FADING BLUE COLLARS • CIVIL DISSERVICE • ASSET VALUES CommonWealthCommonWealthPOLITICS, IDEAS, AND CIVIC LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS THETHE URBAN URBAN HIGHHIGH SCHOOLSCHOOL THATTHAT WORKS WORKS DAVID OSBORNE:OSBORNE: BUILDING AA BETTERBETTER STATE BUDGETBUDGET SPRING 2004 $5.00 PLUS—STATES OF THE STATES University Park Campus School, in Worcester AA ChanceChance toto AAchievechieve Their Dreams This year, more than 720 non-traditional adult learners who face barriers to academic success will have an opportunity to earn a college degree. Through the New England ABE-to-College Transition Project, GED graduates and adult diploma recipi- ents can enroll at one of 25 participating adult learning centers located across New England to take free college preparation courses and receive educational and career planning counseling.They leave the pro- gram with improved academic and study skills, such as writing basic research papers and taking effective notes. Best of all, they can register at one of 30 colleges and universities that partner with the program. Each year, the Project exceeds its goals: 60 percent complete the program; and 75 percent of these graduates go on to college. By linking Adult Basic Education to post-secondary education,the New England ABE-to-College Transition Project gives non-traditional adult learners a chance to enrich their own and their families’ lives. To learn more, contact Jessica Spohn, Project Director, New England Literacy Resource Center, at (617) 482-9485, ext. 513, or through e-mail at [email protected]. (The Project is funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation through the LiFELiNE initiative.) 1250 Hancock Street, Suite 205N • Quincy, MA 02169-4331 Tel. 781-348-4200 • Fax 781-348-4299 SPRING 2004 CommonWealth 1 CommonWealth MassINC editor chairmen of the board We can shed Robert Keough Gloria Cordes Larson associate editors Peter Meade some light Michael Jonas, Robert David Sullivan board of directors art director Joseph D. Alviani Harold Hestnes Heather Kramer Ian Bowles Joanne Jaxtimer Andrew J. Calamare Jeffrey Jones on today’s design consultant Heather P. Campion Tripp Jones Ken Silvia Kathleen Casavant Elaine Kamarck public policy contributing writers Neil Chayet R.J. Lyman Mary Carey, Christopher Daly, Vincent Cipolla Paul Mattera Richard A. Hogarty, John E. McDonough, Mark Erlich Kristen McCormack debates. Neil Miller, Laura Pappano, Robert Preer, David H. Feinberg Melvin B. Miller B.J. Roche, Ralph Whitehead Jr., Robert B. Fraser Hilary C. Pennington Katharine Whittemore Chris Gabrieli Michael E. Porter C. Jeffrey Grogan Mark E. Robinson washington correspondent Steve Grossman Charles S. Rodgers Shawn Zeller Raymond Hammond Alan D. Solomont proofreader Bruce Herzfelder Benaree Wiley Gina Hahn honorary editorial advisors Mitchell Kertzman, Founding Chairman Mickey Edwards, Alex S. Jones, John C. Rennie, in memoriam Mary Jo Meisner, Ellen Ruppel Shell, board of policy advisors Alan Wolfe economic prosperity: Wayne M. Ayers, publisher Peter D. Enrich, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Edward Ian Bowles Moscovitch, Andrew Sum, David A. Tibbetts lifelong learning: deputy publisher Harneen Chernow, Carole A. Cowan, William L. Dandridge, John D. John Donato Donahue, Michael B. Gritton, Sarah Kass, sponsorship and advertising Leonard A. Wilson Lori Davis Febbo, Ben Geffen safe neighborhoods: Jay Ashe, William J. 02133 is an online tool that circulation Bratton, Mark A.R. Kleiman, Anne Morrison Piehl, Eugene F. Rivers 3rd, Donald K. Stern provides background on Colleen Lynch, Emily Wood interns civic renewal: Alan Khazei, Larry Overlan, Jeffrey Leigh Sedgwick Massachusetts politics and Rachel Becker, Erika Jones, Brian McEvoy, Ben Schaefer president & ceo policy news. It is fast, easy, Ian Bowles CommonWealth (ISSN pending) is published development & community affairs director and reliable information quarterly by the Massachusetts Institute Lori Davis Febbo for a New Commonwealth (MassINC), director of communications from a source you can trust. 18 Tremont St., Suite 1120, Boston, MA 02108. Jennifer Armini Telephone: 617-742-6800 ext. 109, research director 02133 combines State fax: 617-589-0929. Dana Ansel Volume 9, Number 2, Spring 2004. deputy research director House News Service’s Third Class postage paid at Holliston, MA. To subscribe to CommonWealth, Rachel Deyette Werkema no-nonsense state become a Friend of MassINC for senior policy advisor Christopher Fox government reporting with $50 per year and receive discounts on MassINC research reports and invitations to director of programs & operations the nonpartisan analysis MassINC forums and events. John Schneider Postmaster: Send address changes to outreach director of MassINC’s award-winning Circulation Director, MassINC, John