By Stephanie Ebbert / December 26, 2010
The same Worcester Republican state committeeman who tried to have the State Republican Party chairwoman removed last month is now challenging her for the post, calling for a series of five debates across the state before the vote.
Bill McCarthy, a Republican activist and political science professor, blasted GOP chairwoman Jennifer Nassour for the party's showing in the November election. Though Republicans picked up seats in the state House, they lost every statewide and congressional election - a disappointment in a year of Republican gains nationally.
McCarthy blames Nassour's focus on the governors race, and he argues she did not do enough to support legislative candidates or to get out the vote. McCarthy said he would focus on redistricting, voter fraud, and the upcoming local elections, as well as rebuilding the GOP grassroots, with an eye toward the Tea Party movement uprising. "The current leadership wasn't as welcoming to the Tea Parties as I am," McCarthy said.
Nassour, who has served a chairwoman for two years, defended her performance and said she paid particular attention to the grass roots, holding training sessions for candidates and for legislators, building up a fund-raising list, and helping to jump-start some 100 new Republican town committees across the state. "This is all about who is best for the Republican Party in Massachusetts and who has the best vision and ideas," she said. "I think that my record speaks for itself. For the first time in 20 years, we actually won seats in the Legislature, having 36 members between the House and Senate is phenomenal for us."
Nassour survived a procedural coup that McCarthy tried to stage at a state committee meeting in November, and she expressed cautious optimism about her reelection. The vote on the chairmanship is planned for January 6th so that the new chairman can participate in the election of the new national chairman the following week, Nassour said. McCarthy is disputing the time frame, suggesting the vote is just after the holidays because Nassour is trying to "fix" the election by scheduling it while people are distracted.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Washington Post: Scanner Companies hiring former federal workers
By Dan Eggen / December 26, 2010
About 8 in 10 registered lobbyists who work for scanner-technology companies previously held positions in the government or Congress, most commonly in the homeland security, aviation, or intelligence fields, according to a Washington Post review of lobbying-disclosure forms and data.
The extent of the connections to the federal government is particularly notable given the relatively small size of the scanner industry, which is dominated by a half-dozen specialized firms with heavy investments in airport-and border-security technology. Among Washington lobbyists as a whole, 1 in 3 has previously worked in government, according to the Center for Responsible Politics research group.
Many of the scanner companies are also on pace to spend record amounts of money for lobbying this year on Capitol Hill, where they see potential problems as some lawmakers push for limits on airport security practices. Top scanner firms have reported spending more than $6 million on lobbying this year, records show; that doesn't include industrial leaders such as General Electric, which also dabbles in scanning technology and has spent more than $32 million on lobbying this year.
The stepped up lobbying efforts by the industry come amid growing rancor on Capitol Hill over the Transportation Security Administration's use of airport full-body scanners, which are undergoing their first widespread deployment during the holiday travel season. The devices have come under fire from privacy and civil liberties advocates as ineffective and overly invasive because they generate revealing images of passengers.
The agency has purchased nearly 500 of the cutting-edge scanners - at $200,000 or more each - and plans to buy thousands more, meaning any restrictions would pose a major threat to the industry's bottom line. Faced with that threat, the industry made a strong lobbying push over the past two years to help derail any proposed limits, including legislation aimed at restricting or banning the use of full-body scanners by the TSA.
That came after the House stunned the industry last year by overwhelmingly approving a bill by Representative Jason Chaffetze, Republican of Utah who has been named as the incoming chairman of the House homeland-defense subcommittee, forbidding the TSA from using body scanners as primary passenger-screening tools at airports. The vote prompted a frantic scramble by scanner lobbyists to halt the measure in the Senate, according to legislative aides and others familiar with the battle. The effort was bolstered by the failed "underwear bomber" plot, which hastened calls for increased scanner use, last December.
About 8 in 10 registered lobbyists who work for scanner-technology companies previously held positions in the government or Congress, most commonly in the homeland security, aviation, or intelligence fields, according to a Washington Post review of lobbying-disclosure forms and data.
The extent of the connections to the federal government is particularly notable given the relatively small size of the scanner industry, which is dominated by a half-dozen specialized firms with heavy investments in airport-and border-security technology. Among Washington lobbyists as a whole, 1 in 3 has previously worked in government, according to the Center for Responsible Politics research group.
Many of the scanner companies are also on pace to spend record amounts of money for lobbying this year on Capitol Hill, where they see potential problems as some lawmakers push for limits on airport security practices. Top scanner firms have reported spending more than $6 million on lobbying this year, records show; that doesn't include industrial leaders such as General Electric, which also dabbles in scanning technology and has spent more than $32 million on lobbying this year.
