Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the word “struvious.” President Obama and Speaker John Boehner have become a symbol of Washington gridlock, unwilling to talk even as the […]
Sam Obar
Posted inPolitics
Tracking the cash
after decades of shrugging off campaign finance disclosure mandates, Massachusetts lawmakers have finally turned the tide in reporting what their donors do for a living, giving watchdogs the tools to […]
Posted inEducation
Students stock up on iPads, ebooks
Trips to OfficeMax to fill up on pencils, filler paper, binders, and notebooks for the first day of school could soon go the way of the horse and buggy, replaced […]
Posted inUncategorized
Gateway Cities caucus flexing its muscle
The four-year-old Gateway Cities legislative caucus began flexing its muscle this term, winning support for a host of new and expanded tax credits, grants, and enhanced education programs. The caucus, […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion, State House News Service
The House’s bottle deposit tax delusion
The opposition by House leaders to expanding the reach of the bottle deposit law is becoming more and more bizarre. It’s one thing to say there are unacceptable costs associated […]
Posted inHealth Care
Health care reform saves towns $175m
Two-fifths of the state’s municipalities have saved about $175 million by taking advantage of a state law passed a year ago giving cities and towns more flexibility in negotiating health […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Changes in laws keep teen drivers safer
for most teens, obtaining a drivers’ license means newfound freedom and independence. For many decades, it also meant something more sobering: a higher risk than any other age group that […]
Posted inUncategorized
Gateway Cities veto draws fire
Legislators and municipal officials from Gardner slammed Gov. Deval Patrick for vetoing a budget provision that would have allowed their city and two others to be designated as Gateway Cities […]
Posted inUncategorized
Lowell teens rally to vote at age 17
After receiving a green light from the Secretary of State, a group of teenagers rallied at the State House on Thursday in support of legislation that would allow 17-year-olds in […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics, The Back Story
The bottle bill blues
The state already has on its books a recycling law that assesses a 5-cent deposit on beer and carbonated beverage containers. Supporters have been trying for 14 years to extend […]
Posted inEconomy, Transportation
Earmark amendments filed for bond bill
With the state House of Representatives expected to debate a transportation bond bill on Wednesday, lawmakers from both parties filed amendments earmarking state funds for projects in their districts. More […]
Posted inUncategorized
Committee buries expanded bottle bill
Backers of expanding the state bottle bill, who insist they have the majority support in the state Legislature, will have to wait at least another year before the measure can […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Bottle law backers press for vote
Supporters of an expanded bottle deposit law said on Tuesday they have the support of a majority of both House and Senate lawmakers but can’t pry the legislation out of committee. […]
Posted inUncategorized
Proposal would boost Gateway Cities a third
The number of Gateway Cities would increase by 33 percent if two separate amendments tweaking the qualifications become law, the Patrick administration says. Gateway Cities are currently defined as cities […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
The latest trend: Being a Gateway City
Just as wearing a bright day dress is the latest fashion statement, being called a Gateway City is apparently the latest hot trend among the state’s cities. State legislators were […]