CHRISTMAS CAME early for the fledgling offshore wind industry in Massachusetts, as the Baker administration handed out $180 million on Tuesday for infrastructure improvements and businesses in New Bedford, Somerset, and Salem. The money flowed, even though the wind farms the state is counting on to spur the industry are having difficulty financing their projects. […]
Charlie Baker
Posted inPolitics
Super PAC with ties to Baker accused of breaking law
MASSACHUSETTS REGULATORS accused a super PAC with close ties to Gov. Charlie Baker of breaking state campaign finance law by holding a fundraiser in July where the governor was the guest of honor. The super PAC, called Massachusetts Majority, agreed to settle the charge by agreeing to “purge” $17,500 that was raised at the event. […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker nominates Jubinville for clerk magistrate
IN ONE OF HIS LAST nominations as governor, Gov. Charlie Baker has nominated Governor’s Councilor Robert Jubinville to a lifetime appointment as clerk magistrate of Framingham District Court. Jubinville’s nomination must still be approved by his colleagues on the Governor’s Council. It is not the first time Baker has chosen a sitting governor’s councilor for […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
CLT chief accuses Baker of cowardice on Amirault pardons
THE RETIRING executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation on Thursday accused Gov. Charlie Baker of cowardice in withdrawing his bid to pardon Gerald Amirault and Cheryl Amirault LeFave, who were convicted in a high-profile child sexual abuse case at the Fells Acre Day Care Center in Malden in 1984. Baker on November 18 sought […]
Posted inState Government
Charlie Baker to helm the NCAA
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER may have been a backup basketball player at Harvard, but at age 66 he’s finally landed a starring role in college sports: Baker will be the next president of the NCAA. Baker will take the reins in March, replacing Mark Emmert, who has led the collegiate sports association since 2010, the organization […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker talks politics on CNN
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STEPPING ONTO A STAGE that he usually shuns, outgoing Gov. Charlie Baker recently invited CNN to his State House office so he could share his thoughts on the midterm elections and the direction of his Republican Party. In the interview that aired Monday on the national network, the two-term governor said […]
Posted inEnergy
Baker aide urges Avangrid to stay the course
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S top energy aide urged the offshore wind developer Avangrid to abandon efforts to reopen its electricity contract with the state and abide by the existing terms. Avangrid has asked the Department of Public Utilities for a one-month delay in approving the contract, saying the time is needed to work out new terms […]
Posted inState Government
Baker again clashes with lawmakers on abortion-related law
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Thursday signed a $3.76 billion economic development bill. But Baker, a Republican, once again entered into a controversy with the Democratic-led Legislature over reproductive rights by vetoing an education campaign about crisis pregnancy centers. Crisis pregnancy centers are organizations, often faith-based, that provide resources to pregnant women and counsel them about […]
Posted inPolitics
Split-personality state GOP didn’t fare well
THE SPLIT PERSONALITY of the Republican Party in Massachusetts didn’t fare well in this year’s election, losing a handful of additional offices and continuing its slide to near-total irrelevance. Republicans lost two seats they previously held in the House, held on to their seats in the Senate, and watched as the district attorney’s office for […]
Posted inPolitics
Amore, Hodgson top beneficiaries of Baker-linked super PAC
TWO REPUBLICANS — Anthony Amore and Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson — are shaping up to be the top two beneficiaries of a super PAC with ties to Gov. Charlie Baker that says it backs politically centrist candidates from both parties. In a campaign finance filing on Wednesday, the Massachusetts Majority super PAC reported spending […]