The stepped up lobbying efforts by the industry come amid growing rancor on Capitol Hill over the Transportation Security Administration's use of airport full-body scanners, which are undergoing their first widespread deployment during the holiday travel season. The devices have come under fire from privacy and civil liberties advocates as ineffective and overly invasive because they generate revealing images of passengers.
The agency has purchased nearly 500 of the cutting-edge scanners - at $200,000 or more each - and plans to buy thousands more, meaning any restrictions would pose a major threat to the industry's bottom line. Faced with that threat, the industry made a strong lobbying push over the past two years to help derail any proposed limits, including legislation aimed at restricting or banning the use of full-body scanners by the TSA.
That came after the House stunned the industry last year by overwhelmingly approving a bill by Representative Jason Chaffetze, Republican of Utah who has been named as the incoming chairman of the House homeland-defense subcommittee, forbidding the TSA from using body scanners as primary passenger-screening tools at airports. The vote prompted a frantic scramble by scanner lobbyists to halt the measure in the Senate, according to legislative aides and others familiar with the battle. The effort was bolstered by the failed "underwear bomber" plot, which hastened calls for increased scanner use, last December.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Campaign Training: Vital to Success
As 2010 ends, plans are underway by the Mass GOP and other Republican organizations to increase the amount of basic and advanced political training for local committee members and candidates in the year ahead. If there was a lesson to be learned from the election losses in Massachusetts in 2010, it was that - most local RCC and RTC are undermanned and poorly advised - on the necessary pre-election campaigning and Election Day activities that are critical if Republicans, wed to long-time core GOP values, are to win the hearts and minds of responsible voters. Without the coordinated efforts by the local committees, outside groups and special interest organizations will continue their often suspicious efforts to 'win' elections for favored Democrats.
The message for all citizens is that this is the time for Massachusetts to join the other states that require a valid Voter ID to be produced - prior to voting. Every member of the state legislature, who makes excuses for further delays, needs to be driven from office. Until the integrity of every election is beyond question, our republic is under threat and our freedoms will soon become only myths.
Candidates for municipal office as well as state legislative office, whether first time or fourth time, need to be familiar with the skills, systems, and techniques necessary to reach out to voters and find the resources to pay for it all. Categories of systems and services such as conventional phone banks or voIP systems; computers, answering machines and cell phones; public, private and GOP data bases; and tables, chairs, lawn signs, bumper stickers-just to name the obvious must be in hand. Campaign Chairs, Finance Directors, Treasurers, Field Directors, Volunteer Coordinators and Consultants must also be in place.
For local committees, expansion of their 'ground game' which includes standouts, demonstrations, lit drops, door bell ringers, and Poll Watchers inside and outside is critical. By adding to our numbers with non-affiliated sympathizers we will be better prepared to deal with the paid thugs who invade our polling stations.
We also plan to provide information for our committee members and to our neighbors thoughout the year so the coordination between local committees and candidates are seamless. Volunteers to staff year-round 'Get out Our Vote' communications to voters must begin.
The message for all citizens is that this is the time for Massachusetts to join the other states that require a valid Voter ID to be produced - prior to voting. Every member of the state legislature, who makes excuses for further delays, needs to be driven from office. Until the integrity of every election is beyond question, our republic is under threat and our freedoms will soon become only myths.
Candidates for municipal office as well as state legislative office, whether first time or fourth time, need to be familiar with the skills, systems, and techniques necessary to reach out to voters and find the resources to pay for it all. Categories of systems and services such as conventional phone banks or voIP systems; computers, answering machines and cell phones; public, private and GOP data bases; and tables, chairs, lawn signs, bumper stickers-just to name the obvious must be in hand. Campaign Chairs, Finance Directors, Treasurers, Field Directors, Volunteer Coordinators and Consultants must also be in place.
For local committees, expansion of their 'ground game' which includes standouts, demonstrations, lit drops, door bell ringers, and Poll Watchers inside and outside is critical. By adding to our numbers with non-affiliated sympathizers we will be better prepared to deal with the paid thugs who invade our polling stations.
We also plan to provide information for our committee members and to our neighbors thoughout the year so the coordination between local committees and candidates are seamless. Volunteers to staff year-round 'Get out Our Vote' communications to voters must begin.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
'Growing Grassroots' Conference in February
The MassGOP has announced that Registration is now open for the 'Growing Grassroots Conference' that will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2011, at the Double Tree Hotel in Milford which is conveniently located off I-495. The conference will feature training sessions for Republican activists, candidates, and town and city committee members.
