Civic Mass

It's Time: Making Long-Term Investments in Massachusetts

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:11:00 -0500

There’s a raging debate in Massachusetts regarding whether it’s time to make long-term investments in infrastructure and education. I would argue it is. At a time when our borrowing costs are at an all-time low and global competition for talent at an all-time high, we need bold leadership. I’ve decided to support the Governor’s $2 billion proposal and hope other business leaders will as well. Here’s an open letter I am sending to members of the state legislature towards this end:

Dear Legislative Leader:

As our elected leaders, you go to work every day committed to building an economy that supports long-term economic growth and prosperity for all of Massachusetts.

With that goal in mind, we are writing to you as business leaders who support increased investments in education, infrastructure and innovation. As members of the business community, we understand that, as a region, we are competing for talent, capital and other resources in order to be the best place in the world to build a business. Massachusetts desperately needs a well educated workforce, well maintained roads, good transit systems and safe neighborhoods in which companies will want to do business and people will want to live. These needs exist throughout the entire state, which needs to be knit together more tightly to fulfill its vision as a tightly knit, economic powerhouse.

We strongly believe that making these wise investments today will help prepare our Commonwealth to compete in an increasingly global economy tomorrow.

The Campaign for Our Communities, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and Governor Deval Patrick have put forward bold proposals to raise an additional $2 billion in revenue for Massachusetts. The new funds these plans would generate would support high-quality early education, provide exceptional K-12 schools, and increase access to college for all Massachusetts families. They would also permit us to make crucial investments in our infrastructure and transportation systems.

We recognize that any comprehensive vision such as this one requires debate and consideration to weigh its implications. We hope that the final legislation seeks to raise the additional revenue in a manner that is most fair to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

We hope you will join us in embracing the opportunity that is now at hand to make the necessary investments today to build our economy and strengthen our Commonwealth for the years ahead.

Sincerely,

Jeff Bussgang

Immigration Reform's Time Has Come

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:52:37 -0500

Two recent articles in the NY Times and Wall St Journal suggest that comprehensive immigration reform alongside high-skilled immigration reform will finally come together in a bipartisan bill. Keep your eye out for a “virtual march” that supporters will be organizing in the coming months to galvanize support.

Jobs Creation Commission Report

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:04:27 -0500

Some good data here on the Massachusetts economy, particularly figures 1-3. Neat to see that we over-index on software employment by 250%!

Michael Dukakis on Transportation

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:19:28 -0500

Michael Dukakis on Transportation:

“For a first-class economic future, the Commonwealth requires a first-class transportation system.”

H1B Visas, Available in April, Ran Out in June

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 07:54:00 -0500

H1B Visas, Available in April, Ran Out in June:

2013 will be the year of immigration reform. The drumbeat continues.

Patrick says tuition breaks are just first step toward wider immigration changes

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:44:44 -0500

Patrick says tuition breaks are just first step toward wider immigration changes:

This is a great step forward for attracting talented immigrants to Massachusetts and encouraging them to attend our universities.

"Identifying the real Romney on any major issue — social, economic, or foreign — is impossible,” -..."

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:16:31 -0400

““Identifying the real Romney on any major issue — social, economic, or foreign — is impossible,”
- Boston Globe editorial endorsing President Obama”

- http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2012/10/28/election-endorsement-barack-obama-deserves-another-term/KuJG4aANDHHpEqKVYsLIaM/story.html

Broadway Revue Musical Performance (By My Wife!)

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 09:50:01 -0400

On Saturday, December 1st at 7:00pm, my wife and two other singers are performing a Broadway Revue at the Rashi School in Dedham, MA. For those who don’t know, Lynda was a professional performer from the age of eight and continued her musical career after college in NYC until retiring at the ripe age of 23 to marry me and build a family.

She has performed occasionally since, including this New Hampshire performance of Les Miserables, but this will be her first major performance in a long, long time. Please come if you can - it will be a night to remember!

The ‘Moderate Mitt’ Myth

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 16:18:59 -0400

The ‘Moderate Mitt’ Myth:

From the beginning of his presidential campaign, Mitt Romney has offered to transfigure himself any which way to achieve power. Nothing’s changed.

A funny, short video linking Senator Brown with Governor Romney....

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 08:23:24 -0400

A funny, short video linking Senator Brown with Governor Romney. A recent poll has Romney losing to Obama in his home state by 27 points!

Love This Assessment from HuffPo of the First Warren-Brown Debate

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 21:57:12 -0400

Love This Assessment from HuffPo of the First Warren-Brown Debate

The Swiss Are Awesome

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:58:11 -0400

The Swiss Are Awesome:

Republican Economist Praises Obama

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 11:27:41 -0400

Republican Economist Praises Obama:

The thing I take the most exception to is the argument that government screed up here - government saved our bacon. It was very costly, but the cost would have been measurably different and greater had the government not interceded. The totality of what [Obama] has done will ultimately go down in history as a success.

- Mark Zandi, chief economist, Moody’s Analytics, McCain advisor

edgrapenutzimm.blogspot.com

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:23:43 -0400

edgrapenutzimm.blogspot.com:

Great personalization of why the public sector and the private sector are so inter-twined and the “you’re on your own” ethos is a false one.

The Economist: We Are Better Off Than 4 Years Ago

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:55:30 -0400

The Economist weighs in this week on the central question for this election. People forget what a freefall we were in four years ago.

Not since 1933 had an American president taken the oath of office in an economic climate as grim as it was when Barack Obama put his left hand on the Bible in January 2009.

Most analysts complain that China overtaking the US in GDP is...

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 06:42:25 -0400

Most analysts complain that China overtaking the US in GDP is bad news, but I’m not convinced. The rise of China and India and Rest of World seems like a bonus for US and Europe as it will mean more wealth created for all. I guess we’ll be hearing a lot more about this in 2016-2018 when the crossover is due to occur.

Can We Finally Address Immigration Reform?

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 09:29:00 -0400

In the midst of this political season, can we have a serious discussion about the self-inflicted harm of our immigration policies? A few data points:

The Boston Globe reports that we are pushing away immigrant workers for the summer, despite business complaints that there aren’t enough locals to fill the necessary jobs.
California farmers, like many others, can’t find enough field hands due to the drop in skilled workers.
Apparently, 80% of Congress supports the StartUp Act 2.0, which will help encourage immigrants with science and engineering expertise to remain in the US, yet it still hasn’t passed!

Can we finally address this issue?

Speaker DeLeo Has Facebook On His Mind

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:47:05 -0400

Great to see the Massachusetts Speaker actually putting words into action with a budget proposal that invests in fostering entrepreneurship. Well done.

Jobs, Worker Training and Hope

Sun, 06 May 2012 19:36:39 -0400

One of our economy’s biggest challenges is to figure out how to solve the skills mismatch problem - training middle class and lower income Americans to be productive in the innovation economy. Two terrific articles in today’s Sunday Globe give a glimpse of hope: (1) the value of certificate programs, which are growing in popularity; (2) the explosion of part-time programs at universities. ”The combination can be grueling, but a master’s degree or higher can act as insurance…or provide an advantage over job-seeking rivals.”

Mass economy growth doubles US pace

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:27:34 -0400

Mass economy growth doubles US pace:

Amazing to see how strong the state’s economy has been, with 4.5% growth in Q1. The Innovation Economy is leading the way, yet we can’t rest on our laurels. Too many are left behind and the global competitive market is extraordinarily tough.