STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER needled the legislative pay hikes that lawmakers approved for themselves this week as “fiscally irresponsible,” but defended the Legislature’s process and stopped short […]
Ethics and Open Government
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Baker to veto pay raise
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOURS AFTER FORMALLY RECEIVING their plan, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday afternoon informed legislative Democrats that he intends to veto a controversial package of pay raises […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Where the truth lies
We’re not yet a week into the Strange New Era in Washington, and it’s already featured enough strangeness for the first efforts trying to explain how reporters are explaining […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker hints at pay raise veto
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said little has changed to sway him since he threatened to veto a legislative pay raise bill two years ago, but said he’ll wait to see the […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
MassHousing conflict?
THE STATE’S CONFLICT of interest law seems pretty straightforward. A public official may not participate in any matter in which she or a member of her immediate family has a […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Baker’s record on records
Over the past two years, Gov. Charlie Baker has responded to 33 requests for public records by either withholding the information in its entirety or releasing it in redacted form. […]
Posted inThe Download
Ortiz’s shrinking role on corruption
US Attorney Carmen Ortiz is vowing to continue bringing corruption charges against public officials, but the overturning of her convictions of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and two of his […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics
O’Brien conviction overturned; DeLeo cleared
A US APPEALS COURT overturned the convictions of former state probation commissioner John O’Brien and two top aides, saying prosecutors failed to prove key elements of their case and should […]
Posted inPolitics
Joyce hit with bigger tax bill
MILTON ASSESSORS HAVE hiked the value of Sen. Brian Joyce’s home because of a real estate listing that showed an opulent finished basement, a livable attic, and more bathrooms than […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Meditating on liberty
WE DID NOT invent America – we inherited it. What are the core elements of our inheritance, and are they at risk in an era when many of the norms […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Goldberg cuts ties with Wells Fargo
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MASSACHUSETTS TREASURER DEB GOLDBERG has instructed her debt management deputies to immediately remove Wells Fargo from their approved list of underwriters for one year. Four Massachusetts […]
Posted inPolitics
Joyce absolved of wrongdoing
SEN. BRIAN JOYCE obtained all the required permits to renovate his home, according to a report by the Milton Town Administrator that rebuts questions raised in a newspaper article over whether the lawmaker clandestinely […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download
Ortiz sides with Walsh on records
US Attorney Carmen Ortiz, whose office is suspected of being the source of leaks for Boston Globe stories about her investigation of union strong-arming tactics, is now saying that investigation […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Opinion, Politics
DA O’Keefe amazed at limited DeLeo leak inquiry
I write in response to the recent article that ran under the headline, “Gants calls off DeLeo leak inquiry.” This article carried the sub-headline, “Law enforcement officials tell SJC they […]
Posted inThe Download
Labor pain for Walsh
Yesterday may have been the worst day of Marty Walsh’s tenure as mayor of Boston. He can only hope that the same is still being said a year from now. […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
And when we get behind closed doors …
Something highly unusual is happening up on Beacon Hill. A legislative conference committee, a group of six lawmakers tasked with finding common ground between the House and Senate on a […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
“Dark money” on the right
First came the news last month that Gov. Charlie Baker was raising big bucks from Republican honchos — some $300,000 in all — to win seats for his allies on […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Walsh’s friends with benefits
The Boston Globe on Sunday continued its fascinating look at people who are profiting from their friendship with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, with an inside look at two political players […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
What’s the endgame for Brian Joyce?
It’s one thing when the local paper runs a series of stories that raise questions about your ethics and actions as a state senator. And maybe there’s a little more heat […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Feds raid Joyce’s law office
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE FBI AND IRS raided the Canton law offices of state Sen. Brian Joyce on Wednesday in the first indication of criminal problems for the Milton Democrat […]
Posted inPolitics
Senate puts teeth into public records reform
THE STATE SENATE unveiled its version of Public Records reform, potentially the first major overhaul since the law was enacted in 1973, placing a hard time limit on responses, requiring courts […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Milton senator claims victory even as clouds swirl
Embattled state Sen. Brian Joyce went before a television audience Wednesday night and stated at least one thing everyone can agree upon. “The optics looked bad,” the Milton Democrat told […]
Posted inThe Download
The appeal of public records
No one, if they’re being honest, will dispute the contention that Massachusetts’s public records law is toothless and the lack of penalties for refusing to comply with it leads agencies at […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
State deer hunt begins in Blue Hills
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AS THE FIRST LEGAL HUNT in the Blue Hills Reservation in about a century got underway Monday, the state’s environmental chief said the controlled hunt will […]