Building on the success of the seminars held in several locations across the state during 2010, the conference will feature campaign experts from inside and outside Massachusetts, including an encore session by GOPAC, the national party organization dedicated to training and electing GOP candidates. "We know training is a key element in building our farm team of candidates and our grassroots of activists, and that is why we are excited to build on the popularity of this year's seminars with the party's first ever grassroots conference," said Jennifer Nassour, chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party.
Conference sessions will cover running for municipal and legislative seats, building city and town committees, how to be a super-star activist, and much more. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Republican Party, the conference seeks to bring together Republicans from across the state for a full day of informative and inspirational sessions. Saturdays sessions will be followed by an optional Sunday morning program of roundtables and group discussions. Those considering attending the conference are advised to keep checking the conference website for more details.
Building on the success of the seminars held in several locations across the state during 2010, the conference will feature campaign experts from inside and outside Massachusetts, including an encore session by GOPAC, the national party organization dedicated to training and electing GOP candidates. "We know training is a key element in building our farm team of candidates and our grassroots of activists, and that is why we are excited to build on the popularity of this year's seminars with the party's first ever grassroots conference," said Jennifer Nassour, chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party.
Conference sessions will cover running for municipal and legislative seats, building city and town committees, how to be a super-star activist, and much more. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Republican Party, the conference seeks to bring together Republicans from across the state for a full day of informative and inspirational sessions. Saturdays sessions will be followed by an optional Sunday morning program of roundtables and group discussions. Those considering attending the conference are advised to keep checking the conference website for more details.
CommonWealth Magazine: Should we subsidize Canadian Hydro?
By Bruce Mohi / December 2, 2010
Republican Charlie Baker may not have won the race for governor, but his idea to import more hydroelectric power from Canada isn't going away.
Canadian Provinces are eager to do business and several Massachusetts business groups are quietly talking the idea up. They see Canadian hydropower as the best way to keep electricity costs stable while meeting the state's environmental goals on renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One business group hasn't gone public yet but is drafting legislation that would classify large-scale Canadian hydro as renewable and therefore eligible for renewable energy subsidies paid for by utility ratepayers.
Most people would agree that hydroelectricity is as renewable as rain and a very low emitter of greenhouse gases, but Massachusetts officials chose not to designate large-scale hydro as renewable when they passed the Green Communities Act of 2008. Their decision was based less on concerns about the environmental impact of dam-created reservoirs on habitat and wildlife, and more on the fear that low-cost hydro from Canada would overwhelm the renewable energy market in Massachusetts, depressing demand for more expensive wind and solar projects that the state was eager to jumpstart.
Massachusetts and most other New England states operate a subsidy system designed to encourage the development of renewable energy. Companies that produce qualifying renewable energy generate renewable energy credits, or RECs, for each kilowatt hour of power they produce. The RECs are sold to companies that sell electricity to customers. The state currently requires the electricity sellers to buy RECs equal to 5 percent of their sales. The mandate rises one percentage point a year, so that by 2025 the electricity sellers will have to buy RECs equal to 20 percent of their sales.
During the gubernatorial campaign, Baker said the rising demand for renewable energy and the scarity of supplies mean electricity prices will keep going up. He said the state should designate large-scale hydro-power from Canada as renewable as a way of meeting the state's environmental goals and holding electricity prices down.
But Gov. Deval Patrick said he didn't favor paying subsidies to large-scale hydro produces in Canada who could afford to sell their electricity in New England without subsidies. He also feared the inclusion of Canadian hydo would dampen enthusiasm for home-grown wind and solar projects.
Canadian provinces are eager to become much bigger players in the New England energy market. Quebec-owned Hydro-Quebec is working with Northeast Utilities and NStar to gain approvals for a transmission line that would deliver approximately 1200 megawatts of hydroelectricity to a substation in New Hampshire. Nalcor Energy, which is owned by Newfoundland and Labrador, is developing a hydro power station in Labrador and a transmission line that would deliver the power to Nova Scotia and eventually New England.
A spokesman for Hydro-Quebec declined to comment on whether the company would like to see its hydroelectricity qualify for renewable energy credits. A spokesman for NStar also declined comment.
But sources say the utilities are quietly laying the groundwork for a legislative change. Some industry officials even suggest Hydro-Quebec may need the subsidies to make its power competitive in the New England market.
Hydro-Quebec signed a 26-year power deal with Vermont utilities this summer to supply approximately 225 megawatts of electricity to the Green Mountain state. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Hydro-Quebec President Thierry Vandal was quoted as saying the intial price in 2012 would be 6 cents a kilowatt hour, a third of what Cape Wind power will cost. The Vermont deal also gave Hydro-Quebec a public relations victory when the Vermont legislature passed a law recognizing large-scale hydro as a form of renewable energy. Quebec Premier Jean Charest, at the official announcement of the Vermont deal in August, used the Vermont designation to make his case for expansion into the New England states.
