One of the bills under consideration in the House would raise the cost of your yearly Auto Inspection Sticker by 20%…from $29 to $35 and the hits to our pocketbooks just keep coming.

While we are looking to collect the most we can in the state and city coffers, we should look at some old perks that exist. City Clerks who perform marriages on City time and get to keep the fee along with Clerk Magistrates and assistance who get paid and collect fees for bail postings are two areas that could bring back money to the city and state.

Another example of why we need pension reform in this state. Former U Lowell Chancellor Hogan receiving $195,808 a year retirement.

Lowell High School is the real loser with Brian Martin not under consideration for the Headmasters position. Say what you want about Brian but he is qualified, has private and Public sector experience and no one care about Lowell as much as he does.

Prayers and well wishes for former LHS standout Swimmer and my friends Rebecca Cyr & husband Ramy Fayed for son Jacob Ramy Fayed born 6 weeks early yesterday. May he get healthy soon and go home to big brother Zach.

The Column is pretty boring this week but has a little zing about the bad blood between School Committee members Jim Leary and Dave Conway. Maybe we will see more fireworks between these two as things get tougher.

Nice article in the Sun about Regatta founder and Speare House Owner Lenny Speronis. One of the true good guys in Lowell who cared deeply about his community.

Speaking of a good guy, I ran into former State Senator and City Manager Joe Tully. As someone who has been a political junkie I always admired Joe and when I had the chance to sit and talk with him at the old HAVEN and then again at Scolla’s I became even more of an admirer. Some people don’t like Joe but I think he did a great deal for Lowell and respect the man greatly.

Seems like Camelot is not dead with word that Joseph Kennedy III grandson of RFK may run for Bill Delahunts seat. All signs point to a Delahunt retirement announcement shortly. Giving his family huge campaign bonuses and depleting his war chest is a sure sign that the end is near. (Update as of 2/27 4:30pm Joseph P. Kennedy III will not seek election to U.S. Rep. William Delahunt’s seat, the Barnstable assistant district attorney said in an interview.
Kennedy, 29, had been considering a run, but has decided to focus on gaining experience as a prosecutor instead.
“That’s true. Where I’m at right now is I’ve got a job that I love and a place that I enjoy,” he said.)

Today is the Anniversary of the founding of the Republican Party in 1854 in Ripon Wisconsin. There is no truth to the rumor Cliff Kreiger was in attendance that day.

Jay Leno retakes control of the Tonight Show tomorrow night. Ratings will rise, Letterman’s will go down and NBC will forever have egg on their face for the treatment of both Leno & Conan.

In 1923 Charles Durning the actor was born. Mr. Durning who has done comedy and dramas was a regular on Burt Reynolds TV Show Evening Shade. He one an Emmy for his guest role on NCIS as a former Marine suffering battle induced stress. In real life he served in WWII and was awarded 3 Purple Hearts and the Silver Star. In 2008 he received the National Order of Legion of Honor in France for outstanding service in War. Like many of the Greatest generation he is a man to be admired and Thanked for his outstanding service to his Country.

In 1983 on this day we said “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” to MASH one of the greatest television shows in history. Set in the Korean War we grew to love the antics of the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. We watched the cast change from the never forgotten shocker ” Lt. Colonel Henry Blake’s plane was shot at over the sea of Japan, it spun in, there were no survivors.” To Trapper leaving without saying good-bye and Radar going home after the death of Uncle ED. a fresh faced BJ arriving, a regular army commander in Sherman Potter and the evolution of Max Klinger from Section 8 wannabe to company clerk. Hot Lips, Frank, Fr. Mulcahy and Charles Emerson Winchester the Third from Boston will be in our memories for a long time. Up until this past SuperBowl it held the record for the most watched TV program in history.

Finally today in 1991 was the official end of the first GULF WAR. To all who served then, all who serve now and to all who have ever served their country, THANK YOU and GOD BLESS from a grateful man who appreciates and respects the sacrifices you have made.

Incumbents and Candidates,

The people are tired of the never-ending phone calls during the election cycle. In the Special Election and in the last election that was the biggest complaint. The multiple phone calls at all times of day and into the evening. So here’s a suggestion.

Do a direct mailing and include a PURL (personalized URL) each mailing will be personal saying Hi Voters name, I’m Gerry running for State Rep. (whatever) etc. on the reverse side you have some of your ideas again with the Voters name and then ask the voter to visit a web site to answer some questions the web site would be electgerryfor staterep/votersfullname.com.

On the Web Site you have your Bio and your main points you want to get across and you ask them how they feel about whatever major topics or questions regarding your opponent you want. The site and questions can be tailored to your campaign and issues.

To try to get them to go there offer a gift. Every person who responds gets a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to a restaurant in the area. Give out 2 certificates. After 2 weeks, send an email blast to those who haven’t responed yet and remind them you want their thoughts and you want to hear from them.

