The Hub of Politics

I've never believed "fiscal responsible" and "Democrat" ever belonged in the same sentence. Our local gas-bags (Kennedy and Kerry), coupled with virtually all of our Congressional delegation (leftists, all), help confirm that on an almost daily basis.

Massachusetts Democrats are complaining that the Bush Administration's "austere" $2.57 Trillion budget will hurt the poor, depress the cities, starve the hungry, blah blah blah blah blah - like we haven't all heard these arguments from the same usual suspects for, well, my entire gosh-darned life. Further, our guardians of the federal purse-strings vow to fight cuts in block grant programs "that pay for everything from after-school programs, to road construction to cheap housing and loans".

But let's put a human face on this, shall we - liberals are great at that:

Noemi Laboy, who works and lives at Mission Main public housing in Roxbury, which was revitalized with federal money, said the funds keep the once downtrodden area on its feet.

"Instead of leading people to self-sufficiency, we would be leading them back to the `hood,' "she said. "It would lead to deterioration.''

Memo to Ms. Laboy - if you need federal pork to keep your neighborhood from becoming "The Hood" again, said neighborhood is not "on its feet".

Before we start thinking that this is some massive grant that will sink municipalities, we're talking about $43 million in "cuts" . Well, let's hear what Boston Mayor-for-life Thomas "Mumbles" Menino has to say on this issue:

"How do we replace the funds?'' asked Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who said Boston alone could lose $23 million, endangering affordable housing, English as a Second Language classes, job training and affordable housing.

"This is really a serious situation.''

Wow, what leadership! What a Profile-in-Courage. I'm awe-struck.

Heaven forbid we see a cut in the ESL programs - and believe me, Mr. Mayor, those "job training" programs aren't going to be necessary if the massive business property tax increase you've been pushing for more than a year is adopted, because there aren't going to be any jobs left.

Here's the bottom line on this situation for Massachusetts: $43 Million, while a great deal of money for you and me, represents about 1/4 of 1-percent of the budget for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. That's it, 0.25%. So, to respond to Mumbles' rhetorical question he thinks is unanswerable: Gee, I don't know Mr. Mayor, how about we merge the Turnpike Authority with the Mass Highway Department? That alone would save at least $25 Million annually, no one would know the difference, and we can plow that money back into these useless programs you claim you cannot live without.

How hard was that? I did that at 0808 on a Saturday morning, before breakfast. You would think the Mayor of the largest city in the Commonwealth could do as well.

Massachusetts Democrats are claiming this is a "litmus test" for Governor Mitt Romney, to see, in their words, "whether he cares more about the Bay State or his presidential aspirations in 2008".

This is not a test for our Governor. It's a test of leadership for our congressional delegation - a test they're failing miserably. Which is it, Fat Teddy: Are the Democrats the party of "fiscal responsibility"? Or is "fiscal responsibility" just another talking point you're prepared to do little-to-nothing about?

We already know the answer.

The Democrats want all the wasted cash they can possibly shovel into their communities to be flushed down the toilet - with none of the responsibility that comes with that money. Well, at least one Red State has decided they've had enough of the outrageous and unconstitutional imposition the federal government - with the full endorsement of Fat Teddy, by the way - is making in primary and secondary education. "We'll spend the federal money we get, and that's as much as we'll be able to do," Dr. (Steven) Laing (Utah's state superintendent of public instruction) said. "And then we'll be subject to the consequences that come when we're not able to meet our moral obligation to help all students meet a rising standard."

Though I fault Utah for not being willing to give back the money entirely, the fact that such a step would even be considered is one in the right direction. Locally, all I hear is people whine and complain about the NCLB requirement - most of which should have been done all along - all-the-while complaining that the outrageous sums of money coming into the Commonwealth from the Act aren't enough. We should know by now, there will never be enough money to satisfy school administrators, teachers' unions and their wholly owned subsidiary - the Democrat Party.

Massachusetts Democrats have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to fiscal discipline by showing they can cope with a minor drop in federal largesse. Obviously, they're not even capable of doing that.

They bitch-and-moan about the deficit, offering nothing in the way of solutions other than economy-crushing tax increases they know full-well cannot cover the $500 Billion operational deficit at the federal level. So they deplore even modest reductions in programs that either should be handled at the local level or not done at all, while whining about the deficit and proposing precisely nothing as an alternative.

Their hypocrisy knows know bounds.