Barbara Anderson

I want to talk about a headline in today's herald Dave wedge is a reporter for the Boston Herald writes on page five and these big big headline on that fishy finance. That the that he would he got to take -- had often -- they have some fun don't think they have some fun with the headline says. The fishy finance and Dave which writes that quack project product projects -- to 85 million dollars to the budget in cash strapped Massachusetts. And everybody knows that Massachusetts just like everybody else out -- Californian named New Hampshire you name the state New York they have budget problems. The economy is certainly cooling with head around conversations here and -- for mr. whether it's. Technically in recession but based upon the behavior of the people that I worked with on a daily basis many of the calls with taken before his seat belts in the background -- a nice they've come -- Alston right. Then maybe Billy from the fish -- announced his thrown out some that you know. The -- the whole situation cross all the states they have financial situations budget problems. Based on the fact that the economy is slowing down people spending less money was not a very successful christmas holiday season was we got to retail expenditure and since then. Yesterday we did a very interesting segment and even posted an email to about it from people from listeners who have begun to. Change the driving habits their consumption purchase and consumption of gasoline so on and so forth so people a static to do things close to home. And cutting back on things that they -- ordinarily do -- mayfield. A high degree of confidence in the economy right now the confidence level is down the anxiety level is -- you've heard Steve -- myself in many many others talked about how this is going to become one of the the central issues in the upcoming presidential campaign. And we had doing presidential campaign cold Turkey today there is debate tonight which I will watch be prepared to discuss with you tomorrow. But today -- you're not going to be all presidential politics all the time we can and liked to talk about other things so. He is the story want to talk to about fishy finances to headline in the herald and it says that there are millions of dollars earmarked for beaches and fish studies and and the like Dave which stats up his his article today Beacon Hill lawmakers have churned up comedians of dollars to study horseshoe crabs tomorrow not a aquatic species and to spruce up beaches in proposed budget -- as local layoffs loom and officials looked at tolls. Taxes -- casinos to Bailout the cash strapped state all accurate so far no problem no gripe there. It's it's I think it's a very informative opening paragraph. And it goes on to say led by a group of Cape Cod law makers the state legislature has tucked 35 million dollars in your marks. Into an environmental he doesn't say it's a bond bill I'm assuming it's a bond bill. In to the environmental bond bill despite budget crunches that threatened layoffs from Boston to box -- In among the pork raw fish barrel projects he's having some fun with -- we're fish in the environmental bond bill had is the reference to the bond rate via the following two million dollars thought invasive a quack. Species control statewide. How one point. 25 -- one and a quarter million to reconstruct the superintendent's house. At watch who sit mountain state park 750003 quarters of a million for the Cape Cod commercial hook fishermen's association to monitor. Plaid check small Nash. Fisheries so on and so forth 675000 to study the horseshoe crab population of Wellfleet but pleasant day and possible but so on and so forth in Dave which alien creates that you know the raises the issue creates the juxtaposition of claimed. Budget pressure. How could any legislate -- possibly consider this. I would just say this in response just kind of give a little bit of perspective to -- not taking issue with anything that Davis Dave has written except the -- gospel of fact you do have to make a big big is a big distinction here and you do have to make that distinction. Between a budget a regular operating budget the -- annual budget let me say it that way in new budget in what he characterized as accurately as a bond built a bond -- is an authorization to issue debt. It's usually for five to tend sometimes to 225 and even duty is depending upon the assets depending upon what is to be done so let me just. Point out to this what the renovation of the superintendent's house at about whale watchers -- mountain state park. Obviously at the superintendent's house is a capital assets it has a durable life if you will of fifteen years 25 he is fifty years it needs to be rehab from time to time sounds as if it's been. Allowed to deteriorate for some time in Deval Patrick's made a big point in this. The deterioration of many of Iraq capital assets a failure to invest afraid to. Cleaned the trails that run through state forest state parks to clean the beaches and I'll also want to say that's. When we talk about moderating our own behavior in the face of three dollars three dollars and fifty gallon gasoline may be would not going to take the long leisurely drive to have. You know visit relatives in Ohio maybe we won't go to Canada this year maybe we will go out of state we're gonna stay locally. I'm not troubled by the by I was state Massachusetts in investing in its recreational facilities beaches and forests and ponds and lakes and swimming pools and -- that type the stuff dip hot apostle of our recreational inventory. And that you don't want them to be crappy you don't want them to be lousy. When you do go to the end task it for example about what used to get like they have the men's room working in the ladies room working Saudia. The family doesn't you know doesn't have to go out in the woods liked it. Hanging around would Davy Crockett or something like that. And it it seems to me it's important at least to make that distinction between debt. In the the operating budget and let me last point gonna gonna get right to call 6172666868. In the end whether these projects go forward and not. Depends upon the governor the governor is that has the final say on this now a lot of people jump off a cliff think of what the ball's gonna say no. Let me tell this of the -- have to say no to more of this that he would like to because inevitably there -- choices that have to be made well -- do it -- chief swift Romney Deval Patrick whoever succeeds Deval Patrick all the governors who come in the long -- That lies ahead from Massachusetts will have to make these choices and if they make lousy choices are they spent too much you know what happens Wall Street steps in and down bush credit rating up closure interest payment in that you would have serious problems so. Nobody screws around what that notwithstanding common perception common opinion I want to take some calls on this and let's go to.