"We do not want large-scale hydro to be discriminated against," Charest said. "Our view is that the United States will not be able to meet the objectives of a low-carbon economy without this energy. So it represents a win-win for everyone."
Republican Charlie Baker may not have won the race for governor, but his idea to import more hydroelectric power from Canada isn't going away.
Canadian Provinces are eager to do business and several Massachusetts business groups are quietly talking the idea up. They see Canadian hydropower as the best way to keep electricity costs stable while meeting the state's environmental goals on renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One business group hasn't gone public yet but is drafting legislation that would classify large-scale Canadian hydro as renewable and therefore eligible for renewable energy subsidies paid for by utility ratepayers.
Most people would agree that hydroelectricity is as renewable as rain and a very low emitter of greenhouse gases, but Massachusetts officials chose not to designate large-scale hydro as renewable when they passed the Green Communities Act of 2008. Their decision was based less on concerns about the environmental impact of dam-created reservoirs on habitat and wildlife, and more on the fear that low-cost hydro from Canada would overwhelm the renewable energy market in Massachusetts, depressing demand for more expensive wind and solar projects that the state was eager to jumpstart.
Massachusetts and most other New England states operate a subsidy system designed to encourage the development of renewable energy. Companies that produce qualifying renewable energy generate renewable energy credits, or RECs, for each kilowatt hour of power they produce. The RECs are sold to companies that sell electricity to customers. The state currently requires the electricity sellers to buy RECs equal to 5 percent of their sales. The mandate rises one percentage point a year, so that by 2025 the electricity sellers will have to buy RECs equal to 20 percent of their sales.
During the gubernatorial campaign, Baker said the rising demand for renewable energy and the scarity of supplies mean electricity prices will keep going up. He said the state should designate large-scale hydro-power from Canada as renewable as a way of meeting the state's environmental goals and holding electricity prices down.
But Gov. Deval Patrick said he didn't favor paying subsidies to large-scale hydro produces in Canada who could afford to sell their electricity in New England without subsidies. He also feared the inclusion of Canadian hydo would dampen enthusiasm for home-grown wind and solar projects.
Canadian provinces are eager to become much bigger players in the New England energy market. Quebec-owned Hydro-Quebec is working with Northeast Utilities and NStar to gain approvals for a transmission line that would deliver approximately 1200 megawatts of hydroelectricity to a substation in New Hampshire. Nalcor Energy, which is owned by Newfoundland and Labrador, is developing a hydro power station in Labrador and a transmission line that would deliver the power to Nova Scotia and eventually New England.
A spokesman for Hydro-Quebec declined to comment on whether the company would like to see its hydroelectricity qualify for renewable energy credits. A spokesman for NStar also declined comment.
But sources say the utilities are quietly laying the groundwork for a legislative change. Some industry officials even suggest Hydro-Quebec may need the subsidies to make its power competitive in the New England market.
Hydro-Quebec signed a 26-year power deal with Vermont utilities this summer to supply approximately 225 megawatts of electricity to the Green Mountain state. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Hydro-Quebec President Thierry Vandal was quoted as saying the intial price in 2012 would be 6 cents a kilowatt hour, a third of what Cape Wind power will cost. The Vermont deal also gave Hydro-Quebec a public relations victory when the Vermont legislature passed a law recognizing large-scale hydro as a form of renewable energy. Quebec Premier Jean Charest, at the official announcement of the Vermont deal in August, used the Vermont designation to make his case for expansion into the New England states.
"We do not want large-scale hydro to be discriminated against," Charest said. "Our view is that the United States will not be able to meet the objectives of a low-carbon economy without this energy. So it represents a win-win for everyone."
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Timothy E. Donovan, Dead at 78
Timothy Emmett Donovan a former Medford Republican City Committee Chairman and long-time member of the Ward Four Medford Republican Committee died after a long illness on December 7th at the age of 78. A Medford resident for many years, Timothy was a former Court Officer at the Suffolk Superior Court, former MDC Police Officer and a US Air Force veteran having served in the Korean War. Regrets and sympathies are extended on behalf of the Committee to his wife Margaret, daughters Denise and Patrice and sons Timothy Jr., Christopher and Mathew. Tim was also survived by his brother Michael, his sister Ann and eleven grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are provided by the Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeral Home 29 Governors Avenue in Medford. Visiting Hours will be between 4:00PM and 8:00PM on Thursday. Funeral Mass and burial will begin Friday morning at 9:00AM.
Funeral arrangements are provided by the Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeral Home 29 Governors Avenue in Medford. Visiting Hours will be between 4:00PM and 8:00PM on Thursday. Funeral Mass and burial will begin Friday morning at 9:00AM.
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