Blog Archives

Resources on retiree health benefits

Key resources on this issues include: Mass Taxpayers Foundations report on municipal liabilities. Pioneer Institute White Paper: The Elephant in the Room:  Unfunded Public Employee Health Care Benefits and GASB 45.  Actuarial Valuation Reports for the Commonwealth.  Federal Reserve Bank

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Posted in budget, pensions & benefits, reform

Transparency Changes Passed

The first substantive roll call of the new legislative session was to adopt a transparency amendment to the house rules. I had been working hard on the changes for over a year and I was grateful for the unanimous support of the leadership team and my colleagues on Thursday.

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Posted in reform, transparency

Massachusetts and Illinois

Illinois used be be known as the most corrupt state in the US(funny thats where Barack is from) I think this state is reaching for the stars…

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Posted in reform, speak out

Beyond probation

Reformers should be seeking to clean up arrangements that make weak agencies directly beholden to the legislature. The Turnpike Authority was one example. We’ve abolished it, but there are others that come to mind.

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Posted in insider jobs, reform

it is interesting to read previous posts…. it does seem that MA state government has always had shameless patronage. When incompetent or even dangerous people are given jobs that endanger public safety a line has been crossed. Has that woman who provided information to criminal boyfriends been fired as yet?

it is interesting to read previous posts…. it does seem that MA state government has always had shameless patronage. When incompetent or even dangerous people are given jobs that endanger public safety a line has been crossed. Has that woman

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Posted in insider jobs, reform, speak out

Legislators as Job Recuiters

Given the complexities of  job procurement and the fact that most legislators have little training in personnel, it would be be wise for legislators to be prohibited from participating in the  process for public employment. Certainly if a legislator knows

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Posted in insider jobs, speak out

Recommending people for jobs

The question we will face over the next few months is: would the public be better served if legislators did not engage in job recommendations at all or did so only subject to limitations?

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Posted in insider jobs

Statement of Speaker DeLeo Regarding Probation

Speaker DeLeo has stepped forward with a strong commitment to respond to the problems in the probation department.

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Posted in reform

A Long Nightmare in Probation

The report of the Supreme Judicial Court’s independent counsel, Paul Ware, on hiring in the probation department is a deeply disturbing read. How we handle the issues it raises will send an important signal about our true level of commitment to restoring confidence in government.

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Posted in insider jobs, reform

Time for new leadership in the House

Will, It is time to clean house. The report on the Probation Department released this week by Independent Counsel Paul F.Ware, together with the Globe Spotlight Team’s report on Rep. Thomas Petrolati published in October and the Globe’s earlier report

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Posted in insider jobs, pensions & benefits, reform, speak out
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