[RICHARD] MASS Must Accept Election Results And Move On
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, has formed an alliance with three of the nation's nuttiest Progressive Democrat governors in a little foot stomping show of disapproval over President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
The governors have formed The U.S. Climate Alliance and while they say they have no specific goals at this time they wish to "reaffirm their commitment to the objectives of the Paris agreement," according to The Hill.com.
Joining Governor Baker in the Alliance, California Governor Jerry Brown, New York's Chris Cuomo and Washington Governor Jay Inslee. They tell us other states are likely to sign on as well.
For the record, the reason the Trump Administration withdrew from the climate deal had less to do with the environment and a whole lot to do with the deal itself. It's a bad deal that would have cost the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars while strangling industry with crippling regulations that would have driven up energy costs and the unemployment rate. It was a bad deal for the U.S., plain and simple.
Assuring a greener and healthier planet for all is in everyone's best interest but giving away the state while putting America at a competitive disadvantage makes no sense at all.
The policy makers in the aforementioned states seem to care less about adding debt to your burden. According to U.S. Debt Clock.org all four states are deeply indebt already and are each carrying deficits.
Lets take a look:
California is in debt to the tune of 459 billion dollars
New York's debt exceeds 352 billion dollars.
Washington owes more than 89 billion dollars.
Here in Massachusetts the debt totals more than 88 billion dollars. 762 thousand of the Commonwealth's 6.8 million residents are on food stamps. More than 84 thousand people are currently unemployed. We have a current budget shortfall of 575 million dollars with less than four weeks left in the budget year. The budget being prepared for the new budget year is expected to once again surpass actual revenues collected by the state.
With the Baker Administration proposing new energy standards, emissions requirements and regulations on business to deal with a climate change issue that no one can even prove exists in order to win re-election in a Progressive state is ludicrous at best.
Our political leaders in Massachusetts need to refocus their attention on issues of the Commonwealth. Taxes and fees are too high. Businesses are straddled with too many regulations. The cost of educating our children is astronomical. 1.8 billion dollars in benefits are being paid out to illegal immigrants who should not even be in this state. Yet, elected officials seem transfixed with undoing a national election that occurred seven months ago.
It's time Massachusetts voters demand more and better from their elected officials.
Editor's Note: Barry Richard is the afternoon host on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from Noon-3pm. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.