Deval’s Budget Relies On Imaginary Money
Deval Patrick may have zero political capital left, but that isn’t stopping him from filing a budget that relies on projected revenues from his controversial plans… which may not even happen. Certainly not in the near future.
Governor Deval Patrick filed a $28.2 billion budget yesterday that avoids major cuts while directly challenging the Legislature to adopt his most controversial ideas for raising new money. His proposal sets up the possibility of a lengthy debate that will further test his strained relationship with the House leadership.
To plug a $1.3 billion budget gap created mostly by rising healthcare costs and declining revenues, the governor has tied together a patchwork of proposals. His budget relies heavily on politically contentious plans to raise $124 million in casino licensing money and $297 million by tightening what he calls corporate tax loopholes, proposals that fared poorly on Beacon Hill last year.
In a budget that increases 5 percent over this year, the governor also wants to use $370 million from the state’s rainy day fund and would raise $166 million by increasing enforcement on tobacco taxes and increasing penalties on tax delinquents.
This may be a common practice with government budgets, but who would have thought when Deval was running for governor that he’d be resorting to “politics as usual?” Okay, well, most of us who voted against him saw it coming, and I’m sure many who voted for him couldn’t possibly have believed all of Deval’s idealistic sounding promises. Perhaps Deval thinks if he can’t close the budget gap than we can just pay it off in Monopoly money?
We’re in for a lot of trouble. Between Deval’s fuzzy math, his plan to subsidized higher education for illegals, and the higher than projected costs of the state’s health insurance plan… Massachusetts could end up in an economic crisis… especially if a recession really is on the horizon.
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TAGS: budget, debate, Deval Patrick, Education, health insurance, Taxes.
Matt Margolis is co-author (with Mark Noonan) of Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority. He also blogs at The Buffalo Bean. Follow Matt on Twitter.
Deval’s proposed budget is absolutely delusional. Including projected revenues that may never be realized is irresponsible. Detroit has no luck with casino trio eyed by Deval, http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1068406&srvc=home&position=0. Detroit’s casinos have proved to be a financial disaster for the city. There is no reason to think that the commonwealth would fair any better. It’s a bad bet.
Who will save the Commonwealth in 2010? Looks like it may be “Time for a Change”
P.S. The world’s greatest paper got it right today…
The editorial board of The New York Times has just endorsed: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic race and Senator John McCain in the Republican field.
X..you are a di**headed fraud STFU and go collect your welfare cheese you douch*
What kills me is most thinking/common sense people knew he’d be bad for the state (and he is) but only in Massachusetts would people actually still KEEP their Deval bumper stickers on their cars! Thanks to Liberal morons, we can expect more taxes and less service.
Neil! Populists don’t blame the people, they blame themselves for not delivering the right message at the right time in the right way…comprenhdez? Mass. vote for RR 2x…get it?
“Real Truth”, I cannot see why you have made such an elementary and baseless attack on Mr. X. I too think it’s “time for a change”, and I detect a righteous sarcasm in his NYT comment.
If you desire to keep acting like this, I suggest you sign up for the universal pre-K the Democrats are so crazy about.
Thank You Crusader 88!
V words of wisdom for thee?
A new prophecy from Mr.X, to wit, if Obama or THE MITTSTER become president, there will untold numbers who will wish they had voted for Hillary!
Solution to BIG DIG!
Unburden the Mass. Pike motorists
Email|Print| Text size – + January 27, 2008
YOUR EDITORIAL “An overburdened turnpike” (Jan. 20) leaves nothing for the overburdened motorist.
more stories like thisThe Massachusetts Turnpike Authority has outlived any credible usefulness to the Commonwealth. A better plan for both the motorists and the state would be to sell the 11 service area plazas and pay off the western turnpike bonds. The plaza properties are encumbered with lucrative rental revenue streams all guaranteed by Fortune 100 companies. No matter the economic uncertainty, the properties would bring in excess of $300 million, leaving the turnpike a balance of $100 million to stabilize the bonds. Thereafter the turnpike can fulfill its promise to take down the tolls and return $130 million to the motorists traveling the western Pike.
The federal government would thereafter provide funds to maintain the road and bridges. That done, stop the attorney general from settling claims against Big Dig contractors for anything less than $1 billion, the cost to solve the systemic leak issues in the tunnels. There are adequate toll and nontoll revenues to make the bond payments.
There is no need to foster a dinosaur authority while water continues to degrade the steel and concrete and renders the electrical systems useless. Get a new editorial writer on this issue while you’re at it. And forget the gas tax.
CHRISTY MIHOS
West Yarmouth
Go Christy! And right on the money( as you always have been). My questions to any/all posters: How/who do I complain to re: The Big Dig? The State is looking to settle with Bechtel for-what was it? Only 480 million?! That seems like an incredibly low sum( not to mention letting them off the hook). Any suggestions? Who/where can a concerned citizen turn to for answers? Thank you all in advance.
Mr. X;
I’ve known you were a fraud for a long time now.
So of Duhval can make a budget of imaginary money can I call my bill collecters and tell them I will pay you next week when I win the lottery?
V, notice how the adults are talking now…go to your room and we’ll let you know when you can rejoin us….( never will be too soon!)
Typical Mr X. Are you stomping your feet too? You’re just angry because I know you for the phony that you are.
Maybe if Christy didn’t sabotage the last election, he’d be in a better position to do what he proposes. No surprise he is your hero. Half measures and rhetoric.