I READ WITH INTEREST the cover story in Commonwealth magazine’s Spring issue titled “Fear and loathing on the tax trail.” This piece offers an interesting retrospective view on our state’s […]
Tax analysis misses competitive reality
Posted inCriminal Justice, Economy
Court budget falls short, but reaction is muted
THE STATE’S COURT SYSTEM did not get a lot of loving in the House budget. The state’s trial court is asking for what it calls a “maintenance budget” of $589.5 […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, The Download
Gun measure goes down
After false reports of an arrest in the marathon bombing case, yesterday proved to be a hurry-up-and-wait day in Boston. In Washington, however, it was a day of decisive action. […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
A no-win situation
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION has been threatening for months to open the state’s southeastern region to commercial casino developers. The commission was scheduled to debate the matter today, but the […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Uncategorized
Bombing coverage: beware of urge to be first
A survey of any major domestic tragedy of the past 25 years will turn up numerous examples of stellar news reportage. But combine the 24/7 news cycle with an industry […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Opinion
A city shaken
THE FIRST FEELING of déjà vu came with my arrival Tuesday morning at the downtown building that houses the CommonWealth offices. Instead of dashing through the entryway and up four […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
The Boston Marathon bombing
WHAT WE KNOW A pair of bomb blasts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three people Monday afternoon, and sent more than 140 to several nearby hospitals. […]
Posted inTransportation
The MBTA’s got a ticket to write
THE STATE AND MOST MUNICIPALITIES impose a surcharge for parking violations and give the vehicle owner 21 days to appeal before assessing a penalty. The MBTA, by contrast, assesses a […]
Posted inPolitics
Holyoke mayor trying to get back on track
ALEX MORSE took Holyoke by storm two years ago. The 22-year-old freshly minted Brown University graduate shocked the city’s political establishment by defeating Holyoke’s incumbent mayor in a campaign that […]
Posted inEnvironment
Natural gas dependence creates close calls
THE REGION’S POWER GRID had a close call during the February blizzard. Six power plants running on natural gas ran out of fuel and couldn’t obtain any more. Several oil-fired […]
Posted inPolitics
A souper campaign
FALLR RIVER MAYOR WILL FLANAGAN is up for reelection this year. He’s also launching a new soup that will be sold in area supermarkets, with the proceeds going to provide […]
Posted inUncategorized
Tips, questions, and unexpected surprises
PEOPLE ASK ME all the time where we get our story ideas. There’s no easy answer. Sometimes they come from a tip, sometimes they spring from a question that needs […]
Posted inUncategorized
Spring 2013 correspondence and updates
DPH chief criticized It is unfortunate that Interim Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Lauren Smith made statements regarding patients with chronic Lyme disease that do not reflect evolving understanding […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download, Transportation
Beacon Hill’s numbers game
The great tax battle on Beacon Hill seems to be turning into a numbers game. After threatening to veto the $500 million transportation tax plan passed by the House on […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Third time a charm for transportation plan?
After days of posturing from both sides, Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders may finally huddle mid-field to agree on a smaller transportation finance plan that whittles down operating gaps […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service, Transportation
Could the Senate plan provide common ground?
This is an updated version of a previously posted story. THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE is preparing to vote on a transportation finance plan that is bigger than the $500 million House […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
GOP doesn’t want to play the game
Senate Republicans eschewed a chance to become dealmakers in the tax standoff, a rare opportunity for the minority party to influence a bill’s fate by either joining with liberals to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics, The Back Story
What’s Malloy up to?
CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS have nearly identical regulatory schemes for the promotion of renewable energy, but that may be about to change. Gov. Dannel Malloy of Connecticut, concerned his state’s residents […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service
House rejects cap on film tax credits
THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE released a budget proposal on Wednesday that relies on far less new tax revenue than Gov. Deval Patrick’s plan, but the House initiative continues fully funding the […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service, The Download
Bay State shifting gears on bilingual education
Transportation budget shortfalls have dominated the debate on Beacon Hill in recent weeks. When lawmakers’ attention does swivel around to education, the public conversations tend to center on a lack […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics, Transportation
Transportation bill makes strange bedfellows
The tally from Monday night’s vote in the House for a $500 million transportation bill told you where lawmakers came down on the leadership-sponsored package, but that’s not the same […]
Posted inPolitics
Capitol turnover
MASSACHUSETTS REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS have for decades enjoyed key committee and leadership posts in Congress because of their seniority, and the state has reaped the benefits, both in funding from […]
Posted inPolitics
Where the votes are in Boston
THE 2000 CENSUS CATEGORIZED BOSTON as a majority-minority city for the first time in its history, but this new classification has not been the primary cause of a changing political […]
Posted inPolitics
Is two years too short?
THIRTEEN TIMES between 1983 and 2010, John Barrett III ran for mayor of North Adams and won. But Barrett said the constant drumbeat of running for election in the […]