When the coronavirus engulfed the Holyoke Soldiers Home this past spring, Attorney General Maura Healey faced a choice: defer to Governor Charlie Baker as he methodically and openly dealt with the catastrophe or launch her own (now in progress) investigation into it. Independence won over deference.
The consequences of that choice could have a significant impact on the 2022 election for governor, whether Baker runs for re-election -- which I doubt he will -- or his second-in-command and heir apparent, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, runs as the Republican nominee.
Healey, a Democrat, has not indicated whether she will run for governor in the next election cycle. Nevertheless, she's widely seen as the favorite to win her party's nomination should she pursue it. There's still time for her to decide on a gubernatorial run.
If Healey does run, her comments now on the carnage in Holyoke (76 veterans dead from the virus) have put her in position to lay the blame on Baker, Polito or both.
Last week, Baker released a lengthy report on the Holyoke Soldiers Home investigation, which he had commissioned by Atty. Mark W. Pearlstein, a former federal prosecutor. It justifiably caused an uproar.
Healey quickly released a statement that the Pearlstein Report "lays bare systemic failures of oversight by the Baker administration in adequately preparing, staffing, and responding to this crisis to protect our veterans."
The statement was broad enough to conceivably cast aspersions on others in the administration, including some in the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
But if I'm Karyn Polito and interested in becoming governor -- What lieutenant governor is not ? -- I'm taking it narrowly.
If I'm Healey, I want Polito to take it narrowly, personally. It was almost as if Healey was announcing to her, You won't be able to duck this in '22.
a blog published by Preti Strategies
Without Managers Like Tesler, Government Cannot Truly Deliver
Sunday, June 21, 2020
The Baker administration removed the "acting" from the title of Acting Registrar of Motor Vehicles Jamey Tesler this past week, suggesting that the overhaul of the management of that agency, a critical public safety bureaucracy, remains a work-in-progress.
Otherwise, I suspect that Tesler would, just about now, be taking on another high-level assignment in the Baker administration or a better paying job in the private sector.
You may recall that, in late June, 2019, the RMV was shaken to its foundation when a young man from Western Massachusetts, whose driver's license should have been suspended, drove a pick-up truck pulling a large trailer into a line of motorcyclists in Randolph, New Hampshire, killing by blunt force trauma five men and two women.
In the aftermath, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles was forced from her job and Tesler was persuaded by the governor and Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack to quit his job as chief of staff at Suffolk Construction, become acting registrar, and make the big, difficult changes needed at the RMV to avoid a repeat of this horrific event.
In the early going, that primarily involved clearing up a backlog of thousands of cases where Massachusetts drivers who had run afoul of the law in other states -- and who should have had their Massachusetts driving privileges summarily suspended -- continued to operate vehicles here, often for incredibly long spells. They constituted a major threat to public safety on our roads. And no one had really done anything about it.
In announcing last week that Tesler's appointment had been made permanent, Secretary Pollack said:
"After stepping up to lead the Registry of Motor Vehicles at a difficult time, Jamey has reprioritized and re-oriented the RMV and MRB (Merit Rating Board) around public safety responsibilities and functions, while transforming the RMV's service model in the midst of a pandemic.
"He has built a strong leadership team and excellent relationships with the workforce while demonstrating the ability to identify and implement changes in longstanding practices that failed to ensure that the Registry met its core safety and credentialing functions."
Like many who serve in government positions, including a slew of highly educated and motivated legislative aides at the State House, Tesler defies negative stereotypes of public employees; for example, that they don't have the stuff to work in the private sector, that they don't do much when on the clock, and that they care mainly about their pensions and other benefits.
Tesler is Exhibit A of your tax dollars actually at work.
He's a graduate of the Ivy League (University of Pennsylvania, 1995) and a Big Ten law school (University of Michigan, 1998). In addition to significant work in the private sector, such as at an international law firm, he has more than 16 years of experience in senior management roles in the public sector.
Tesler has been the general counsel in the office of the Massachusetts State Treasurer, the deputy legal counsel at the MBTA, the deputy legal counsel in the office of the governor, and both chief of staff and chief operating officer at MassDOT.
Tesler is not a pal of mine; we are not related by blood or marriage. He would say hello to me if we passed each other on the sidewalk because of his inherent politeness, but he probably would not remember my name. I stipulate to these facts in the hope you'll see my admiration for him as on the level.
The last time I was in his presence was on a client matter -- for the Massachusetts Railroad Association, the trade group for the freight-hauling railroads, I believe. It was around ten years ago, when he would have been serving as a deputy secretary at MassDOT. I cannot remember the subject matter; it may have had something to do with the state's Industrial Rail Access Program. Tesler asked good, pointed questions. He didn't say much. He listened sincerely, thoughtfully. In my line of work, that's a good outing.
