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First Fan Post
A week or two ago I attended a couple of A's games. Our opponent for the series was Cleveland. I live up in Humboldt County and don't get to go to the Coliseum often, so I was excited when everyone had time in their schedule to make the trip.
On the first night everything went wrong. We showed up late, missed the Cespedes bobble heads, and had to park a half mile away due to the circus at Oracle. Once we got there, the game ended up being bad anyway. It was not without excitement however, there was a fight involving Indians and A's fans, and one decided to tussle with Johnny Law and was immediately roughed up. In addition to this, someone left their BBQ too close to their car in the parking lot and a plume of black smoke rose over the Coliseum. 5-6 cars burned. But all was not lost! I met a really great A's fan who was attending with his girlfriend. His name was Neil and hers was Brooke. Upon hearing of our troubles, they offered us one of their Cespedes bobble heads, of which my sister dearly wanted. In return I sent them a 2007 A's poker set. Neil, Brooke, I hope you're AN'ers.
On the Sunday game we chose bleacher seats. What an excellent decision. We found a nice sunny spot in left field. Sitting behind us was a blind gentlemen named Dennis. He had no reason to be there other than rooting against the A's. Dennis is an L.A. guy. He made it very clear by calling Callaspo a "traitor" when at bat, and wouldn't shut up about the dodgers and rams. But he was a guy out there with his radio who just loved sports. Ushers brought him water and he seemed like a fixture. He was opposed by a shirtless, beer bellied tan guy with aviator sun glasses named Dan. Dan and Dennis went at it all day in a playful and hilarious manner. When Dennis would Chant "Lets Go Cleveland!" Clap clap clapclapclap. Dan would Reply "Shut up Dennis!!" Clap Clap clapclapclap. Our Sno-Cone vendor even reminded us what the ingredients were, " Ice, sugar, Red No. 5."
What an excellent weekend with the family and fellow A's fans. I wish I could make the trip more often. If you ever meet people like Dennis, Neil, Dan or Brooke, please let them know they are what make the Coliseum great.

subset: commoncrawl


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NOTICE: - While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the data herein, this is NOT the official version of Senate Journal. It is published to provide information in a timely manner, but has not been proofread against the events of the session for this day. All information obtained from this source should be checked against a proofed copy of the Senate Journal.
At a General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, begun and holden at Boston on the first Wednesday, being the first day of January, in the year two thousand and three, and the two hundred and twenty-seventh of the independence of the United States of America, and the one hundred and eighty-third General Court of the Commonwealth, the following named members-elect of the Senate, having been duly summoned by the Executive, assembled at three minutes past eleven oÆclock A.M., in the Senate Chamber, to wit:Ś
Hon. Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr., of Pittsfield.....................................................................................................................................in the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin District.
Hon. Joan M. Menard of Somerset..............................................................................................................................................................in
the First.Bristol and Plymouth District.
Hon. Mark C. Montigny of New Bedford...............................................................................................................................................in the Second Bristol and Plymouth District.
Hon. Robert A. OÆLeary of Barnstable......................................................................................................................................................................in the Cape and Islands District.
Hon. Steven A. Baddour of Methuen...................................................................................................................................................................................in the First Essex District. Hon. Frederick E. Berry of Peabody...............................................................................................................................................................................in the Second Essex District.
Hon. Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Essex and Middlesex District.
Hon. Susan C. Tucker of Andover..........................................................................................................................................................in the Second Essex and Middlesex District.
Hon. Thomas M. McGee of Lynn .............................................................................................................................................................in the Third Essex and Middlesex District.
Hon. Linda J. Melconian of Springfield..................................................................................................................................................................................in the Hampden District.
Hon. Brian P. Lees of East Longmeadow.............................................................................................................................................in
the First Hampden and Hampshire District.
Hon. Michael R. Knapik of Westfield .............................................................................................................................................in the Second Hampden and Hampshire District.
Hon. Stanley C. Rosenberg of Amherst........................................................................................................................................................in the Hampshire and Franklin District.
Hon. Steven C. Panagiotakos of Lowell......................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Middlesex District.
Hon. Charles E. Shannon of Winchester..................................................................................................................................................................in the Second Middlesex District.
Hon. Susan C. Fargo of Lincoln.................................................................................................................................................................................in the Third Middlesex District.
Hon. Robert A. Havern of Arlington........................................................................................................................................................................in the Fourth Middlesex District.
Hon. Richard R. Tisei of Wakefield....................................................................................................................................................................in the Middlesex and Essex District.
Hon. Cynthia Stone Creem of Newton....................................................................................................................................................in
the First Middlesex and Norfolk District.Ā
Hon. David P. Magnani of Framingham..............................................................................................................................................in the Second Middlesex and Norfolk District.
Hon. Steven A. Tolman of Boston.......................................................................................................................................................in the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District. Ā
Hon. Jarrett T. Barrios of Cambridge....................................................................................................................................................in the Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex District. Ā
Hon. Pamela P. Resor of Acton..................................................................................................................................................................in the Middlesex and Worcester District. Ā
Hon. Cheryl A. Jacques of Needham.................................................................................................................................................in the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District.Ā
Hon. Brian A. Joyce of Milton............................................................................................................................................................in the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District. Ā
Hon. Michael W. Morrissey of Quincy............................................................................................................................................................in the Norfolk and Plymouth District. Ā
Hon. JoAnn Sprague of Walpole..........................................................................................................................................................................in the Bristol and Norfolk District. Ā
Hon. Therese Murray of Plymouth..............................................................................................................................................................in the Plymouth and Barnstable District. Ā
Hon. Marc R. Pacheco of Taunton............................................................................................................................................................in
the First Plymouth and Bristol District.
Hon. Robert S. Creedon, Jr., of Brockton.............................................................................................................................................in the Second Plymouth and Bristol District. Ā
Hon. Robert L. Hedlund of Weymouth............................................................................................................................................................in the Plymouth and Norfolk District.
Hon. John A. Hart, Jr., of Boston......................................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Suffolk District.
Hon. Dianne Wilkerson of Boston.................................................................................................................................................................................in the Second Suffolk District.
Hon. Robert E. Travaglini of Boston........................................................................................................................................................in the First Suffolk and Middlesex District.
Hon. Marian Walsh of Boston.............................................................................................................................................................................in the Suffolk and Norfolk District.
Hon. Harriette L. Chandler of Worcester......................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Worcester District.
Hon. Guy W. Glodis of Auburn................................................................................................................................................................................in the Second Worcester District.
Hon. Stephen M. Brewer of Barre............................................................................................................................in the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin District.
Hon. Robert A. Antonioni of Leominster......................................................................................................................................................in the Worcester and Middlesex District.
Hon. Richard T. Moore of Uxbridge................................................................................................................................................................in the Worcester and Norfolk District. And were called to order by the Honorable Frederick E. Berry.
The following prayer was offered by Father Bernard McLaughlin of St. GerardÆs Parish in Canton:
In this great hall of government we pause to pray for the common good Ś the good for all of us Ś which assures the good of each one of us.
We pray also for those who are charged with the daunting task of discovering and implementing the common good legally. But we pray here especially for those who are the neediest among us: those who have no home Ś those who have no job Ś those who have no health care Ś those who in our community have no decent life to live.
I come here today particularly to pray with and for my friend of many years, Bob Travaglini, a man who has always stood by the best of his party and the best of his church, a man whose life always echoed the words of Isaiah the prophet and Matthew the apostle: who spoke of feeding the hungry Ś sheltering the homeless Ś clothing the naked Ś welcoming the stranger.
If our political party and my church seek credibility
Ś indeed survival Ś we must set aside our disconnectiveness from real people,
our elitism and our arrogance by reaching out in love and responding to every
person no matter who or what that person is. We ask GodÆs blessing and we give
thanks to God for the leadership of President Travaglini: man of the people
Ś friend of the poor Ś leader of his party we ask all of this in GodÆs name.
On motion of Mr. Baddour, the above prayer was ordered printed in the Journal of the Senate.
At the request of Senator-elect Berry, the Senators-elect, guests and employees then recited the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
The National Anthem was sung by State Trooper James Connor.
Order Adopted.
On motion of Ms. Fargo,Ś
Ordered, That a committee be appointed by the Chair to wait upon Her Honor Jane M. Swift, the Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor of the Commonwealth and the Honorable Council and inform them that a quorum of the Senators-elect have assembled and are ready to be qualified.
