Will Romney's Budget be Realistic?

The Romney-Healey adminstration's budget will be released tomorrow, and this much we know: It will include a 17 percent proposed increase in local aid. After three years of drastic cuts in local aid that have forced cities and towns to drastically hike property taxes, Romney has decided we can afford this increase. But with the overall state budget just 4 percent larger than last year, does anyone really believe this can be done? Sure, we can afford this- if you want to slash spending on education, public safety and health care. How else can it be done? I guess we'll know tomorrow...

Words of Wisdom from Dukakis

The movement is taking hold! The AP just put out this story about the Democratic Party's need for grassroots campaigning.

Duakis:Return to your roots

Dukakis and Chairman Johnston make excellent points here. Definitely worth a read.

GOP governors take $500,000 in tainted funds

Surprise, surprise...our very own Mitt Romney is entangled in this Ambramoff-Republican scandal. In 2002, the year Romney ran for election here in Massachusetts, the Republican Governor's Association took $500,000 from Abramoff associate Mike Scanlon. That money was used to elect GOP govs across the country. Now head of the RGA, Romney ran around on Monday calling for the resignation of those involved in this Republican finance scandal. What he failed to mention was that his own organization was one of the largest beneficiaries of this mess! Confronted by the Associated Press on Wednesday, Romney said the RGA would give the money to charity. Not all of it though. Only half of the tainted cash will be given up this year. The remaining quarter million won't be given up until 2007. Afterall, $500,000 is a lot of money to lose in an election year...

Rally for Victory in 2006

Hey guys (and girls)
I just got the dates nailed down for a series of "unofficial" kick-off rallies the Kennedy Campaign and the state party are are holding this month. The first one is this Saturday in Worcester and will be led by Congressman Jim McGovern and Kennedy Campaign Chairman Matt Kennedy. The rally starts at 10 am at the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre, 19 Temple St.

Rallies will also be held Saturday, Jan. 21 at 10 am with Congressman Neal and at 2 pm with Congressman Olver. The morning rally will be held at the Teamsters Local 404 Hall, 115 Progress Ave., Springfield. The afternoon event will be held at the GE Athletic Association, 303 Crane Ave., Pittsfield.

For more info, contact Stephanie Noguera at 617-776-2676. Hope to see you there!

Back from the Capitol

Hello everyone
I just got back from Washington, DC last night, where I spent the early days of this week at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. (A nice shop, they have there, I might add). I was down there for the DNC's first-ever national communications summit. Gov. Dean joined us for a bit Monday, when he talked about the changes that have been made at the national party heaquarters over the last year. For the first time, the DNC is sending money to state Democratic Parties across the country so they can hire field organizers, political directors, and communications personnel. There really did seem to be a sentiment from all the speakers- Dean, pollsters, media guys, that this could be the year we take back the House. Anyone have any thoughts?

It's the Economy, Stupid

I got an email today from a woman who insisted that Democrats "take over high morals, family values from Republicans." We at the Party couldn't agree more that Democrats must stand up for moral and family values. However, I am quite sure that given what has happened in down in Washington over the last few months, (not to mention in some cities here in Massachusetts) you could hardly call the Republican Party "moral."
And one of the biggest moral and family-friendly things we can do, I would argue, is to ensure that people here have jobs that are fulfilling and that can provide families a decent living? But that's not happening under the current administration here in Massachusetts.
In the last 24 hours, we have lost 2,500 jobs at Fidelity and EMC Corp. That's on top of the jobs we lost during the last quarter of 2005. When are Governor Romney and Liutenant Governor Kerry going to realize that they have to start paying attention to businesses here. It's not enough to say we welcome business, we have to actually do it.

Where's the Proof?

Happy New Year everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts recently, the holidays come faster and harder every year.
Anyway, it's back to business, and our focus is trained squarely on the upcoming elections. Over the last few weeks, I have read several stories and have spoken with reporters who are being told by the state Republican Party that they are fielding more than 70 candidates to challenge Democratic incumbents in the Legislature this November. While we all know how their last attempt turned out (ahem, they LOST seats), we would certainly take these challenges seriously. However, no reporter has, as of yet, been able to obtain a list of these so-called challengers. It seems to me that if one is going to flaunt this slate of Republicans, one should be able to produce some names. In the MetroWest Daily News yesterday, the GOP's Executive Director said many of these supposed candidates are not ready to talk to the press. Not ready to talk to the press??? How do you run a campaign and not converse with the media?? It all seems a bit fishy if you ask me. Anyone else have any insight?