'Obamacare' likely topic at conservative gathering

BOSTON — President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is coming under renewed attack as some of the nation's leading conservatives gather for a New Hampshire summit thick with presidential implications.

Several potential Republican White House contenders — among them Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — headline a conference Saturday in Manchester, N.H., hosted by the conservative groups Citizens United and Americans for Prosperity.

Scheduled speakers also include real estate mogul Donald Trump, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. The gathering highlights the role of Koch Industries, the giant conglomerate headed by the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.

The Koch-affiliated Americans for Prosperity has already spent millions of dollars on health care-related attack ads aimed at Democratic senators in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Alaska, Colorado, Iowa and elsewhere. That's made the Koch brothers a prime target for Democratic criticism.

The summit comes as prospective presidential candidates begin to step up appearances in key states ahead of the 2016 presidential contest, even though New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation-presidential primary isn't planned for another two years. The speakers are expected to bash the Democratic-backed health care overhaul, a central issue in the GOP's midterm election strategy despite reports of strong enrollment figures.

The Obama administration announced this week that enrollment in the health care law has grown to 7.5 million Americans, a figure that exceeded expectations and gave Democrats a surprise success after a disastrous roll-out. It was welcome news for Democrats who've been forced to defend their support for the unpopular law derided by critics as "Obamacare."

As potential presidential candidates jockey for position, the stakes are high for the November midterm elections, where Republicans are fighting to claim the Senate majority. The shift would fundamentally transform the final two years of Obama's presidency.

In a conference call Friday, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., insisted that "Democrats are not running away from the Affordable Care Act."

Democratic National Committee spokesman Mike Czin noted that Republican opposition to the health care law was the foundation of the GOP's unsuccessful political strategy in 2012. He said that the debate has changed now that the law has been implemented and millions of people are enjoying its benefits.

"That's a debate that we're going to have and we're eager to have," Czin said.

At the same time, Van Hollen, who leads House Democrats' campaign arm, called for Republicans to defend their support for a GOP budget plan introduced this week that would repeal the health care law, transform Medicare, reintroduce the "doughnut hole" for prescription drug costs and enact deep cuts in education.

"Republicans in Iowa and New Hampshire are supporting an agenda that hurts middle-class families, hurts women, and will benefit billionaires like the Koch brothers," Van Hollen said.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

MCCA hiking garage fees

Parking rates at the Boston Common Garage will jump by as much as $6 a day this summer after a traffic consultant told the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority the city's low prices and high demand for spaces justifies the hike.

"There is a danger in not raising your rates enough," said Andy Hill of Desman Associates, claiming the popular garage could become "an attractive nuisance" overflowing with drivers scrambling for cheap spaces each day. He said the garage had to close 110 times in the last half of 2013 because it was full.

Parking on weekdays for less than an hour will increase from $10 to $12, effective this July. Rates will rise from $14 to $18 for 1-2 hours on weekdays; $18 to $24 for 2-3 hours; $23 to $28 for 3-10 hours; and $28 to $32 for 10-24 hours. Monthly reserved parking will soar by $300 to a price tag of $6,000 a year.

"While this raises the rates, it raises it to a level that's still 14 percent below the market in our district," said MCCA Executive Director James Rooney.

The increase will raise between $1.8 and $2.5 million for the MCCA, which is proposing a $1.1 billion expansion of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. But Rooney told the Herald the money will go toward its operating budget and won't be used for a proposed expansion.

The MCCA Board of Directors unanimously passed the rate hike yesterday, even though a few voiced concerns. Board member Jack Hart, the former South Boston state senator, said the public garage rates should remain affordable, especially as thousands of spaces disappear through the development of areas such as the Seaport.

"If you wanted, you could charge as much money as you wanted to," said Hart. "But I think we have a public responsibility."

Hill, the consultant, said that because of development and demand, 9,393 parking spaces are needed in downtown Boston.

For years, the Menino administration and the Boston Redevelopment Authority had replaced parking spaces with bike lanes and tiny street parks and slashed the required number of parking spaces developers had to provide for big projects.

The rate hike came two hours into the MCCA's monthly meeting yesterday and wasn't specifically listed on the board's agenda.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

VW Tiguan a tiger in crossover class

Mini SUV or maxi hatchback, the 2014 VW Tiguan 4motion fits both descriptions.

I found this spirited, four-door utility vehicle a fun and easy car to drive, particularly to park. The quick and tight turning radius and squared-off front and rear make this a great choice as a city crossover. The smallish dimensions belie a roomy rear seat, comfortable for two, but cargo space runs smaller than competitors, even with the back seats down. The ride is quiet and compliant even on rough roads.

Jump into the driver's seat and you're snug behind the familiar and well-made VW cockpit. All the controls are intuitive and well placed. The updated touch screen radio makes working your way around the dial a lot easier than clunky earlier models. The leatherette seating material was comfortable, very supportive and attractive, but I still find the VW cloth options a little more to my liking.