Senators-elect Rosenberg of Hampshire and Franklin, Montigny of Bristol and Plymouth, Walsh of Suffolk and Norfolk, Sprague of Bristol and Norfolk and Havern of Middlesex were appointed the committee.
Subsequently, Mr. Rosenberg, for the said committee, reported that the committee had waited upon Her Honor Jane M. Swift, the Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor of the Commonwealth and the Honorable Council, and had conveyed to them the message of the Senate; and that the Acting Governor had asked him to say that she would be pleased to attend forthwith upon the Honorable Senate, with the Honorable Council and the Constitutional officers, to administer the oaths of office. The report was accepted and the committee was discharged.
Soon after, Jane M. Swift, the Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor of the Commonwealth, members of the Honorable Council, William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Thomas F. Reilly, Attorney General, and A. Joseph DeNucci, Auditor of the Commonwealth, came in; and the Senators-elect then took and subscribed the oaths of office required by the Constitution and a law of the United States to qualify them for the discharge of their duties as Senators.
The Acting Governor briefly addressed the Senate. After delivering her remarks, the Chair (Mr. Berry) recognized the Senator from Hampden and Hampshire, Mr. Lees, for a few brief remarks.
Remarks of the Honorable Brian P. Lees.
As the Senate Minority Leader, I have had the opportunity to address this able body on frequent, perhaps too frequent, occasions and I take pride in standing before you as the voice of the Republican Party [and the voice of reason].
Today, I am before you with one of the most difficult tasks that I have ever undertaken during my 14 years in the Senate, and that is to bid Governor Jane Swift a fond farewell.
Governor Swift, on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the members of the General Court, and, in particular, the members of the Republican Caucus, I thank you for your many years of dedication as a most able and respected public servant.
I can remember back in January of 1991 when you were sworn in as the Senator from the Berkshires, replacing Peter Webber. No person in the Chamber that day knew of the course you would ultimately take and the challenges you would face, but it didnÆt take them long to realize that you were indeed an exceptional public servant.
I can honestly say that I owe you a debt of gratitude because, when we served in the Senate together, you proved to be the key vote in my ascension as Minority Leader. I had two opponents during that year and you joined with Senator Richard Tisei to elect me as the Leader of the Republican Caucus.
In the Senate, Jane Swift became a near expert on all policy and fiscal issues that came to the floor. Her advice and leadership helped the entire body achieve a record of which we could be proud.
When she left the Senate, all of us realized we were losing a true leader. However, only a few short years later, she was successful in her bid for Lieutenant-Governor and we again realized that the citizens of Massachusetts were in good hands.
Jane Swift has worn many different hats while serving the people of the Commonwealth, but there is no job that she is more proud of than that of being a devoted mother and caring wife. She faces every task, either at home or at work, with a smile and a positive attitude.
It is often said that it is easy to be a leader in good times, but much more arduous to be a leader in difficult times. And, the last several months of Jane SwiftÆs [current] political career is a testament to that maxim.
Jane Swift has done an extraordinary job in an extraordinary time in the Commonwealth. She has taken her criticism in stride and focused her energy and talent on doing what is best for the people of Massachusetts rather than doing what is best for publicity. She has never pointed the finger at anyone and has understood that the ultimate responsibility rests with the person who occupies the corner office.
Jane Swift, I say to you as a friend and colleague, you have made me proud to serve with you Ś just as you have for all of us in this chamber.
With regard to your career in public service over the past several years Ś and I say this with confidence on behalf of all of us Ś we are fortunate to have worked with one of the most dedicated public servants the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has ever or will ever have.
We wish you Godspeed and look forward to seeing you in the public arena again some day.
The Chair (Mr. Berry), then recognized the Senator from Suffolk and Middlesex, Mr. Travaglini, who also offered several remarks to the Acting Governor.
Her Honor Jane M. Swift, Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor, the Honorable Council and the Constitutional officers then withdrew from the Chamber.
Order Adopted.
On motion of Mr. Morrissey,Ś
Ordered, That, pursuant to the provisions of Senate Rule 4A, the Senate shall proceed forthwith to the election of a President.
Ms. Murray placed in nomination for President, Mr. Travaglini of Suffolk and Middlesex, and Ms. Murray briefly addressed the Senate.
I rise to place in nomination the name of the gentleman from the Suffolk and Middlesex district, Robert E. Travaglini as President of this State Senate. Mr. President Pro Tem, members of the Senate, family members and distinguished guests, it is with great honor and pleasure that I stand today in support of our colleague and friend Robert Travaglini.
I have had the privilege to serve with Senator Travaglini, better known as Trav, since we were first elected to the Senate in 1992. In that time I have personally and professionally found him to be a caring individual with a deep sense of commitment to the people of his district and to all the families in the Commonwealth.
TravÆs legislative values are reflective of his roots. As you all know, his father passed away when he was just 16, leaving his mother Josephine to raise him and his four brothers. She has to be an exceptional woman to have survived the five of them. The sacrifice of his mother and his experience growing up without a father instilled in him the importance of family and community Ś the values that guide him today. It is this commitment to his own family, his wife Kelly and children, Taylor, Jenny and Andrew, that helps Senator Travaglini understand the struggles that all Massachusetts families face. We should thank his mother for steering him and his brothers to a lifetime of accomplishment and service to our community.
Tip OÆNeill once said that a lot more gets done when no one cares who gets credit. This is one of Robert TravagliniÆs true talents Ś working to build coalitions and consensus among vastly different groups without regard for the spotlight. He focuses on doing the best job he can, not only for the people of Boston, Revere, Cambridge and Winthrop but also for all residents of the Commonwealth.
Upon examining TravÆs legislative accomplishments, it is clear that his greatest concern has always been for the less fortunate members of our society. He knows that Government can be and should be, a positive force in peopleÆs lives, even in the most difficult of times. For example, he championed the ōChild Hunger Initiativeö, ensuring that more kids are able to take advantage of school breakfast programs. He has also worked hard to ensure quality out-of-school time for children by creating after-school and summer programs to help struggling students succeed and keep children safe. His focus on the family is evident in his efforts to help strengthen domestic violence laws and in creating affordable housing opportunities for all families.
TravÆs belief in the importance of community was strengthened in one of his first jobs as program director of the Porrazo Rink in East Boston. He provided recreational opportunities for neighborhood kids, coaching them in all sports, keeping them engaged and off the streets. Trav is also recognized for organizing and coaching the Massport Jets, the first womenÆs hockey team in the nation. In 1973 they won the first GirlsÆ Invitational Hockey Tournament and two years later were enshrined in the International Hockey Hall of Fame. Their accomplishments paved the way for establishing womenÆs ice hockey as an Olympic sport. His experiences first working with kids and later as an elected member of the Boston City Council gave him the knowledge and skills he needed to be a successful State Senator.
Senator TravagliniÆs sense of community will serve him well as he prepares to lead this great body. His personal touch and his willingness to work cooperatively with his colleagues will be the hallmark of his presidency. Tip OÆNeil also wrote that politics is the art of compromise Ś it is Senator TravagliniÆs ability to listen and bring together differing opinions that will serve this Senate well as we confront the daunting tasks ahead.
Senator Travaglini has the ability to lead us through these difficult times. He is aware that actions we take together in this state Senate will impact every citizen in the Commonwealth for many years to come. Today we should reflect on the historical significance of why the Senate is divided into 29 committees Ś so that each of us in the body can gain expertise in specific policy areas.
Senator Travaglini understands that he needs this expertise and the skills of every member, majority and minority, and has pledged to empower all 39 of us to help define this SenateÆs agenda. We will all be encouraged to participate in finding solutions to the immediate challenges we face, and in shaping policy for the future. He understands that sound public policy is made when there is open and free discussion. It is through this open and inclusive democratic process that we will fulfill our obligations to the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The abilities of the next Senate President and the abilities of every member of the Senate will be severely tested in the coming months and years. We have a tremendous responsibility to the people of this state. They are looking to us for leadership to guide the state through the most difficult economic times in the past 60 years. We in turn have an obligation to choose a Senate President whose leadership style is open and inclusive. And we have an obligation to choose a Senate President whose ability to get things done is matched only by his compassion for those in need. Senator Robert Travaglini is that person.
The United States is truly a great country when a kid from the neighborhood, with humble roots can overcome lifeÆs obstacles and today become the 93rd President of this Senate and the first Senate President of Italian decent.
