MBTA OFFICIALS ON MONDAY said they may replace one of their private cleaning contractors as part of a selection process that requires would-be vendors to, wherever possible, maximize the use […]
Despite high scores, T may replace private cleaning vendor
Posted inPolitics
Gonzalez throws his hat in the ring
ON PAPER, JAY GONZALEZ and Charlie Baker look remarkably alike. Both are policy-minded managers who ran the state budget as secretary of administration and finance. Both went on to serve […]
Posted inTransportation
T board wary of expansion proposals
THE MEMBERS OF THE MBTA’S oversight board indicated on Monday that they are extremely wary of expanding service at a time when so much work remains on improving the quality […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Rosenberg likens Trump travel ban to Nazi Germany
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE DRAWING LINKS TO Nazi Germany, the president of the Massachusetts Senate condemned the Trump administration’s move to bar entry into the country of nationals from seven […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
Extreme vetting needed
You have to give Donald Trump credit for follow through. He railed against immigrants throughout his campaign, and at one point called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims […]
Posted inEnvironment
Governors can wield influence over pipelines
WITH NEW FEDERAL ENERGY POLICIES evolving to be starkly at odds with our priorities in Massachusetts, it is vital that we understand what authority our state has to influence controversial […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Baker rips ‘irresponsible’ pay raise
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER needled the legislative pay hikes that lawmakers approved for themselves this week as “fiscally irresponsible,” but defended the Legislature’s process and stopped short […]
Posted inTransportation
T made little progress reducing absenteeism in 2016
MBTA OFFICIALS MADE ALMOST NO PROGRESS last year in curbing employee absenteeism, in part because success in reducing one type of absence was offset by a surge in another area. […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 34: Speaking up for the pay hike
Sen. William Brownsberger has been a supporter of the pay raises and one of the few willing to speak out in justifying the hikes. He joined us on The Codcast […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The Codcast: Speaking up for the pay hike
There was a lot of stealth and quiet involving the now-passed pay raise for state officials that sits on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk awaiting his promised veto. When House Speaker […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Baker moves to collect tax on internet sales
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER IS LAUNCHING an initiative to indirectly start collecting sales tax from Massachusetts residents making purchases over the internet. The move by Baker is somewhat risky, both politically […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
Say no to Trump’s anti-labor secretary
ANDREW PUZDER, the CEO of CKE Restaurants and President Trump’s pick for secretary of labor prefers robots over working people. He has said that machines “are always polite, they always […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Baker to veto pay raise
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOURS AFTER FORMALLY RECEIVING their plan, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday afternoon informed legislative Democrats that he intends to veto a controversial package of pay raises […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Where the truth lies
We’re not yet a week into the Strange New Era in Washington, and it’s already featured enough strangeness for the first efforts trying to explain how reporters are explaining […]
Posted inTransportation
Governor rejiggers funding for the T
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S BUDGET PROPOSAL for the coming fiscal year calls for giving the MBTA about $60 million less to cover its operating expenses. By law, the T receives a […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker explains, addresses budget disconnect
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER STEPPED BACK from the numbers in his fiscal 2018 budget on Wednesday, and tried to explain why the state keeps struggling to balance revenues and spending even […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker hints at pay raise veto
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said little has changed to sway him since he threatened to veto a legislative pay raise bill two years ago, but said he’ll wait to see the […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Hungry for more than education
It’s no secret that a good portion of those attending college here and around the country struggle to make ends meet, but it’s rarely talked about – or addressed – […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Baker: Compromise is sign of strength
The following is the prepared text of Gov. Charlie Baker’s State of the CommonWealth speech. Mr. Speaker. Mr. President. Members of the House and Senate. Distinguished elected officials and honored […]
Posted inTransportation
Senate going on the road again
THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE IS GOING on the road again this year, holding nine so-called Commonwealth Conversations around the state with a special focus on regional transportation needs. The day-long events […]
Posted inPolitics
Pay raise hearing just for show?
WHEN HOUSE SPEAKER Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg issued a joint statement last week about holding hearings on a two-year-old report to explore the possibility of raising salaries […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Do your job
As local pundits press Gov. Charlie Baker to take a stronger stand against President Trump, it’s worth remembering what Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots always say as the […]
Posted inPolitics, Uncategorized
Lawmakers: Hike everyone’s pay
THE TWO TOP LEGISLATIVE leaders on Beacon Hill filed a bill Monday that would boost their own pay by more than doubling the stipends they receive for their posts as […]
Posted inTransportation
T praised for response to Women’s March
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY STEPHANIE POLLACK and members of the MBTA’s oversight board on Monday praised the authority and the state’s commuter rail operator for their response to the huge crowds that […]