Despite Gov. Patrick's desire to get something done quickly, state Rep. Steven Walsh, D-Lynn, says it's more important to get it right when it comes to containing the cost of health care in the Bay State.
Walsh, who co-chairs the Legislature's Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, drew a packed house when he spoke before the North Shore Chamber of Commerce at Salem's Hawthorne Hotel Wednesday morning. And he assured the assembled business people, for whom the cost of providing health insurance to their employees is a major issue, that something will be done before legislators begin their election-year recess in July.
Walsh, who is often mentioned as a candidate for higher office, entertained the group with observations both serious and humorous on the state of the health-care industry and how costs might be brought under control.
He observed at one point that those health insurance policies upon which we all rely are like those flimsy hospital gowns: "They never cover you as much as you think they do."
• • •
From the mouths of dictators: Time magazine this week quoted Cuba's Fidel Castro describing the Republican presidential contest as "the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been."
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That was some stretch by The Washington Post this week when it tried to link Congressman John Tierney's advocacy and earmark for a new garage at the Salem MBTA station with his ownership of an office building several blocks away.
The Salem congressman has long held a quarter share of the downtown building that housed his former law practice, and it's seemingly been forever that Salem officials have been seeking funds for a new garage at the train depot.
A new parking facility would be a boon to commuters and the city, but would likely have very slight impact, if any, on the value of Tierney's property. The real scandal is that the garage hasn't been built yet.
• • •
Not that it's a bad thing, but having Salem Recreation Director Doug Bollen monitor the number of road races in the city is akin to putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop. Bollen, an avid runner, is as responsible as anyone for making the Witch City the road-racing capital of the region.
Some members of City Council feel there are too many races already. But members of its Committee on Public Health, Safety and the Environment this week approved applications for two more.
• • •
Salem City Council President Joan Lovely took out papers at Peabody City Hall this week to run for the 2nd Essex state senate seat being vacated by Fred Berry.
Smart move, given that her two declared opponents — former state Rep. John Slattery and Governor's Councilor Mary-Ellen Manning — are both from Peabody.
Lovely has been making the rounds of the district, which includes Beverly, Danvers and Topsfield, and was the only candidate to show for both Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon's inaugural ball two Fridays ago and his state-of-the-city speech this week.
Lovely, by the way will officially kick off her campaign with an event on Sunday, March 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Salem's Hawthorne Hotel.
• • •
Boxford's Donald Bumiller has announced his candidacy for the 5th District Governor's Council seat being vacated by Manning.
A lawyer with an office at the Cummings Center in Beverly, Bumiller plans to kick off his campaign with an event at the Polish Club in Danvers at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 1.
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Nelson Benton's column on North Shore politics appears every Friday in this space. Follow him daily on Twitter (@nelsonbenton).
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