Back to The Newsroom

Patrick: How I'll Change Mass Transit

In a column published today, Gov. Deval Patrick wrote of his visit for transportation in Massachusetts. He wrote, “A SAFE, efficient, and cost-effective transportation system is critical to building a strong Commonwealth. Getting there requires facing big challenges. Our transportation system suffers from a hodgepodge of bureaucratic oversight and a lack of sustainable financing. Previous administrations saddled the Turnpike Authority and the MBTA with nearly $5 billion in Big Dig debt; handed out jobs based on patronage, not merit; diverted capital funds to pay for salaries and benefits rather than infrastructure; and left no viable plan to pay for maintenance or commitments to expand service.” Read more

CO- Ritter Announces Plan to Battle Beetle Damage. Gov. Bill Ritter is proposing to spend $5.5 million next year to train firefighters and provide incentives to clean up forests ravaged by bark beetles, warning that one of the state’s biggest treasures is at risk. Ritter said forests are a major part of Colorado’s tourism economy and supply materials for lumber, construction and renewable energy. “They are at risk from drought, climate change, wildfire and development, and these risks threaten not just our forests, but also Colorado’s communities, economies, air quality, water supplies and wildlife,” Ritter said. Read more

MO- Nixon will Bring Top AG Counsel to Office. Nixon announced a staff appointment: Ted Ardini will be his chief counsel. Ardini, 42, of Columbia, is currently Nixon’s general counsel in the Attorney General’s Office. He’s been in the office for as long as Nixon has—16 years—and has been his top legal adviser since 2003. Read more

NJ- Corzine: State Program to Help Low Income Families get Heat. An additional $88 million in state and federal funding will help qualified New Jersey residents pay for heating their homes at a time when the cost of doing so this winter and the severity of the weather are unknowns and the economy is teetering. “Harsh economic realities simply make heating a home unaffordable for many residents,” said Gov. Jon S. Corzine. The state expanded eligibility for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program from 175 percent of poverty level to 225 percent of the federal poverty level, making eligible a family of four earning less than $47,000.”I firmly believe it is our obligation to ensure that aid is available so that no New Jerseyan has to endure the indignity of going cold this winter,” the governor said. Read more

NY- Editorial: Paterson’s a Real Leader. Gov. David Paterson, in his words, stood up yesterday to the special interests on behalf of the public interest. Recommending up to $5.2 billion in state budget cuts is the courageous, correct and remarkably grown-up course for an Albany politician. Read more

NC- Perdue to get Tough on Child Labor. Federal and state lawmakers said they will push to strengthen the government’s power to keep youths out of dangerous jobs and punish employers who violate child labor laws. Perdue said, “The need is clear – there must be tougher enforcement of our state’s child labor laws and stiffer penalties for any business or industry caught breaking them.” Read more

OK- Henry Endorses Renewable Energy Goal. Gov. Brad Henry has endorsed an initiative to have renewable energy comprise 25% of U.S. energy needs by the year 2025. Dubbed the 25×25 Vision, the campaign is aimed at reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Henry said that the state is committed to development of renewable energy sources. Henry says Oklahoma can play a role by developing biofuels, wind energy and other renewable energy sources. The effort is an attempt to increase energy security, economic well-being and environmental protection while reducing the amount of oil imported into the U.S. Read more

OR- Kulongoski to Court Electric Car Makers. Toyota City, Japan’s equivalent to Detroit, has 10,000 engineers and turns out electric cars Gov. Ted Kulongoski would like to see produced in Oregon. He leaves this weekend on a trade mission to Japan and China with thoughts of displaced Freightliner employees making the cars here. The trade mission, Kulongoski’s sixth as governor, aims not only to pursue green vehicles but to renew contacts with Asian companies already doing business in Oregon as the state’s economy struggles. Read more

TN- Bredesen Stems Illegal Downloading. Gov. Phil Bredesen signed into law a bill to require all higher learning institutions in Tennessee to take steps to curb illegal downloading. The bill states that colleges must develop policies that analyze their networks to make sure no one on campus is breaking copyright laws. Read more

VA- Kaine: Virginians get More Aid for Winter Energy Costs. This winter, more money will be available to keep hearths glowing in the homes of the neediest Virginians.Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced that the state will receive an additional $90 million from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, giving the commonwealth $128 million to provide financial assistance during the next year. To make the funding available to as many low-income homes as possible, Kaine also extended the deadline for applying for assistance in the Commonwealth’s Energy Assistance. “These are not wealthy people,” Kaine said. “We’ve got a lot of people who are hurting—more than a year ago.” Read more

WA- Editorial: Gregoire Puts Federal Money to Work. Gov. Chris Gregoire got a jump on her second term by fast-tracking several pots of federal dollars and pumping them into the flagging Washington economy. With so many local companies struggling, with so many dollars leaving the economy, our state can use all the help it can get. The money would be spent over the next few months or years anyway but the governor opted to move the money faster to help the state’s most vulnerable citizens sooner. Good timing. About $300 million will not only help low-income families with heating and energy bills and avoid foreclosures, it will free up a few bucks for them to spend on other items. Read more

WV- Manchin Promotes State’s Strong Economy. Not since the glory days of King Coal in the 1950s and ‘60s have things looked so good for West Virginia. While West Virginia may experience some of the effects of the financial turmoil that the nation and the world are going through, the state will weather the storm better than other places, top West Virginia officials have said. “The state of West Virginia, we’re going to get through this,” Gov. Joe Manchin said. “If anything, we’re going to prosper through this. We should take advantage of the situation. We have gotten our house in order. It gives us a chance to show off our state. With that, this is a safe haven.” Read more

WI- Doyle Announces Vaccine Grant. Gov. Jim Doyle announced that FluGen, a Madison-based developer of influenza vaccines, will receive a $250,000 Technology Venture Fund loan from the Department of Commerce. “Facing uncertain economic times, it’s important we continue to invest in developing technology that will help Wisconsin compete at the high end of the global economy,” Gov. Doyle said. “I am pleased we could help further the opportunities of a company like FluGen that is striving to research and improve technology in the medical field.” Read more

Copyright & Paid for by The Democratic Governors Association

A Bullseye Project