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Population drop raises concern over House seats
Transcript Statehouse Bureau ^ | December 26 | Rebecca Fater

Posted on 12/26/2005 8:24:26 PM PST by george76

Massachusetts has lost thousands in population over the last two years, according to newly released U.S. Census numbers.

But the numbers do more than signal an...exodus from the Bay State...

It puts Massachusetts in danger of losing yet another congressional seat after 2010, when the House of Representatives is reapportioned.

"It's discouraging," said Phil Johnston, chairman of the state Democratic Party. "It means we're losing political clout with the Congress, and it's not good."

Since 1920, when Massachusetts had 16 representatives, the state has seen a steady decline, down to the current 10 representatives...

"It would be likely we would lose one (seat)," said U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Lowell. "But it's not out of the realm of possibility we could lose two."

Federal aid for various programs is distributed according to population, which means Massachusetts could start seeing fewer federal dollars...

One less seat also means less say in who becomes president of the United States.

"Assuming we lose a House seat, we lose a vote in the Electoral College, and someone else picks up a vote, (probably) in the south," ...

That means the more conservative southern states would have additional influence on the presidential pick.

Matt Wylie, executive director of the state's Republican Party, suggested Massachusetts legislators might have only themselves to blame.

"It's the will of the people," Wylie said, referring to a rollback of the state's income tax that voters supported in 2000, which the Legislature — controlled by the Democratic Party — has yet to perform.

"They ask for something and say this is what we expect to have happen. And when the (Democrats) don't do it, (the Democrats) say why are you leaving?"

(Excerpt) Read more at thetranscript.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: 109th; 2010; apportionment; boston; bush; bush43; census; democraticparty; electoralcollege; hightaxes; leaving; loseaseat; migration; tax; taxes; usa; uscensus; votewithyourfeet
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To: metmom

I got out last year as my job dried up. Too cost prohibitive to have a business there. We're still in New England but at least we have a fighting chance now.


41 posted on 12/26/2005 9:26:18 PM PST by kpbruinfan ("Try as they might, they cannot steal your dreams." - Neil Peart)
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To: Tall_Texan

Time for Barney to retire.


42 posted on 12/26/2005 9:31:48 PM PST by Liberty Wins (Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of all who threaten it.)
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To: mvpel
Rats leave a sinking ship, but they stay put in a sinking Democrat-run state.

Huh? Is a sinking Democrat-run state better than a sinking ship? They both sound like hell holes to me.

43 posted on 12/26/2005 9:33:08 PM PST by rcrngroup
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To: quantim; AmericanDave

The problem with the Senate is that they are no longer the voice of the states. The 17th amendment was very bad for our former constitutional republic.


44 posted on 12/26/2005 9:37:13 PM PST by MichiganConservative (Government IS the problem.)
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Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: balch3

"Good that Mass is losing clout. Bad that these liberal pukes are moving elsewhere and infecting other areas."

Yeah, like a Mess of Mass Liberals who live off federal bureaucratic largesse (extended social work and non-profits), making a exodus to New Hampshire, and contaminating this Good State with leftist "values" like a state income tax and gay marriage. Does Cuba have an open door policy? They belong in Cuba.


46 posted on 12/26/2005 9:38:26 PM PST by purpleland (Vigilance and Valor! Socialism is the Opiate of Academia)
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To: george76
"It's discouraging," said Phil Johnston, chairman of the state Democratic Party. "It means we're losing political clout with the Congress, and it's not good."

Whooo-friggin-HOOOOOO!!! :) :)

47 posted on 12/26/2005 9:39:53 PM PST by Secret Agent Man
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To: All
"It's discouraging," said Phil Johnston, chairman of the state Democratic Party. "It means we're losing political clout with the Congress, and it's not good."

Quite the contrary. I think it is very heartening, and the best part about it is that they willingly did it to themselves. I might be so bold and filppant as to call it a matter of their "choice"...

"Assuming we lose a House seat, we lose a vote in the Electoral College, and someone else picks up a vote, (probably) in the south," ...

Well, a sincere thanks to all the fruitcakes for linking anti-Southern sentiment squarely with the left end of the political spectrum. You saved us a lot of trouble. Enjoy your shrinking power base, and just remember, it was a "choice" of your own doing.

48 posted on 12/26/2005 9:40:21 PM PST by AZ_Cowboy ("Merry Christmas!")
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To: george76

Frankly Barney I don't give a damn!


49 posted on 12/26/2005 9:44:24 PM PST by WideGlide (That light at the end of the tunnel might be a muzzle flash.)
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To: rasblue

"If Mass. is losing people why is real estate in Boston so darn expensive? Wacky zoning?"

Real Estate values and high rents only leftist elites can afford...while they play the class warfare game and exclude the "diversity" they champion.


50 posted on 12/26/2005 9:45:36 PM PST by purpleland (Vigilance and Valor! Socialism is the Opiate of Academia)
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To: AZ_Cowboy

"Assuming we lose a House seat, we lose a vote in the Electoral College, and someone else picks up a vote, (probably) in the south," ...

Are those liberals nice ?

Maybe they will lose two seats and lose two presidential votes.


51 posted on 12/26/2005 9:46:19 PM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

Aha, the truth begins to sink in on the M-ASS rats.


52 posted on 12/26/2005 9:47:27 PM PST by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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To: balch3

Or, the non-rats are leaving the sinking ship.


53 posted on 12/26/2005 9:48:12 PM PST by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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To: EagleUSA
Any surprise? RATS deserting a sinking ship -- literally...

The problem is that many of those fleeing Democrat scumbags who fouled their own nest will go to Republican states and foul them with their votes, next. I would prefer that Massachusetts become even more of a socialist welfare state and act as a magnet to attract as many parasite Democrats as possible. Let them all be concentrated in one place.

54 posted on 12/26/2005 9:48:23 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: george76

With the enormous egos of Kennedy and Kerry I don't see how there's room for anybody else in the whole state...


55 posted on 12/26/2005 9:50:04 PM PST by Liberty Valance ("Can't hide Freedom's song." ~ Starwise)
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To: quantim

There are those who would argue that cars don't need brakes either. I suppose if you drive off a lot of cliffs, brakes would seem to be a bit useless.


56 posted on 12/26/2005 9:52:03 PM PST by kylaka
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To: Barnacle
Perhaps they could become the Territory of Massachusetts?

Perhaps Bush could apologize for settling America and give the whole state back to the Indians and make it a non-voting reservation.
57 posted on 12/26/2005 10:03:13 PM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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To: Mears

It really is a pity - I've heard the people are wonderful and the scenery is superb. It is a shame that the politicians and elites they serve have made the place unliveable.

I would love to visit sometime, just to see it as it should be - in the snow, by the bay...


58 posted on 12/26/2005 10:09:37 PM PST by dandelion
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To: balch3

"Bad that these liberal pukes are moving elsewhere and infecting other areas."

My guess is that most among those that leave are the more conservative.

The fastest growing states are heavily conservative.


59 posted on 12/26/2005 10:15:46 PM PST by truth_seeker
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To: george76

Yep, they're a real hoot.

The real heck of it is that they've done it to themselves, and if they do what is needed to reverse the trend, they're going to lose a big chunk of the base!

And, of course, while all this is going on, their youth is moving out and embracing life in Red States.


60 posted on 12/26/2005 10:16:13 PM PST by AZ_Cowboy ("Merry Christmas!")
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