I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting Robert E. TravagliniÆs nomination for President of the Massachusetts Senate.
The nomination of Senator Travaglini for President was seconded by Mr. Panagiotakos, who also briefly addressed the Senate.
Mr. President, I proudly rise to second the nomination of Senator Robert E. Travaglini as Senate President.
All of us, serving in this body, are well aware of the serious challenges that the upcoming session will place before us.
And to face those challenges and overcome them, we need a leader, a leader who can bring a consensus to this body because, it will be only in finding common ground solutions to these pressing challenges, that we will make progress for the people of this commonwealth.
And there is no one, no one in this body that can bring us together to face these challenges better than the senator from East Boston.
In fact, he has been doing just that during his entire tenure in this historic body.
He has been a force of unity, of negotiation and of progress.
And because of that he has earned the respect and the trust of this membership.
In lobbying other members on behalf of Senator Travaglini, one thing became apparent, even with the many excellent and qualified members, who were seeking the Presidency of this Senate, and they were and are excellent and qualified, it became apparent, that if Senator Travaglini wasnÆt your first choice, he sure the heck was your second.
He was the one that could bring all of us onto his team and we all would know that our talents, our leadership, and our expertise would be valued, needed and put to use.
He was the one and he is the one.
Over the past six years, I have developed a close friendship with the senator from East Boston and because of that have had the opportunity to watch him in action.
And though he has many qualities that I admire, the one that I admire above all, as a legislator, is the way that he respects, reveres and represents the people that sent him here.
We all have heard the sage saying of Speaker Tip OÆNeill that ōall politics is localö.
Well, Senator Travaglini has made that the cornerstone of his public service.
IÆve been in his office on many occasions when a constituent would come through the door or call and I donÆt care who was in that office or on the other line, whether it was the mayor of Boston, the speaker, the senate president, the governor, you were put on hold or were asked to wait in the hallway.
While Senator Travaglini, personally, attended and responded to the request or problem of that constituent.
I remember one instance that captures the essence of my good friend. I was in the office when this little gray haired lady from the North End came in and Senator Travaglini was on the phone with the Mayor.
It didnÆt take him but a few seconds to tell the Mayor that he had to go and to call him back in a half an hour.
I started smiling and he looks at me and said,
ōHey, Steveo, remember, without her thereÆs no me just somebody else.ö
In other words, youÆre here to serve and youÆre here because of the trust and faith of the people you represent. And when they call, no matter how small their concern or request might seem in the great scheme of issues you might be dealing with, it is important and high priority to them, and, therefore, it must be important and a high priority to you . . . ōwithout them thereÆs no us just somebody elseö.
What a meaningful lesson. What a great principle to serve by.
I remember a quote that says, ōA proud man counts his press clippings . . . the humble man, his blessings.
I donÆt know anyone who is more humble and counts his blessings more than Bob. For Bob it has been a wonderful life and would be whether he became Senate President not.
Because heÆs been blessed and he knows it, his mother, Kelly, the kids, his brothers, his family, his friends, his colleagues, his staff . . .
To Bob itÆs about people. ItÆs in the relationships and friendships that we are blessed.
And you know what, he figured this all out without a guardian angel named Clarence to help him . . .
Well, there was Freddy Berry.
In Closing, let me just say,
Today when Sen. Travaglini came through these doors he answered to many names . . .
Robert, Bob, Bobby . . .
Trav, dad . . .
Senator, Senatori
But after this vote, you will forever be known as Mr. President . . .
Wear it well. You deserve it.
Nomination of Senator Lees as President.
Mr. Tisei placed in nomination for President, Mr. Lees of Hampden and Hampshire. Mr. Tisei briefly addressed the Senate.
Mr. President, it is my honor to place into nomination the name of Brian P. Lees for the Office of President of the Senate.
As we gather here this morning, citizens all across the Commonwealth are visiting their loved ones and friends wishing them the very best for the year ahead.
While todayÆs holiday is traditionally known for this type of socializing as well as for the resolutions we make to better ourselves, New Years also brings with it the promise of a new beginning or a fresh start.
In this respect, it is both appropriate and fitting that our Constitution has required us to gather here to start a new legislative session on this particular day.
TodayÆs swearing in of the General Court, the election of a new Senate President and the arrival tomorrow of a new Governor all underscore this new beginning.
These events also offer a great deal of hope to the all citizens of this Commonwealth who have placed their trust in us at this critical time with the expectation that we will work together to put our state back on track.
While much will change in the days ahead, one thing seems destined to remain the same and that is that my friend Brian Lees will once again fall ōjust a littleö short when the votes for the Senate Presidency are counted in a few moments.
And while of course the members of our caucus may be disappointed, I know that my colleagues on both sides of the isle would agree with me when I say that this Senate will indeed be fortunate to have Brian Lees back serving once again in his familiar role as minority leader.
Over the past decade, Brian has been an important force who has been involved in almost every major policy decision that helped guide our state through a very successful and productive period.
Whatever the issue, whether it be tax policy, welfare reform, workers compensation or most recently unemployment insurance, Brian has never been afraid to stand up and provide leadership on the issues that he believes are most important to the people of this state.
He has been a confidant of three Governors, worked along side two senate presidents and two speakers, and over the years has interacted with hundreds of members of both the house and senate in order to advance a positive agenda for this Commonwealth.
As you can imagine, serving as minority leader can sometimes be difficult especially when you find yourself constantly outnumbered as Brian typically does.
At times, it must be frustrating knowing that no matter how hard you work . . . how strong your argument or how worthy your cause . . . the votes just arenÆt going to be there.
But somehow, despite the long odds and difficulties . . . Brian always seems to find a way in the end to ensure that the ideas and principles of our party and its members are incorporated into every piece of legislation that leaves this chamber.
In addition to advancing the agenda of his party, Brian also has the enormous responsibility of holding the majority accountable and providing the checks and balances which are crucial to the success of any legislative form of government.
We have all watched Brian in action and can attest to the fact that he has never been afraid to ask the uncomfortable questions and can always be counted on to provide some pretty lively floor debate.
Whether he is seeking an explanation on an amendment, justification for a legislative proposal, or a cost estimate for a budget item (and by the way we all know thatÆs his favorite), BrianÆs actions have helped to make this Senate a productive institution over the years.
While the role of minority leader is confrontational by nature, somehow Brian is able to balance it with with good humor and a spirit of cooperation that has made each one of us a better more effective public servant.
As we look to the future, there is no doubt that the role Brian will play over the next two years will be one of the most challenging in the senate.
Aside from representing his own district and acting as a spokesman for his party, Brian will once again be responsible for pushing the governors agenda forward and insuring that the AdministrationÆs initiatives receive a fair hearing and serious debate.
BrianÆs leadership will be needed to help guide us through this fiscal crises.
His knowledge of the legislative process and of this institution will help this senate run smoothly and effectively . . . and the tone he sets as the leader of the loyal opposition will set the standard in determining how we treat each other in this chamber.
Given the current political composition of state government everyone recognizes that a cooperative bi-partisan effort will be needed in order to address the many serious problems facing us.
In this respect we are indeed fortunate to have a Brian Lees serving among us.
No would would deny that Brian is one of the hardest working and most respected members of this Senate
That is why in accordance with the tradition of the senate I am honored to nominate him for Senate President.
The nomination of Senator Lees for President was seconded by Mr. Knapik, who also briefly addressed the Senate.
Mr. President, I rise today before you and all of our colleagues and all the citizens of the Commonwealth to second the nomination of the gentleman from First Hampden-Hampshire for the Office of President of the Massachusetts State Senate. Simply put, our dear friend Brian Lees will make a splendid presiding officer.
There is not a member in the chamber, assembled here today, who cannot attest to the sincerity, the dedication, and the determination of the Minority Leader. For nearly a decade, he has taken his place among the pantheon of great leaders in this institution. He is known throughout the land from Bristol to the Blackstone Valley to the Berkshires. A leader with a populist streak, a leader who has demonstrated the highest degree of competence, and a leader whose compassion is unparalleled.
Brian Lees, the man from East Longmeadow, by way of Amesbury, was schooled in our great stateÆs public schools from the elementary to the collegiate level. Few will match his unwavering support for ensuring the finest degree of scholastic achievement for our precious children. He is an individual who received his political training under a true public servant Ś Senator Ed Brooke. He spent significant time working in the private sector of this state as a senior manager at Westvaco.
