A SCHISM WITHIN the Democratic Party that has long divided teachers unions and education reform advocates is playing out in unusual fashion this fall in a state Senate race — […]
Teacher union backing of Weymouth Republican riles new super PAC
Posted inOpinion
As a teacher, I think it’s time to rethink education accountability
AS A TEACHER, I believe that accountability is necessary to help districts lift their underperforming schools. As a teacher in a turnaround school, I’m convinced that only a radical accountability […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 123: The Codcast: Nassour, Mermell talk housing, campaigns
Republican Jennifer Nassour and Democrat Jesse Mermell call their version of the Codcast “disagreeing agreeably,” but there is no disagreement on this pre-election edition. They talk about the shortage of […]
Posted inOpinion
Union ‘loophole’ isn’t a very big one
MASSACHUSETTS IS ONE of seven states to permit labor union political giving while entirely barring corporate contributions – both those from corporate treasuries and from associated political action committees (PACs). […]
Posted inHealth Care
Researchers at odds on agency’s nurse staffing report
THE HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION’S REPORT early last month on the potential effects of Question 1 was portrayed as an independent, objective analysis, but many of the researchers whose work was […]
Posted inThe Download
The Codcast: Nassour, Mermell talk housing, campaigns
Republican Jennifer Nassour and Democrat Jesse Mermell call their version of the Codcast “disagreeing agreeably,” but there is no disagreement on this pre-election edition. They talk about the shortage of […]
Posted inPolitics
Democrats seek to increase dominance in Legislature
DEMOCRATS, who already dominate the state Legislature, have a good chance of picking up more seats on Tuesday. The numbers are in their favor. Of the 200 seats in the […]
Posted inNews Analysis
Charlie Baker and the incredible vanishing gender gap
Charlie Baker has bridged the gender gap. Nationally, Democratic women are fleeing the Republican party, threatening to swing a host of offices to Democrats, while men still tilt right. But […]
Posted inThe Download
Gonzalez’s ‘secret’ MBTA document
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez released what he called “a secret state document” just prior to Thursday night’s debate with Gov. Charlie Baker that he said raises questions about the MBTA’s […]
Posted inOpinion
Q1: A blunt instrument for a complex problem
THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM in America has grown from a patient-first approach into an intricate web of bureaucratic red tape. Every effort to address a health care problem must be […]
Posted inTransportation
Gonzalez’s ‘secret’ MBTA document
DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE Jay Gonzalez released what he called “a secret state document” just prior to Thursday night’s debate with Gov. Charlie Baker that he said raises questions about the […]
Posted inPolitics
A voter guide to Question 1
The second installment of CommonWealth’s new video explainer, the Reel Deal, is a voter guide to Question 1, which would establish mandatory nurse-to-patient staffing ratios across Massachusetts. The question has […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Glynn calls for conversation on ride-hailing congestion
THE OUTGOING CEO of Massport, which operates Logan International Airport, says it’s time for the state’s transportation leaders to come together to decide how to respond to the growing congestion being caused by ride-hailing […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker and Trump: the home stretch
With the election just five days away, Charlie Baker is no doubt looking forward to a reprieve from the nonstop questions from reporters that look to hold candidates accountable as […]
Posted inThe Download
Baker and Trump: the home stretch
With the election just five days away, Charlie Baker is no doubt looking forward to a reprieve from the nonstop questions from reporters that look to hold candidates accountable as […]
Posted inOpinion
Citizens United: Election fairness or flaw?
Money shouldn’t buy a bigger megaphone A constitutional amendment would reset campaign finance after Citizens United By David Ropeik THE HEALTH OF the United States of America relies on a […]
Posted inPolitics
Bump falls short of state’s audit deadlines
STATE AUDITOR SUZANNE BUMP’S office is legally required to audit 210 agencies every three years, but she has fallen short of that mark 29 times recently. Three cabinet-level agencies — […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 122: Everybody talks about transportation
Mark Twain once famously observed, “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” The irony is, of course, there’s nothing much you can do about it but […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion, Politics
For our environmental future, Gonzalez is clear choice
WHAT WOULD IT take to really tackle climate change and move the Commonwealth to a clean energy future? What would real leadership look like? Leadership that recognizes the immense cost […]
Posted inTransportation
Everybody talks about transportation
Mark Twain once famously observed, “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” The irony is, of course, there’s nothing much you can do about it but […]
Posted inThe Download
The Codcast: Everybody talks about transportation
Mark Twain once famously observed, “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” The irony is, of course, there’s nothing much you can do about it but […]
Posted inEconomy
State tallies up costs of N. Grid lockout
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE FOUR-MONTH LOCKOUT by National Grid of more than 1,200 union gas workers has cost the state millions in lost tax revenue and triggered more than […]
Posted inOpinion
In Pittsburgh synagogue attack, a dark echo
AN OUTPOURING OF shock, anger, and disbelief has characterized reaction to a man walking into a Pittsburgh synagogue and slaughtering 11 people who were there on Saturday to pray on […]
Posted inOpinion
How do you license a fortune teller?
IT’S ONLY NATURAL this time of year that we turn our attention to ghouls and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. Jack-o-lanterns, trick or treaters, funny costumes, […]