It's tough to justify a failed economic policy that has contributed to record unemployment rates not seen in Massachusetts since the mid-1970s, but that hasn't stopped the Patrick Administration from trying to put the best possible spin on any bit of good news heading into an election year -- even if the news in question isn't exactly "new".Case in point: Earlier this week, Governor Patrick headed to Quincy to tout an $8.1 million downtown revitalization project that will utilize federal stimulus money to build a concourse road connecting Burgin Parkway and Route 3A. He also made a stop at Weymouth Landing to announce that $2.4 million in state grant funding has been committed to developing a destination shopping and dining district for the South Shore. Both announcements made for a perfect photo op with state and local officials, but as Patriot Ledger reporter Nancy Reardon was quick to point out, Patrick was simply offering up "recycled news" that had already been publicly announced by his Administration in late October and early November.
The state GOP put its own holiday spin on the Patriot Ledger's expose, accusing Governor Patrick of "re-gifting" by trying to pass off old grant funding as something "shiny and new". In its release, the party noted that the Administration's latest actions only serve to highlight "the continuing failure of the Democrat administration to spur the economy or lower property taxes."