You get a private dashboard that shows you real-time responses, who went there, what they answered , what they skipped etc. So you can follow up or explain more about what they react well too.

You get your information and the voters get a break from the endless phone calls.

(Full Disclosure: My company offers this service and I have done this for an out-of-state candidate,it works great!)

House Speaker Robert DeLeo said a bill to legalize expanded gaming will be released in the next few weeks, and said he expects a vote before the House budget is debated in March.

Does this mean that despite warnings from Senate Ways and Means Chairman Sen. Steve Panigatakos that the House Speaker is going to gamble that some revenue will come into MA. in early 2011 allowing the House to present a budget with gambling revenue included?

Isn’t the warning from Sen. Steve about the Gov. budget using revenue not received enough of a message that the House needs to look at real numbers and do some real cutting? Does Buffalo Bob think the voters will re-elect everyone just because they voted to roll the dice on gaming.

If he is you can bet it will roll Craps, no one will stand pat while the house plays with our money and tries to pull off a straight flush by dealing from the bottom of the deck..Okay enough with the bad gambling references..the point is the house needs to make cuts that hurt themselves before they take any more services from the public.

It will be bad enough that former Speaker Sal D will be on trial just about the time of the primaries and all those solons who agreed in a private meeting to allow him to stay as Speaker for 3 weeks before resigning will have to read about his trial while asking the voters to re-elect them.

This morning on WCAP and in yesterday’s paper State Senator Steve Panagiotakos has been very frank and open regarding the fact that Local Aid will probably be cut by as much as 3 % which will require cuts in personal and service for all cities and towns. He made a statement that basically said “The Private Can’t afford the Public Sector anymore”.

Panagiotakos said there is “no way” the Legislature will approve increased taxes, adding that he doesn’t plan on including that revenue in the Senate budget. Heeding the advice of state Treasurer Tim Cahill, Panagiotakos said he is concerned about Patrick’s plan to refinance up to $300 million in debt payments at the same time the state is drawing from its “rainy day” account. He said the state would probably have to pick one avenue or the other in order to preserve the state’s strong bond rating that allows it to borrow at relatively low-interest rates.

Patrick’s budget also relies on $160 million in Social Security Disability Insurance reimbursements owed from the federal government. States have been fighting for access to that money for more than two years, and Panagiotakos said it’s too risky to assume the money would be paid to the state next year.
The Senator is correct when he states “The Private Can’t afford the Public Sector anymore” but before the Legislature can ask the city and towns to cut more or ask a state laborer or nurse or correction officer to take a furlough or a cut how about the House and Senate starting with themselves to show some true leadership and to show they are willing to take some hits as those of us in the private sector have endured and those in the public sector have had or will have to take.

His frankness in stating that we have reached the point where the private sector can no longer afford the private sector was very telling. He indicated that the heavy price of health care and the small percentage paid by most public sector employees is one of the heaviest burdens on the cities and states. Let’s start there.

Legislators are eligible to choose from nine health insurance plans offered by the state’s Group Insurance Commission Monthly. Premiums for family plans range from $971 to $1,786 while individual plans are available from $404 to $755. Will Lawmakers vote to increase their contributions before asking other State Employee’s to hike their contributions?

A Lawmaker elected prior to June 30, 1993 pays 20 percent of their premium and the state pays 80 percent. Legislators elected to their first term after June 30, 2003 pay 25 percent while the state picks up 75 percent. The Dental and Vision plan which Lawmakers pay 15 percent of the premium and the state pays 85 percent should also be included.

So how about showing some true leadership and suggest that the House and Senate adopt a 30% / 70% ratio for ALL Elected Officials for both health and dental. The Elected Official pays 30% while the state pays 70%. That should create some savings especially if they add in the Constitutional Offices as well.

How about voting to eliminate or at least capping the House’s ability to carry over Previous Allocated funds and using some of the existing Eighteen Million they have? Start with capping it at five million and there’s thirteen million that goes right back to the general fund.

Now if they voted to cut their $7,200 “expense” allocation to $5,000 (In 2000 it was $3,600 but they doubled it then) that would give back $440,000 and if they eliminate all per diem which in the House totaled $474,383 and Senate then we are probably looking at an additional One Million dollars total.

So if they add all that up it should show a savings between FIFTEEN and TWENTY Million just in the Legislature expenses. Now it is easier to ask the guy who sweeps the floor at Bridgewater State or the Shirley Correctional Officer or the Mental Health Coordinator to take less. You have shown them a willingness to take less for yourself.

That would show all of us that those in office are committed to share in the tough times ahead.

If I were running for State Representative or State Senate, I’d start with these recommendations to the people in my district and ask the incumbent if he would support these measures.I’m willing to bet that would make for some lively election debates.