Say what you will about Sen. Scott Brown, but our man in Washington certainly knows what makes a good political commercial and he wanted no part of it.
Brown was one of five GOP senators, including Maine’s two moderate Republicans, who joined the 50 Democratic and two Independent senators in voting down US Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget that called for revamping Medicare. The group also included Sen. Rand Paul. The freshman Tea Party heartthrob voted no because he doesn’t think the plan goes far enough, but that’s another tale.
The GOP plans on doubling down, but be very clear: The vote, the outcome of which was a foregone conclusion, was not about policy but about producing political ads for 2012 by getting Republicans on the record about whether are for or against Medicare as we know it. It was, in many ways, a delayed reaction to the “death panel” charges by Republicans in the debate over President Obama’s health care reform. And it may be working, if Tuesday’s special election for the vacant congressional seat in New York is any indication.
Predictably – and, arguably, rightly – Republican senators caught in the vise screamed “no fair.” “I don’t think it’s responsible to try to scare seniors for political points,” said Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican. “They say the way to win the next election is to scare the daylights out of senior citizens. I think that’s irresponsible.”
Apparently, though, the line of demarcation for responsibility was November of last year because for the run-up to the 2010 elections, it was Democrats who were trying to kill Granny.
“We should not have a government program that determines if you’re going to pull the plug on grandma,” Sen. Charles Grassley declared in discussing the end-of-life counseling portion of the Obama reform bill.
While everyone acknowledges the need to reform entitlements that are gobbling up every available dollar, few have the stomach to actually revamp social programs that people feel they’ve worked their whole lives to enjoy. Brown understands it is a particularly sensitive issue in Massachusetts, where the population is inching up in age, with average age of Bay Staters (38.5) about 2 years older than the national figure.
According to the 2010 Census, nearly one-quarter of the state’s population is 55 or over, the cutoff age for those who won’t be affected by any change in the Ryan Medicare plan. But even more eye-opening is that more than 30 percent of the state’s population is between 35 and 55, not old enough to file the paperwork but close enough to see the starting line.
It’s those kinds of numbers that make politicians sit up and take notice — and that scare the beejezus out of them.
–JACK SULLIVAN
BEACON HILL
Leslie Kirwan, the former top budget official in the Patrick administration, became the latest state official to testify that a multimillion dollar contract for software was pushed ahead to appease House speaker Sal DiMasi, who showed a persistent interest in the deal, the Globe reports. Gov. Deval Patrick will take the stand tomorrow.
The Eagle-Tribune, in an editorial, says creating a public defender bureaucracy won’t help the poor. For a debate about the issue, check out CommonWealth’s Argument and Counterpoint on the subject between the Patrick administration’s Jay Gonzalez and Arnold Rosenfeld, a board member of the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
The Berkshire Eagle applauds state Auditor Suzanne Bump for moving to professionalize the auditor’s office.
Treasurer Steve Grossman joins Newton Mayor and US Senate candidate Setti Warren at the city’s annual mayor’s prayer breakfast.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
Jon Mitchell, an assistant US Attorney, has stepped down from his job to run for mayor in his hometown of New Bedford, making the announcement on the same pier from which his grandfather left on a fatal fishing trip nearly a half century ago.
Chelmsford building inspector Scott Hammond resigns amid mounting allegations of wrongdoing on his part, the Lowell Sun reports.
Two Bridgewater town councilors walked out of a meeting as the battle escalated over a controversial change in ordinances by some councilors who want to ban town residents from serving as town counsel.
The Bay State Banner profiles Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo.
RACE
The co-author of a controversial new study out of Harvard Business School joins Emily Rooney to discuss the findings that a growing number of whites see themselves as being victimized by discrimination more than blacks.
Commentator Earl Ofari Hutchinson lays out why Cornel West got headlines for his critique of President Obama and why West’s harangue is misguided. Via The Bay State Banner.
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
Ohio Gov. John Kasich is now tied with Florida Gov. Rick Scott for the dubious title of the most unpopular governor in America.
John Edwards is facing a likely indictment on felony campaign finance violations. His lawyers are exploring a last-minute plea deal.
The Boston Herald jumps all over news that Barney Frank recommended his former boyfriend for a job at Fannie Mae. Back in 1991.
NEW ENGLAND
A Maine state representative pulls a gun on a press photographer in Waterville.
ELECTION 2012
David Bernstein on Mitt Romney, the auto industry bailout, and the trouble with perpetual campaigns.
The New York Times says Sarah Palin’s purchase of a second home in Arizona may presage a presidential run. The Wall Street Journal has details on the $1.7 million Scottsdale spread.
FISHING
Mayors Carolyn Kirk of Gloucester and Scott Lang of New Bedford do a tag team on federal fisheries law enforcers, the Gloucester Times reports.
The state has shut down shellfish beds from Boston to Plymouth because of the appearance of red tide.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
Some good news for summer jobs for teens in Boston.
EDUCATION
WBUR, in part three of its series on teachers, focuses on how coaches and collaboration can help improve teaching quality.
The founder of a Canton special needs school that uses controversial electric shock treatments is forced out, WBUR reports.
Tom Ashbrook’s On Point show looks at how affluent students dominate the nation’s top colleges.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released a damning report yesterday targeting the New Bedford school system, citing a series of “serious problems,” including a deficiency in curriculum planning and overall leadership.
Two Boston city councilors are pushing a proposal to raise the drop-out age for city high school students from 16 to 18, citing encouraging results from a similar move taken in New Hampshire, the Globe reports.
TRANSPORTATION
A crackdown on overtime spending at the MBTA escalates service delays.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
The Saugus Board of Selectmen is not satisfied with the $261,000 settlement Attorney General Martha Coakley negotiated with the operator of a waste incinerator in the town, the Lynn Item reports.
Coakley plans to file an amicus brief supporting the state of Vermont in a suit challenging the state’s authority to halt operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear plant when its license expires next year.
The use of the wrong studs to hold together a giant water pipe was the cause of last year’s water main break that disrupted service to nearly 2 million greater Boston residents, a report says. A lawsuit from the Massachusetts Water Resources Commission to recover damages is likely to follow, says the Globe.
Cape Cod officials are looking at building an ocean outflow pipe to deal with its wastewater issues.
New automotive mileage stickers will contain information on greenhouse gas emissions.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Mark Kerrigan, the brother of former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, was convicted of assault and battery in connection with the death of their father but acquitted on the manslaughter charge prosecutors had pushed for.
MEDIA
The Globe reports that Jack Connors is joining a group of investors looking to buy the newspaper, even though its owner, The New York Times, says it’s not for sale.
SPACE SHOT
A tape reveals that former President John F. Kennedy thought it would be a tough sell to convince the American public on a moon landing, NECN reports.