Senator Lees has made improving the stateÆs economy one of his highest priorities throughout his tenure. He understands well the imperative for nurturing a strong and vibrant private sector as a means of providing resources for our stateÆs most vulnerable. In the Commonwealth where Brian Lees has been a leader, all have been encouraged to seek their potential, not by asking government to lead the way, but by the constant pursuit of individual excellence.
It has been in this chamber, as you all know, that Brian has had his greatest impact. He has been almost solely responsible for the quantity, quality and the civility of debate while serving as leader. And he has accomplished it in his endearing and folksy style that masks a thorough understanding of the facts at all times. The wit and humour he utilizes in debate, while often catching even the most worthy adversary off-guard, nonetheless, becomes an effective tool in his elocutionary arsenal. I am reminded of the sage words of the great American statesman, Benjamin Franklin, whose bust sits to the right of the Minority Leader. At times witty, but always poignant Franklin spoke the following: ōwell done is better than well saidö, ōtis easy to see, harder to foreseeö, ōwhen the well is dry, we know the worth of waterö, or, perhaps more to the liking of Senator Lees, ōA country man between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats!ö
No one should minimize the seriousness of purpose with which Brian undertakes his role. He knows it is our collective responsibility to be accountable to the public in both our word and our deed. He will continue to seek ways for this body to earn its hallowed place among the great deliberative institutions of our era. Brian has taken to heart the admonition offered by the Congregation founded by St. Ignatius Loyola when they say, ōours must be a dialogue, born of respect for people, especially the poor, in which we share their cultural and spiritual values and offer our own cultural and spiritual treasures . . . our service . . . must never disrupt the best impulses of the culture in which we work.ö
We heard Brian Lees say it on Monday, that compromise is the hallmark of this SenateÆs efforts. Compromise among its members, among the political parties, but most especially compromise among ideas. Virtually every member of this Senate has sought the counsel of the Minority Leader and he has always been there, in return, listening attentively, offering well-placed advice, and even critiquing when necessary. Brian has made this State Senate work for its members and for the citizens of our great state and ultimately for the better.
It is my high honor to second the nomination of Brian Lees and to urge your support of his candidacy for President of this State Senate.
Thank you, Mr. President.
On motion of Mr. Moore, the nominations were closed.
The roll was called, and the following named members voted for Robert E. Travaglini of Suffolk and Middlesex:
|Antonioni, Robert A.
|ĀMenard, Joan M.
|ĀBaddour, Steven A.
|ĀMontigny, Mark C.
|ĀBarrios, Jarrett T.
|ĀMoore, Richard T.
|ĀBerry, Frederick E.
|ĀMorrissey, Michael W.
|ĀBrewer, Stephen M.
|ĀMurray, Therese
|ĀChandler, Harriette L.
|ĀNuciforo, Andrea F., Jr.
|ĀCreedon, Robert S., Jr.
|ĀOÆLeary, Robert A.
|ĀCreem, Cynthia Stone
|ĀPacheco, Marc R.
|ĀFargo, Susan C.
|ĀPanagiotakos, Steven C.
|ĀGlodis, Guy W.
|ĀResor, Pamela
|ĀHart, John A., Jr.
|ĀRosenberg, Stanley C.
|ĀHavern, Robert A.
|ĀShannon, Charles E.
|ĀJacques, Cheryl A.
|ĀTolman Steven A.
|ĀJoyce, Brian A.
|ĀTravaglini, Robert E.
|ĀMagnani, David P.
|ĀTucker, Susan C.
|ĀMcGee, Thomas M.
|ĀWalsh, Marian
|ĀMelconian, Linda J.
|ĀWilkerson, Dianne Ś 34.
The following named members voted for Brian P. Lees of First Hampden and Hampshire:
|Hedlund, Robert L.
|ĀSprague, Jo Ann
|ĀKnapik, Michael R.
|ĀTarr, Bruce E.
|ĀLees, Brian P.
|ĀTisei, Richard R. Ś 6.
The Chair announced the results of the votes as follows:
Whole number of votes .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................40
Necessary for a choice ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21
Robert E. Travaglini of First Suffolk and Middlesex had ...............................................................................................................................................................................34
Brian P. Lees of First Hampden and Hampshire had ......................................................................................................................................................................................6
And Mr. Travaglini was declared elected President of the Senate.
Mr. Lees moved that it be the sense of the Senate that the vote for Robert E. Travaglini for President should be made unanimous and that this expression of opinion be made a part of the records of the Senate.
There being no objection, this motion was entertained; and it was unanimously adopted.
Mr. Travaglini was escorted to the Chair by Senators Melconian of Hampden and Rosenberg of Hampshire and Franklin.
The President then addressed the Senate as follows:
Reverend Father, Members of the Senate, invited Guests, Family and Friends:
To the people of the First Suffolk and Middlesex District, those true and loyal supporters from Maverick Square to Harvard Square, who have given me the opportunity and privilege to represent them in this historic chamber. I owe all of you a profound debt of gratitude.
To my predecessor, Tom Birmingham, who carried out the duties of Senate President with the perfect blend of wisdom and wit. He leaves an important legacy that honors him and his family. Tom, on behalf of the Senate, I thank you for your service.
And to you my Senate colleagues and to the people that you represent across this Commonwealth, I pledge that I will maintain the highest standards of honor, respect and fairness . . . and that I will passionately defend the integrity and independence of this institution. Without fear or favor, I will provide the leadership that you expect and deserve from me.
I have much to learn as I take on these new responsibilities, and I will rely on each of you for advice, support and assistance. I intend to work with each of you, to create genuine dialogue, to ensure that all voices are heard.
I want you to know that I am deeply moved by this experience Ś moved because I value your support and confidence, moved also because of the grand opportunity to serve not just the people of my district, but the citizens of this great Commonwealth. It is an opportunity I did not expect to have when I began my career in public service.
Working first for Attorney General Frank Bellotti, and then for Mayor Kevin White, I was privileged to witness two men who instilled important values in their staffs Ś it was then that I learned the importance of loyalty, judgment and fairness, and of doing the right thing regardless of the political consequences.
I carried those values with me to my first elected office on the Boston City Council. The City Council was a difficult place Ś often maligned, sometimes dysfunctional, yet comprised of members who truly cared about their city and their communities Ś men and women who understood the meaning and importance of the neighborhood, the community, the family. The City Council was also like a family, with members who did not always get along. But I quickly observed that, as in most families, problems got resolved when there was dialogue, understanding and compromise.
When I entered this historic chamber a little more than a decade ago, I was awestruck, overwhelmed that a young man from a working class family in East Boston could take office as a member of the Massachusetts Senate. I was taken in and welcomed as a member of a new family, a family not as loud and fractious as the one I just left, but a family nevertheless.
Now, as President of the Senate, I have reached the personal and professional pinnacle of my life. For me there is no higher political office than this. I expect that this reality will be both powerful and liberating, because I intend to bring all of my experience to bear on the issues we face, and follow my judgment, my instincts, my heart as I carry out my responsibilities as presiding officer of this great body. And when my service is complete, I will step aside and return to my family and my roots in East Boston, proud to have completed the assignment you have charged me with here today.
This assignment is a daunting challenge Ś one I look forward to. The fiscal picture in the Commonwealth is bleak Ś an unstable stock market, a sluggish economy, potential war abroad, and the threat of domestic terrorism continue to destabilize our economic, social, and political well-being. These harsh realities will test all of our skills, courage and judgment. I anticipate that, more than ever before, members of the Senate will be required to muster their institutional knowledge, experience and leadership skills to help us navigate through these difficult times.
Also, a new administration will attempt to translate its campaign promises into public policy Ś starting tomorrow. Governor-Elect Romney begins with a mandate for bold, competent and compassionate leadership during a time of fiscal crisis. In this regard, we are not Democrats or Republicans. We are not Liberals or Conservatives. We are simply men and women committed to making the Commonwealth work for its citizens.
The Governor-Elect will have our cooperation as he lays out his program for improving Massachusetts. The Senate stands ready to work with him and our colleagues in the House to put aside our egos, personalities, and party affiliations and focus upon the peopleÆs business.
Cooperation, however, cannot go so far as to absolve us of our responsibilities. We have a constitutional duty to exercise wholly independent judgment Ś and that duty should never be ignored in the name of political expediency.
As a body, we must work hand-in-hand with the business community, local municipalities and civic leaders to effectively and rigorously challenge old assumptions, fashion creative responses and effectuate the most efficient government for the people we represent. We close no doors. Nothing is off the table.
