Reform NOT revenue: The MBTA

The MBTA continues to “crash” in spectacular fashion before the very eyes of the public it ostensibly serves. Corruption, goldbricking, ineptitude and corruption are pervasive. The latest slap in the face: a Green Line snafu which led to the delay of a much anticipated kidnapping trial. As the saying goes: “Justice delayed is justice denied”. For the MBTA, the time  has long since passed for the administration of justice. In this case, the thing to do is to sell the system to the highest possible bidder. It is little more than a fiscal black hole, and it would possibly be cheaper for the state to subsidize riders with a stipend of some kind. Not that we favor government-administered subsidies, but the dollar-cost analysis would be insightful nonetheless. The MBTA has rifled the pockets of taxpayers long enough. The only reform worthy here is a sale of the “asset” itself.

“…we’re in a fiscal crisis and they’re lucky to be employed.”

According to a Boston Globe story reported by Andrea Estes, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick wants a “do-over”. Specifically:

Governor Deval Patrick in recent weeks approved state union contracts that grant 7 percent raises to tens of thousands of employees over the next three years, but, with the ink barely dry, the deteriorating economic forecast has already forced him to seek concessions.

Those of you living and working in the private sector probably wonder how the state could afford these raises to begin with. Good question. A&F secretary Leslie Kirwan says that it is “unprecedented” for state workers to go without raises in a given year. Again, the private sector denizens wonder why since they frequently do without raises in a given year.

“We would be adamantly opposed to giving up any of the contract increases,” said David Holway, president of the National Association of Government Employees, which represents 10,000 state workers. “They’re slim enough.”

Huh??? Aren’t we all in this together Mr. Holway; are you paying attention to the world around you? Apparently not; or perhaps the only world he cares about involves sucking on the public teat.

The story isn’t entirely bad; out of pocket health contributions for state employees are going to increase, as they should. After all, the benefit accrues to the individual employee, doesn’t it?

Administration officials also pointed out that health costs are likely to increase for almost all state employees starting next year. Patrick proposed increasing their 15 percent contributions to 20 percent or 25 percent, depending on their salaries.

Let it never be forgotten however, that the Public Employee Union tail wags the public policy/tax payer dog.

Announcing – Small Government Summit

The Center for Small Government announces its upcoming 1-day summit on June 6th in Newton. Details here. For those of you wondering what is the Center For Small Government, think Carla Howell and the drive to eliminate the Massachusetts State Income tax. The news wires are replete with stories of outrageous government largesse. In our opinion, The Center for Small Government definitely has a place in the debate over our fiscal future.

Revenue problem or….SPENDING problem?

According to this Boston Globe article, “Political momentum builds for state sales tax increase”. Indeed; and so the Massachusetts Welfare State continues its efforts to stave off a death it well deserves, the talk turns toward tax increases, again. No talk of meaningful spending reforms that will address the inherent STRUCTURAL inefficiencies characteristic of most government/state bureaucracies. These reforms include Pacheco Law repeal, Project Labor Agreement termination, and sale of the MBTA (rife with corruption and inefficiency) for starters. It goes without saying that the public employee pension gravy train has run its course. Time for these folks to get off the dole and try living in the real world, where pensions are largely a relic of the past. In its essence, Massachusetts has a spending  problem and not a revenue problem. Let genuine reform begin before anyone searches for “new” revenue.

Another bad idea….

from the bad idea factory a.k.a. the Massachusetts Legislature. Desparate to find new sources of revenue to feed the beast they themselves have created, the solons on Beacon Hill are mulling an increase in the sales tax yet again. And it’s still a bad idea and you still need to and MUST call your legislator and let him/her know how you feel. (We hope you feel like opposing it and any and all other “REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS”.) There are major structural inefficiencies which MUST be addressed first. Remember, Massachusetts has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

Public Employee Pension Report…

This report comes to us courtesy of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. It states the obvious: the goose that layed the golden egg of gold-plated public employee retirement plans is dysfunctional and in need of REFORM. Special thanks to President and CEO Roberta R. Schaefer.

FRAUD LINE CONTACT INFO:

The GAO announces contact information it has established  to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in conjunction with distribution of the so-called bailout monies. The text of the press release is copied below:

