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Editorial: On Beacon Hill, some good ideas, some overreach on health care

abagley — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:02:49 -0500

The health care market is already changing. As Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, notes, the state is making “dramatic progress” in transforming its health care system and slowing the growth in costs.

Health-care reform: Good intentions, but approach is suspect

abagley — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:44:27 -0500

Early last year a group of business-affiliated organizations including the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, came out in opposition to the bill.

House vs. Senate Health Reform Plans: Let The Comparison Shopping Begin

abagley — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:49:57 -0500

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, criticized the House’s luxury tax on expensive providers and the “vast powers’’ of an independent new agency “that is going to be inserting itself into the health care system in a major way.’’

Mass. plans vie for savings on health care

abagley — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:08:44 -0500

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said the ... Senate’s spending benchmark “strikes a better balance than the House between the need to squeeze cost out of the health care system without damaging the state’s world renowned health care sector.’’

Our View: Health care reform - Good intentions, but approach is suspect

abagley — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:27:27 -0500

Early last year, a group of business-affiliated organizations, including the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, came out in opposition to the bill.

Unfunded retirement benefits a 'time bomb' set to explode for Lowell-area communities

abagley — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:32:29 -0500

According to a Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation study released in February 2011, Billerica ranks 36th statewide in total pension and post-employment benefits, or OPEB, provided to employees, adding up to $307.34 million.

Mass. House touts savings in health care payment bill

abagley — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:55:21 -0500

Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said the bill "inserts government into the marketplace to an extent that carries serious risks for the state’s world renowned health care system."

Keller @ Large: Looking Back At Gov. Mitt Romney’s First 100 Days

cdouglas — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:23:22 -0500

“Gov. Mitt Romney’s first budget proposal contains overdue and comprehensive reforms of the way state government operates but is undercut by overstated claims regarding its short-term fiscal benefits," according to the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Earmarks making return in House budget plan

abagley — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:11:55 -0500

Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said the number of earmarks in this budget pales in comparison to prefiscal-crisis spending plans. Earmarks also represent political victories for legislators, particularly in an election year, he said. "They're bringing home the bacon, so to speak," said Widmer.

Romney Used Fees to Close Budget Gap

abagley — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:18:48 -0500

"It was a grab bag of fee increases across the board to close the budget deficit," said Michael Widmer, president of the nonpartisan Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-backed fiscal watchdog group.