After 30 minutes on the phone, we agreed to disagree. But then several things happened that really made the point. So, here's some of what I wrote back:
It's so easy to sound off about the waste and corruption in state government. It's easy to be focused in 2010 on two stupid decisions that the Governor made (drapes and Cadillacs) in 2007. It's much harder to keep focused on the things that need to be done now and damned hard to stand your ground on little decisions that actually protect the taxpayer. Especially when so few are watching.
Part of the problem is that no one knows about the little stuff. It won't be the subject of a Boston Globe story tomorrow morning.
Take last Wednesday for example:
Arrving in Boston for an 8:30 a.m. breakfast, I got into a discussion with small business representatives. After a couple of hours at my conference table, we started drafting new health care legislation.
Then I took a call from a hosptial CEO and we discussed payment reform efforts, including the lack of legislative progress. District staff told me that I had 14 telephone calls and about 60 emails already.
Health Care research staff came in with an analysis of the Governor's small business legislation. We went over it together and decided to fold it into what had been discussed earlier.
I talked briefly with kids from both Beverly and Malden who came to my office as part of the "Stand for Children" group. This group advocates what they call "sensible reforms" in health care so that communities can spend scarce dollars on education. I agree with them, and had previously made supporting comments publicly. The Haverhill Education Association retaliated by bombarding my office with critical e-mails. That probably means that I'm not totally behold to the teachers unions.
A follow-up call came in from another union on their budget requests. (I didn't support their agenda, either.) Meanwhile, two different legislators approached me for a favorable committee report on a massive mental health and substance abuse bill.
I placed a call to a Merrimac School Committee member about Pentucket's budget situation and researched an issue for a School Superintendent. (He wasn't wild about what I found.) All the while, I was casting multiple roll call votes on a Supplemental Budget for FY-10 and missed a Quorum Call because I was on the phone.
When the session ended at 6:50 p.m., I still had another hour's worth of phone calls to return. Hopefully, a few District families were better off from my day at the office.
The Wrap Tour. A couple week ago, I announced that the 2010 campaign would be my last. I would like to get at least one project done in each of my towns. What project would you like to see done in your community?
Bully for Us. The much ballyhooed bullying bill that the legislature just passed is okay, but not great. Neither teachers nor parents should need legislation prescribing what to do about bullying.
Casinos, Slots or Both? Yesterday, House Speaker Bob DeLeo rolled out his long-anticipated gambling bill, which would bring both casinos and slots to the Bay State. The bill is 172 pages long. Printers were humming at the State House as aides printed copies for their bosses (and killed trees). Receptionists were also busy taking messages from pro-gambling groups.
The bill's sweetener is that—for a while—all profits from slots will go toward local aid. My guess is that gambling is on its way here. But since neither the Governor nor the Senate President like slot machines, the backroom will be busy. Really busy.
re:casinos and slots: how come all those pro-gambling people never mention how las vegas has about the highest foreclosure rate in the country? do they not think gambling has anything to do with it? is gambling not a totally non-productive use of one's income, hence one of the things people would cut out of the budget first? aren't the casinos in connecticut already taking a hit in the current economy? i hope no state money will go down the drain promoting/building this debacle!
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