Coakley announces job creation plan, wins endorsement of prominent business leaders.

Massachusetts Attorney General and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Martha Coakley today unveiled her comprehensive plan to create jobs, encourage hiring and grow the economy.

According to a campaign press release, Coakley had met earlier in the day with business leaders for a wide-ranging discussion about the current state of the economy and to share ideas for innovative ways to promote job creation and economic recovery.

She won the endorsement of several high profile business community leaders, including Jack Connors, Jr., chairman emeritus and former CEO of Hill Holliday, Donna Cupelo, regional president for Verizon New England, Mass Retailer president Jon Hurst, Trish Karter, CEO of Dancing Deer Baking Co., former Federal Reserve Bank of Boston CEO Cathy Minehan, and Micho Spring
president of Weber Shandwick – New England. (Full list can be found here.)

“As Attorney General, I have worked to foster a positive business climate in Massachusetts that promotes economic development and job creation, and I know from experience that collaboration with the business community is key to reaching these goals,” Coakley said.  “I am honored to be endorsed by such an impressive group of business leaders, and I appreciate their thoughtful feedback and suggestions on my plan to grow jobs in Massachusetts.  As Senator, I look forward to an ongoing partnership with our business community as we work together to get our economy back on track.”

Coakley’s plan, “Getting America Back to Work: A Jobs Creation Plan,” outlines five specific proposals to create jobs and spur economic growth.  I haven't had time to read it yet, so I am using the bullet points from the press release.  You know the drill, I encourage you to read the full plan on your own (linked above).

--Supporting Traditional Industries and Public-Private Partnerships – Coakley calls for focusing on traditional local industries, such as local agriculture, health care, and biotech, ensuring that they have the support they need to thrive.  Her plan promotes public-private partnerships among these industries to boost the economy, in part by leveraging existing federal resources and programs to maximize the availability of growth funds for local businesses.

--Boosting Green Industries – Noting that the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries created more than nine million jobs in 2007, Coakley’s plan calls for significant investment in the research, development and implementation of green technology in order to provide high paying, quality jobs.  Coakley also calls for continued funding for the Green Jobs Act and other training resources to ensure that workers can succeed in green industries.

--Fostering Innovation – Stressing that innovation is key to economic recovery, Coakley’s plan calls for support of innovative start-ups in order to create jobs and contribute to long-term economic growth.  Coakley supports making the federal Research and Development Tax Credit permanent, and supports the creations of President Obama’s proposed Advanced Manufacturing Fund to identify and invest in the most compelling advanced manufacturing strategies.

--Training and Educating our Workers – Recognizing that as we develop new technologies and energy sources, our workers will require a new set of skills, Coakley’s plan calls for resources for training and education of workers though career and technical education, as well as postsecondary education and training provided through the national system of workforce investment programs.  She supports improvements to the Workforce Investment Act in order to meet the needs of the 21st century economy.

--Supporting Small Businesses – Coakley’s plan calls for targeted tax relief and loan opportunities for small businesses, as well as giving entrepreneurs the tools to hire and retain the most qualified workers.  She supports the bipartisan HIRE America Act, which will make permanent tax incentives for small businesses to hire new workers, and pledges to support minority and women-owned businesses.

Coakley reports $1.9 million raised in second reporting period, $1.9 million cash on hand.

In a press release issued this afternoon, the Martha Coakley for Senate campaign announced a total of $4.1 million raised in the second reporting period, and more than $1.9 million in cash-on-hand.  That $4.1 million is cumulative, including everything she has raised since the start of the campaign.  Since she reported $2.2 million raised at the first reporting deadline, that would mean Coakley raised $1.9 million between October 1 and November 18.

According to a campaign press release, Coakley's $4.1 million total includes donations from more than 11,800 individual contributors, with more than 8,000 contributors donating $100 or less.

“I am truly humbled by this incredible show of support by all of these contributors as well as the hundreds of volunteers who have given their time to help us bring a different kind of leadership to Washington,” Coakley said in the release. “Our next Senator is going to address critical issues for the people of this Commonwealth – from helping to turn our economy around to assuring quality, affordable health care coverage for all Americans. I’ve stood up and gotten real results for the people of Massachusetts as Attorney General, and I’ll do that again as Senator.”

