DeLeo: Budget will "cut to the very core"

Wait until you see how many patronage jobs fit in the VERY CORE, and that will tell you ALL you need to know about MA's plight.

Enjoy feeding them, everybody. Don't worry, there will be some crumbs left fo you after they've gorged themselves.

“My goal is to work with the governor and Senate president as partners.” - DeLeo
His goal should be working for the people of Massachusetts if he wants to stay in office.

While I had my doubts about DeLeo from an ethics standpoint, his acknowledgement of the need to cut way back on the budget is a hugely hopeful sign. Until such a reckoning forces reps to decide between specific service cuts and the inefficiencies of their own patronage and abuse-laden system, we will still be subjected to a shell-game search for new revenues that either simply aren't there to be had or will not be tolerated by an already over-taxed and angry populace.

It's a shame Deval never had the instincts, honesty or cajones to confront the legislature and the voters with this stark and inavoidable choice.

About time the Hacks are getting it. NO NEW TAXES. CUT STAFFING LEVELS. Reform pensions 1st, then do buyouts to state employees. That would reduce debt and spending levels. there is alot redundence up on Beacon Hill. Reduce all Quasi Goverment agencies funding and salaries. Do not cut stuff that effects the poor and disabled. Get rid of the Fat. People who double dip, get pension and work for the state at the same time. Cut all double dip pensions.
Again lay off workers before raising taxes.

I assure you that "core" in the hack-filled world of state budgeting means something altogether different from what you or I would consider "core."

Will the budget still be more than last year? If so then they haven't cut anything, they have only increased it less. Not acceptable.

Why don't I buy this crap? you want to make me believe then stop hiring political hacks at $120 a year for a job that has been empty for years. Get rid of the Mass Pike tolls, and everyone tied to them. Get all the family members off the state payroll. Stop trying to raise my taxes until you really have cut the budget to the bone. Lets get rid of the police details and use flaggers paid a fair wage like the other 49 states.

There is plenty that can be cut out of this Nanny state budget. . . lets see you do it.

With all due respect to Speaker DeLeo, local government really needs relief from UNFUNDED State mandates relating education, environmental protection and employee benefits. It makes no sense local government can not implement cost savings by more affordable health insurance plans. Sure, agreement can be reached by negotiation, but economic tradeoffs are impossible in the current economy. I beg for your leadership, Mr. Speaker.

cut your salaries, im so sick of govt

Given that MA has a FY budget of over $30B and we are talking about cutting between $1.0 and $1.5B (3.3 to 5%), yet claim that this is "cutting to the core", any person capable of rational thought would ask, "what is the bottom 95 to 97% of the budget doing?"

DeLeo also used the speech to highlight the need to overhaul the state’s ethics, pension, and transportation laws.

“Right now, I can’t say that those of us engaged in public service are held in very high regard,” he said. “Clearly, we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Ya but what are they writing between the lines this sounds like another bunch of their BS,

Start by firing Marian Walsh - that will save 125K.

Also - where is all the stimulus ( pork) money MA got?

DeLeo's an idiot. He refuses to raise any taxes. He's hoping for some miracle from casinos. He doesn't want to use Federal stimulus money. And meanwhile the state, and it's many municipalities, are being ruined. Hey, Mr. DeLeo, if we wanted to live in Mississippi, we'd move there.

does this Marion Walsh can kiss her 175K or 120K job goodby

Just a glance at the number of agencies listed on the State's website will tellyou there is plenty of duplication and lots of functions that are not part of the "core functions of government". In terms of a partnership approach between the legislature and governor, isn't that the problem? Doesn't our history indicate that good relations between the exceutive and legislature in this state always correlates closely with high taxes and lots of jobs on the public payroll for patronage no-show no value appointees?

Another money saving idea. Since elected office was never intended to be a lifetime sinecure or career, immediately eliminate any and all state pension eligbility from serving in any local or state elective office.

And somewhere in the state, Marian Walsh opens her first paycheck.

There's a Department of Oral Health in this state.

Apparently they tell dentists how to do their jobs and provide them training.

I wonder what Dental School is, then!

I only know this because my great State Representative (who is brand new) has already proposed his new taxes on various forms of smokeless tobacco to give more money to this Department of Oral Health.

In 1992 the budget was 12 billion, now nearly 30 billion, for a state with a 6 million population - who would have figured? There is no household or business that increased spending by such a scale. These moonbats will bankrupt every hosehold and business before they understand the depths of their actions. Actions that can reasonablly be declared an effective treason, albeit surrounded with protests of denial from every quarter.

Rental,

I agree, lets reform pensions. No BS, let's make it like the real world. Maybe these guys should just get 401(k)s like the rest of us. That would make it harder for the hacks to get more gifts in their retirment plan.

We need to cut the number of agencies and get rid of all of that executive staff. Let's start with the Turnpike, Mass Highway etc and turn them into 1 agency.

How about we also turn the legislature into a part time job? How about 6 or 9 months a year instead of 12? Then we could pro-rate their salaries also. Someone once said the only thing he feared more than standing armies was sitting legislatures.

I will believe it when I see it, the state budgets have been so full of pork they is a lot of fat to be cut away.

By the time this state finally approves casino gambling, the heavy hitters will be so aligned to out of state casinos with their frequent player cards that the expected return from gambling dollars will be diluted and limited to senior bingo revenues!

It's scary to think how this state would handle a crisis! It would likely take 32 meetings, unlimited panel selections and daily hearings to decide we really did have a crisis!

I agree with most people: there is one problem - the hundreds if not thousands of overpaid Marion Walsh's in the government ! When you get rid of these
our budget will fall in line. Instead, these officials threaten the public with dire
predictions and usually cut the most valuable service providers at the lower levels. Get rid of the Marion Walsh's !

By the time this state finally approves casino gambling, the heavy hitters will be so aligned to out of state casinos with their frequent player cards that the expected return from gambling dollars will be diluted and limited to senior bingo revenues!

It's scary to think how this state would handle a crisis! It would likely take 32 meetings, unlimited panel selections and daily hearings to decide we really did have a crisis!

Start with the salaries of the legislature and we'll know you're serious. Being an elected official is about PUBLIC SERVICE, not pay.

I guess the pay raise the state representatives voted for themselves fits nicely into the new smaller budget huh? They are all hacks, cheats and lobbyist. Vote each and everyone one of them out.

If we cut 15% of the salaries of all these politicians and elected officials (e.g. mayors like Menino ) and made them pay for their health coverage we might get back into the black within 3 to 5 years. But we have a bunch of crooks and con artists who manipulate the system to bleed it one way or another......that's always been the problem and no amount of hand wringing or stimulus payments will ever change that. We are responsible to putting them into office and so we have to pay for the consequences......

The lobbyists for health care insurance and financial institutions have these politicians in their pockets......the taxpayer hasn't got a chance against these villains.

Never vote for an incumbent>

Cut the public sector hacks and their associated pensions by 25%, and all of a sudden there isn't any problem.

Always remember, we get what we deserve in Mass. maybe next election we will get some different folks in office (if the democratic machine allows it) and we'll get some very different ideas.
John Kerry?
He'll get reelected because he's flying below the radar and his sheeple think he's regal, when of course he's one of main reasons why we're in the mess that we're in today and he will NEVER change.