Democratic leaders finally reached a compromise on a $2.8 billion spending bill that includes $250 million for the state’s emergency shelter program, but they couldn’t win legislative approval for the measure because a small band of Republicans in the House refused to let it move forward in an informal session.
Legislature
Posted inOpinion
Beacon Hill dawdling comes with consequences
Despite months of opportunity to work with Gov. Maura Healey to accommodate migrants and other families and pregnant women under the state’s right-to-shelter law, lawmakers dawdled, seemingly content to let Healey take the political heat.
Posted inState Government
Campbell says DiZoglio lacks legal authority to audit Legislature
Attorney General Andrea Campbell concludes the state auditor lacks the legal authority to audit the Legislature without its consent.
Posted inCourts, Drugs, Guns, Marijuana, State Government
Here’s what passed in marathon all-night legislative session
IN A MARATHON all night session, the Massachusetts Legislature finally finished many of their key priorities of the 2021-2022 legislative session, even as one key priority – tax reform – remained undone. They passed bills on equity in the cannabis industry, legalizing sports betting, and tightening gun licensing laws in the wake of a Supreme […]
Posted inOpinion, State Government
On Beacon Hill, it’s last-minute business as usual
AS THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE slogs to the finish line, having once again ceded its super Democratic majority, this time to a lame duck governor, it’s fair to ask how does this keep happening. As someone who has observed the crazy rush at the end of session as both a reporter and a legislative staffer, I […]
Posted inPolitics
Reform advocates will press for changes in House rules
WHEN THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE sets its rules for the new two-year session, a group of advocates and lawmakers will renew their attempts to introduce more transparency into frequently opaque House processes. The rules debate will be among the first tests of how newly elected House Speaker Ron Mariano will relate to the progressive wing of […]
Posted inPolitics
Sweating it out on Beacon Hill like it’s July
THE WEATHER IS cold, Christmas lights are still up. But on Beacon Hill, the mood is more like July 31 – the traditional last day of formal sessions during the two-year legislative session. This year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers extended formal sessions to pass a late state budget, address the pandemic, and deal with […]
Posted inOpinion
A holiday wish list for legislative action on housing
WHEN IT COMES to Massachusetts affordable housing policy, it is easy to have a vigorous debate about whether the glass is half full or half empty – and both sides would have a strong argument to make. The half-full proponents would point to the fact that Massachusetts is one of the only states with state–funded public housing, […]
Posted inPolitics
Legislative candidates seek election do-overs
DOING THE SAME thing again and expecting a different result may be the definition of insanity, as the saying goes, but some legislative candidates are doing it anyway. This November, voters will be asked to choose sides – again – in several legislative rematches. Democratic state Sen. Sue Moran, Democratic state Sen. John Velis, and Democratic state Rep. Carol Doherty […]
Posted inUncategorized
Republicans allege power grab in rules debate
THE NORMALLY CONGENIAL dealings of the Massachusetts House of Representatives turned into a scene of vituperative charges and countercharges being hurled across the partisan divide on Wednesday as lawmakers struggled to devise a plan for how to conduct business amidst the coronavirus pandemic. House Speaker Robert DeLeo accused House Republicans of putting House members and […]