Is that Barbara hello good hey good morning Barbara Anderson how are you top fitter India good morning how -- you.

And finally got about Davy Crockett ha ha it's Davy Crockett and this conversation I have second in Nolan. My love and admiration the -- Crockett what will be warned against all government expenditures that went directly in the cost.

Maybe it was a strict he he was a stricter constructionist about constitution for a limited form of government I. I agree with you by reference to give I don't have you got the whole thing in debt I don't know if you he's a B Barbara that's okay. I I just it looked when you know -- our family's -- state our state park state beaches we do really like to have the facility's function the -- the ladies room rather than have to go out in the woods a lot Davy Crockett so if you you know if you went with family members took about what -- Park you know my assumption that you'd like the with the water bubbles to work. And then the mens -- ladies facilities to work and that's how wide view most environmental bonds about going to deny Barbara that sometimes. Is often baloney that sneaks in but. You do have to -- as you as you invest in -- house as I invest in my house the state has to invest in its assets to right.

And now that would like started -- that. Yes I do what my bobbled a work when I go to work thinking found that state park okay as a former lifeguard at a let the local community level who had to clean up the -- that people left behind it always worried about the popular working because it was I was there all day in and needed to drink should you -- yeah com. And as somebody who also was very it stood at the time and horseshoe crab inventory that we used to do that ourselves as the as the local lifeguards. I'll all of these things interest me however it also interest made up my instant -- not coming which states to stapled into managed to do that despite having. He get tired perhaps Britain the capita in the country I I'd like not to have a unfunded pension liability and health insurance costs -- not critical often group. I would like things to work I would like our firefighters to take drug testing without having to have it in a collective bargaining is about a.

everybody's got obviously -- Barbara trying to work I noticed democratic struggle and it's and as the ordinary people can't speak up to speed up our industry needs to write a PLC and apparently I'm not sure that the listeners are going to get it until Barbara stuff stock of which apparently she -- so. This is meet Tom Finneran and she is Barbara Anderson well -- executive director of citizens for limited taxation. So I guess what's that with the the fight of fighters and drug testing I'll offer protection and I'll make a small -- with you about. That the collective bargaining contract if and when it's finally signed -- predict when that'll happen it will have drug and alcohol testing unit that's 12 with three got two unfunded pension liability I think you have to admit you can be frustrated by it and I can't be about the pace Massachusetts has done better than almost any state. In addressing it in getting it. As close to fully funded walked closer to fully funded did with Everett then credit to the legislature and you don't like to hear that and you don't like to acknowledge it but credit to the legislature in good years and -- Getting sober and speaking to Wall Street you know in ways that Wall Street understands we'd do better at this than almost any state you can point to last act and then I'll go I kind of might might when we started the -- in the capital assets. At some point -- every state every person every enterprise every organization including the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Has to either reinvest and upgrade its its its capital assets or you watch it deteriorate if I have a hole in my roof at home I can't just sit here and say well I'm not going to do anything about it I.

That's attack -- we give more tax dollars to the common well when they never do what they're supposed to be doing like maintaining infrastructure. Like paying the debt -- comes along instead of running up -- it's like dealing -- All these days that every day program to other states somehow managed to held without getting in the kind of public to feel that bad bound in Massachusetts -- into.