So we've now seen a significant boost in Capuano's fundraising, and a slight decline in Coakley's if the $1.9 million number is correct. Still waiting for numbers from the Khazei and Pagliuca campaigns, as well as the Republicans.

What do readers make of the Capuano & Coakley numbers?  Are we seeing one candidate pick up steam and another stall?  Or is Coakley's slight decline just a result of the massive number she put up in the first report?

Steve Pagliuca continues to take a stand on health care.

Steve Pagliuca held a press conference earlier today during which he reiterated his pledge to support health care reform in the Senate unconditionally.

"I believe unequivocal public support of healthcare legislation like the bill passed by the House is a minimum standard that voters have a right to demand from every candidate for this seat," said Pags.  I'll come back to that notion in a minute.

Pagliuca went on to criticize two of his opponents in the Senate race, Mike Capuano and Martha Coakley, for their respective pledges not to support a health care bill that includes abortion restrictions.  He also laid claim to the legacy of Ted Kennedy:

"I believe that Senator Kennedy would not take the position that Attorney General Coakley and Congressman Capuano have taken on this issue, and his own words are proof of that. My belief that he would not have done so is supported by two of the people who knew him best, his two sons. Congressman Patrick Kennedy last week made his position clear on this issue when he said 'for anybody running for especially my dad’s seat to condition their support on an issue as to whether they are going to vote for it or against it… to me misses my dad’s legacy of healthcare for all.'

...I also agree with what Ted Kennedy Jr. said just this week. He said his father 'wouldn’t have wanted to go backwards on reproductive rights, but he thought that perfect is the enemy of the good.' Ted Kennedy Jr. also said 'and if you have a good bill you should pass that and not wait for the most perfect piece of legislation.' I agree with Ted Kennedy Jr. and I'm sure his father would have agreed with that sentiment as well."

Pags went on to single out Martha Coakley:

"Recently a spokeswoman for Martha Coakley said, 'Steve Pagliuca is just wrong on this issue.' I’m here today to say that if I’m wrong, I’m in good company. If I'm wrong then Nancy Pelosi is wrong; then our ten pro choice Democratic Congressmen from Massachusetts, including Mike Capuano, were wrong when they cast that vote. And if I’m wrong, then Patrick and Ted Kennedy Jr. are wrong.  When you look at the facts and consider the real choice we are making ...its easy to see who is really wrong on this issue."

He then told a few stories about individuals he has met on the campaign trail, including a woman named Melody who wrote to Pags: “I can not understand the out cry over the healthcare reform… without my public option I know my life and the life of my husbands would be drastically different."

I need to find someone on the Connector Board to write me a guest post or something to clarify this issue: Massachusetts does not have a public option.  We have the Massachusetts Health Care Connector, which connects people who cannot afford or do not have health insurance with a variety options, including subsidized coverage, and we have the GIC, which provides health insurance to state employees.  These are not public options.

Getting back to Pagliuca, his speech then addressed women's health issues, laying out a variety of conditions that would be covered under the new law. Pags says these issues, such as "gender ratings," access to breast cancer screenings, and cervical cancer prevention need to be weighed the same as abortion.

He concluded:

"Healthcare reform has failed for generations because we’ve lacked the leaders in Washington who were willing to stand up and be counted and who refuse to be derailed. We are at the crossroads today, and we cannot detour and turn our back on women and families who need fundamental reform in healthcare to survive. I will stand with those women and families, and tens of millions more who desperately need help now, not turn my back on them. I will proudly cast a reliable 60th vote for healthcare reform."

What jumps out at me most is Pagliuca's call in the beginning of the speech for "unequivocal" public support for health care legislation like the bill passed by the house.  I doubt that voters themselves unequivocally support the bill, even those who are fighting for passage of reform.  There are a whole lot of proposed changes in the legislation, including some that will likely impact health care reform in Massachusetts.

What do readers think?  Putting Stupak-Pitts aside for a second, should Senators be unequivocally supporting any legislation?

All four Democratic candidates to participate in televised debate on December 2.

All four Democratic candidates for Senate (Congressman Mike Capuano, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Alan Khazei, and Steve Pagliuca) have agreed to a televised debate on Wednesday, December 2, from 7-8 p.m. at the NECN studios.