The SE is well equipped with many of the upgraded features demanded by consumers including Bluetooth, a back up camera, keyless entry and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The hands-free phone has better audio quality than many I've tested in a while, although the setup through the small dashboard display took a few more steps than some models.

The 2.0 liter 200 horsepower turbocharged engine is a feisty motor offering plenty of pop for this car and highway mileage was about 26 miles per gallon — around town you'll only get about 20 mpg. You have to run high octane to get the best performance out of this engine, but I thought it provided some fun exhaust notes. The all-wheel drive mated to a six-speed automatic really helps keep this tall vehicle on its pins and actually makes for decent handling. It's still a working truck that will get the kids to practice and then let you hit the home goods store for building supplies and yet still be a good commuter.

While many VW's have the striking elan of German styling, the Tiguan is content with its conservative features. There's some gentle body curves that help lead your eye along the car's waist and a small spoiler on the rear that completes the tailgate.

It's tall, giving you plenty of headroom, and it doesn't feel crowded while the squared nose and tail make for nifty maneuvering in tight spots.

In a very crowded field that includes cars such as the Kia Sportage, Mazda 5, Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue, the MSRP of $32,440 delivered pushes toward the high side of the competition.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Oil pipe leak blamed for tainted water in China

BEIJING — An oil pipe leak caused excessive levels of the toxic chemical benzene in a major Chinese city's water supply, prompting warnings against drinking from the tap and sending residents to queue up to buy bottled water.

The scare, which has affected more than 2.4 million people in the northwestern city of Lanzhou, has once again raised concerns over safety of China's oil pipes.

Last year, a ruptured oil pipeline resulted in explosions in the eastern city of Qingdao, killing 62 people.

In Lanzhou, a crude oil pipeline run by the state-owned China National Petroleum Corp. had a leak that tainted the source water feeding a local water plant, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Phone calls to the oil company's local and national offices rang unanswered on Saturday.

The city of Lanzhou said it has been monitoring levels of benzene in water pipes to ensure public safety, while local residents have been lining up to stock up on bottled water.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obama reiterates call for equal pay for women

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is making his case for equal pay for women — a leading election-year issue for Democrats.

Obama says in his weekly radio and Internet address that it's an embarrassment that women earn less than men even in the same professions and with the same education.

Obama issued an executive order this past week that bars federal contractors from retaliating against employees who discuss their salaries.

Such an order is considered a way for women to become better informed about their pay.

In the Republicans' weekly address, Cathy McMorris Rodgers — a congresswoman from Washington state — says the economy under Obama is hurting women.

She says Republican proposals to help small businesses and increase jobs will benefit all.

___

Online:

Obama address: http://www.whitehouse.gov

Republican address: http://www.youtube.com/user/HouseConference

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

At Locke-Ober Cafe, 
a tasteful makeover

You can't eat at Boston's Locke-Ober Cafe anymore, but you can live above it.

The storied 137-year-old restaurant closed two years ago and its six connected Greek Revival-style buildings dating back to 1832 were bought by local developer Origen Ventures for $3.3 million.

The developer has just unveiled the Winter Place Residences, six large condos on the upper three floors, ranging in price from $1.75 million to $3 million.

It's taken 18 months to rehab the building into condos. Three of the units have extensive period details, and the developer created more traditional-looking condos around them.

"Our goal was to keep all the details we could," said Jim Robertson, a partner at Origen.

One of these now available is Unit 3-2, a 2,234-square-foot, two-bedroom condo for $1.75 million. Its dining/living room is called the Camus Room — named after former Locke-Ober manager Emil Camus — and features 
restored Corinthian pilasters, dentil molding and original sconce lighting. The kitchen has white Shaker cabinets, River White granite counters and Wolf, Sub-Zero and Bosch appliances.

A unit on the second floor will feature the 
restored private dining room used by the Kennedy family, including original paneling and wallpaper and the bell used to ring for service.

A downtown financial executive who was a regular at the restaurant bought a unit that listed for $2.7 million and has a 900-square-foot living room that was one of Locke-Ober's 
upper-floor dining rooms.

"The Locke-Ober name is what drew the buyer here, but what got him to buy was the square footage, the quality of construction, and direct elevator access," said Valerie Post of Meridian Property Group, co-listing broker.

The three other units feature more contemporary design, with white quartz counters and striped rosewood cabinets. The 3,357-square-foot, fourth-floor penthouse Unit 4-1, listing for $3 million, has skylights, a private roof deck and two master bedroom suites.

Condo fees will range from $531 to $740 a month. The building doesn't have parking, but owners can buy garage spaces for $75,000 at nearby Tremont on the Common.

Robertson said negotiations are underway to bring a restaurant to the historic, first-floor former Locke-Ober main dining room, which could be announced by the building's mid-May opening.

"We're insisting that the new eatery will respect the grand interior of the restaurant," Robertson said. "Our goal with the entire project is to feel like we did the building justice."

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Health Connector site fix far off

A long-term solution to the state's failed Health Connector website is still months away, according to the Obamacare czar Gov. Deval Patrick put in charge of fixing it.