Thank you for entering public service, Mr. Registrar, and for returning to same, sacrificing much in the process!
Otherwise, I suspect that Tesler would, just about now, be taking on another high-level assignment in the Baker administration or a better paying job in the private sector.
You may recall that, in late June, 2019, the RMV was shaken to its foundation when a young man from Western Massachusetts, whose driver's license should have been suspended, drove a pick-up truck pulling a large trailer into a line of motorcyclists in Randolph, New Hampshire, killing by blunt force trauma five men and two women.
In the aftermath, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles was forced from her job and Tesler was persuaded by the governor and Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack to quit his job as chief of staff at Suffolk Construction, become acting registrar, and make the big, difficult changes needed at the RMV to avoid a repeat of this horrific event.
In the early going, that primarily involved clearing up a backlog of thousands of cases where Massachusetts drivers who had run afoul of the law in other states -- and who should have had their Massachusetts driving privileges summarily suspended -- continued to operate vehicles here, often for incredibly long spells. They constituted a major threat to public safety on our roads. And no one had really done anything about it.
In announcing last week that Tesler's appointment had been made permanent, Secretary Pollack said:
"After stepping up to lead the Registry of Motor Vehicles at a difficult time, Jamey has reprioritized and re-oriented the RMV and MRB (Merit Rating Board) around public safety responsibilities and functions, while transforming the RMV's service model in the midst of a pandemic.
"He has built a strong leadership team and excellent relationships with the workforce while demonstrating the ability to identify and implement changes in longstanding practices that failed to ensure that the Registry met its core safety and credentialing functions."
Like many who serve in government positions, including a slew of highly educated and motivated legislative aides at the State House, Tesler defies negative stereotypes of public employees; for example, that they don't have the stuff to work in the private sector, that they don't do much when on the clock, and that they care mainly about their pensions and other benefits.
Tesler is Exhibit A of your tax dollars actually at work.
He's a graduate of the Ivy League (University of Pennsylvania, 1995) and a Big Ten law school (University of Michigan, 1998). In addition to significant work in the private sector, such as at an international law firm, he has more than 16 years of experience in senior management roles in the public sector.
Tesler has been the general counsel in the office of the Massachusetts State Treasurer, the deputy legal counsel at the MBTA, the deputy legal counsel in the office of the governor, and both chief of staff and chief operating officer at MassDOT.
Tesler is not a pal of mine; we are not related by blood or marriage. He would say hello to me if we passed each other on the sidewalk because of his inherent politeness, but he probably would not remember my name. I stipulate to these facts in the hope you'll see my admiration for him as on the level.
The last time I was in his presence was on a client matter -- for the Massachusetts Railroad Association, the trade group for the freight-hauling railroads, I believe. It was around ten years ago, when he would have been serving as a deputy secretary at MassDOT. I cannot remember the subject matter; it may have had something to do with the state's Industrial Rail Access Program. Tesler asked good, pointed questions. He didn't say much. He listened sincerely, thoughtfully. In my line of work, that's a good outing.
Thank you for entering public service, Mr. Registrar, and for returning to same, sacrificing much in the process!
Toll in MA Lives and Dollars Remains Terrible Even as Opioid Deaths Drop
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Although fewer Massachusetts residents are dying of opioid overdoses, the number of such deaths still exceeds 2,000 a year.
According to preliminary data released this week by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2,015 persons died of opioid overdoses in 2019, which represented a 4% decrease since the historic peak of 2,102 overdose deaths in 2016.
The downward trend continued during the first quarter of this calendar year.
There were 28 fewer opioid overdose deaths in January, February and March than in the same period of 2019: 467 fatalities versus 495.
Amidst this welcome development there can be no joy. The size of the continuing problem is just so huge...and hugely depressing.
Two thousand and fifteen persons succumbing to opioid abuse works out to more than 5 deaths in every day of 2019 in Massachusetts.
The deadly toll of the never-ending opioid epidemic upon Massachusetts families, as well as the suffering of family members and dear friends of those with opioid use disorder, are incalculable.
The fiscal impacts of the epidemic are measured, with results that overwhelm cognitive abilities and shake the soul.
A November, 2018, report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, "The Massachusetts Opioid Epidemic -- An Issue of Substance," pegged the financial burdens of the opioid crisis on the state, in terms of "lost productivity, increased health costs, and increased expenses for public safety and criminal justice," in the billions of dollars annually.
Here are two of the particulars from that report:
Think how much good could be accomplished with those billions, how much better life in Massachusetts could be, if there were no illegal opioids, and if we humans were not so vulnerable to addiction.
