“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A 2013 Pioneer Release” is an annually published review of the Massachusetts Governor’s budget proposal. After six economically challenging years, the governor seems to have lost his appetite for the hard work of fiscal responsibility. In many areas, next year’s spending is held level or increased at a uniform rate. There is no deep-reaching effort to address the core causes of the state’s structural deficit – healthcare and the cost of public employees’ retirement benefits. There is no serious attempt to replenish the rainy-day fund. No squeezing efficiencies from departments and agencies. No paying down or refinancing the state’s and the MBTA’s debt. Yes, you are reading Pioneer’s annual “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” review of the governor’s budget proposal.