Few, save the most minimalist proponents of small government, think there’s much left to cut in the state budget without inflicting pain, so it’s now a matter of whose priorities get spared and where to find those reductions to close the projected $1.5 billion gap in the next budget.

The Eagle-Tribune says many more people have health insurance coverage because of the state’s health care law, but most of them are getting that coverage through plans subsidized or paid for by the state. The newspaper says the health care law’s success is killing the state budget.

With the state budget in such bad shape, a Springfield Republican editorial says pulling the plug on federal stimulus funding isn’t such a good idea. The Boston Globe reports social service providers are bracing for the cuts they’ll have to absorb as part of the budget slashing on tap for the coming fiscal year.

The Boston School Committee last night approved a plan by Superintendent Carol Johnson to shutter nine schools and merge eight others into four, saving a projected $10 million of a $63 million hole in the school department budget. One school committee member said he voted in favor of the plan because “it’s clear beyond a doubt that additional assistance is not coming to us,” from the state or elsewhere, according to Universal Hub.

Western Massachusetts towns are worried a report by a special commission on regionalization could prompt the Legislature to force the hands of small communities to band together as a way to save money for the state, although not necessarily for them.

A report released this morning by the respected Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation found that revenue and spending by cities and towns was flat for fiscal 2010, making it one of the toughest budget cycles at the local level in more than 20 years. The report says local aid cuts next year are “almost certain” and things “will get worse before they get better” for communities. 

Happy holidays to all!

                                                                                                                                                                                –JACK SULLIVAN

PROBATION

The holidays may also be a little less bright for some state lawmakers following today’s Globe report that a federal grand jury has subpoenaed records from the House and Senate as part of a probe of the state’s Probation Department.

WASHINGTON

Massachusetts projects worth $213 million are among the earmarks – the new dirty word in DC – in a $1.1 trillion spending bill now pending in Congress. The New York Times reports dozens of senators who recently voted to ban earmarks have been caught with their hands in the appropriations cookie jar. And here’s how they explained it away.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts and Rhode Island’s four senators are fighting to retain language in the $1.1 trillion spending bill that would prohibit federal funds from being spent on the permitting process for the controversial LNG terminal in Fall River, according to the Herald News.

The state’s House delegation is still inclined to vote against the White House’s tax and unemployment package, even after a direct appeal from the president. Steve Lynch tells the Herald the compromise package amounts to “an abject surrender of our principles.”

Barney Frank has started throwing elbows at Spencer Bachus, the guy who will take away his chairmanship in January, before Bachus has even had the chance to begin dismantling Frank’s financial reform regulations.

A question: Should government pay crazy private sector salaries to retain smart bureaucrats?

STATE POLITICS

Joan Vennochi tracks the movement of Vicki Kennedy and concludes that, public pronouncements aside about no interest in running for her late husband’s Senate seat, she is keeping her options open.

BOSTON POLITICS

How can we miss him if he won’t go away: Chuck Turner is preparing a legal fight against his expulsion from the Boston City Council following a federal bribery conviction. Upping the sideshow quality to the saga, the Globe says he’ll be represented by legal darling of the right Chester Darling, who has pretty much opposed everything Turner has ever fought for.

In the Phoenix, David Bernstein spotlights the changing face of Boston’s black leadership, while Chris Faraone profiles the state’s last marijuana criminal.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Mitt’s not fooling anybody: More reasons why Mitt Romney‘s right turn isn’t going to help him in 2012.

POLITICS AND PASTA

Former Providence mayor and convicted felon Buddy Cianci writes a book. Political Wire via Amazon.

LOCAl affairs

Governing magazine highlights a Quincy pilot program that saves money by paying by the inch for snow removal.

The Lowell Fire Department is assessed $350,000 for refusing to let a captain return to work following a series of asthma attacks, the Lowell Sun reports.

Newton considers what to do about an $8 million budget shortfall.

Salem’s zoning board rejects methadone clinic in the face of strong community opposition, the Salem News reports.

CENSUS

The Globe’s Matt Carroll goes on Radio Boston to talk about what the US Census numbers tell us about Massachusetts.

The New York Times unveils an interactive demographic map of every city in the US.

ECONOMY

Cold weather and improving consumer confidence means the retail business is booming in Metrowest this holiday season.

EDUCATION

The state says weak performance on the MCAS by four groups means that the Newton school district now falls in the “needs improvement” category.

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