Copyright 2000 Globe Newspaper Company
The Boston
Globe
January 21, 2000, Friday ,THIRD EDITION
SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. A26
LENGTH: 353 words
HEADLINE:
CELLUCCI'S AMBITIOUS AGENDA
BODY:
Like a lawyer
avoiding a hostile environment by seeking a change of venue for an important
trial, Governor Paul Cellucci took his annual State of the State speech to
Lowell last night. He thereby secured an audience with varied backgrounds rather
than the faces of the 200 senators and representatives on Beacon Hill
-
163 of them Democrats - who have not given him many legislative victories in the
past 2 1/2 years. "I am here in Lowell because the state of our
state isn't about the state of affairs inside the State House," he said.
Aspects of Cellucci's move were healthy. There is a lot more to
Massachusetts than Boston, or even Greater Boston, and those of us who spend
most of our time in the capital can use a reminder. The governor from Hudson is
a fit messenger. Also, a location less imbued with politics than the State House
can be a refreshing change.
At the same time, Cellucci is the top
elected official in the Commonwealth - the head of government. He cannot lead
the state effectively unless he finds a way to work with other officials,
especially in the Legislature, more productively than he did last year.
This is no easy job given the large Democratic majorities in both
branches. Still, Republicans William Weld and Francis Sargent managed to fashion
strong legislative records by working with Democrats, and President Clinton has
had surprising success with a Republican-led Congress.
In his
wide-ranging speech, Cellucci came out for a permanent ban on Internet
sales taxes, a positive move that puts him at odds with most of his
fellow governors, including George W. Bush of Texas. But Cellucci's familiar
arguments for a deep cut in the Massachusetts income tax rate were at
cross-purposes with other estimable goals he embraced in education, affordable
housing, and health care. His strong pledge to maintain quality health care at a
tumultuous time for the system was most welcome.
The agenda, as he
acknowledged, requires cooperation with, and from, the Legislature. Cellucci
faces an uphill task, one he will not accomplish without successfully scaling
Beacon Hill.
LOAD-DATE: January 21, 2000
