Mass. governor signs utility legislation - Sentinel & Enterprise

[unenrolled voter]

It is truly unfortunate that so many of these posters will NEVER be satisfied with ANYTHING their elected officials do (at the local, state or federal level).

I think much of that is due to the fact that most people have no clue what these people do, so they just assume they do nothing. It is, of course, untrue and, moreover, unfair.

No, they are not always right, and I often disagree with them...sometimes vehemently. But times like this, when they have done something helpful and positive they should be commended.

[Utility Worker]

unenrolled voter wrote:

It is truly unfortunate that so many of these posters will NEVER be satisfied with ANYTHING their elected officials do (at the local, state or federal level).
I think much of that is due to the fact that most people have no clue what these people do, so they just assume they do nothing. It is, of course, untrue and, moreover, unfair.
No, they are not always right, and I often disagree with them...sometimes vehemently. But times like this, when they have done something helpful and positive they should be commended.

You could just as easily substitute the words "utility companies" for "elected officials" and you have an equally valid point.

[Bev]

unenrolled voter wrote:

It is truly unfortunate that so many of these posters will NEVER be satisfied with ANYTHING their elected officials do (at the local, state or federal level).
I think much of that is due to the fact that most people have no clue what these people do, so they just assume they do nothing. It is, of course, untrue and, moreover, unfair.
No, they are not always right, and I often disagree with them...sometimes vehemently. But times like this, when they have done something helpful and positive they should be commended.

That's the problem, we DO know what they do, NOTHING! This legislation was not really helpful, just redundant.

[Too funny]

Doug wrote:

What happened to benson's hair? Did she stick her finger in a light socket?

I think she got caught in the rain, or the groomers gave her a poodle cut.

[Leominster Resident]

Lunenburg wrote:

<quoted text>
I find Flanagan repulsive also. My daughter's Social Studies class had to write letters to Flanagan and Benson and Flanagan did not answer a single letter. You would think...so what, except she was contacted by the school and assured the school she would respond. every other politician responded over a month ago.

So do I!!! Oh no, "Flapagan" only responds when its to her benefit or when she gets a photo op out of it....

Also, if there is too much negative blogs about her,it "magically" disappears....

[Stamos]

I think Deval is doing a wonderful job
keep up the good work man

[Jim]

Stamos wrote:

I think Deval is doing a wonderful job
keep up the good work man

your joking right?????? because he's not--that's for sure

[Jenny not Craig]

Wow - has Benson put on a ton of weight. Fat Cat.

[euclid]

you looneyburg dopes still dont get it.
some of you think if unitil goes into receivership the town gets it! what a joke u people are.

[Tom B]

citizen from Lunenburg wrote:

<quoted text>
Don't you have anything better to say than talk about a hair do? Get a life Doug...congratulations to the Benson and Flanagan for working to help our communities.

I'd really like to know what did Benson do? I can't find anything on her website that says she did any work on it.

[AaronA]

I asked Speaker DeLeo at Dinatale's fundraising event at Slattery a couple months back what he thought of the muni bill and he was not in support of it.I don't know if anyone would argue that here in Mass,what the Speaker wants he gets and he doesn't seem to want the muni legislation to pass,at least not during this session.
Maybe if DeLeo heard directly from more constituents in favor of the muni bills he might change his mind.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm...

[new rates 2010]

Unitil rates are going up 11.5% in 2010, how can they do this??????????

[Lunenburgian]

unenrolled voter wrote:

It is truly unfortunate that so many of these posters will NEVER be satisfied with ANYTHING their elected officials do (at the local, state or federal level).
I think much of that is due to the fact that most people have no clue what these people do, so they just assume they do nothing. It is, of course, untrue and, moreover, unfair.
No, they are not always right, and I often disagree with them...sometimes vehemently. But times like this, when they have done something helpful and positive they should be commended.

Like I posted before, we expect our well paid state legislators (with expense report perks) to work very hard for us, each and every day that they are in office, with our (their constituents) best interests in mind. The ice storm was not just an unfortunate demonstration of how poorly Unitil is managed and how over-billed we are but it brought out the dubious relationships that our local politicains forge with lobbiests. Our politicains hoped they could do a little damage control and it would all go away. Fortunately for us, a citizens group gave them a good kick in the arse and kept on top of them. It would have been nice to see the governor invite one of the seniors who rode out the 10-12 days without power to be on stage with him and holding the pen hand in hand with him while he signed the bill - to bad others had to bask in the limelight instead.

[Tom B]

Lunenburgian wrote:

<quoted text>
Like I posted before, we expect our well paid state legislators (with expense report perks) to work very hard for us, each and every day that they are in office, with our (their constituents) best interests in mind. The ice storm was not just an unfortunate demonstration of how poorly Unitil is managed and how over-billed we are but it brought out the dubious relationships that our local politicains forge with lobbiests. Our politicains hoped they could do a little damage control and it would all go away. Fortunately for us, a citizens group gave them a good kick in the **** and kept on top of them. It would have been nice to see the governor invite one of the seniors who rode out the 10-12 days without power to be on stage with him and holding the pen hand in hand with him while he signed the bill - to bad others had to bask in the limelight instead.

