PAX Centurion - March / April 2013

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • March/April 2013 • Page 3 President’s Report: Thomas J. Nee, BPPA President Federal, State and Municipal Politics in 2013 The partisan politics and political atmosphere in Washington D.C. over the past few years has for all intents and purposes have put the brakes on the functionality of the Federal Government. Many of our members don’t spend much time worrying about does the Congress and President get along, I usually don’t either. But as a result of the stalemates going on down there the recent implementation of the automatic budget cuts known as the sequestration could have a long range effect in Massachusetts. W hile the BPPA has been so hyper-focused on the Interest Arbitration process, there have been so many changes in the political environment that directly affect our members and their families. With the confirmation and appointment of U.S. Senator John Kerry to the position of Secretary of State we are pre- sented with an opportunity to elect a new U.S. Senator. Recently the BPPA endorsed US Congressman Stephen Lynch. Steve has always been held in high regard by the BPPA and after our experience with him as an elected State Representative and State Senator, always willing to take the difficult position and vote as well as advancing legislation important to our members and their families made this endorsement easy. The Democratic Party seemingly wanted to have a coronation with Congressman Ed Mar- key, we at the BPPA were happy to see that Congressman Lynch entered the fray on behalf of the working class. On the State side of the equation, the powerful Senate seat held by Jack Hart was vacated midterm and will require a special election in the spring. Spring is in the air and this is an important election for the BPPA in that Senator Hart was our quarterback in the waterfront jurisdiction legislation. We can ill afford any setbacks or a candidate who can’t hit the ground running with this important legislation. As of this time we have not endorsed anyone in the field of candidates. On the city side of the slate, Boston’s first Italian-American and longest-serving Mayor, Thomas Menino, formally an- nounced that he won’t be seeking re-elec- tion for a sixth term this fall. His decision not to run for office again has triggered a political scramble to replace him as a new generation of political figures eye the mayor’s office and set the stage for Bos- ton’s most competitive mayoral race since 1993 when Menino first won the office. Throughout the years, Mayor Menino and the BPPA have had many challenges in their relationship, well documented differences. But even though we’ve had our differences, the City of Boston as accomplished much during his stewardship. He built his reputation by focusing on the unglamorous nuts and bolts of running a major metropolitan city and the lack of scandals during his 20 years as Mayor is unheard of in today’s world. One would only have to look at the Boston skyline, the cranes in the air with all the new de- velopment. As a result of the Contract Arbitration we’ve seen the City of Boston’s financial books and even though we’ve experienced and endured two recessions in the last twelve years, you wouldn’t know it by looking at their books and that’s not happening anywhere else in the country. A job well done Mr. Mayor, for all the issues that the BPPA seemingly fights for everyday and especially for our retirees, we wish you well in your post retirement “new chapter,” enjoying the benefits and fruits of your labor, good health and happiness. Sequestration and the Impact to Law Enforcement I n the last month I’ve gotten a number of calls with regards to what is sequestration and how does it affect the law enforcement community in Boston. I know many members don’t have the time to look past all the ravaging of their benefits by their local elected officials these days, but there are many who understand that a lot of the decisions being made inWashington affect their lives. Let me try and articulate what I know at this point. The partisan politics and political atmosphere inWashington D.C. over the past few years has for all intents and purposes have put the brakes on the functional- ity of the Federal Government. Many of our members don’t spend much time worrying about does the Congress and President get along, I usually don’t either. But as a result of the stalemates going on down there the recent implementation of the automatic budget cuts known as the sequestration could have a long range effect in Massachusetts. The sequestration though poorly explained in most media outlets is an agreement that forces the President and Congress to either agree on Federal Deficit Reduction or automatically begin the cuts without agreement. It’s all part of the Budget Control Act of 2011. It is supposed to implement $1 trillion in cuts agreed to by the President and the Congressional leaders in an attempt to tackle the $16 trillion national debt and as part of the agreement to increase the debt limit of the Federal Government. The deal was supposed to be done before March 1, 2013 or the automatic ($1.2 trillion) across the board annual budget cuts would commence. It was reported at that time that the fear of such dramatic cuts would force the President and the Congressional leaders to sit down and work together. Obviously that didn’t happen. Since the March deadline has come and gone I haven’t met anyone who has experienced the effects of the cuts though it is reported that there will be major cuts in defense spending, furloughs for federal employees and a slowdown in services provided by the Feds. The only concern I think our profession has here in Boston with these cuts is the threat to the COPS and JAG-BYRNE grants. Boston has experienced great benefit from these grants in recent years, nearly $40 million worth. If that money were to go away, certainly it’s a large enough sum that we would experience some sort of discomfort. The safety of the citizens is the government’s primary responsibility. Let’s hope that they get this one right and straighten it out. In closing, we are at the halfway point in the Interest Arbitration process and hoping to have something to report to the members soon. Stick together and stay safe out there. In Unity there is Strength, from our Strength comes our Honor.