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Charlie Baker
Posted inOpinion
Shrinking size of haystack key to preventing child abuse
IT’S NOT REALLY that hard to fix a child welfare system: just listen to your gut instinct – and do the opposite. Gut instinct says: David Almond died a horrible death though he was well known to the Department of Children and Families and other agencies. So the solution must be to take away children more […]
Posted inOpinion
Carbon tax backers didn’t fare well in election
ONE OF THE MOST overlooked stories on Election Day was the defeat of pro-carbon tax politicians across the nation and here in New England. The most notable carbon tax proponent to seek office in New England was Sara Gideon, the speaker of the Maine House who was challenging moderate incumbent Republican US Sen. Susan Collins. […]
Posted inTransportation
Baker vows TCI decision by end of year
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said the underlying assumptions about a proposal to assess a price on the carbon contained in automobile fuels are in flux, but he still intends to make a decision on whether to push ahead with the high-profile regional initiative by the end of the year. At a State House press conference on […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker says fraud rampant with unemployment insurance
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said a relatively small number of state unemployment claims were approved last week because of a screening process designed to weed out a rising tide of fraudulent claims. The governor said the state received 31,000 applications for unemployment assistance last week, but only 1,000 passed the screening process. “There’s a tremendous amount […]
Posted inEnvironment
Climate initiative could push gas prices higher than forecast
A REGIONAL EFFORT led by Gov. Charlie Baker to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on the carbon in vehicle fuels is likely to drive up the price of gasoline higher than earlier projected, according to a report by the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University. Under the so-called transportation climate initiative, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Baker administration crafting home confinement guidelines
WITH COVID-19 infections rising at state prisons, the Department of Correction is preparing to expand testing at the facilities and taking initial steps to release prisoners to home confinement. The new initiatives were disclosed during a conference call between state lawmakers and members of the Baker administration, including Carol Mici, commissioner of the Department of […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker nominating Georges for SJC
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SERGE GEORGES JR.’S nomination to the Supreme Judicial Court is poised to make history in more ways than one. Georges, announced Tuesday as the latest pick from Gov. Charlie Baker to fill existing or impending vacancies, would join only a handful of district court judges in Massachusetts ever elevated to the […]
Posted inHealth Care
Baker implores Mass. residents to ‘get serious’
SOUNDING MORE and more like a coach trying to rally his team against a superior opponent, Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday implored Massachusetts residents to take COVID-19 seriously. He said infections have been headed in the wrong direction since Labor Day and are rising faster and faster. He insisted the problem for the most part […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker hits the way the House passed abortion measure
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Friday declined to say whether he supports or opposes the abortion access measure passed by the House on Thursday, but he indicated he did not like the fact that it was approved as an amendment to the state budget. Baker said he typically does not comment on bills making their way […]