I am still wondering what good this legislation does anyways (except get the Gov. out here for a photo op)? Isn't it a no brainer that if this happens again we would want another utility company. So this useless legislation says that if this happens again, you can get another company, but this will NOT happen overnight when needed, so what is the point????

[Stamos]

RAISING TAXES IS A GOOD THING I know it sounds like I'm flip flopping on the issues here,.... please allow me to explain,....you see,.I Think I am an intelligent person. I have moments where I am completely rational, when I make so much sense that the school professors want to publish my work. At other times, I'm completely lost, hallucinating up a storm. I think that's where people get confused. They can't understand how someone as bright as I am can so quickly dissolve into a pile of senseless jibber-jabber. Hell, I don't even know how I do it.

I can't go 24 hours without a couple of major psychotic episodes. I am all alone, with no one to help me reality check. I have an individual therapist, but I am not his only patient, and I don't like to bother him with my crazy questions and irrational fears. So, I sit at home in my Mother’s refurbished basement Inlaw apartment and suffer alone along side my 12 year old computer with windows “95”. I can't sleep because of the nightmares. Sometimes I forget to eat, because I forget that I have to actually put the food in my mouth in order to get the benefits of satiation. I know. Unbelievable. I can understand braided time-space, but I can't seem to understand that I have to eat in order to gain nutrition. I don't get it. I swear I don't get it.

[Excallaber]

THE SINKING OF THE SHIP
this is how you send that ship to the bottom
everyone holds their payment, and puts it in escrow till spring, remember The Law says they cant shut off people in the winter, sink it and get it over with.

[Tom B]

Stamos wrote:

RAISING TAXES IS A GOOD THING I know it sounds like I'm flip flopping on the issues here,.... please allow me to explain,....you see,.I Think I am an intelligent person. I have moments where I am completely rational, when I make so much sense that the school professors want to publish my work. At other times, I'm completely lost, hallucinating up a storm. I think that's where people get confused. They can't understand how someone as bright as I am can so quickly dissolve into a pile of senseless jibber-jabber. Hell, I don't even know how I do it.
I can't go 24 hours without a couple of major psychotic episodes. I am all alone, with no one to help me reality check. I have an individual therapist, but I am not his only patient, and I don't like to bother him with my crazy questions and irrational fears. So, I sit at home in my Mother’s refurbished basement Inlaw apartment and suffer alone along side my 12 year old computer with windows “95”. I can't sleep because of the nightmares. Sometimes I forget to eat, because I forget that I have to actually put the food in my mouth in order to get the benefits of satiation. I know. Unbelievable. I can understand braided time-space, but I can't seem to understand that I have to eat in order to gain nutrition. I don't get it. I swear I don't get it.

Don't forget to take your meds today!

[partially correct]

Ruth wrote:

<quoted text>
If they did such a "great job", why didn't they get a new utility company? Typical politicians, trying to make us think they are helping us.

So Ruth you want socialism?
You want this government to have the ability to just take over a private company based on poor performance or your whim?
At least this legislation creates a framework for repercussions from future failures-sorry Tom B, instant gratification is not happening.
And yes, the citizen's group has been helpful in keeping pressure on, but they were not a factor in getting the power back on or getting state leadership out here during the outage to see the mess and lack of response, all of which has been a significant driving force.
Give credit where credit is due.

[Tiffany from Fitchburg]

Excallaber wrote:

THE SINKING OF THE SHIP
this is how you send that ship to the bottom
everyone holds their payment, and puts it in escrow till spring, remember The Law says they cant shut off people in the winter, sink it and get it over with.

They can shut people off in the winter. The moratorium only applies if: you have a financial hardship AND

you, or someone in your home, is seriously ill; or

you have an infant in the home under 12 months; or

it is between November 15 and March 15 and you need the service to heat your home; or

all adults in the home are age 65 or older and a minor child resides in the home.

A financial hardship exists when a customer is unable to pay an overdue bill and such customer meets income eligibility requirements for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (“LIHEAP”) administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. You may be eligible for assistance if your household income does not exceed 60% of the state median income. More information can be found on the Department of Housing and Community Development website. For the most recent LIHEAP Income Eligibility Chart information, look in the “60% of Estimated State Median Income ” column. Alternatively, the Department of Public Utilities may determine that a financial hardship exists. 220 C.M.R.§ 25.01.

Source: http://www.mass.gov/...

[Ruth]

partially correct wrote:

<quoted text>
So Ruth you want socialism?
You want this government to have the ability to just take over a private company based on poor performance or your whim?
At least this legislation creates a framework for repercussions from future failures-sorry Tom B, instant gratification is not happening.
And yes, the citizen's group has been helpful in keeping pressure on, but they were not a factor in getting the power back on or getting state leadership out here during the outage to see the mess and lack of response, all of which has been a significant driving force.
Give credit where credit is due.

Not to change the subject, but isn't this where Obama is taking this country? Doesn't he think that the Govt can and will run everything?