Is Massachusetts Bad for Business?

Results from a recent executive survey ranked Massachusetts 47th for business.

A CEO magazine ranks Massachusetts as one of the worst states in the nation for business. Chief Executive Magazine ranked Massachusetts 47th based on a survey of corporate leaders. Survey respondents reported the Bay State is one of the worst for taxation and regulation. The state Republican Party is pointing to the survey and saying that Gov. Deval Patrick and the Democratic-led Legislature are bad for the economy and business. What do you think about Massachusetts’ business climate? Is this a good state in which to do business?

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Steve Marino

3:30 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The may be the biggest story since watergate, and the New York Times had this story on page 10!   more ›

Town Meeting Approves Abbot Hall Restoration

Extensive repairs costing as much as $2.4 million to Marblehead's 'icon' must now be approved by voters in June.

In a relatively short three-hour Town Meeting, Marblehead leaders voted unanimously Monday night to approve spending up to $2.4 million to repair a deteriorating Abbot Hall clock tower. The proposed repairs to the more than 200-year-old structure must now be approved by the voters in a general election next month. "The time has come to make significant repairs," said Board of Selectman Chair Jackie Belf-Becker, calling the tower Marblehead's icon. "Mere patching is no longer sufficient." Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren said if the measure is approved by the voters, the town, which has a Triple A credit rating, would raise the funds through bonds. The cost of the bonds would raise taxes on a median income house of $476,000 between $13.67  …

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Ehrlich Votes With House Majority on Transportation Plan

The vote on the House transportation finance plan is not veto proof, however.

  State Rep. Lori Ehrlich says she voted for a transportation finance plan that is moderate and mindful of middle class and small business needs. The representative voted with the majority in the House — 97-55 — after lengthy debate Monday to approve its transportation bill. It would boost by $124,000 Chapter 90 money Marblehead receives for road projects. The town received $449,162 for roads in Fiscal Year '13; the House plan would provide $673,743 in Fiscal Year '14 The House plan would raise $500 million from new taxes. They would include increases to the gas tax, by 3 cents, and the tobacco tax. The revenue would end costly borrowing to pay transportation employee salaries, provide an additional $100 million for roads and shore up the …

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Mass. Tax Plans: Too Much, Too Soon? Or Too Little, Too Slow?

Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?

  Massachusetts legislators this week answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. The …

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Nameless Conservative

8:53 am on Friday, April 12, 2013

Don't forget to save your receipt for the IRS to prove basis or they'll nail you. I'm thinking of something more along the lines of ping pong balls myself. I'm still ruminating why I sat on the fence when beer pong took off. I would've been Naples, FL laughing at all you shrubs in MA by now!   more ›

RMV: No More License Renewal Email Reminders

The RMV has discontinued the service because the company that provided the reminders was sold.

Five years after the Registry of Motor Vehicles did away with snail mail license expiration reminders, Massachusetts drivers will now find that the email version is gone as well. The RMV has done away with email reminders which service drivers whose licenses are about to expire, according to CBS Local. The RMV stopped mailing reminders in November 2008. The company that provided the service was recently sold, according to the story. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is looking into restoring the free service and alternative reminder methods, the story says. The closest RMV branch to Marblehead is at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers.

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Brian Simoneau

11:10 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013

In response to this, my law firm is providing license renewal reminders as a free public service. Register here: http://rmvlawyer.com/mass-license-renewal-reminder.htm   more ›

Will Patrick's $1.9 Billion Tax Hike Pass?

The governor's optimistic but state legislators don't sound so sure. What do you think?

Governor Deval Patrick is still bullish about his budget proposal, which will raise $1.9 billion in new revenue through an increase in the income tax, decrease in the sales tax, and various other changes to taxes, fees and deductions. But the men and women who have to pass the bill don't sound as eager to support a package many see as a politically-damaging measure. The Boston Herald quotes several Beacon Hill legislators who sounded notes of caution to outright opposition to the budget. Those quoted cited the 1990 election losses in the wake of an income tax increase, pressure on small businesses and the higher price of gas as reasons they were skeptical. And the governor's new web tools touting proposed transportation and education …

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Are You Worried the Sequester Will Affect You?

Massachusetts is chock full of defense contractors, federal employees and federal program beneficiaries. Are you worried the U.S. budget sequester will hurt your family's finances?

The U.S. government has a week before its self-imposed sequestration deadline. If enacted, the across-the-board cuts to the federal budget could mean layoffs, decreased aid and lower government spending.  That could mean trouble for some popular government programs, such as Social Security and Medicare. Defense contractors are also preparing for lost and reduced contracts with the government.  Locally, it could also doom smaller programs that have a big impact. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps families in need pay for home heating oil and other energy costs. Massachusetts stands to lose over $11 million in assistance under this one program alone. Representatives Ed Markey and Jim McGovern are trying to shield the program…

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Michael Alsup

4:37 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013

Harry, WHile we cannot AFFORD to continue as a Nation of Working Class people pay for The 2 party 2 House System wtith limited or No Result and keep a nation Strong CAN We afford to "clean House " & to pay their Retirement and washing of Washintonian Hands and GUARENTEED bythat action NO Action No Change. Not on My Childrens Backs . Do you drive the Abe Lincholn Car or does it drive U   more ›

Five Stories That Made Waves This Week

A review of the top stories in Marblehead this week.

Here's a look at the top five stories on Marblehead Patch this week:

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How Should the Town Pay for the $2.1M Repairs to Abbot Hall?

The clock tower at Abbot Hall is in need of $2.1 million worth of repairs, town officials say. Residents seem eager to have the repairs done, but how to pay for it? An override? Private donations? Some kind of combination?

Repairing Marblehead's trademark Abbot Hall clock tower will cost $2.1 million — and it may take most of 2014 to fix the extensive damage caused by weather over the last 137 years, the Board of Selectmen were told at their meeting Wednesday night. And it could cost much more if the state Architectural Access Board does not grant variances, as it did with the Old Town House, that would require the town to make Abbot Hall more handicapped accessible. The news has town residents buzzing about the cost, the duty to protect the iconic building and ways to pay for it aside from an override. "I'm sure there will be many people in the community who will be prepared to donate money to the repairs in exchange for being included in a brass plaque to …

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AARP Offers Free Tax Help for Marblehead Seniors at the Library

The sessions will be held Mondays and Wednesdays through April 16 at the Marblehead Public Library.