Sarah Iselin yesterday told the Health Connector board she'll present recommendations next month for how to achieve a functional site before the Nov. 15 start of the next federal open-enrollment period.

"The clock is ticking," Iselin said, "and we've got a lot of work to do."

The possibilities include reconstructing the site, which continues to have technical problems, or trying to use technology that has worked in other states, she said. Functions that may have to be postponed until next year include the ability to pay health insurance premiums through the website after people have selected a plan.

Iselin said she intends to ask the federal government for an extension until Sept. 30 to allow all 260,877 people in subsidized Commonwealth Care and temporary coverage to keep their plans until they can be switched to Affordable Care Act-compliant ones.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boston bests Cambridge again in venture capital deals

Venture capital firms closed more deals with companies in Boston than Cambridge for the second straight quarter, and for the first time in more than a year gave more money to Internet technology companies than health care companies in the first quarter.

"You're seeing another tech renaissance," said C.A. Webb, executive director of the New England Venture Capital Association. "We had our heyday 15, 20 years ago, we're at it again."

A report released yesterday by CB Insights, a venture capital tracking firm, said funding for Internet companies accounted for 32 percent of the roughly $899 million in venture capital investments from January to March. Health care funding accounted for 30 percent.

Webb said the increase in tech money is in no way a reflection on the health care sector, but it shows how strong the tech startup industry has become.

"The entrepreneurial community on both sides continues to thrive," Webb said.

Boston companies saw 32 deals while Cambridge startups saw 17. Still, Cambridge companies raised $260 million, $54 million more than Boston companies.

"It's an expansion of the innovation community," Webb said. "It's a sign that it's truly robust and growing more."

New York also continued its streak over Massachusetts in numbers of deals, topping the Bay State for the fifth straight quarter. Still, Bay State companies raised $898.94 million compared to New York's $842.75 million. But both were far behind California, where companies raised more than $5 billion.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Reps: Let Boston pay MCCA Tab

Skeptical House lawmakers from the South Coast and Western Massachusetts questioned why statewide hotel tax money should be funneled to Boston to pay for a $1.1 billion convention center expansion — and why Hub taxpayers aren't picking up more of the tab.

"From where I am, 110 miles from the State House, no one wants to keep footing the bill in Boston," said state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick), one of four members of the 11-member House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets at yesterday's hearing. "They come here infrequently and they can't even get $10,000 budgeted for a cultural council."

Chairman Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford) wanted to know why Boston isn't paying more of the expansion costs — like it did in 1997 when it shelled out $157 million to construct the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

"Would Boston be prepared to again be a partner since it's the city that's probably going to benefit the most out of the expansion?" asked Cabral.

"Boston feels we are partnering in this proposal and that we are a partner at that table," said John Barros, the city's economic development chief.

Barros said Boston used much of the money in 1997 to help acquire the land the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority now owns, and that Boston and Cambridge contribute 98 percent of the money in the convention center fund that will help pay for the construction.

The Herald reported this week that the state hotel tax fund could be used as collateral to secure the bonds for the convention center expansion.

But in a surprise revelation, Colin MacNaught, an assistant state treasurer, told the committee there's a high likelihood the state will have to dip into that hotel tax fund at some point to pay back bondholders.

MCCA Executive Director James Rooney disputed that.

"I would be willing to bet that if that happened, the Legislature would say, 'Wait a minute. Let's solve this another way. We're not using statewide resources for this. Let's look at those revenues that flow into the convention center today and see if we can raise those taxes instead,'" Rooney told the Herald.

Rooney told the committee the state is losing out on major conventions because the BCEC is too small and the South Boston Waterfront lacks enough hotel rooms. The proposal would expand the BCEC by 1.3 million square feet.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Liquor licenses may get diluted

Gov. Deval Patrick's move to give cities and towns control over the number of liquor licenses they can issue generally is being well-received, but some expressed concern about the potential devaluation of existing licenses.

Obtaining licenses sold for up to $500,000 on the open Boston market poses a barrier to entry for prospective restaurateurs. But issuing new lower-priced licenses could give them a competitive advantage and spell trouble for businesses that used their licenses' values to get financing, said restaurateur Babak Bina.

"It does have a value as a way to secure a loan, and if you take (that) away, I don't know what that does to the bank's collateral," said Bina, whose eateries include Merrill & Co. and Lala Rokh. "It's a touchy subject, and ... devaluing those will be a certain blow."

Patrick made the proposal as part of an economic development package unveiled yesterday. A 1933 law requiring cities and towns to get legislative approval to exceed statutory limits on licenses is hindering development, said Greg Bialecki, secretary of Housing and Economic Development. "For the kind of mixed-use developments that developers and investors are interested in building, restaurants are a key element," he said. "We hear about big real estate projects that can get all of their other permits, but they can't get liquor license permits."

Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who's been pushing for a home-rule petition to regain control of Boston's liquor license process from the Legislature, welcomed the move. "Allowing cities and towns to control their licensing process is an important economic development and civil rights issue," she said in a statement.

20.25 | 0 komentar | Read More