WE WON ―
we defeated the Community Benefit Districts tax!
Yesterday I had a long-awaited
appointment with the dentist to put in a new crown.
The appointment was at 12:15, and the House was
scheduled to gavel in its final session of the year at
noon. I considered rescheduling my appointment but
really was looking forward to chewing again, so instead
arrived at the dentist early, at 11:30, hoping they
could take me sooner. At 12:30 I was still sitting
in the waiting room feeling a mounting anxiety. I
was told an "emergency" had come in, that the doctor
would be with me as soon as possible.
I told the receptionist I had to
reschedule. I felt like the commander in a great
war, my infantry are in full assault across the enemy
lines, the battle has begun to rage
― I can't tell the troops
I'm back here behind the lines waiting on the dentist,
go ahead without me, I'll catch up with you later."
I walked out, will return later today.
Back at my office, I watched the House
session ― until 1:15 AM
last night, making calls, exchanging e-mails. When
the House recessed at 1:12 AM this morning I still
didn't know whether or not the Community Benefit
Districts amendment was included in the economic
development bill that passed on a vote of 151-0 at 12:25
AM last night!When I awoke and got back to my desk at
7:00 this morning, nothing anywhere reported
whether it was included or not
— who won, who lost.
I made some phone calls when I thought
others in the know might be awake, just now got
confirmation from Bob Katzen at Beacon Hill Roll Call
that our opposition was victorious
― that we beat back the inevitable, miraculously
turned around a May vote of 149-2 and won the war for
the taxpayers. He thought it was a truly amazing,
an almost unbelievable victory. Bob agreed it
likely succeeded due to the left/right coalition we put
together, and the pressure we quickly assembled and
brought to bear on legislators.
While it didn't pass last night, Bob
Katzen noted that it is still alive as a standalone bill
passed by the House and Senate and awaiting just
enactment. That could come up at any time in the
next five months during the Legislature's ongoing
"informal" sessions. But during low-attendance
informal sessions all it takes is one vote in opposition
to stop it. This will require vigilance from our
allies in the Legislature.
I gave every-damn-thing I had to win
this battle. I wanted so much for CLT to go out
with one more big victory for all the taxpayers
of Massachusetts.
So often over the decades what CLT has
succeeded at, with little if any recognition or fanfare,
is the bad things it has managed to prevent.
It paid off, it happened again, and I am
thrilled. I expect it will be our final gift to
all the taxpayers of the commonwealth, whether
recognized and appreciated or not.
Great job Team CLT
― it wouldn't have happened
without your calls and e-mails to
your legislators.