The Supreme Judicial Court is wading into a drawn-out public records fight stemming from the Bristol County District Attorney’s refusal to release documents, recorded interviews, and the names of officers involved in the 2021 fatal shooting of 30-year-old Anthony Harden.
State Government
Posted inState Government
Mass. tax revenues take dive in November
Massachusetts tax revenues took a dive during November and are running 4.3 percent below forecasted levels through the first five months of the fiscal year, reinforcing concerns that state government needs to slow its pace of spending.
Posted inMarijuana
Judge puts off Goldberg-O’Brien meeting
A state judge sided with Shannon O’Brien on Tuesday, ruling that the suspended chair of the Cannabis Control Commission shouldn’t be required to meet with Treasurer Deborah Goldberg until all of the investigations into O’Brien are completed and the investigators are available for questioning.
Posted inState Government
Fiscal storm clouds on the horizon in Mass.
Regarding tax collection, Sen. Michael Rodrigues said: “We find ourselves at a precarious crossroads. There are storm clouds gathering on the horizon.”
Posted inState Government
Dems return to Beacon Hill in force, pass stalled spending bill
All the parliamentary maneuvering over the close-out spending bill didn’t change anything, but it captivated Beacon Hill for nearly a week in the middle of a holiday recess.
Posted inPolitics
Jane Swift’s life of public scrutiny and personal challenge
Swift’s years in elected office were marked by normal political scrutiny plus a fog of turn-of-the century skepticism that a young woman or a new mother could do the job. Now, with almost all of the state’s top constitutional offices held by women, the state and its media have been engaged in some self-reflection, considering the way different genders and their roles are scrutinized.
Posted inState Government
O’Brien takes fight with Goldberg public
Shannon O’Brien took her fight with Treasurer Deborah Goldberg public on Friday by asking a court to intervene while simultaneously releasing and rebutting a letter from the treasurer accusing her of making “racially, ethnically, and culturally insensitive statements.”
Posted inState Government
Republicans spoil Democrats’ shelter crisis compromise
Democratic leaders finally reached a compromise on a $2.8 billion spending bill that includes $250 million for the state’s emergency shelter program, but they couldn’t win legislative approval for the measure because a small band of Republicans in the House refused to let it move forward in an informal session.
Posted inEconomy
Soccer stadium plan kicked to the curb
Hopes for a soccer stadium home in Everett for the New England Revolution were dealt a big blow on Thursday as a budget deal between House and Senate negotiators left out a provision that would have streamlined zoning for a planned 25,000-seat venue along the Mystic River.
Posted inState Government
House Republicans threaten to block action on spending plan
House Republicans indicated on Wednesday that they intend to block Democrats if they try to ram through a $2.8 billion closeout budget containing money for the state’s emergency shelter program during informal sessions between now and the beginning of January.