Earlier this year, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin told Vox that, for better or worse, the hopes of every advocate for single-payer health care rode on his state’s ambitious health care […]
Vermont pulls plug on single-payer
Posted inHealth Care, Opinion
Vermont ends single payer bid
Many American dislike the Affordable Care Act not because it goes too far but because it does not go far enough, as observed in the chart below from the Kaiser […]
Posted inEnvironment
Patrick administration says state needs gas capacity
A new study commissioned by the Patrick administration has tentatively concluded that Massachusetts and all of New England need to expand the supply of natural gas coming into the region […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Patrick’s school choice
A Boston Herald editorial today calls on Gov.-elect Charlie Baker to work to eliminate the cap on charter schools in Massachusetts. Baker has been a strong supporter of charters, independently-operated […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service
GIC needs $120m more to cover shortfall
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The state commission that oversees public employee health insurance coverage will likely need at least $120 million in additional funding this fiscal year, a request that […]
Posted inHealth Care, The Download
Health plan ad has hidden message
One of the more interesting items in the Boston Globe the last couple days has been a full-page ad from Neighborhood Health Plan. It appears to be one of those year-end, […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Sam Sutter, politician
No one will ever accuse Sam Sutter, the newly elected mayor of Fall River, of being dumb or blind. Or of lacking ambition. Sutter, the soon-to-be-former Bristol district attorney, saw […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
From Lottery games to Olympic Games
One of the biggest areas of concern when it comes to the potential of an Olympics in Boston, among both proponents and opponents of a Hub Games, is where to […]
Posted inEnvironment
Is Cape Wind running out of time?
Cape Wind officials, who several months ago were confidently predicting financing for the offshore wind farm would be wrapped up by the end of this year, are now saying they […]
Posted inHealth Care
State slaps Steward with $1,000/week fines
State officials are starting to assess $1,000-a-week fines on Steward Health Care for failing to turn over to regulators the company’s audited financial statements, with the current tab standing at […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
Vivek Murthy and the ghosts of surgeon generals past
Brigham and Women’s Dr. Vivek Murthy finally becomes the US Surgeon General (if only due to procedural quirk in the often quirky Senate where old-timers like Harry Reid can get the […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, State House News Service
Budget, pot, opioids top Baker priorities
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE If Sen. Elizabeth Warren breaks from her firm public stance and runs for president, she will have the backing of Congressman Michael Capuano, who said Monday […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Cruz-ing for big-money backers
Texas Sen.Ted Cruz thinks he can get himself elected president, and he’s gone to a friendly media outlet to try to gin up good press, give his base a preview […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Warren on prez run: ‘No means no’
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE If Sen. Elizabeth Warren breaks from her firm public stance and runs for president, she will have the backing of Congressman Michael Capuano, who said Monday […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Homeless for the holidays
It was bad enough that the city’s homeless shelter on Long Island was shuttered on several hours notice, with 450 beds suddenly yanked from the city inventory of places for […]
Posted inHealth Care
Partners reports $22m operating loss
Partners HealthCare on Friday reported an annual operating loss for the first time in 15 years as a subsidiary lost $110 million insuring state Medicaid patients and set aside another […]
Posted inArts and Culture, The Download
HUBweek hubbub
Now we know what the managing director of the Boston Globe does: She enlists Harvard, MIT, and Massachusetts General Hospital, and together they launch a week-long festival celebrating innovation. Called […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
College grad pipeline springs remedial leaks
Massachusetts prides itself on having the best public education system in the country, and our pride is justified. Thanks to the efforts of thousands of teachers, principals, superintendents, and other […]
Posted inPolitics
MassDevelopment suddenly flush with cash
MassDevelopment came up with its own funding for two economic development programs on Thursday, allowing the authority to relinquish $23 million in state money the Patrick administration says it needs […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
I am Warren, hear me roar
It really didn’t take Sen. Elizabeth Warren long to find her voice, as if anyone was concerned she wouldn’t, and now it looks like she’s using it to be the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download, Transportation
Boston’s Olympic transportation dilemma
If a door falls off of a moving Green Line train and the US Olympic Committee doesn’t hear it, does Boston still get a chance to host the 2024 Olympics? […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Patrick “lone walk” to take place a day early
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Gov. Deval Patrick plans to take the “lone walk” down the front stairs of the State House a day before Governor-elect Charlie Baker’s inauguration in an […]
Posted inThe Download
Today’s Download
BEACON HILL The chairman of the House Post Audit and Oversight Committee says the panel lacks jurisdiction to investigate hiring practices at the Probation Department because it is barred […]
Posted inPolitics
Linsky says panel can’t probe Probation hiring
The chairman of the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight says the panel does not have jurisdiction to investigate hiring practices at the state Probation Department because such an […]