THE STATE’S HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION on Thursday wrapped up a series of discussions with industry stakeholders on what to do about hospital pricing disparities, but the group seemed to have […]
Commission wraps up health pricing discussions
Posted inEnvironment, The Back Story
Solar cap clamor resurfacing already
It’s starting again. A little over a month ago, Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a bill that lifted the cap on solar net metering credits, making it possible for […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
A school-choice double standard
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is right to have long supported the Metropolitan Council for Economic Opportunity (METCO), through which more than 3,300 Boston and […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Walsh tourism chief indicted on extortion charge
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WITH HIS TOURISM chief due in federal court Thursday afternoon to face extortion charges, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh described 52-year-old Ken Brissette as a “good and […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The return of Big Red
It’s an apt metaphor that the Libertarian Party is holding its convention next weekend in Orlando, Florida, the home of Disneyworld, because anyone who thinks the nominees for president and […]
Posted inPolitics
Millionaires’ tax gains strong backing
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE, which has shown no interest in raising taxes for several years, voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to greenlight a constitutional amendment that could give voters the chance to […]
Posted inEconomy, Education, Opinion
Creating opportunity while building our workforce
LOOKING AT A city like Boston, it immediately becomes clear that there is a need to bring more economic opportunity to communities like Roxbury and Dorchester. For many young people […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Are municipal light firms doing enough?
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE appears primed to enact legislation that will require large purchases of clean energy resources to address the daunting challenge of meeting our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Boston student walkout about cuts — and more
For the second time this year, Boston Public Schools students walked out of classes to protest budget cuts they say imperil their ability to get a quality education. Tuesday’s walkout […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Hersh-Galvin: Round 2
In an interview with the Boston Globe’s Joshua Miller earlier this week, Secretary of State William Galvin responded to a critical essay I wrote about his leadership in managing elections. […]
Posted inHealth Care, Politics
Groups raise concern on hospital pricing talks
THE HEADS OF NINE BUSINESS AND INSURANCE GROUPS sent a letter to top Beacon Hill leaders on Tuesday raising concerns about some of the proposals being considered to forestall a […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
SJC to state: Broaden emission mandates
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A UNANIMOUS SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT RULING handed down on Tuesday affirms the state’s obligations under a 2008 global warming law and orders state government to create […]
Posted inThe Download
Columnist uses his imagination
In his recent columns, Lowell Sun columnist Peter Lucas seems to be letting his imagination run a little wild. A week ago he posted a column based on a WGBH […]
Posted inTransportation
T board briefed on parking ‘discrepancies’
A correction has been added to this story. MBTA OFFICIALS on Monday briefed the agency’s oversight board for the first time about “parking revenue discrepancies” that first surfaced in late […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, State House News Service
Baker sees ‘something really big’ coming in criminal justice reform
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WHEN GOV. CHARLIE BAKER walked out of an intensive educational program for prison inmates last week, he thought to himself, “why the . . . did […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
A thousand ways to spend millionaire’s tax?
With two-and-a-half years to go before a potential ballot question to raise taxes on millionaires in the state, we may already have a glimpse of what could become a major […]
Posted inDrug Addiction, Opinion
Medical marijuana could ease opioid crisis
THE CAMPAIGN TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA for recreational use in Massachusetts is dominating headlines and polls while drawing some strong opposition from important people. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Attorney General Maura […]
Posted inEducation
Fiery teachers union president wins re-election
A DIVIDED MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION re-elected its firebrand president, Barbara Madeloni, at the organization’s annual meeting on Saturday, ensuring a continuation of the sharp critique of education reform efforts from the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Baker freezes non-essential spending
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION on Friday ordered the immediate suspension of all state spending on “non-essential” goods and services in an array of categories, including outside consultants, […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Offshore wind, but not Cape Wind
Two recent news headlines should be central to the important debate over legislation that will determine whether or not Massachusetts has access to clean, reliable, and affordable sources of energy […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 2: What makes a world class city?
Is hosting big events like the IndyCar race or Olympics the mark of a world-class city, or more of a distraction from the things that give Boston a global edge […]
Posted inThe Download
The Codcast: What makes for a world-class city?
Is hosting big events like the IndyCar race or Olympics the mark of a world-class city, or more of a distraction from the things that give Boston a global edge […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Baker should embrace pre-Common Core standards
MICHAEL JONAS TRIED tried to paint Charlie Baker as a cautious governor on the issue of Common Core (“Baker’s Common Core Caution”). Instead, he managed to imply that Gov. Baker’s […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Senate passes transgender bill 33-4
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE BY A 33-4 VOTE, the Massachusetts Senate on Thursday afternoon passed legislation establishing protections for transgender people using public accommodations. The bill (S 735) bans discrimination […]