Bob I look like -- really good observer of the national scene you know that this is what what Massachusetts is going through now is not unique it's coast to coast we had this let -- finish your belt and state. --

We'll tell all come I would probably be like you get hot -- got the medicine went on the line and if anybody stopped and you just keep pocket rocket docket so you know what I didn't --

like I was rocket -- rod -- I don't like to create the false impression that massacres that I was gonna skate -- it -- going down drag out argument I and I and I don't you don't -- different you opera I don't I don't except from -- because my performance was -- by a Wall Street consistently -- bond rating went opt opt -- C -- lay and Jeff in Salem beyond next confederates forum and good morning and welcome Jeff.

Stop -- civil. I got a drew level Lullabot that but probably a whole new world you don't caused by the horseshoe crabs this. Yet fixed the hole in the rural and if you can't afford something you'd spot it and cable and stopped the in the way of -- dot -- on the front page of the Sunday globe don't bought fabric. -- you're gonna evaluate Massachusetts Patrick once again I just figured ten million dollars this despite a program. To get homeless people their own homes on my money going of them and that middle. For people who don't want to home.

and play I'm not I'm not going to sit there is an advocate for Deval Patrick budgetary priorities -- else just Fraser backed you would have very civil way chip. -- Right now Massachusetts and other states are trying to address and deal with the homeless population in the -- in a variety of ways a lot of people -- suggested. The ways we have a very expensive you put them in motels for the night. You make these kind of Dave by -- referrals of reactionary moves in to try to put them up in different ways and it costs lots and lots of money the idea and I'm not by an -- Jeff because I haven't had a chance to explore it in any depth or detail whatsoever I don't have that responsibility anymore the idea -- That it might be less expensive to do it this way then the way -- doing it now I don't know the answer to that I'll be the first to admit. I don't know the answer on horseshoe crabs let me just make a point if I -- never going to let you talk. Robert yourself said when she was a life god they used -- horseshoe crabs as well apparently it is considered to be a fairly important function I know a little bit about horseshoe crabs it's hugely important too -- medicine believe it or not it's the way you testy use -- blood -- two crab blood to test for impurities in medicine even blood that's going to be given to human beings so it's an important thing. I don't know -- Barbara got paid for that that was -- duties -- but Barbara was -- got a long time ago so it seems like Massachusetts has been doing this for a -- time it might not be as essential as other things and that's we have our governor it could be governor Barbara Anderson it could be my friend -- from -- was the -- are could be in this instance about Patrick he's going to have to make choices you'll be disappointed and frustrated that -- to everything but that's the reality.

But it take. That this is so many things to top ten million bucks to get some -- home I. I don't have ten million bucks in the government doesn't have any money it's our money and number two no I'm living in the city would have -- five million dollar swap. And we don't have adding we don't have any budget for the schools to look at the -- port you know the ten million dollars just to start this program which is what did he say survivor and you want over -- We're talking millions upon millions upon millions of dollars you homeless people on hold and number two it's a fact the more you tax people in the state. The last charity you have and that district of Massachusetts at a super every devastate the high taxes the more they go up that the more charity goes.

You know Jeff I I would not disagree with that I actually find myself and a 100% agreement by almost like common sense and definition the more disposable income that's removed from my pocket E because the less likely we gotta be reached -- you to respond charitably to a whole host of issues whole host of causes that solicit us all the time. And I just don't I literally I have to admit in talk show host don't do that all the time but I'm happy to do it. I don't know the answer as to whether the -- proposal in the end will -- less expensive when you have a homeless issue though however and who went everywhere column today grants addicts a mentally ill while bombs and maybe it's all a combination of the bunch you know let's say open Salem. Clearly don't want that cluttering -- downtown a commercial section clearly don't want them -- around -- a -- and the like the town of -- in many many other -- tries to respond in certain ways and the -- trying to do something about it I'm not supported -- I want to make sure I'm clear with you on that because I don't know enough about it it will come under close scrutiny -- if for no other reason that the point you made and -- in -- buoyed -- ever -- we -- against that nobody can afford to be frivolous with money that is -- guests appreciate the call --