Last week, the State House was crowded with pro-gambling union workers and anti-gambling social workers. (Speaker Bob DeLeo’s legislation hadn’t even been printed, but everyone had an opinion about it.) Right now, the official vote is scheduled for April 14th.
Today, members of MIRA (the Mass Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy) group were walking the halls, asking legislators to fund a $75 million health insurance program for all immigrants, both legal and illegal.
Taking the Insurance Commissioner to Court. About 6 weeks ago, Governor Patrick filed a wide-ranging package of small business legislation, which got a lot of reaction—both positive and negative. As part of it, the state’s Insurance Commissioner got emergency authority to review and approve (or disapprove) health insurance premiums for small business.
Not surprisingly, the Commissioner used his new authority. Also not surprisingly, he disapproved most of the rate increases. Yesterday, the health plans sued, saying that the state doesn’t have the authority to do that.
It’s an interesting legal question and my State House staff is divided about the answer.
But, it’s going to be a heck of a fight, worthy of Hollywood cameras. Why? Because insurance companies aren’t the only bad guys in this movie.
Good, Bad and So-So News About the Economy. Despite the March monsoons, the Massachusetts real estate market saw signs of life in March. A lot of wet weather didn’t deter the bargain hunters and those looking for the federal tax break. Sales were up from March 2009 – by 27% for single family and 38% for condos.
The bad news was that the Tax Foundation, a national non-partisan research group, pointed out that our corporate tax load, was 39% higher than the national average.
The so-so stuff: business confidence is slowly returning, but hasn’t hit the 50% mark yet. Which means that new jobs aren’t there.
Wall Street vs. Main Street. Wall Street firms got their bailouts, paid much of the money back and handed out bonuses. Now top U.S. Treasury officials have seen improved macro-economic data and announced that the recession is over.
Not so fast. Main Street isn’t yet sharing in the benefits.
February foreclosures were up in Essex County.
Health insurance premiums are skyrocketing.
More than 75% of Bay State business owners say that we’re still stuck in neutral.
I’ve worked on Wall Street, collected those bonuses, and lived on Main Street. When Main Street says it’s over, it’s over.
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