for the State

Senate.

District: Portions of three wards of Chicopee, a precinct of Springfield and the town of

West Springfield.

Representative Elect: Democrat Michael Finn, a West Springfield resident and president

of the town council.

 

First Middlesex

Outgoing Representative: Robert Hargraves (R-Groton)

District: The towns of Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell and Townsend.

Representative Elect: Republican Sheila Harrington, a Groton attorney focusing on

family law, real estate, workers’ compensation and personal injury.

 

Sixth Middlesex

Outgoing Representative: Pam Richardson (D-Framingham) – Lost in a reelection

primary.

District: Eleven precincts of Framingham.

Representative Elect: Democrat Chris Walsh, a Framingham resident and architect.

 

Twenty-Second Middlesex

Outgoing Representative: William Greene (D-Billerica)

District: The town of Billerica.

Representative Elect: Republican Marc Lombardo of Billerica, a sales account manager

for Saba Software and a member of the Board of Selectmen since 2005.

 

Thirty-Second Middlesex

Outgoing Representative: Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) – Candidate for the State

Senate.

District: The City of Melrose and four precincts of the town of Wakefield.

Representative Elect: Democrat Paul Brodeur of Melrose, an attorney for the Executive

Office of Elder Affairs, the president of Melrose’s Board of Aldermen since 2004 and a

former prosecutor.

 

Second Norfolk

Outgoing Representative: Stephen Tobin (D-Quincy) – Ran and lost in a State Senate

primary.

District: Portions of four wards of Quincy.

Representative Elect: Democrat Tackey Chan of Quincy, a former aide to Sen. Michael

Morrissey and assistant attorney general in Martha Coakley’s office of ratepayer

advocacy.

 

Fifth Norfolk

Outgoing Representative: Joseph Driscoll (D-Braintree) – Ran and lost in the primary

for Norfolk County district attorney.

District: The town of Braintree, a precinct of Holbrook and a precinct of Randolph.

Representative Elect: Democrat Mark Cusack, a Braintree resident and aide to Mayor

Joseph Sullivan.

 

Ninth Norfolk

Seat Last Held By: Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) – Holds the Norfolk, Bristol and

Middlesex Senate seat that he won in a special election earlier this year.

District: Two precincts of Medfield, one precinct of Millis, the towns of Norfolk and

Plainville, a precinct of Walpole and the town of Wrentham.

Representative Elect: Republican Daniel Winslow, a Norfolk resident and former

Romney administration legal counsel from 2002 to 2005 and district court judge from

1995-2002.

 

Thirteenth Norfolk

Outgoing Representative: Lida Harkins (D-Needham).

District: The town of Dover, two precincts of Medfield and the town of Needham.

Representative Elect: Democrat Denise Garlick, a Needham resident, registered nurse

and vice chair of the Needham Board of Selectmen.

 

Fifth Plymouth

Seat Last Held By: Robert Nyman (D-Hanover) – Passed away in June 2010.

District: The towns of Hanover, Norwell and Rockland

Representative Elect: Democrat Rhonda Nyman, wife of the late Bob Nyman and CFO

of Triangle Engineering for the past twenty-three years.

 

Eight Plymouth

Outgoing Representative: David Flynn (D-Bridgewater).

District: The towns of Easton, Raynham and Bridgewater.

Representative Elect: Republican Angelo D’Emilia, a Bridgewater resident and owner of

a contracting company he founded in 1987.

 

Fourth Suffolk

Outgoing Representative: Brian Wallace (D-South Boston).

District: Portions of five wards in the City of Boston

Representative Elect: Democrat Nicholas Collins, aide to Sen. Jack Hart and aide to Joe

Biden’s presidential campaign in 2008.

 

Fifth Suffolk

Seat Last Held By: Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston) – Took a post with the Menino

administration in Boston.

District: Portions of seven wards in the City of Boston.

Representative Elect: Democrat Carlos Henriquez, a youth worker and previous city

council candidate.

 

Sixth Suffolk

Outgoing Representative: Willie Mae Allen (D-Boston)

District: Portions of four wards in the City of Boston.

