Increase gas tax or toll increase?

Many of you know that I've supported tolls North and South of the City for some time now. And I do strongly believe, that an increase in gas tax will also be an increase in the tolls. This shell game will play out in the coming weeks and the public hearings on these subjects are just "public lip service" which will do nothing to stem the tide of our increased loathing of all of those Legislators who claim to be representing US.

From the MWDN

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/
news/x1362386177/Legislators-mull-
gas-tax-vs-toll-hikes

And then... they defend their inaction with this:

Acton —

Tuesday's editorial, "A do-nothing Legislature," implied that because there aren't a lot of outward signs of progress from the Legislature, that we aren't doing anything of value with our time.
It is true that legislators have only recently received committee assignments and have met infrequently for formal session - but that doesn't mean we aren't working.
Over the past few weeks, legislators have been digging into the details of the state's fiscal crisis and communicating that information to local elected officials and constituents; helping more and more constituents who need help finding a job, securing healthcare, or keeping their housing during these tough economic times; meeting with advocates about budget priorities and reviewing the 6,000+ bills that have been filed; and attending community meetings to keep in touch with the priorities of the district.
My daily schedule frequently begins at 8 a.m. in the morning with breakfast meetings, and often goes till 9 p.m. - or later - at night. And I know I'm not the only one - I run into MetroWest legislators at events every day of the week, morning, day and night.
To assume that attending formal session is the only work a legislator does is a gross oversimplification of the daily job. And while the frustration the editorial expresses is valid and well-taken, in the end it only serves to undermine public confidence in area legislators, many of whom are working extremely hard for this region.

JAMIE ELDRIDGE, Acton

The writer is state senator, representing the Middlesex & Worcester District.

An empty State House?

While the collective State holds it's breath waiting for any signs of life from the State House... we get from the Globe, this:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/
massachusetts/articles/2009/02/26/
no_air_of_urgency_at_state_house/

Pams News Letter

Read for yourself about Pam's new assignments from DeLeo.
Note what powers these committee's have. I can't wait to
see what if anything comes of this.

http://netmail.verizon.net/webmail/driver
?nimlet=deggetemail&fn=INBOX&page=1°Mid
=249&folderSelected=INBOX&uidValidity=null
&sfield=Num&sorder=descending&reqReceipt=false

Turnpike ordered to give raise

This will make your blood boil.

Let's hope that a court ruling will change this

http://www.boston.com/news/local
/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/
20/turnpike_ordered_to_
give_workers_raise/

The Stimulas Plan

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/18
/stimulus.spending.chart/index.html

Obama's Foreclosure Rescue Plan

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/18/
qa-on-the-foreclosure-plan-and-what-
it-means-for-you/

Shovel Ready List

Have a look see at who in our state will benefit from the Obama stimulus plan at the state level. The 6 major categories are: Education; Energy; IT: Transportation; State Facilities; and Private Development. Clearly not all projects will be funded but some of our neighbors will be rewarded with work. Let's hope Jeffrey Simon makes good choices based on need and not politics.


http://www.mass.gov/Agov3/docs/econ_recovery/
MAEconRec_Reviewed_02092009_3pm.pdf

Representative Richardson’s News Letter

Some things are not there…..

http://netmail.verizon.net/webmail/driver?nimlet=deggetemail&fn=INBOX&page=1°Mid=225&folderSelected=INBOX&uidValidity=null&sfield=Num&sorder=descending&reqReceipt=false

Congress kills bonus-repayment plan

This is very disturbing news.. Just when I thought they had heard the voices of reason on the compensation.. .we get this.
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/02/13/congress_kills_bonus_repayment_plan/

Patrick’s Stimulus Chief… you decide, good pick, or not?

I’ll bet we find out in the coming days, why he was fired from the State job and who he is really representing. What was Deaval thinking? Did he really think this news wouldn’t get out?
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/13/patrick_stimulus_chief_was_fired_from_state_post/

DiMasi, Deleo, Coakley and all the usual suspects

The other day, the Feds took 12 computers from Deleo’s office…. The proof is in the pudding, keep an ear out for more on what they discover.
The hits keep on coming…. Take at look at what they spent money on .. old news perhaps, but should not be forgotten.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/investigative/18658578/detail.html

Mike Phelps and Kellogg’s

Please take time today to contact the Kellogg Corporation. Tell them that you oppose their decision to drop Michael Phelps and that, as a result of their actions, you will not be purchasing any Kellogg's related products for the next three months (or until the company decides to reinstate the Phelps as their spokesperson).

• You can call Kellogg's main telephone number during east coast business hours, Monday through Friday, at: (269) 961-2000 or toll free at: 1 (800) 962-1413.
• You can e-mail Kellogg's consumer services department by visiting: http://www2.kelloggs.com/ContactUs.aspx.
• You can contact Kellogg's media relation department at: 269-961-3799 or via e-mail at media.hotline@kellogg.com.
• You can e-mail Kellogg's corporate responsibility department at: corporateresponsibility@kellogg.com.
• You can e-mail Kellogg's investor relations department at: investor.relations@kellogg.com.
• Or finally, you can write the Kellogg Company a letter at: One Kellogg Square P.O. Box 3599 Battle Creek, MI 49016-3599

When contacting the company, please be polite and concise.

Toxic Toys… The Safer Alternative Bill

Some years ago, I did a few shows about the toxicity in toys for our children. Subsequently, more information has come to light about the harmful effects of these and many other chemicals put into items we use, eat and drink every day, and even the containers that are used today have very bad chemicals.

I would ask you all to approach your Rep and Senator, to co sponsor this bill. Of course, the bill didn’t make it out of the house last year, -Thanks Pam- and is once again, up for consideration. This seems to be a no brainer and I hope you would think so to. Pam and Karen are not listed as co sponsors.

http://www.healthytomorrow.org/

GOP list of wastefull items in the Bail Out Plan.. you decide

CNN) -- On Monday, House Republican leaders put out a list of what they call wasteful provisions in the Senate version of the nearly $900 billion stimulus bill that is being debated:

The Senate is currently the nearly $900 billion economic stimulus bill.

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations