WITH THE PASSAGE of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, a federal COVID recovery bill that passed Congress on Wednesday and that President Joe Biden is expected to sign, Massachusetts […]
Mass. governments could get $8.1b from fed stimulus
Posted inThe Download
Why is the state’s technology so bad?
“THE…DISASTER WAS completely avoidable, as administrators knew the system was not ready, yet decided to launch it anyway… Investigations cannot undo the taxpayer dollars wasted and the disruption of families’ […]
Posted inUncategorized
Why is the state’s technology so bad?
“THE…DISASTER WAS completely avoidable, as administrators knew the system was not ready, yet decided to launch it anyway… Investigations cannot undo the taxpayer dollars wasted and the disruption of families’ […]
Posted inOpinion
Unemployment insurance bill doesn’t go far enough
A BEACON HILL deal has been made to prevent an enormous, unprecedented tax bill in April for Massachusetts employers. Some businesses were aware it was coming while most had no idea. […]
Posted inOpinion
Healthcare workforce needs to be priority in 2021
The most precious resource the US health-care system has in the struggle against COVID-19 isn’t some miracle drug. It’s the expertise of its health-care workers—and they are exhausted. The Atlantic, […]
Posted inEnvironment
Senate stands pat on climate change legislation
THE SENATE is preparing to pass new climate change legislation that accepts some minor technical changes proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker but rejects compromise language the governor proposed on several […]
Posted inThe Download
Bernie backing means little in middle-of-the-road Winthrop
IT TURNS OUT Bernie Sanders has little sway with voters in Winthrop and Revere when it comes to choosing their next representative. The same goes for former US housing secretary […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker: We could do 2m doses a month but getting only half that
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said on Wednesday that the state has the capacity to administer 2 million inoculations a month, but the federal government and d vaccine manufacturers are providing only […]
Posted inThe Download
Bob Cousy scores vaccine — with possible assist from Fauci
THEY ARE POPPING UP all over the country — stories of volunteer brigades or just concerned individuals operating on their own who work to get COVID vaccine appointments for elderly […]
Posted inHealth Care, State House News Service
New vaccine pre-registration system coming
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE TWELVE WEEKS into the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday that a new vaccine appointment pre-registration system his administration is launching Friday will […]
Posted inHealth Care
Bob Cousy scores vaccine — with possible assist from Fauci
THEY ARE POPPING UP all over the country — stories of volunteer brigades or just concerned individuals operating on their own who work to get COVID vaccine appointments for elderly […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Boston center’s gang database lists 3,853 people.
THE DIRECTOR of the Boston Regional Intelligence Center said on Tuesday that the center’s gang database is comprised of 3,853 people with active status. In a hearing held by the […]
Posted inOpinion
The state shouldn’t tax forgiven PPP loans
THE LAST YEAR has been devastating on many levels, but many of our small businesses are still standing because of the support from our communities and yes, because of the support […]
Posted inUncategorized
Details released on $75m emergency sick leave program
THE HOUSE WAYS and Means Committee Tuesday evening released a bill that would create a $75 million program to expand emergency paid sick leave during the pandemic and would reduce […]
Posted inArts and Culture
13 views on how the pandemic will shape the future
IT WAS A YEAR AGO this week that it became clear how completely our world would be turned upside down. After mounting global concern about a deadly new respiratory illness […]
Posted inUncategorized
Rep reports live on state aid to Pittsfield
REP. PATRICIA FARLEY-BOUVIER of Pittsfield on Tuesday transformed a fairly dry Zoom call about a government site readiness program into a live, personalized, on-site report about how state investments can help […]
Posted inThe Download
Lawmaking by press release
Sometimes it’s the little things – a phrasing of a sentence or the timing of an announcement — that reveal a lot about the way the Legislature operates. On Monday […]
Posted inUncategorized
Lawmaking by press release
SOMETIMES IT’S the little things – a phrasing of a sentence or the timing of an announcement — that reveal a lot about the way the Legislature operates. On Monday […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: Capital spending about to start falling
THE MBTA said its spending on capital projects is expected to start falling in fiscal 2023 and plummet to half its current level by fiscal 2026, prompting the chair of […]
Posted inHealth Care
Health insurers to promote 2017 birth control provision
A TRADE ASSOCIATION representing a swath of the state’s commercial health insurers is launching a public awareness campaign to let members, pharmacists, and providers know that a 2017 law permits […]
Posted inEconomy
Legislature plans to expand paid sick leave
THE LEADERS OF the Democratic-led Senate and House have reached an agreement on a bill that would provide major financial relief to businesses for the next two years, while also giving workers […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Sneak peak of this year’s transportation debate
The House and Senate chairs of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee engaged in a back-and-forth debate about legislative priorities on transportation this year, with Sen. Joseph Boncore of Winthrop calling for […]
Posted inEnvironment
Biden administration moves forward on Vineyard Wind
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION on Monday released its final environmental impact statement on the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project and indicated the analysis could gain final approval soon, paving the way […]
Posted inEconomy
Legislative compromise will end state tax on PPP grants
WITH A WEEK to go before business taxes are due on March 15, Massachusetts lawmakers signaled that they are prepared to join with the Baker administration and act to avert a state tax bill on business owners who accepted federal money to keep […]