Donato 18 Tremont St., Suite 1120, Boston, MA 02108. executive assistant & operations director magazine, CommonWealth. Letters to the editor accepted by e-mail Colleen Lynch at [email protected]. The views expressed assistant outreach director in this publication are those of the authors Emily Wood and not necessarily those of MassINC's deputy development director directors, advisors, or staff. We invite you to check it out. Ben Geffen The mission of MassINC is to develop a controller/it director It’s FREE. public agenda for Massachusetts that David Martin promotes the growth and vitality of the mid- center for education research & policy dle class. We envision a growing, dynamic S. Paul Reville, Director middle class as the cornerstone of a new Jennifer Candon, Assistant Director commonwealth in which every citizen can Celine Toomey Coggins, Research Director www.02133.org live the American Dream. Our governing philosophy is rooted in the ideals embodied MassINC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable by the American Dream: equality of organization. MassINC’s work is published opportunity, personal responsibility, for educational purposes and should not be and a strong commonwealth. MassINC is a construed as an attempt to influence any nonpartisan, evidence-based organization. election or legislative action. 2 CommonWealth SPRING 2004 PHOTO CREDIT COMING IN JUNE A special issue of CommonWealth on HEALTH CARE in Massachusetts Health care is the hottest topic of the year, in government and the private PROJECT SPONSORS sector alike. This extra edition—the AARP Massachusetts second in the magazine’s history—will American Hospital Association apply CommonWealth’s unique brand Americans for Health Care, a Project of the SEIU of in-depth, nonpartisan journalism Associated Industries of Massachusetts to a broad range of health care issues, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center including cost, access, and quality. Beverly Hospital Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts This special issue has been made possible The Boston Foundation by more than two dozen sponsors, Children's Hospital Boston representing the entire spectrum of Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts interests in the health care debate. Denterlein Worldwide Harvard Pilgrim Health Care The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, Inc. For more information on joining this The Heinz Family Philanthropies consortium, please contact Lori Davis Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals Febbo at MassINC: (617)742-6800 x101 Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority or [email protected] Massachusetts Hospital Association Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Massachusetts Medical Society Watch your mailbox for this McDermott Will & Emery LLP special issue of CommonWealth. Neighborhood Health Plan New England Regional Council of Carpenters Partners HealthCare Barbara & Stephen Roop Ropes & Gray LLP William E. & Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust Tufts Health Plan SPRING 2004 CommonWealth 3 Maybe it should be called healthcare assurance. Quinlan family Members Kristin Murray Member Hospital Nurses Members We have six kids from 1-12 years. Blue Cross took care of us like we In our practice as nurses we notice We’ve kept Blue Cross very busy over were family. From the smallest ques- insurance coverage. Blue Cross Blue the past couple of years. We know we tion to the most complex matter, they Shield opens the doors. It gives prac- will be taken care of and with mini- went out of their way to be polite, be titioners the freedom they need and it mal work on our part. friendly and be informative. I would gives patients the freedom they need. never consider changing health plans. Everybody should be able to have Blue Cross. Scott Wilson Member Miller family Members Pamela & Danielle Diecidue I read about Fitness Rewards and The Living Healthy Babies Program Members thought it was a great benefit for is this wonderful video, book, and Blue Cross has been right there. They being part of Blue Cross. It gives you monthly newsletters. There must’ve are a partner in Danielle’s health care. $150 per year, all you have to do is fill been a lot of mothers that put this Excellent care. Excellent coverage. out the form — it is nice and easy. together at Blue Cross because it has That's what Blue Cross means to me. a lot of nice touches to it. ®Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 4 CommonWealth SPRING 2004 contents Volume 9, Number 2 DEPARTMENTS 6CORRESPONDENCE 9 PERSPECTIVE 42 Civil Service hiring rules ARTICLES promote mediocrity among public safety workers 52 BLUE COLLAR BLUES By John O’Leary Four castoffs of the Old Economy try to make the 15 CONSIDERED OPINION 41