We must review existing programs to ensure that they are clearly within the public interest. But our policy-making role is not to cripple or eliminate programs of obvious social importance. Rather, we should preserve them by taking necessary legislative action to improve operations, eliminate waste, and make certain that the public is getting the maximum return on every dollar spent.
We have an obligation, a duty, to help those who are less fortunate. Even when times are good, there are many among us who suffer. If there must be pain to bear as we confront this fiscal crisis, that pain must be borne equitably.
John F. Kennedy once said, ōthose to whom much is given, much is expectedö, and he was right. If we fail in our obligation to serve the neediest, if we turn a blind eye toward the pain caused by unemployment, or a lack of health care, or the inability to afford the right prescription medicine, if we ignore the importance of finding ways to keep our streets safe, if we cannot find a way to maintain quality schools even when times are bad, then we will have failed to manage this crisis in an honorable way. I call upon each of you to work with me to find solutions that test the limits of our creativity, and that restore faith in the ability of elected officials to rise to the occasion.
I will call upon each of you, my colleagues, to work with me in collaboration to meet these challenges. We are all a family in Massachusetts. When any group suffers or is diminished, we all suffer and are diminished. As leaders of the Massachusetts family, we in the Senate must ensure that all members of our greater family are cared for.
I did not reach this pinnacle in my life simply to look
back on where I have been. Although I will never forget where I came from, I
intend to command a broader view, a vision as it were, of what we can do to
lift everyone who needs help in the Massachusetts family. We are all lucky to
be where we are, all of us. And I, for one, know that I am the luckiest man
in the world. LetÆs see if we can spread some of that luck to those who are
down on theirs.
On motion of Ms. Menard, the address of the President and the nominating speeches thereto, were ordered printed in the Journal of the Senate.
Mr. Lees asked unanimous consent to make a statement; and, there being no objection, he addressed the Senate as follows:
Thank you all for this opportunity to speak. As the leader of a vastly outnumbered Republican caucus, it is an honor that I by no means take for granted. It is also something that I owe in no small part to the past leaders of this body, Tom Birmingham and William Bulger, who showed great generosity with such indulgences during their tenure, and I know that generosity will continue with President Travaglini.
Allowing the minority equal time and the chance to compel roll call votes during floor debate is an important part of the public accountability that serves as a cornerstone in any healthy democracy.
At the outset, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues within the Republican caucus for their support today and over the past few years. I am also humbled by Senator TiseiÆs and Senator KnapikÆs kind words, and it is truly an honor to serve with them.
I also want to thank my wonderful staff and all those who work for the Senate Ś the staff of my colleagues, Senate counsel, court officers and the Clerk and his staff. And, especially, I would like to thank my wife Nancy, who is here today, for her support.
Even though I was shockingly vanquished again today in my race for the Senate Presidency, it is with great pleasure that I offer my warmest congratulations to our new leader of this body Robert Travaglini, my good friend Ś and Ś as of 10 minutes ago Ś now joins Henri Rauschenbach, Dan Curran, Rachel Bonavita and Richard Tisei as one of my best friends.
If I could offer one piece of advice, Mr. President, I would advise you to be ever cognizant of how you got here in the first place. I can guarantee Ś that you Ś will be well served by looking behind as well as ahead of you.
The amicable, collegial approach with which you have confronted past issues gives me great confidence as we face the future. In fact, that approach is exactly what this body will need as we roll up our sleeves to meet this daunting era together. I hope you have read the ownerÆs manual, Mr. President, because we have a long and arduous trip ahead of us. But donÆt worry, if you ever have any doubts, IÆd be happy to steer you in the Republican . . . I mean right direction.
Many have said, Mr. President, that you are assuming an unenviable position during this time of challenging revenues, but I disagree with that assessment. While further cuts to certain services and programs and the restructuring of government will undoubtedly be wrenching, we must, after all, remember that with challenge comes opportunity.
This new session offers the best chance in a long time of overcoming the special interests and institutional inertia that have undermined worthwhile reform efforts. We should all be thankful for the blank slate that a new Governor, a new Senate President, and the need for an innovative approach to government have combined to give us Ś and ultimately Ś our constituents Ś the taxpayers of Massachusetts.
Our nationÆs greatest leaders, men like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt, met the daunting circumstances of their times, not with an inherited blueprint for success, but with a recognition that new paths must be forged to guide our country through the forest of challenges that they faced.
Likewise, we as a legislative body find ourselves in a similar position. In scarcity, our state has an unprecedented opportunity to become stronger and more efficient by forging new paths of our own. My colleagues, I urge you to ponder that for just a moment. Think about the prospect before us to develop solutions to systemic problems, and consider the importance of working together as we begin this most important task.
And there is no reason to believe that we are not capable of great accomplishments. Looking around the chamber today, I am struck by what a blessed group this is. Taken together, the brainpower, the work ethic, and the depth of social concern are overwhelming. Nevertheless, whether or not we will be able to come together and truly see even our own special interests with a new sense of openness, is the question that I believe will make the difference between our success or failure when this chapter in our stateÆs history is written.
Solving the problems before us will require a humility for which politicians are not well known. But as Theodore Roosevelt once wrote, ōWe can all best help ourselves by joining together in the work that is of common interest to all.ö And, in order to do this, we will need to draw heavily on such inspiring examples of that classic American ōcan-doö spirit in the coming months.
We can and we must rededicate ourselves to making Massachusetts an attractive place to live, work, and yes, do business.
In the elections this fall, the voters gave us clear ideas about how we can go about doing that. On Question 1 and the mandate of the new administration, they told us that higher taxes are not the answer. That is a message that must be respected in spite of the legislative challenges before us, because those challenges impact our constituents on an even greater level in these difficult times.
The broader and, I believe, more important message in all of this Ś is a call for a new era of accountability. Gone is the easy answer of levying new taxes in order to reconcile state accounts. The voters want real, meaningful reform in the way Massachusetts does business.
Amidst crisis, we are fortunate to be able to answer their call. With an economy poised for growth, a great team in place, and an appetite for reform born of necessity, we have every advantage moving forward. We are in an enviable position, Mr. President, and I look forward to joining with you and the rest of my colleagues to do what is necessary.
Thank you.
On motion of Mr. Tisei, the above statement and the nominating speeches for Senator Lees were ordered printed in the Journal of the Senate.
Election of Clerk.
Mr. Berry moved that the Senate proceed to the election of a Clerk and that the President cast one ballot for Patrick F. Scanlan of Salem as Clerk of the Senate; and this motion prevailed.
Accordingly, the ballot was cast and Mr. Scanlan was declared elected, and was then qualified by taking the oaths and affirmation as prescribed by the Constitution and also the following oath, which was administered by the President:
ōWhereas, you PATRICK F. SCANLAN, are chosen Clerk of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you do swear that you will truly enter all the votes and orders thereof, and in all things relating to your office that you will act faithfully and impartially according to your best skill and judgement. So help you, God.ö
Election of Sergeant-at-Arms.
Mr. Berry moved that the Senate proceed to the election of a Sergeant-at-Arms and that the election be by acclamation for Kevin W. Fitzgerald of Boston, as Sergeant-at-Arms on the part of the Senate, and this motion prevailed.
Accordingly, Kevin W. Fitzgerald was declared
elected on the part of the Senate.
Orders Adopted.
On motion of Mr. Hart,
Ordered, That until the President may otherwise direct, the provisions of Senate Rule 4, as relates to the appointment of a Chaplain shall be suspended, and that the duties of said office shall be performed in such manner as the President may direct.
On motion of Mrs. Sprague,Ś
Ordered, That a committee be appointed to notify Her Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor, Jane M. Swift and the Honorable Council of the organization of the Senate; and that the Honorable Robert E. Travaglini of Suffolk and Middlesex had been elected President of the Senate, and Patrick F. Scanlan had been elected Clerk of the Senate. Senators Glodis of Worcester, Moore of Worcester and Norfolk, Nuciforo of Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin, Resor of Middlesex and Worcester, Tucker of Essex and Middlesex and Hedlund of Plymouth and Norfolk were appointed the committee.
Subsequently, Mr. Glodis, for the committee reported that the committee had performed the duties assigned to it. The report was accepted and the committee was discharged.
On motion of Mr. Hart,Ś
Ordered, That the Clerk be directed to notify the House of Representatives of the election, on the part of the Senate, of Kevin W. Fitzgerald of Boston, as Sergeant-at-Arms of the General Court.