Representative Elect: Democrat Russell Holmes, a mechanical engineer with a

Northeastern University MBA who works for a robotics manufacturer.

 

Tenth Suffolk

Outgoing Representative: Michael Rush (D-West Roxbury) – Candidate for the State

Senate.

District: Three precincts in the town of Brookline and the Boston neighborhoods of West

Roxbury and Roslindale.

Representative Elect: Democrat Ed Coppinger, a mortgage loan officer.

 

First Worcester

Outgoing Representative: Lew Evangelidis (R-Holden) – Candidate for Worcester

County sheriff.

District: The towns of Holden, Princeton, Rutland, Westminster, and a precinct of

Sterling.

Representative Elect: Republican Kimberly Ferguson, of Holden and a Speech

pathologist who teaches at Framingham State College.

 

Second Worcester

Outgoing Representative: Robert Rice (D-Gardner).

District: The town of Ashby, the City of Gardner and the towns of Ashburnham,

Royalston and Winchendon.

Representative Elect: Republican Richard Bastien of Gardner, a retail store manager and

former Navy serviceman.

 

Eleventh Worcester

Outgoing Representative: Karyn Polito (R-Shrewsbury) – Candidate for State

Treasurer.

District: The town of Shrewsbury and two precincts of Westborough.

Representative Elect: Republican Matthew Beaton, a Shrewsbury engineer and owner of

a construction company.

 

Thirteenth Worcester

Outgoing Representative: Robert Spellane (D-Worcester)

District: The town of Paxton and portions of three wards of Worcester.

Representative Elect: Democrat John Mahoney, a local business owner.

 

john

 

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

Week Ending October 29, 2010

With a week until Election Day, the four gubernatorial candidates participated in the final televised debate of the campaign on Monday night.  Hosted by a Boston media consortium including WHDH, NECN, WBUR, WGBH, and the Boston Globe, the debate was moderated by former ABC World News anchor Charles Gibson and focused heavily on the economy and each candidate’s plan to put people back to work. Republican candidate Charlie Baker was forced to defend a memo on the Big Dig that he wrote in 1998 when he served as budget chief for then Governor Paul Cellucci. In the memo, leaked Sunday by the Associated Press, Baker wrote that Big Dig spending threatened to force “Draconian” cuts to other public transportation projects, an apparent contradiction to other public statements Baker made at the time regarding to Big Dig spending.

 

A barrage of polls was released this week.  According to a poll released on Friday by Rasmussen, Gov. Patrick is locked in a dead heat with Baker, with Patrick up by two points and within the poll’s 4 percent margin of error. A State House News poll released on Friday show Patrick with a slightly larger lead, receiving 40 percent to Baker’s 37 percent and independent Tim Cahill’s 9 percent.  The poll carries a 4.8 margin of error.

 

In addition, a Suffolk University/WHDH poll released on Thursday shows Patrick with a 6 point lead over Baker (43-37) and 10 percent undecided. When undecided voters are asked express a preference for a candidate, Patrick’s lead grows to 46-39. The poll also surveyed other statewide races, and found the following results:

 

• State Auditor’s Race: Suzanne Bump (D): 28%, Mary Connaughton (R): 26%, Undecided, 40 %
• State Treasurer’s Race:  Steven Grossman (D): 39%, Karyn Polito (R): 36%, Undecided: 25 %
• Attorney General: AG Martha Coakley (D): 57%, James McKenna (R): 31%, Undecided: 12%
• Secretary of State: Sec. of State William Galvin (D) : 49%, William Campbell (R) 18%, James Henderson (I): 5 %

 

The poll interviewed 500 likely voters between Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 carries a 4.4 percent margin of error.
The House and Senate met briefly for informal sessions on Monday and Thursday. The House session ended abruptly when House leaders tried to bring up a welfare benefits bill that aims to prevent welfare recipients from using electronic benefit cards to purchase alcohol, cigarettes and Lottery tickets. On Monday, Rep. Elizabeth Poirier (R-North Attleborough) challenged the consideration of the bill (H 4830) by doubting a quorum, prompting House leaders to adjourn their session.  During an informal session on Thursday, Poirirer doubted the presence of a quorum a second time, ending debate on the issue.  Republican leaders say that Democrats are trying to force the bill through now to drum up additional support from voters pre-Election Day, and are now saying they will not support the bill unless an amendment is filed to create different fines and penalties than the ones Democrats included in the bill.  House Minority Leader Bradley Jones said last week he would hold up the bill through the end of the year if Republicans are unable to have input.  Rep. Vincent Pedone (D-Worcester), the bill sponsor, said he has not heard from Republican leaders about their objections to the bill, and he thinks there will not be any changes to the existing law until legislators return to formal session in January.

