Senate Republicans eschewed a chance to become dealmakers in the tax standoff, a rare opportunity for the minority party to influence a bill’s fate by either joining with liberals to uphold Gov. Deval Patrick’s veto threat or siding with the majority to ensure passage of a tax package that’s about a quarter of the size the governor wants.
“There’s always another alternative, there’s always another pathway,” said Sen. Michael Knapik, a Westfield Republican. “There should be another way before they ask the hardworking taxpayers to dig deeper into their pockets.”
But as the past decade or so shows, the other way rarely includes the dwindling Republican Party, especially on Beacon Hill. The fight is often between really liberal Democrats and just plain liberal Democrats and sometimes even among themselves within those ranks. But the GOP is often like the littlest child in a large family wanting in on the game, yelling and acting out for attention but told to wait while the bigger kids set the game’s rules.
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr bristled at any suggestion the four-member GOP caucus is not a player in the 40-member chamber. “Shame on anyone who dismisses us as a player,” Tarr said. “We’re a player in this building every day.”
The agenda, though, says differently. And Tarr and his band, as well as House Republicans, have a chance to get some meaningful concessions if they pick the right side. Clearly, a transportation revenue tax plan is going to pass but the question is will it be the $500 million measure the House approved, Patrick’s mega $1.9 billion proposal for transportation and education or somewhere in between as the Senate is putting forth.
It’s not like the Republicans are void of serious ideas that deserve consideration. It’s just that their serious ideas rarely get consideration. Tarr and the other three Republican senators unveiled their alternative plan yesterday and it included some intriguing ideas such as legalizing online gambling, which Republicans estimate could bring in $150 million a year through licensing and taxes. They also propose creating 300 regional taxi licenses in the state, which they estimate could bring in $15 million; sell MBTA station naming rights for another $10 million; and create high-occupancy toll lanes on highways around Boston. In a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce this morning, Murray said businesses are interested in a high-speed toll lane south of the city.
What the Republican plan does not include is a dime in new taxes, just a rearranging of current dollars with an infusion of some new sources such as gaming and taxi licenses. Sen. Robert Hedlund, the longtime Weymouth Republican, said he cannot envision anything that would get him to side with more taxes, a stance echoed by Tarr.
“Most people don’t want to raise taxes,” Hedlund said. “People in this state are, to a degree, being nickeled and dimed.”
So, assuming the Republican plan doesn’t win Democrat approval, what will the Republicans in the Senate do? Tarr said Patrick’s veto threat doesn’t seem ironclad with his recent statements that he’d like to find a middle ground with the Legislature. So Tarr rules out talking with liberals who would vote to uphold a veto in search of a larger tax package. And voting to override a veto in order to enact a half-billion in new taxes is anathema to the party of No, Never, even though Howie Carr says legislative Republicans should take the lesser of two evils because a vote to kill a small tax bill could end up handing Massachusetts residents a big tax bill.
That leaves Republicans on Beacon Hill sticking to their principles, even if it means they’ll continue to be a voice in the wilderness.
–Jack Sullivan
BEACON HILL
The House Ways and Means Committee unveils a $33.8 billion budget proposal. The Eagle-Tribune focuses on a fraud-fighting proposal that would require welfare benefit cards to carry the photo of the person authorized to use them. The Globe reports that the House proposed increased spending in higher education and local aid, but rejected Gov. Deval Patrick’s call for a big boost in funding for early childhood education. CommonWealth reports that the governor’s attempt to cap spending on the film tax credit is rejected by the House. The Herald zeroes in on welfare reform efforts.
State officials are lobbying the Obama administration to declare the early February blizzard a disaster to help recover the costs for snow removal and cleanup that decimated state and local budgets.
The Mashpee Wampanoag wants the gaming commission to reveal the names of the lawmakers and gaming consultants who advise them.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
An audit of a student activities account at Saugus High School finds money was diverted for purposes “unrelated to student activities” in violation of law and regulation, the Item reports.
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
Leading liberals in Congress, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, are denouncing President Obama’s budget plan which includes cuts to Social Security. Time’s Joe Klein thinks a bipartisan budget deal will get done.
New England senators are divided on proposed new federal gun legislation, with those representing the three more rural northern states appearing to be wary of adding new restrictions. The New York Times dives inside the quest to find a Republican co-sponsor for the bill. Gail Collins marvels at the sight of Congress getting stuff done. A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll finds broad support for new federal gun laws.
Like Saturday mail delivery? Apparently, Congress does, too, so the planned end to six-day delivery is off.
ELECTIONS
The three Republican candidates for US Senate squared off — and went at it against each other — last night in their second televised debate. NECN has video.
State Rep. Marty Walsh of Dorchester, an official unofficial candidate for weeks, officially enters the race for mayor of Boston. Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham laments the lack of a woman in the still-forming field.
The Fairhaven town clerk who swore in an anti-turbine Board of Health candidate before all the votes were counted in a disputed election that he actually lost has held off swearing in officials in previous tight races.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
Boston-based WinnCompanies secures $4 million in tax credits and rent subsidies to help build out the Counting House Lofts Mill in Lowell, the Sun reports.
PTR Industries, a Bristol, CT, maker of military-style rifles, announces it is leaving the state after the passage of a law banning sales of assault rifles, the Hartford Courant reports.
Ted Kelly, whose outsized earnings became fodder for ongoing pummelling by former Globe columnist Brian McGrory, now the paper’s editor, will step down as chairman of Liberty Mutual insurance.
EDUCATION
The era of the robot teacher begins.
HEALTH CARE
The House budget once again includes money to keep 45 beds at the Taunton State Hospital open, which Gov. Deval Patrick has been trying to close for several years.
Health care behemoth Partners HealthCare moved a step closer to final regulatory approval of its move to acquire South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Falmouth town meeting members vote to explore the removal of the community’s two wind turbines contingent on voter approval. Meanwhile, voters at the Scituate Town Meeting rejected a resolution to shut down the turbines in that town.
Writing in CommonWealth, R.J. Lyman and Peter Rothstein take opposing views on Massachusetts regulatory policy regarding electricity from Canadian hydro projects. Lyman’s view is here, while Rothstein’s is here.
MEDIA
The student editor of the Somerset Berkley Regional High School newspaper, whose uncle is a Somerset selectman who is not up for reelection, was removed at the last minute from a panel of questioners at a candidates forum.
David Corn of Mother Jones gets props for his latest audio tape find: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell discussing how to undermine one-time candidate Ashley Judd who considered running for the Democratic nomination for the US Senate from Kentucky.