The state auditor today called on the Legislature to adopt the federal ban on physicians referring patients to medical imaging facilities in which the doctors have a financial self-interest.The report from […]
Audit finds medical imaging waste
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
State probes likely on Winn-financed donations
The federal investigation of illegal campaign contributions to four Massachusetts congressmen arranged by a top executive at WinnCompanies is likely to trigger probes by state officials into similar donations made […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
SJC sides with Cape Wind
The Supreme Judicial Court delivered the coup de grace to Cape Wind opponents in their efforts to halt permitting of the controversial Nantucket Wind farm project. In a 4-2 decision, […]
Posted inPolitics
SJC rules against probation applicant
The state’s highest court today ruled that the chief justice for administration and management acted appropriately in rejecting the hiring of a probation officer who failed to disclose on his […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Herald: Dog bites man
By Michael Jonas We have officially entered the silly season in campaign coverage, at least over on Wingo Way. <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; […]
Posted inPolitics
Calls for access to ethics forms grow louder
The Boston Globe today weighed in on the frustration in dealing with the State Ethics Commission and all its hurdles. It is a drum we have been beating since last […]
Posted inEnvironment
A big bet strategy
Read the other candidates’ statements: Treasurer Tim Cahill, Gov. Deval Patrick, Dr. Jill Stein. Let me just start by saying that we live in unprecedented times in Massachusetts. There are […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment
Hurts our economic competitiveness
For the other candidates’ statements, click here: Charlie Baker, Gov. Deval Patrick, Dr. Jill Stein. My feeling is that the Cape Wind project is the perfect example to the wrong […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment
Good environmentally, economically, and symbolically
Read the other candidates’ statements: Charlie Baker, Treasurer Tim Cahill, Dr. Jill Stein. I have from the outset acknowledged that there are thoughtful views on both sides of the Cape […]
Posted inEnvironment
An incredibly expensive contract
Read the other candidates’ statements: Charlie Baker, Treasurer Tim Cahill, Gov. Deval Patrick. I’m here as a physician, and a scientist and a long-standing environmental activist and a mother who […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics, The Back Story
The ins and outs of the Cape Wind debate
The story line from Monday’s gubernatorial debate was Gov. Deval Patrick defending Cape Wind in the face of strong opposition from his three rivals, including, surprisingly, the candidate of the […]
Posted inPolitics
Ethics OK’d hiring of O’Brien’s daughter
The state Ethics Commission issued an advisory opinion in 2006 that said a subordinate of Probation Commissioner Jack O’Brien could hire O’Brien’s daughter as long as he fully disclosed the […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
The death of the press conference
Press conferences used to be the ultimate showdown—newsmaker vs. reporter, mano-a-mano, cage-match style. But in recent years, they’ve become a paltry wisp of their former selves. Nowadays, you’re more likely […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics
Gov candidates spar over Cape Wind
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Gov. Deval Patrick stood steadfast and solitary in his support for Cape Wind in the face of withering […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Coakley, auto insurers headed for a nasty fight
Trouble is brewing in the state’s auto insurance industry.Two years ago insurance company officials convinced the Patrick administration to let each firm set its own rates rather than having state […]
Posted inHealth Care, State House News Service
Town workers paid to drop health coverage
As cities and towns continue to wrestle with health care cost pressures, some officials are trying to save money by giving employees cash bonuses to drop their coverage with the […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
Cap gains fix goes halfway
One of the biggest thorns in the state budget has been overreliance on revenue from the tax levied on capital gains. In good times, the capital gains tax funds programs […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
Siting reform bill a wind breaker
Preserving local control over wind development has been Gov. Deval Patrick’s mantra, but lawmakers from wind-rich parts of the state didn’t buy it. Outnumbered and outvoted, they managed to run […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Key information missing
The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team is the gold standard in Massachusetts journalism, but the unit’s recent reports about the state’s probation department have omitted some key information.The reports, which portrayed […]
Posted inPolitics
Slots on the sly?
Slot machines on Beacon Hill may be in legislative purgatory, but similar devices that allow people to play for cash are popping up across the state.The devices ostensibly sell high-priced […]
Posted inEnvironment, The Download
Bruce Mohl and Michael Jonas appear on the Emily Rooney Show
CommonWealth Editor Bruce Mohl and Executive Editor Michael Jonas appeared on the Emily Rooney Show on WGBH radio today to discuss the new special issue of CommonWealth on Energy and the Environment. Listen here. […]
Posted inPolitics, Transportation
“Tracking the truth” timeline and documents
The Story FOR 19 MONTHS, the MBTA allowed South Shore commuter trains to run at top speed over rails supported by crumbling concrete ties even though the transit authority knew […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Blago faces the music
By Michael Jonas Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich’s fate is now in the hands of a federal jury. The Chicago press has had a field day with the circus-like corruption […]
Posted inEnvironment, The Download
Getting wind power to hold a charge
By Michael Jonas An interesting read in today’s NY Times on the growth of power storage companies, which are a crucial component of the renewable energy effort, especially wind power, […]