 

The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute reported this week that economic growth in Massachusetts slowed significantly in the third quarter, compared to the first half of this year. Forecasts released by UMass in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston project that the state’s economy is expected to grow at an even slower 3 percent annualized rate over the next six months due largely to a slowdown in national economic growth.

According to the Beacon Hill Institute’s State Competitiveness Report, released this week, Massachusetts ranked as the nation’s third most competitive state, behind North Dakota and Colorado. The report, published annually, is based on 43 indicators. Massachusetts strengths in human resources and technology are offset by lower scores in indexes measuring government and fiscal policy and environmental policy.

 

The Warren Group reported this week that September homes sales in Massachusetts plunged to their lowest level in 19 years and third quarter sales were off 20 percent compared to the same quarter in 2009.  Year-to-date sales, boosted by a homebuyer tax credit, are up 6.5 percent from the same period a year ago.

 

 

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
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org

Week Ending August 27, 2010

Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray and House Speaker DeLeo met last week to discuss how to allocate into the state budget the $450 million in Medicare reimbursement authorized for Massachusetts by the U.S. Congress earlier in the month. However, they did not make any announcement of a path forward.

Speculation has been rampant about whether the Legislature would convene in a special formal session this year or not to allocate the funding.  If they did reconvene, the Legislature could potentially take action on other legislation such as the expanded gaming bill.  In response to this debate, Speaker DeLeo said this week that a special formal session to take up the gaming bill is “not an option” mainly because Senate President Murray does not have enough votes to call a special session. Further, DeLeo said the $450 million in Medicaid funds could be appropriated in an informal session and does not necessarily require a formal session.

Complicating budget matters further, the office of Administration and Finance announced on Thursday that Massachusetts is already $300 million short in its Medicaid account and the deficit could be as much as $500 million below appropriations for the state’s Medicaid program. Whether or not part of the $450 million in federal funding will be used to help close that deficit remains under consideration by the Administration and the Legislature.

As part of the US House’s vote in mid-August, Massachusetts will also receive $204 million in education grant money. According to the Patrick Administration, the earmarks are as follows: $10.2 million for Boston, $5.2 million for Springfield, $3.1 million to Lawrence and $1.9 million to Worcester. Smaller amounts will be designated for local and regional school districts based on the state’s funding formula. Massachusetts was also selected this week as a winner of a share of $4.35 billion in education funds as part of the federal “Race to the Top” competition. As part of this program, the state’s school districts will be awarded $125 million for teacher training and evaluation, which they could receive as early as October.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment figures were released on Tuesday and provide an addendum to last week’s news that Massachusetts employers added more jobs in July than in any month over the past two decades. According to the new numbers, the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 8.8% to 9.1% in July. The new statistics show that in the state’s 22 labor market areas, the jobless rate was up in 18 of these areas. Worcester, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Barnstable and Springfield all lost jobs compared to last year. Springfield was especially hard hit, with 8,900 fewer jobs in July compared to one year earlier. Boston, Cambridge and Quincy added a total of 10,400 jobs in the past year.

The Warren Group and the Massachusetts Association of Realtors both released reports this week which showed a dramatic decrease in single family home and condo sales in July. July had the lowest home sales volume of any month in the last 20 years and also saw the first drop for home sales in the last twelve months. Tim Warren, CEO of the Warren Group attributes the large drop in sales to the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit and said it could be a temporary dip or a potential sign of a declining market. Last month the median sale price for a single family home was still significantly higher than one year prior: $333,000, up from $310,000 in July, 2009.

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