On motion of Mr. Barrios,Ś
Ordered, That the Senate Rules of the last year be observed as the temporary Senate Rules for the present General Court.
On motion of Mr. Tolman,Ś
Ordered, that a committee be appointed to inform the House of Representatives of the organization of the Senate; and that the Honorable Robert E. Travaglini of Suffolk and Middlesex has been elected President of the Senate; and Patrick F. Scanlan has been elected Clerk of the Senate. Senators Creedon of Plymouth and Bristol, Creem of Middlesex and Norfolk, Antonioni of Worcester and Middlesex, Chandler of Worcester, Jacques of Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex, and Tisei of Middlesex and Essex were appointed the committee on the part of the Senate.
Subsequently, Mr. Creedon, for the said committee reported that the committee had performed the duties assigned to it. The report was accepted and the committee was discharged.
The following communication, together with the returns of votes and schedules referred to, was received from the Secretary of the Commonwealth and placed on file, to wit:
January 1, 2003.
To the Honorable Senate:
I have the honor to lay before you the returns of votes cast at the election held in this Commonwealth on the fifth day of November, 2002 for Senators, together with schedules showing the number of ballots which appear to have been cast for each person voted for.
These returns have been duly canvassed by the Governor and Council, and are now transmitted for examination by the Senate, as required by the Constitution.
Very Truly Yours,
Secretary of State.
Order Adopted.
On motion of Ms. Tucker,Ś
Ordered, That a special committee of the Senate to be appointed for the purpose of canvassing the votes for Senators in the several districts.
Senators Havern of Middlesex, Joyce of Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth, OÆLeary of Cape and Islands, and Hedlund of Plymouth and Norfolk, were appointed the committee.
Subsequently, Mr. Havern, for the said special committee, reported that the following named persons had been duly elected, to wit:Ś
Hon. Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. of Pittsfield ......................................................................................................................................in the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin District.
Hon. Joan M. Menard of Somerset ..............................................................................................................................................................in
the First Bristol and Plymouth District.
Hon. Mark C. Montigny of New Bedford ................................................................................................................................................in the Second Bristol and Plymouth District.
Hon. Robert A. OÆLeary of Barnstable .......................................................................................................................................................................in the Cape and Islands District.
Hon. Steven A. Baddour of Methuen ....................................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Essex District.
Hon. Frederick E. Berry of Peabody ................................................................................................................................................................................in the Second Essex District.
Hon. Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester ................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Essex and Middlesex District.
Hon. Susan C. Tucker of Andover .........................................................................................................................................................in the Second Essex and Middlesex District.
Hon. Thomas M. McGee of Lynn in the Third ..............................................................................................................................................................Essex and Middlesex District.
Hon. Linda J. Melconian of Springfield ...................................................................................................................................................................................in the Hampden District.
Hon. Brian P. Lees of East Longmeadow ............................................................................................................................................in
the First Hampden and Hampshire District.
Hon. Michael R. Knapik of Westfield .............................................................................................................................................in the Second Hampden and Hampshire District.
Hon. Stanley C. Rosenberg of Amherst .........................................................................................................................................................in the Hampshire and Franklin District.
Hon. Steven C. Panagiotakos of Lowell ........................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Middlesex District.
Hon. Charles E. Shannon of Winchester ...................................................................................................................................................................in the Second Middlesex District.
Hon. Susan C. Fargo of Lincoln ..................................................................................................................................................................................in the Third Middlesex District.
Hon. Robert A. Havern of Arlington ..........................................................................................................................................................................in the Fourth Middlesex District.
Hon. Richard R. Tisei of Wakefield ......................................................................................................................................................................in the Middlesex and Essex District.
Hon. Cynthia Stone Creem of Newton ......................................................................................................................................................in
the First Middlesex and Norfolk District.
Hon. David P. Magnani of Framingham ................................................................................................................................................in the Second Middlesex and Norfolk District.
Hon. Steven A. Tolman of Boston .........................................................................................................................................................in the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District.
Hon. Jarrett T. Barrios of Cambridge ......................................................................................................................................................in the Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex District.
Hon. Pamela P. Resor of Acton ....................................................................................................................................................................in the Middlesex and Worcester District.
Hon. Cheryl A. Jacques of Needham ...................................................................................................................................................in the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District.
Hon. Brian A. Joyce of Milton ..............................................................................................................................................................in the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth District.
Hon. Michael W. Morrissey of Quincy ..............................................................................................................................................................in the Norfolk and Plymouth District.
Hon. JoAnn Sprague of Walpole ...........................................................................................................................................................................in the Bristol and Norfolk District.
Hon. Therese Murray of Plymouth ...............................................................................................................................................................in the Plymouth and Barnstable District.
Hon. Marc R. Pacheco of Taunton ...............................................................................................................................................................in the First Plymouth and Bristol District. Hon. Robert S. Creedon, Jr., of Brockton ...............................................................................................................................................in the Second Plymouth and Bristol District.
Hon. Robert L. Hedlund of Weymouth ..............................................................................................................................................................in the Plymouth and Norfolk District.
Hon. John A. Hart, Jr., of Boston ......................................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Suffolk District.
Hon. Dianne Wilkerson of Boston ................................................................................................................................................................................in the Second Suffolk District.
Hon. Robert E. Travaglini of Boston .........................................................................................................................................................in the First Suffolk and Middlesex District.
Hon. Marian Walsh of Boston ..............................................................................................................................................................................in the Suffolk and Norfolk District.
Hon. Harriette L. Chandler of Worcester ......................................................................................................................................................................in
the First Worcester District.
Hon. Guy W. Glodis of Auburn ...............................................................................................................................................................................in the Second Worcester District.
Hon. Stephen M. Brewer of Barre .............................................................................................................................in the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin District.
Hon. Robert A. Antonioni of Leominster ......................................................................................................................................................in the Worcester and Middlesex District.
Hon. Richard T. Moore of Uxbridge ...............................................................................................................................................................in
the Worcester and Norfolk District.
The report was read, and was considered forthwith and accepted.Ā
Orders Adopted.
On motion of Mr. Berry,Ś
Ordered, That a special committee of the Senate to consist of four members be appointed for the purpose of arranging the seats of members of the Senate.
Senators Berry of Essex, Shannon of Middlesex, Murray of Plymouth and Barnstable and Lees of Hampden and Hampshire, were appointed the committee.
On motion of Ms. Wilkerson,Ś
Ordered, That the Clerk begin the daily printing of the Journal of the Senate, as authorized by Senate Rule 6, and that the daily reading thereof be dispensed with; that, under authority of Section 10 of Chapter 5 of the General Laws, copies of the Journals of the entire session be printed and bound with the customary appendices and an index; and that a certified copy thereof be deposited with the Secretary of the Commonwealth as the official bound Journal of the Senate.
On motion of Mr. Rosenberg,Ś
Ordered, That when the Senate adjourns today, it adjourn to meet again tomorrow at eleven oÆclock A.M.
On motion of Ms. Walsh,Ś
Ordered, That a convention of the two Houses be
held at a quarter before twelve oÆclock noon on Thursday, January 2, for the
purpose of administering the oaths of office to the Governor-elect, Lieutenant-Governor
elect, and the several Councillors-elect.
Sent to the House for concurrence.
Renditions of God Bless America and America the Beautiful were performed by Ms. Vanessa Salvucci.
There being no objection, at nine minutes before one oÆclock P.M., the President declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and at twenty-five minutes before two oÆclock P.M., the Senate reassembled, Mr. Berry in the Chair.
Notice was received from the House of Representatives, by a committee thereof, of the organization of that branch, the House having chosen Thomas M. Finneran as Speaker and Steven T. James of Boston as Clerk.
At twenty minutes before two oÆclock P.M., the Senate adjourned to meet on the following day at eleven oÆclock A.M.


text:
With another losing season staring us in the face and a crucial 2012/2013 off-season quickly approaching, I thought it would be instructive and interesting to lay out both the case for and the case against the Royals becoming contenders for the 2013 season.
Many fans feel that the team is close to contention, with a core of young, exciting players, complemented by a very strong and deep bullpen. What are some of the key factors that may indicate that the Royals are on the verge of turning things around, as quickly as next year?