PRESS RELEASE
GAO Seeks the Public’s Help in Fighting
Waste, Fraud, Abuse or Mismanagement of Recovery Act Funds
Washington, DC (March 30, 2009) – As billions of dollars are distributed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is urging private citizens, government workers, contractors, and others to report waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement of those funds to FraudNet. FraudNet is an e-mail, phone, and fax hotline that processes allegations about federal agencies and federally funded programs.
“Congress and the President have insisted on accountability and transparency over Recovery Act funds, and we at GAO are taking steps to help ensure that accountability. The public can help to identify improper activities or weaknesses in programs that warrant scrutiny. FraudNET can play an important role in alerting GAO, potentially early on, to questionable uses of Recovery Act funds,” said Gene L. Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General of the United States and head of the GAO
“The Recovery Act has set aside billions of dollars to create jobs, invest in infrastructure, and fund other measures to counter the current economic downturn. Experience tells us that the risk of fraud and abuse grows when large sums are spent quickly, eligibility requirements are being established or changed, and new programs created.” Dodaro added.
Begun in 1979 as a toll-free phone number, FraudNet has expanded in recent years to receive allegations via the internet, fax, or letter. The public can call 1-800-424-5454 (an automated answering system); send an e-mail to fraudnet@gao.gov; send a fax to (202) 512-3086; or write to: GAO FraudNet 441 G Street, NW, Mail Stop 4T21, Washington, DC 20548. The public may also visit the FraudNet page of our website at http://www.gao.gov/fraudnet/fraudnet.htm.
Evidence or suspicions of abuse may be provided anonymously and GAO treats all inquiries confidentially. Internet information is transmitted over a secure connection. Tipsters are asked to provide as much detail as possible about their allegations. GAO may refer allegations for follow-up to its own investigative units, appropriate inspector general offices, or to the Justice Department. Past reports of alleged mismanagement and wrongdoing have covered topics as varied as the misappropriation of funds, security violations, and contractor fraud.
The Recovery Act requires GAO to issue bimonthly reviews of how selected states and localities are using funds. The agency has selected a core group of 16 states to follow over the next several years, along with a sample of localities within those states. GAO will also issue targeted studies in areas such as small business lending, education, and trade adjustment assistance.
(more)
For more information, contact Chuck Young, Managing Director of Public Affairs, at (202) 512-4800.
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GAO, the audit and investigative arm of Congress, helps meet legislators’ need for timely and reliable information on a wide range of government activities. The agency seeks to improve the performance of the federal government and hold it accountable to Congress and, ultimately, the American people. GAO examines the use of public funds; evaluates how well programs and policies are meeting their objectives; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help Congress make sound oversight, policy, and funding decisions.
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Opting OUT of Medicare – A Real Life Example

Notwithstanding the fact that Massachusetts experiment with “Health Care Reform” has placed the Commonwealth in the unacceptable position of mendicant, the ensuing story is doubly interesting. The case in question is being litigated by Attorney Mike Brown. It focuses on whether or not a citizen can both opt OUT of Medicare Part A AND retain his/her Social Security benefits. Special thanks to Kentucky Progress for their reporting on this issue. And for the record, the Real Issue here is Health Freedom and the ability to array one’s life free of the Coercive Utopianism so prevalent amongst today’s elected officials and many public policy figures.

A Word from Barbara Anderson…

The First Lady of fiscal restraint and sensibility has thrown down the gauntlet (see below).  Simply put: No Re-Election for Tax Hikers in 2010. Leaving aside the logical implications of this concept (an empty and deserted state legislature, which is not necessarily a bad thing), this theme makes sense to us here at Massachusetts News Platoon.

CITIZENS   FOR  LIMITED  TAXATION and the Citizens Economic Research Foundation

NEWS RELEASE Tuesday, March 11, 2009 2009 Taxpayer’s Pledge: NO RE-ELECTION FOR TAXHIKERS 2010 For Immediate Release In the past, as Beacon Hill considered proposals for tax hikes, taxpayer activists would plan rallies or tea parties.  CLT would threaten a petition drive to repeal the increases. Times have changed.  Reality has set in.  If a Democrat governor and the Legislature are determined to impose tax increases, rallies and tea parties won’t stop them.  And if citizens place a petition on the ballot to repeal them, and the repeal is approved by the voters, the same Democrat governor and Legislature will trash the election results, repeal or “freeze” the repeal – if they are the same governor and Legislature which imposed them. There is only one thing that anti-tax hike activists and citizens can do to fight proposed increases in the gas, sales and income taxes.  They must begin planning immediately for the 2010 election.  Voters must make it clear that they will support the governor’s opponent in both the primary and general election.  They must pledge that they will support the opponent of any legislator who votes for tax hikes. Some of the candidates who ran unsuccessfully in 2008 are planning to run again.  New candidates will step forward from the ranks of the private sector and unemployed, or the simply outraged.  CLT’s Political Action Committee will be looking for them to support.  Meanwhile, CLT will be publishing a rating of all tax votes. We appreciate our legislative allies who will be voting “No.”  We ask them to make sure we get roll calls on every tax hike vote. Once we taxpaying voters take The Taxpayer’s Pledge – “NO RE-ELECTION FOR TAXHIKERS 2010″ – rallies and tea parties which use this as their theme may get politicians’ attention.  But The Taxpayer’s Pledge must come first.

The good folks at Citizens for Limited Taxation deserve our ongoing support. They have been extremely successful in maintaining a semblance of prudence w/respect to property taxes by enacting and protecting Proposition 2 1/2, and for that we should be thankful. The opportunity now exists to add some New Media pizzaz to CLT’s efforts.