Gov. Deval Patrick’s call to create a centralized administrative structure for the state’s community college system is having trouble gaining traction.
North Shore Community College head honcho Wayne Burton, who this year heads the statewide council of community college presidents, has made clear his skepticism with the plan that his friend the governor unveiled in his recent state of the state address.
Then this week, Senate President Therese Murray expressed serious reservations about the plan during a radio interview.
On the other hand, Patrick’s proposal has garnered support within the business community, whose members would like to see the curriculum at the state’s community colleges more closely aligned with those skills currently in demand by employers.
Education Secretary Paul Reville appears interested in forging a compromise, telling the State House News Service this week, “There’s a legitimate policy discussion about state versus local. What we’re saying is, let’s not have it be one or the other.”
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Everyone’s decrying the package of fare hikes and service cuts the MBTA has rolled out in an effort to tame its ballooning deficit. And a number of pols, including the governor and Senate president, have suggested a new revenue source must be found to help finance the Greater Boston public transportation system. But thus far only Boston Mayor Tom Menino has been brave enough to mention the most logical source of that revenue — the gas tax.
It’s hard to imagine any viable alternative. A broad-based tax is the only realistic means of maintaining the current level of service and keeping T fares at a reasonable level. And as much as politicians might fear public reaction to a gas-tax hike, there’s absolutely no appetite on Beacon Hill for increasing taxes on sales or income.
Given the way gas prices go up and down now, would anyone notice a 5-cent increase in the state’s take at the pump?
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Tuesday’s victory in Florida represents the biggest win to date for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, and February figures to be a good month overall for the former Bay State governor.
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Game on. Latest financial reports show incumbent Congressman John Tierney, D-Salem, has a serious opponent this year in former state senator and Republican lieutenant governor candidate Richard Tisei of Wakefield.
Tisei raised almost twice as much money as Tierney ($301,000 vs. $160,000) in the last three months of 2011.
Key questions: Can Tisei stay even with the incumbent in terms of fundraising between now and November? If Tierney is viewed as vulnerable, will the 6th District see the type of super PAC-funded attack ads that have become a staple in other parts of the country?
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Another sign of spring: Democrats gathering to elect delegates to their annual convention, which this year will be held June 2 in Springfield.
Here’s the list of local caucus dates and locations: Beverly, Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m., main library; Boxford, Sunday, Feb. 26, 1:30 p.m., Community Center, 4 Middleton Road; Danvers, Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m.; Peabody Institute Library; Hamilton, Saturday, Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m., Hamilton-Wenham Library; Ipswich, Saturday, Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m., library; Marblehead, Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m., library; Middleton, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m., library; Peabody, Ward 1, Sunday, Feb. 26, noon, main library; Peabody, Ward 4, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m., AOH; Peabody, Ward 6, Sunday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m., West Branch Library; Salem, Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m., Bentley School; Swampscott, Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m., Senior Center; Topsfield, Saturday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m., library; Wenham, Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m., Hamilton-Wenham Library.