After secret trip, Gov. Charlie Baker says he'll disclose out-of-state travel

[unhappycamper]

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/after_secret_trip_gov_charlie.html#incart_river_home

After secret trip, Gov. Charlie Baker says he'll disclose out-of-state travel
by MATT MURPHY
on March 17, 2016 at 5:53 PM, updated March 17, 2016 at 5:59 PM

Downplaying the appearance that he and his staff sought to hide his participation in a secretive summit of conservative leaders in Georgia earlier this month, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday said he did not engage in reported discussions about how to stop the rise of Donald Trump.

Baker traveled to Sea Island, a posh resort off the coast of Georgia, on the first weekend in March for the World Forum, a conference hosted by the Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute.

The gathering featured interviews and discussions with conservative political and thought leaders such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, political strategist Karl Rove and commentator Bill Kristol, as well as business leaders like Apple's Tim Cook. President Barack Obama's top economic advisor was also at the conference for a panel that Baker attended.

Baker, according to an agenda published by Huffington Post, took part in a panel himself on reinventing education, including approaches to vocational education, apprenticeships and prison re-entry programs.

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Our gov loves charter schools.

[MADem]

1. Guy is a MORON. I am sickened that the Commonwealth elected him.

He's the latest recipient of a Bro advantage. Empty suit.

[unhappycamper]

2. He's not as bad as Jindal or Brownback.

I have a few problems with this guy:

1. Hates solar/wind alternative energy and is pushing to lay new natural gas lines throughout the state. The new gas lines will be paid for by Mass electric customers.

2. Loves charter schools.

[MADem]

3. Electric costs have already gone through the roof.

Any savings from gas prices going down are eaten up, even if you sit in the dark!

He'll be fracking next if we don't stay on him.

[unhappycamper]

4. I saw this earlier when I was nosing around:

http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_29650857/boston-area-electricity-gas-prices-well-above-national

Boston-area electricity, gas prices well above national average
The Lowell Sun
Updated: 03/17/2016 10:24:50 AM EDT
By Michael P. Norton
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

BOSTON -- Energy prices in the Boston area are down from a year ago, but remain well above national averages, contributing to the area's high cost of living.

According to data released Wednesday, Boston households paid an average 20.3 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity in February, down from 22.5 cents in February 2015. But compared to the national average of 13.4 cents per kilowatt hour, electricity prices in Boston were about 52 percent higher.

Similarly, according to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, natural gas prices paid by Boston area consumers in February were more than 30 percent higher than the national average - $1.167 per therm compared to $0.895 per therm. Households in the area have paid between 25.8 and 30.4 percent more than the national average for natural gas in February in each of the last five years.

Gasoline prices averaged $1.79 per gallon in the Boston area in February 2016, or 46 cents less than the average price in the area in February 2015. AAA reported Monday that its weekly price survey showed prices in Massachusetts had spiked 9 cents a gallon over last week.

[MADem]

5. Yep--it's only the mild winter we've had this year that have kept prices in check for natural gas.

I can't imagine what the bills would look like if we'd had a worse winter this year.