- The 2012 team was decimated by injuries to several key players-Several significant players lost significant time (Perez, Cain) or most of the season (Soria, Wood, Duffy, Paulino) to injury. This robbed the team of a ton of production at key lineup spots, our rotation, and the bullpen, which would have made a big difference in our overall record.
- Hosmer's sophomore slump-Hosmer is a huge talent that got off to a terrible start and has only recently started to show signs of coming out of it. The chances that he bounces back to provide significant production are good.
- This season has shown that, although the depth isn't spectacular, we do have some back of the rotation pitching depth with Will Smith and Luis Mendoza. Should we add some significant pieces to the rotation in the off-season, we will have some decent depth (and really good depth when Duffy and Paulino come back) to sustain injuries better than in the past.
- Despite all of the injuries, the team has only been outscored by about 50 runs thus far in 2012, with a Pythagorean record of 64-74...not great, but really not that far off from what we had hoped for at the beginning of the year.
- The Royals have money to spend, and recent history has shown that they will spend it-the Royals have recently had payrolls in the mid-70s, and the projected payroll (assuming a Hochevear non-tender) will be somewhere in the mid-50s. This could give the team around $20 million to spend on one impact starter and a reclamation project, along with the prospects to make a trade for another impact starter.
- Wil Myers-The team has arguably the best prospect in baseball waiting in the wings, ready to join the major-league team and provide additional offensive production to an already exciting lineup.
Add this all together, and the Royals could be in the position to take a big step forward next year. In the next couple of days, I'll lay out the case against the Royals making a push in 2013.


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We have planned habitat improvements for the tigers living in the Wild Woodlands area of our Sanctuary. But, we only have a few summer months to complete this. Though tigers Ekaterina, Zeus, Layla and Nikita have habitat space to enjoy, now it's time to fill these habitats with lean-to's for shade, pools fit for a […]
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Cell death and immune privilege.
- PubMed: 12424841
The host response to pathogens involves complex inflammatory responses and immune reactions. While these are central to host defense and vital to clearing infections, they are often accompanied by injury to surrounding tissue. Most organ systems can tolerate these responses without permanent consequences. However, there are sites that limit the spread of inflammation because it can threaten organ function. The most prominent examples of these are the eye, brain, and reproductive organs (testis, ovary), where even minor bouts of inflammation can have long-term consequences for the survival of the organism. In these organs immune responses either do not proceed, or proceed in a manner different from other areas; thus, they are called "immunologically privileged." Here a functioning immune response can be the culprit that leads to disease.
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Category — Peltier, Robert
'Blowing Smoke' at Obama CO2 Policy: POWER's Peltier Retires in High Style
"Obama's sloppy use of science was carefully crafted to gain public support for 'carbon pollution' as the source of climate change. Using the term 20 times in his speech, he again conflated carbon dioxide, which is essential to plant life on this planet, with anthropogenic emissions (particularly from coal-fired power plants) as the principal cause of climate change. This rhetorical trick should now be obvious to all who were listening closely (or reading the transcript, as I did)."
Robert Peltier, Dr. Peltier, has been many things in his life: professor, marine, policeman, electric utility manager, and scholar/writer. He is honest and a realist, which led him to the free-market side of the energy debate.
Peltier has written a number of posts for MasterResource over the years (see Appendix A). We hope to hear from him in the future if his retirement priorities allow.
Here is Peltier's final editorial from the August issue of POWER. Enjoy–and let's hope Robert adds his weight to the coming free-market correction of errant state and federal energy policies premised on energy and climate alarmism. [Read more →]
September 27, 2013 1 Comment
America's Growth Corridors (walking away from CO2 regulation)
"Your right to vote is guaranteed. However, it seems voting with your feet is often more effective."
The familiar Red State–Blue State map is a symbolic means of quickly communicating political preferences. The maps aren't meant to be predictive of job, economic, or population trends, yet a recent think tank's report suggests the metaphor may have broader significance.
The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research released in February America's Growth Corridors: The Key to National Revival, which describes the future growth of our economy in terms of "growth corridors."
The economic and population trends reported look remarkably like the iconic election night map with Blue States (my analogy, not the authors') defined as strips along the Pacific and Northeast Atlantic coasts and along the shores of the Great Lakes. The Red States are those located along the "Third Coast" bordering the Caribbean, the Intermountain West, the Great Plains, and the Southeast Manufacturing Belt.
The report calls these four regions "America's Growth Corridors," representing 45% of the nation's land mass and 30% of its population.
Diverging Directions
Conventional wisdom tells us businesses prefer regions with a sufficient labor pool, real estate, reasonable cost of living, relatively low taxes, and a regulatory climate conducive to business. Availability of low-cost energy has also jumped near the top of that list. It's no surprise that recent data suggest employers uniformly favor the Red States over the Blue States when locating new businesses. However, that trend is indicative of a major economic shift now under way with the country, particularly with job creation and manufacturing of goods.
The energy industry has led the nation in job creation over the past decade. Oil and gas extraction jobs alone, predominately located in the Red States, have increased over 27% since early 2008, producing the highest number of jobs in that industry since late 1987. Moody's Analytics reports that the oil and gas extraction industry created more than one million jobs since 2002, out of the 2.7 million jobs created across the entire country over the same period! [Read more →]
April 17, 2013 5 Comments
POWER's Peltier: Show Your CO2 Hand or Fold, Windpower
"Forgotten by many proponents is the justification for the PTC in the first place: to reduce CO2 emissions…. [Yet] … many utilities with large amounts of wind generation steadfastly refuse to release operating data for analysis. I suspect to do so would mean the release of empirical data to build the opposition's case for insignificant CO2 reduction and poor operating economics. I was unable to find one study of existing wind energy installations that found the CO2 reductions predicted by AWEA."
Robert Peltier, editor-in-chief of POWER magazine, is an honest broker. He understands the technical side of electrical generation as a professional engineer. He knows power generation in practice from his years of industry experience on the regulated and the nonregulated sides. He has taught the subject as a tenured professor. And with years of experience in the U.S. Navy and in law enforcement, he has just about seen it all. (See full bio below.)
In his current position, Peltier oversees staff and industry writing on the latest power technology relating to plants using oil, gas, coal, nuclear, water, wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. Battery technology is regularly updated too.
His most recent Speaking of Power editorial, "Under Seize" (December 2012), contains numerous insights that friend and foe of modern windpower should heed. The longtime head of the American Wind Energy Association (and critic of Honest Bob), Denise Bode, is riding into the sunset. But she leaves behind a very subpar, dishonest technology that sans government support will be revealed as the Enron of energy sources. (And, thinking ahead, who will pay for wind-turbine removal?)
His seminal editorial follows: [Read more →]
December 18, 2012 19 Comments
"Battle of the Bulb" (Peltier finds CFL mercury emissions equal to that of power plants)
[Ed. note: Robert Peltier, editor of POWER magazine, has insightful commentary in his 'Speaking of Power' op-ed series. MasterResource reprints his op-ed below with permission.]
"What happens to the millions of used CFLs that are tossed out in the trash each year? Chances are a large percentage are broken by users at home or are broken when compressed in the trash truck or compacted in a landfill. Regardless, the mercury contained in the bulbs is released to the environment."
"My research found, much to my surprise, that both emissions—from [power plant] stack gas or broken compact fluorescent lighbulbs (CFL)—produce about the same magnitude of mercury release."
- Robert Peltier, "Battle of the Bulb," POWER, February 2012, p. 6.
President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 with the words: "New technologies will help usher in a better quality of life for our citizens."
One stipulation of that law required an increase in the efficiency of newly manufactured lightbulbs, starting with 100-watt incandescent bulbs in 2012. Additional requirements affect 75-watt incandescent bulbs in 2013 and 60- and 40-watt incandescent bulbs in 2014.
The law did not ban the use of incandescent lights, as commonly believed, but it did prohibit the production or importation of bulbs that fail to meet the new efficiency standards after the cut-off date.
That law became effective January 1; however, the budget bill passed by Congress late last year does not allow the Department of Energy to enforce the lightbulb provision until September 30. The legislation that won overwhelming approval in 2007 has evolved into a cause célèbre this election year.
The real problem with this law, and the focus of the public's ire, concerns the disposal cost of these new bulbs, not so much the efficiency standard per se. It is an environmental problem, in other words. [Read more →]
March 7, 2012 10 Comments
Peltier: Political Solar's 'Epic Fail'–With More to Come
" The Solyndra technology was far from innovative, much less game-changing. The DOE … failed to quantify the elasticity of production costs in a highly competitive market where solar panels are a commodity."
