New rules for judicial nominating commission

Gov. Deval L. Patrick has issued an executive order reconstituting the Governor’s Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and setting guidelines that enhance the commission’s objectivity, emphasize diversity and curtail lobbying.

The JNC advises the governor regarding appointments to the appeals court and trial court departments. The commission’s 21 members are appointed by the governor.

“The judiciary is a cornerstone of our constitutional democracy and the selection of high caliber judges possessing the qualities of integrity, judgment, intelligence, temperament, competence and commitment to justice are essential to a properly functioning judiciary,” Patrick said. “The executive order I have issued provides for a judicial nominating commission which I will appoint to advise me in the selection of judges, and which I will trust to play an important substantive role in recruiting a diverse pool of talented applicants from all corners of the Commonwealth, and in selecting the best of those applicants to be considered by me for judicial appointments.” 

Executive branch asked to find savings

Gov. Patrick and Administration and Finance Secretary Leslie Kirwan asked all executive branch department heads to begin identifying savings of 5 percent to 10 percent within their budgets to prepare to meet the challenges the state faces in fiscal year 2008.

During his campaign, Patrick pledged to lead fiscally responsible, efficient government. He believes the administration can realize significant savings by enforcing wage and hour laws, improving Medicaid reimbursement processes and limiting legislative earmarks.

In preparation for Patrick’s budget filing next month, all agencies have been asked to prioritize their spending needs. This exercise is designed to allow new Cabinet members to request funding for priorities, identify efficiencies and recommend reductions or eliminations to underperforming programs as necessary. The information submitted to Kirwan will not necessarily reflect a final budget recommendation, but will provide useful data to facilitate the administration’s planning for next year and beyond.

Departments have been instructed to explore their savings by clearly identifying efficiencies wherever possible, including consolidating office space, implementing energy efficiency projects and evaluating internal processes to identify any duplication of efforts that have no added value.

The administration also has asked departments to review the programs they administer to determine which can be eliminated due to poor performance or because they are no longer central to the mission of the respective departments.

Additionally, the administration has instructed department heads to estimate the impact of their suggestions on their fiscal year 2009 budgets to help predict future costs and savings.

Regional pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) commits the Commonwealth to a multi-state effort to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and tackle global climate change.

Patrick signed the pact last week and pledged to use the proceeds of the sale of emissions allowances to fund an aggressive program of energy savings for households and industry. In addition, he will prioritize the purchase of renewable energies for state agencies.

“Today, my administration takes its first step to set Massachusetts on a new course toward a clean energy future,” said Patrick. “Joining this pact and using the auction proceeds to fund an aggressive new energy-efficiency and peak-management initiative will pay dividends in three ways: We curb our greenhouse gas emissions, we create new economic development opportunities and we cut our energy costs.”

The RGG Initiative is an effort undertaken by Northeast states to develop a market-based system for reducing CO2 emissions from power plants. On terms reached in December 2005, seven states — Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont — signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to participate in the RGGI system. Massachusetts — which had been involved in the development of RGGI — declined to sign the agreement at that time, as did Rhode Island.

At a briefing with climate scientists and the CEOs of Bay State energy-technology companies held at the University of Massachusetts–Boston, Patrick heard about the rising threat of climate change and how technologies developed by Massachusetts entrepreneurs can combat global climate change, provide savings to electricity consumers and create jobs at the same time.

Following the briefing, Patrick signed the RGGI MOU on behalf of the Commonwealth, as well as letters to the governors of the other RGGI states announcing that Massachusetts had rejoined the regional effort.

“Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” said Patrick. “On this day, we want everyone to know that Massachusetts will not stand on the sidelines.”

Under RGGI, annual emissions of CO2 in Massachusetts from power plants of 25 million watts and larger will be capped at approximately 26 million tons statewide from 2009 through 2014, then reduced incrementally by 2.5 percent per year for the next four years. Under this cap, each state is given “allowances” for its emissions.