According to preliminary data released this week by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2,015 persons died of opioid overdoses in 2019, which represented a 4% decrease since the historic peak of 2,102 overdose deaths in 2016.
The downward trend continued during the first quarter of this calendar year.
There were 28 fewer opioid overdose deaths in January, February and March than in the same period of 2019: 467 fatalities versus 495.
Amidst this welcome development there can be no joy. The size of the continuing problem is just so huge...and hugely depressing.
Two thousand and fifteen persons succumbing to opioid abuse works out to more than 5 deaths in every day of 2019 in Massachusetts.
The deadly toll of the never-ending opioid epidemic upon Massachusetts families, as well as the suffering of family members and dear friends of those with opioid use disorder, are incalculable.
The fiscal impacts of the epidemic are measured, with results that overwhelm cognitive abilities and shake the soul.
A November, 2018, report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, "The Massachusetts Opioid Epidemic -- An Issue of Substance," pegged the financial burdens of the opioid crisis on the state, in terms of "lost productivity, increased health costs, and increased expenses for public safety and criminal justice," in the billions of dollars annually.
Here are two of the particulars from that report:
- "The cost of lost productivity from those who are unable to work due to opioids, those who have died from overdoses, and those whose productivity is compromised by having to manage their own opioid addiction while working, reached approximately $9.7 billion in 2017."
- "Health care costs related to the opioid crisis, including excess costs to businesses, MassHealth (Medicaid) and other state programs, and (to) health care providers, reached $4.5 billion in 2017."
Think how much good could be accomplished with those billions, how much better life in Massachusetts could be, if there were no illegal opioids, and if we humans were not so vulnerable to addiction.
Admit It, Massachusetts, You Love the Legislature Just the Way It Is
Sunday, June 7, 2020
More than 60 percent of the members of the Massachusetts legislature are virtually guaranteed re-election this fall because they will have no opponents, or possibly only token opposition.
Last week, the State House News Service reported that "a total of 125 incumbent lawmakers, including members in both parties, were the only major-party candidates in their districts to file nomination papers with Secretary of State William Galvin by Tuesday's (June 2) deadline...."
Referring to these unopposed incumbents, the SHNS said, "They could still receive challenges from write-in campaigns. But the ballots are largely set, and as it stands now, none of those 125 legislators -- representing 62.5 percent of the General Court -- will face a declared Republican or Democratic opponent in either the Sept. 1 primary election or Nov. 3 general election."
With the Democratic Party holding supermajorities in both the House and Senate, Massachusetts is essentially a one-party state. It's been that way for a long time, so most voters must be satisfied with the situation.
Yes, the state's highest elected office holder, Governor Charlie Baker, is a Republican. But his approach to governing has no ideological tinge. He's a born manager/problem solver. Baker never has difficulty finding common ground with centrist Democrats.
Between this year and next, there will be some turnover of the normal kind in the legislature because a number of incumbents have opted not to seek another term. Fourteen members of the lower branch, for example, fall into that category, including four Dems who embody the truth that incumbency is a highly attractive trait in Massachusetts:
Angelo Scaccia of Boston, first elected in 1973; Ted Speliotis of Danvers, first elected in 1979; Tom Petrolati of Ludlow, first elected in 1987; and Lou Kafka of Stoughton, first elected in 1991.
Familiar faces. We can't get enough of them in Massachusetts politics.
Last week, the State House News Service reported that "a total of 125 incumbent lawmakers, including members in both parties, were the only major-party candidates in their districts to file nomination papers with Secretary of State William Galvin by Tuesday's (June 2) deadline...."
Referring to these unopposed incumbents, the SHNS said, "They could still receive challenges from write-in campaigns. But the ballots are largely set, and as it stands now, none of those 125 legislators -- representing 62.5 percent of the General Court -- will face a declared Republican or Democratic opponent in either the Sept. 1 primary election or Nov. 3 general election."
With the Democratic Party holding supermajorities in both the House and Senate, Massachusetts is essentially a one-party state. It's been that way for a long time, so most voters must be satisfied with the situation.
Yes, the state's highest elected office holder, Governor Charlie Baker, is a Republican. But his approach to governing has no ideological tinge. He's a born manager/problem solver. Baker never has difficulty finding common ground with centrist Democrats.
Between this year and next, there will be some turnover of the normal kind in the legislature because a number of incumbents have opted not to seek another term. Fourteen members of the lower branch, for example, fall into that category, including four Dems who embody the truth that incumbency is a highly attractive trait in Massachusetts:
Angelo Scaccia of Boston, first elected in 1973; Ted Speliotis of Danvers, first elected in 1979; Tom Petrolati of Ludlow, first elected in 1987; and Lou Kafka of Stoughton, first elected in 1991.
Familiar faces. We can't get enough of them in Massachusetts politics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)