Posted at http://bluemassgroup.com/diary/21325/why-i-am-voting-for-governor-patrick
Why I am Voting for Governor Patrick
by: lkirwan
Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 16:02:51 PM EDT
(The voice of reason speaks. Leslie Kirwan was Governor Patrick's Secretary of Administration of Finance until last year. - Bob
It's also worth noting that Leslie Kirwan worked very closely with Charlie Baker in the Weld and Cellucci administrations. She knows both candidates well. - promoted by David)
Dear Friends,
For three years I had the privilege of working with Governor Deval Patrick as his cabinet Secretary for Administration and Finance. On November 2, I will be proud to vote for Governor Patrick to help assure that he has the chance to continue the important work he has started. I am writing to tell you why I admire and respect the Governor so much, and to ask that you give him your vote on Election Day, November 2.
Governor Patrick has been challenged by the worst recession in generations, and it has required him to find budget solutions of approximately $13 billion during his four years in office. For a governor deeply committed to making state government work for individuals, families, businesses and communities, balancing the budget was not a responsibility Governor Patrick relished. Nonetheless, he took it very seriously, and personally made sure that even as he was forced to find budget solutions, he did it in ways that reflected his values and priorities. Education is Governor Patrick's top priority -- one stemming from his own personal story -- and under his leadership Chapter 70 education aid has reached its highest level ever. He preserved health and human services spending as much as possible to make sure the Commonwealth's most vulnerable citizens were protected when they needed help the most. He has made targeted investments in green jobs and other environmental initiatives, and in the life sciences and other industries where Massachusetts is most competitive. These investments have helped Massachusetts lead the nation in recovering from the recession.
Some governors let their staff do the heavy lifting on budget development. Not Governor Patrick. Time and again, I watched as he personally put his own stamp on the choices he made, taking each budget document home with him and working long into the night, making adjustments in his own handwriting to ensure the final product reflected his values. He took it personally every time he had to make a cut that hurt a program or a person.
Governor Patrick's opponents would like to paint him as a big spender. It's not true. Governor Patrick's four budgets have averaged spending increases of 1.7% year over year. In contrast, Mitt Romney's budgets increased by 6.6% on average, and when Charlie Baker was in charge of the budget, annual increases averaged over 5%. And in spite of the recession, Governor Patrick's management of the state has earned reaffirmations of the outstanding double-A rating from the three bond rating agencies again and again at a time when many states have been downgraded. Contributing to their favorable ratings have been the many reforms led by Governor Patrick: ethics and lobbying reform, curbing pension abuses, abolishing the Turnpike Authority and reorganizing the transportation agencies, education reform, auto insurance reform, allowing civilian flaggers to work on some road and bridge construction projects, and successfully implementing Massachusetts Health Care Reform. Other governors only talked about these reforms; Governor Patrick got them done, and is continuing to work on every single one.
This is going to be a very close election, and every vote matters. That is why it is very important for every voter who supports the Governor to take the time to go to the polls on Election Day, November 2. I hope that you will be sure to vote, and that you will join me in supporting Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray.
Sincerely,
Leslie Kirwan
Arlington
October 26, 2010
During the past two years, Congress passed a total of $509 billion in tax cuts for American families and small businesses. The tax burden on Americans is now at its lowest level in 60 years, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The most significant single change was a decrease in income taxes by up to $400 a year for individuals and $800 for married couples. Who knew? In a recent New York Times/CBS News Poll, fewer than one in 10 respondents knew that taxes were lowered for most Americans. A third even thought that their taxes had gone up. "We did a magnificent job of selling this tax break," Sanders deadpanned at an event last weekend in Hardwick, Vt., where he mentioned the poll.
The following list identifies the major tax cuts enacted during the past two years.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5; JCX-19-09)
| $232,426 million |
| $19,963 million |
| $6,150 million |
| $1,850 million |
| $6,501 million |
| $19,638 million |
| $74 million |
| $218 million |
| $457 million |
| $143 million |
| $24,677 million |
| TOTAL (over 2009-2019) | $312,097 million |
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148; JCX-17-10 and CBO, Table 2)
| $37,000 million |
| $106,000 million |
| $900 million |
| $1,200 million |
| $100 million |
| TOTAL (over 2010-2019) | $145,200 million |
Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-92; JCX-45-09)
| $10,823 million |
| $10,407 million |
| $243 million |
| TOTAL (over 2010-2019) | $21,473 million |
Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (P.L. 111-147; JCX-6-10)
| $7,616 million |
| $5,422 million |
| $35 million |
| $4,561 million |
| TOTAL (over 2010-2020) | $17,634 million |
Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-240; JCX-48-10)
| $518 million |
| $107 million |
| $977 million |
| $70 million |
| $2,177 million |
| $5,454 million |
| $230 million |
| $176 million |
| $1,919 million |
| $410 million |
| TOTAL (over 2011-2020) | $12,038 million |
Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (P.L. 111-198; JCX-34-10)
| $140 million |
| TOTAL (over 2010-2020) | $140 million |
Charitable Donations for Haiti Earthquake Relief (P.L. 111-126; CBO)
| $2 million |
| TOTAL (over 2010-2020) | $2 million |