COMMONWEALTH RAN more than 400 commentary pieces in 2020, providing a lively forum for ideas and debate. The pieces came from people on the left, the right, and everywhere in between. […]
Our most popular commentary pieces of 2020
Posted inArts and Culture
Now is the time to change the name of Faneuil Hall
THERE COMES A time when a city speaks as one and acts as one. The planes originating from Boston on 9/11 brought sorrow and pain to our city and the […]
Posted inPolitics
House, Senate seem to be in no rush
THE HOUSE ELECTED a new speaker on Wednesday, but otherwise the two legislative branches did little of consequence and adjourned until Monday. That leaves just Monday and Tuesday for lawmakers […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker takes stock of unprecedented pandemic
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S feelings about the year 2020 echoed public sentiment when he slammed his fists on a lectern at the State House Wednesday afternoon. “As we close out 2020, […]
Posted inPolitics
Ronald Mariano elected speaker of the Massachusetts House
IN A DAY filled with ceremonial pomp – but no suspense — the Massachusetts House on Wednesday selected Quincy Democrat Ronald Mariano to be the next speaker of the House. […]
Posted inEnvironment
Baker emissions roadmap sets ambitious targets
This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION on Wednesday rolled out a draft plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade that calls for energy […]
Posted inThe Download
SJC says ‘three strikes’ law doesn’t bar probation
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT ruled that some defendants convicted under a section of an eight-year-old law focused on delivering stiff justice to repeat offenders can instead be placed on probation […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
SJC says ‘three strikes’ law doesn’t bar probation
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT ruled that some defendants convicted under a section of an eight-year-old law focused on delivering stiff justice to repeat offenders can instead be placed on probation […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Sudders says she is hopeful for the first time
MARYLOU SUDDERS, the Baker administration’s point person on COVID-19, says she is finally feeling hopeful. CommonWealth Magazine · Sudders says she is hopeful for the first timeVaccines are being rolled […]
Posted inPolitics
An emotional DeLeo bids farewell
TWELVE YEARS AFTER he assumed power amid a punishing economic recession, Speaker Robert DeLeo took his leave during the unprecedented upheaval of a pandemic, delivering farewell remarks on Tuesday afternoon […]
Posted inUncategorized
Business groups urge passage of Baker’s unemployment insurance bill
MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESSES are begging the Legislature for relief from a hefty anticipated increase in unemployment insurance costs next year. Gov. Charlie Baker introduced a bill that would lessen the hit […]
Posted inPolitics
Legislative countdown: Abortion bill becomes law
THE LEGISLATURE’S abortion bill became law on Tuesday after the Senate joined the House in overriding Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto. The new law lowers from 18 to 16 the age […]
Posted inUncategorized
Mariano pledges to lead with an open mind
HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER Ron Mariano, a day before he is set to be elected speaker of the Massachusetts House, pledged to be a leader who will listen to everyone with […]
Posted inPolitics
A deal-making new House speaker
IT WAS SEVERAL DAYS before the end of the 2018 legislative session, and Ron Mariano and Jim Welch were in difficult negotiations over a health care bill. Mariano, the House majority leader, and […]
Posted inThe Download
New year will usher in 2018’s ‘grand bargain’
It’s been a tough year for low-wage workers, who were hit hard by the pandemic – losing jobs and income and facing housing and food insecurity. But in Massachusetts, changes […]
Posted inUncategorized
New year will usher in 2018’s ‘grand bargain’
IT’S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR for low-wage workers, who were hit hard by the pandemic – losing jobs and income and facing housing and food insecurity. But in Massachusetts, changes […]
Posted inPolitics
House overrides Baker’s abortion veto
THE HOUSE ON MONDAY voted 107-46 to override Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of legislation allowing women as young as 16 to obtain abortions without parental or judicial consent and expanding […]
Posted inPolitics
DeLeo stepping down; Mariano facing no opposition
IN A MESSAGE read by a tearful House clerk, Speaker Robert DeLeo announced he is resigning his position on Beacon Hill at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, setting the stage for […]
Posted inPolitics
For DeLeo, slow, steady — and firm — were the watchwords
THERE WAS NOT a lot of flash to Robert DeLeo’s tenure as Massachusetts House speaker. Rising from amiable constituent-focused Winthrop lawmaker to one of the most powerful positions in state government, DeLeo had an understated […]
Posted inHealth Care
Getting the vaccine was no big deal
This is another in a series of conversations between Dr. Jarone Lee, a frontline critical care and emergency physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, […]
Posted inOpinion
Don’t expect change for the better under Mariano
ALL SIGNS POINT to House Majority Leader Ron Mariano being elected the next speaker of the Massachusetts House. What does a Mariano speakership mean for a progressive policy agenda in […]
Posted inThe Download
Sudders finally feeling hopeful
Marylou Sudders, the Baker administration’s point person on COVID-19, says she is finally feeling hopeful. Vaccines are being rolled out, Joe Biden is preparing to move into the White House, […]
Posted inUncategorized
Sudders finally feeling hopeful
MARYLOU SUDDERS, the Baker administration’s point person on COVID-19, says she is finally feeling hopeful. Vaccines are being rolled out, Joe Biden is preparing to move into the White House, […]
Posted inUncategorized
Homeless COVID-19 vaccination effort to start soon
MASSACHUSETTS IS PREPARING to move ahead with its plan to start administering COVID-19 vaccines to homeless people, with the Pine Street Inn in Boston expected to receive 100 doses sometime […]