The debate is being co-sponsored by the Boston Globe, WBUR, WGBH-TV, and NECN, and will be the final debate before the primary.

It will be moderated by NECN lead anchor RD Sahl, and panelists will include WBUR's Bob Oakes, the Boston Globe's Frank Phillips, and WGBH's Emily Rooney.

Sounds like a kennedyseat.com live chat is the offing.

Mike Capuano releases statement on Senate health care reform.

Democratic Senate candidate and Congressman Mike Capuano released the following statement today on the bill released by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:

"My initial reaction to the Senate health care reform bill is positive and the many improvements in it justify the vote in the House to keep reform alive in order to make such improvements.  I am in the process of reviewing the legislation, which is 2000 pages long.  I will pay careful attention to the strength of the public option, the impact that the bill could have on Massachusetts, and the issues surrounding choice."

Martha Coakley releases statement on Senate health care bill.

Last night, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid released his version of a health care reform bill.  The 2,000+ page proposal could be voted on in the Senate as early as Saturday.

Obviously I haven't read the bill, but the New York Times reports that it, "would not go as far as the House bill in limiting access to abortion."

This morning, Massachusetts Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Senate Martha Coakley released the following statement on Reid's proposal:

“While we continue to review the details of this bill, I am encouraged by the Senate’s proposal and believe it represents great progress toward our goal of assuring quality, affordable health care coverage for all Americans. It incorporates the fundamental tenets that we can and must include in any meaningful health care reform, including a public option, additional cost controls, and strong consumer protections that prevent insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. I am hopeful that with this proposal we will reach our goal of passing landmark health care reform that will make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans.”

The promise of more debates and the Thursday morning roundup.

I'm glad I didn't stay up late.  The second reporting deadline for fundraising totals came and went at midnight last night, and I thought about keeping my eyes open long enough to post totals from the other campaigns (I posted Mike Capauno's when they were sent to me).  Luckily I made the executive decision to wait until morning...and it turned out to be the right one as my inbox show no press releases from the other campaigns.

Looks like nobody else had much luck either.  The Globe reports that Coakley appears to have been slightly ahead of Capuano (and down from her previous report), but does not have complete totals from the other candidates.  Hopefully I will have more on this today, although final reports are not due until next week.

On to the morning roundup.

--The Globe concludes their profiles of the Democratic candidates with a story by Casey Ross and Eric Moskowitz on Steve Pagliuca. The piece chronicles Pagliuca's rise at Bain (including some deals that were less than successful) his ownership of the Celtics, and his adjustment to political life.  Fun facts: Pagliuca drives a mini-van and his wife had to buy him new suits for the campaign.

--The Boston Phoenix's David Bernstein discusses some major campaign developments of the past week in his latest column for the weekly paper.  Included: Capuano's efforts to earn endorsements from prominent women, Pagliuca's ad campaign and draft comments, and the health care debate.

--CW Unbound, the blog for Commonwealth Magazine, issued an email questionnaire to all of the candidates on a variety of topics (there are fifteen questions in all).  Every campaign responded except Coakley's.

You can find foreign policy questions/answers here on H1-B visas (for highly skilled immigrants), the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and diplomatic relations with Cuba.  Education issues are here, including No Child Left Behind and Charter Schools.  Today's post covers a variety of domestic issues, including the stimulus plan, first time home buyer's tax credits, marijuana possession, the public health care option, and more.  I haven't had a chance to read it all yet, but will try to get to it this morning.  It's a great resource and CW makes it easy to compare the candidates' positions on issues.

--Finally, the Globe's Matt Viser and Frank Phillips report on the big question Capuano, Khazei, and Pagliuca are facing: when and how to attack the frontrunner?  Two bits of info included here: 1) Pagliuca has scheduled a press conference today that his campaign aides hope "will shake up the race," and 2) Coakley has confirmed her participation in debates on December 1 and December 2.

I couldn't be more excited for the promise of two more debates, and I hope readers share that sentiment.

If Pagliuca's polling numbers are too be believed, and I have no reason to doubt them, especially with a sample of more than 40K likely Democratic voters, this race is still anyone's to win (or lose).