'Round the Bubblah 03-12-2010

Now it's Massachusetts's chance for the health care debate spotlight.  The Globe's Susan Milligan reports that an end to $500M in aid to Mass Medicaid (per the President's request to end special deals in the bill) is to be expected, and the Massachusetts delegation is confident they'll recoup that loss before negotiations are through.  Since we were getting the aid because of our advanced healthcare system, I think it's likely we'll keep the aid.

I also recommend reading Mulligan's piece if you actually want to understand what "pass then patch" and "reconciliation" mean.

The Outraged Liberal calls Senator Brown out for not commenting on the funding battle.

Representative Capuano (D-MA 8) has problems with the Senate bill and problems with reconciliation, reports Brian Beutler in Talking Points Memo.  Mulligan's article focuses on his opposition to the removal of the Medicaid bonus, but he has more problems than that.  Honestly, though, with his campaign talk, this sounds more like posturing, a negotiation tactic.



Meanwhile, the Globe's Kay Lazar reports that state regulators might change how Mass health care is determined, to alleviate tax penalties to families who cannot afford the rising healthcare costs.

And the AP reports that more Hispanics are insured thanks to Romneycare.

WBUR and the AP report that Massachusetts is going to see local aid cuts this year.

A legislative panel killed the film tax credit reduction bill, reports the State House News Service.  The Globe's Michael Levenson has more.

Secretary of State Bill Galvin will be working on St. Patrick's Day Evacuation Day, reports the AP.  This is the real way to end the so-called "hack holidays": by showing up to work anyways.  Granted, Galvin does this every year, but... you know.

Let's file this under "I missed it yesterday": Governor Patrick will be entering the lion's den, like his friend President Obama.  In Massachusetts, that doesn't mean the GOP leadership, which is small.  It means going on local conservative talk radio.  Jessicas van Slack and Heslam pen the story in the Herald.

The AP reports that the Mass Senate approved the school nutrition bill yesterday, which means both houses have now passed versions of the bill, which need to be reconciled with each other before getting sent to the Governor for signing.

The AP's Steve LeBlanc reports that the Senate also unanimously passed the anti-bullying bill.  The Globe's James Vaznis offers more about the bill, and says that it now heads to the House.

The Herald's Dave Wedge reports that the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation rents out thirteen residences in national parks to department workers at below-market value.

Peter Gelzinis has a piece in the Herald about retiring State Rep Brian Wallace's reminiscences.

WBUR's Andrea Shea has a radio piece on how casinos would affect the state's entertainment industry by providing competition.

Senate President Therese Murray plans to announce a business tax change today, reports the State house News Service's Michael Norton.  The Herald's Thomas Grillo reports that the CEO of Liberty Mutual claims that Mass is the priciest state to conduct business in.

WBUR's Bob Oakes and Lisa Tobin report on the DTX Blight issue.

Fox reports that a New York City Councilor wants to ban salt in his restaurants.  Fox fears that Boston will follow suit.  Red Mass Group Rob Eno flips out, pulling in a Nazi reference just to violate Godwin's Law early in the debate, and calls it an attack on our personal freedom.  I never use salt in my own cooking, and I think things come out fine.  But what do I know?  I don't own a restaurant!  I imagine that a less harsh bill will become law, maybe one that limits the amount of sodium allowed in our food.

The Jamaica Plain Gazette's John Ruch reports that Councillor John Tobin says that of course there's a list of likely targets for library closings, and JP's branch is on the list.  Universal Hub's Adam Gaffin links to a form letter in defense of the North End branch, if you want to write to the City about closings.


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