"Given the many other companies with shaky financials that have received loan guarantees, I expect we'll see more and larger epic fails like Solyndra in the coming years."
- Robert Peltier, "Epic Fail, POWER, October 2011, p. 6.
The seasoned warnings against politically correct, market incorrect technologies for electric generation by POWER magazine editor-in-chief Robert Peltier are now being vindicated. Peltier did not anticipate the unseemly crony capitalism involved in such cases as Solyndra, but he knew that there was trouble ahead because of the technological problems of converting very dilute, intermittent energy into affordable, dispatchable power flows.
The special insight of Peltier on political solar is worth studying (full article here): [Read more →]
November 1, 2011 3 Comments
Peltier: 'Chart a New Course' (POWER magazine editor rejects windgas for gas)
"The cost for wind's little or no environmental benefit is high."
- Robert Peltier, "Chart a New Course." POWER, September 2011, p. 6.
POWER magazine's editor-in-chief, Dr. Robert Peltier, is in the energy reality business. An honest broker, the professional engineer and former Stanford University professor assesses rival technologies as he sees them. And so at times, he is at odds with groups such as the American Wind Energy Association that peddle uneconomic technologies.
Peltier's lead editorial in the September 2011 issue of POWER magazine is notwworthy for its arguments and for its import in the history of energy thought.
Future scholars will look back on our present debate and assess who had the best arguments, and who was willing to take risks to advance them–and who were the for-hire millers using half-truths and PR hits to evade the implications of consumer choice, technological reality, and sound science (and yes, climate science is hardly settled in favor of alarmism but just the opposite).
Peltier's article, excerpted below, is italicized in places for emphasis by the present writer. Links have been added as well. [Read more →]
October 5, 2011 8 Comments


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The Crossroads of the Aether
81 members118 Comments 10 Likes
19 members48 Comments 2 Likes
51 members128 Comments 5 Likes
15 members72 Comments 0 Likes
14 members14 Comments 1 Like
Started this discussion. Last reply by Prof. Sebastian Fate May 25. 12 Replies 2 Likes
With my ' SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE GUNMAN ' about to drop off the front page a crisis of faith approaches .Sherlock is a late Victorian/ Edwardian gentleman . Does the period alone make him of…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Prof. Sebastian Fate Aug 26. 71 Replies 5 Likes
An on-going Sherlock Holmes story ? I'll start it off .Feel free to join in .Astute ' Sherlockians ' will note that this story is set in the ' great hiatus ' following Sherlock Holmes supposed…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Prof. Sebastian Fate Nov 25, 2013. 6 Replies 1 Like
OSCAR Fingal O'Flahertie Wills WILDE was born on this day in 1854 .Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Prof. Sebastian Fate Jan 7, 2013. 30 Replies 3 Likes
The green one seems to have disappeared . If anyone sights him please remind him that he is much missed by a wide and sorrowing circle of friends .BRING BACK THE ZOMBIE !Continue
Thank you professor for the fine birthday greeting… I am in the process of moving to the Denver CO area, from Utah, and haven't been on the site much lately so it is nice to see such a nice greeting when I logged on today… Thank you!
It tolls not for thee.
Thank you very much Prof. Sebastian Fate and for the welcome suggestion.
Oh, professor it has been so long, do wish me to return?
As you are in Victoria (n times?), best and cheapest is via my website: mark-mywords.co. I have a "buy books direct" link.
Otherwise, if you are visiting the Brisbane Supanova in Novemeber I shall be there selling books and shouting at teenagers.
Dear Prof Fate,
Thank you for noticing the anniversary of my creation, I am honoured that you have taken the time to offer your birthday wishes.
Another day older and closer to the enlightenment.
Your most humble servant
You sir, have a spry sense of humor! Lessor inventors would have been quite dismayed at the relocation of their vehicular prize! I always enjoy images of new inventions!
© 2014 Created by Hephzibah Marsh.


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Chrysler Group has emerged from bankruptcy protection as the "New Chrysler" with FIAT owning a 20% stake (with an option to increase to 35% and later 51% if certain financial and operational targets are met).
At the helm is CEO of FIAT, Sergio Marchionne, a dual Italian and Canadian citizen.
The future for Chrysler was bleak to say the least, but this is a good start considering Marchionne helped turn around FIAT. In 2004 FIAT was losing money but under Marchionne began turning a profit in 2005 and has since grown in profitability and revenue. Additionally, while other automakers were shedding jobs, FIAT increased total employees by over 20% from 2004 to 2008.
What's interesting is that Marchionne, prior to FIAT, had no automotive experience. However, he has worked as a chartered accountant and as a tax specialist and has a strong financial background, all traits that helped him improve the Financial performance of FIAT.
Marchionne believes in accountability of management and looks for new talent. Perhaps this different approach, that is, a willingness to clean out myopic management, make the necessary changes and introduce new ideas will be the ingredients that will enable Chrysler Group to succeed.


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Clark County (Press Release) - The Clark County Sheriff's
Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on Saturday, August 31, 2013.
The crash occurred at about 11:30 a.m. at the
intersection of Broek Road and Tieman Avenue in the Town of Worden, southwest of
Investigation shows that an
eastbound vehicle, driven by Waylon J. Copenhaver, 19, of Stanley was eastbound on
Broek Road. A vehicle driven by Alvin J.
Benzschawel, 83, of Thorp, was southbound on Tieman Avenue at Broek Road. Benzschawel pulled into the path of the
Copenhaver vehicle.
A passenger in the
Benzschawel vehicle, Betty M. Benzschawel, 80, of Thorp, was injured and airlifted
from the scene at the time of the crash.
Alvin was transported by Thorp Ambulance for his injuries and Copenhaver
received minor injuries but was not transported from the scene.
Both Benzschawel's were not wearing their
seatbelts at the time of the crash. Copenhaver was the lone occupant of his vehicle and was wearing his
Betty passed away during the late
evening hours of Thursday, September 5, 2013, from injuries sustained in this
This is the 5th
traffic fatality in Clark County for 2013.
The Thorp Fire and Ambulance and Ministry St Joseph's Hospital air
medical transport assisted at the scene.


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Gardner-Webb University (GWU), a private institution founded in 1905, resides on 240 rural acres in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The school is rooted in Baptist tradition, with a strong commitment to its Christian heritage and a mission of producing well-rounded students. The GWU Runnin' Bulldogs compete in the NCAA Division I Big South Conference.
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Institutional Control: privateYear Founded: 1905
associate degree, bachelor's degree, doctorate, master's degree
Computer Science, Elementary Education and Teaching, Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching, French Language and Literature, Spanish Language and Literature, American Sign Language (ASL), English Language and Literature, General, Biology, General, Mathematics, General, Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General, Sport and Fitness Administration/Management, Religion/Religious Studies, Chemistry, General, Psychology, General, Social Sciences, General, Political Science and Government, General, Sociology, Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other, Art/Art Studies, General, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Accounting, Finance, General, International Finance, Management Information Systems, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, History, General, Communication and Media Studies, Journalism
Computer and Information Sciences, General, Education, General, German Language and Literature, Italian Language and Literature, Spanish Language and Literature, American Sign Language (ASL), English Language and Literature, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Mathematics, General, Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies, Sport and Fitness Administration/Management, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other, Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Chemistry, General, Physical Sciences, Other, Psychology, General, Criminology, Political Science and Government, General, Sociology, Social Sciences, Other, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General, Art/Art Studies, General, Fine/Studio Arts, General, Music, General, Health Professions and Related Programs, Business Administration and Management, General, History, General, Communication and Media Studies, Journalism, Photojournalism, Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Total number of undergraduates: 2,677Total number of degree-seeking full-time undergraduates: 2,193Total number of degree-seeking part-time undergraduates: 459Percent of male undergraduates: 35%Percent of female undergraduates: 65%Percent of international undergraduates: 2%
Basic services offered: nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health insuranceRemedial learning services offered: reading, math, writingCounseling services offered: academic, career, personal, psychological, religiousCampus safety and security services offered: 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols; Late night transport/escort service; 24-hour emergency telephones; Lighted pathways/sidewalks; Student patrols; Controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc)
Student activities offered: choral groups, concert band, dance, drama/theater, jazz band, literary magazine, marching band, music ensembles, musical theater, opera, pep band, radio station, student government, student newspaper, student film society, symphony orchestra, television station, yearbook
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