Governor Charlie Baker has signed a bill giving preference to American Veterans in public housing decisions.

The new law is a reminder that politics is a long game. In 2014, MassFiscal sent out millions of informational mailers telling constituents about legislators who voted against the opportunity to give veterans preference for public housing.

Fiscal responsibly means making sure limited resources are allocated appropriately, and we believe putting those who have sacrificed so much to our nation first is both appropriate and responsible.

MassFiscal is pleased to have played a role in this policy development, and specifically that the legislature finally acted on this issue after our advocacy efforts in 2014. We will continue to advocate for appropriate, responsible spending going forward. (Picture from www.twitter.com/massgovernor)

(BOSTON)—  Federal Election Commissioner Lee Goodman addresses MassFiscal members at a Policy Roundtable Discussion, to be held September 7 in Boston. Commissioner Goodman, appointed by President Barack Obama, served as the Chair of the Commission in 2014. Commissioner Goodman will address campaign finance law and freedom of speech issues.

The FEC regulates national campaign finance law as it applies to candidates for Congress, United States Senate, and President. 

“As Americans, we cherish our First Amendment rights. The laws regulating political speech are complex. The rights and responsibilities of a variety of players need to be fairly balanced,” Paul Craney, Executive Director of The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, said. “Our members can expect to learn a great deal, given Commissioner Goodman's experience and knowledge .”

Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance advocates for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability in state government and increased economic opportunity for the people of our Commonwealth.

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Another day, 497 more reasons to be grateful Charlie Baker is our governor.

That's the number of earmarks the governor cut from the FY2017 Budget. Need more reasons? How about over 300 line items he struck?

The special interest groups are going to squawk. We'll hear plenty of belly-aching about how important and complete the Legislature's budget was, and how mean-spirited the vetoes are. But the truth is, the Legislature's budget was packed with pork. Because I know you like the nitty gritty, here are some examples of spending the Governor nixed:

-$50,000 for The Independent Film Society of Boston, Inc., for cultural tourism

-$50,000 for public art displays

-$30,000 for community sculpture

-$200,000 for a skate park

-$100,000 to replace a cast iron fence in Lynn

-$100,000 to repair a carriage house in Beverly

-$75,000 for outdoor furnishings and repairs at Magazine Beach

-$75,000 to study air quality at playing fields in Concord 

-$25,000 to celebrate the oldest man-made waterway

Were resources unlimited, some of these expenditures may make sense. But state government is growing faster than revenue, and good fiscal management demands we choose our projects carefully.

We share the Governor's concern with the stock market's recent poor performance. Revenues are unlikely to meet expenditures, and the administration is wise to plan for belt-tightening. Ultimately, the Governor must implement the budget, and his reasonable, measured revisions ensure a smoother-running ship of state.

MassFiscal's commitment to open government means we'll highlight and make available every single roll call vote taken on the vetoes and spending reductions. 

We’ll keep you posted.