It was only a matter of time

Posted by Jeremy Shulkin

We were wondering when Karyn Polito’s campaign was going to comment on the announced closing of National Envelope, the Worcester company her opposing treasurer candidate Steve Grossman has business ties with, and a company that he has pointed out as having been successful during tough times.

She did, yesterday, carried by the Telegram.

“Steve Grossman touted his company’s partnership with National Envelope as an example of how he would create jobs for Massachusetts. Sadly, National Envelope is closing its doors and laying off workers,” Frederick Van Magness, a spokesman for Ms. Polito, said in a prepared statement. “This should serve as a reminder to Steve Grossman how difficult it is for any business to operate in the current weak economy and of the necessity of building a more favorable climate for job growth through lower taxes, less spending and more responsible borrowing.”

The next step is to see if it makes it in any of her ads.

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In other Polito news, the $420 million in FMAP extensions finally passed through the senate on to Governor Patrick’s desk yesterday. Polito railed against additional state spending and used a filibuster-like move to keep the money from leaving the house, so long as it wasn’t designated for the state’s rainy day fund.

$200 million will still go into the state’s savings, but the other $240 million will be used to buoy homeless shelters, prisons, medicaid benefits and other programs.

The federal money doesn’t contain any new spending. It comes from eliminating a tax loophole that “encouraged big companies to hire overseas workers” and reducing the amount of federal dollars for food stamps.