STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A BILL TARGETING drug costs that the Senate plans to take up next week would cap the cost of insulin at $25 a month for consumers, […]
Massachusetts Legislature
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
COVID spending bill grows to $101m, passes within hours
A $55 MILLION COVID-related spending bill ballooned into a $101 million bill under an agreement reached between House and Senate negotiators, which lawmakers sent to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk just […]
Posted inPolitics
Ex-Trump aide Lewandowski joins Diehl campaign
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE LOWELL NATIVE and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has joined Republican Geoff Diehl’s campaign for governor as a senior advisor, the GOP candidate announced Wednesday, […]
Posted inPolitics
House stands firm against same-day voter registration
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE STATE’S MOSTLY successful experiment with voting-by-mail during the COVID-19 pandemic would become a permanent option for voters in future elections, but House lawmakers on Thursday […]
Posted inUncategorized
Marijuana industry ‘fixes’ moving in the Legislature
A COMPREHENSIVE BILL that would address several major problems that marijuana regulators and industry experts have pinpointed in the legal cannabis industry is starting to move in the Legislature. The Joint Committee on […]
Posted inThe Download
House, Senate differ on COVID spending, voting rights
The House and Senate may agree on broad contours of policy, but when it comes to actually passing bills, the devil’s in the details. That truism is on full display […]
Posted inPolitics
House, Senate differ on COVID spending, voting rights
THE HOUSE AND SENATE may agree on broad contours of policy, but when it comes to actually passing bills, the devil’s in the details. That truism is on full display […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker budget includes $700m tax break proposal
IN HIS FINAL budget proposal before leaving office, Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday included nearly $700 million worth of tax cuts for Massachusetts residents, setting up a debate over tax policy with […]
Posted inPolitics
Same-day voter registration could be sticking point
SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION could become a sticking point between the two branches as the House this week prepares to take up a voting reform bill that passed the Senate last […]
Posted inUncategorized
Spilka says State House likely to reopen in Feb.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS say they are optimistic the State House will begin reopening to the public in February. Senate President Karen Spilka made the announcement following a State House meeting between […]
Posted inEducation
House releases $55m bill for COVID testing, school masks
THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS Committee on Tuesday released a bill that would allocate another $55 million to expanding COVID testing sites, buying masks for schools, and doing vaccine outreach, even as Gov. […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics
Offshore wind policy fight takes center stage
A LONG-BREWING fight over state energy policy moved into the spotlight on Tuesday as key players laid out their positions in what promises to be an interesting debate over the […]
Posted inHealth Care
Baker, Democratic legislators clash on virus response
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER often says he and his political opponents will “agree to disagree.” That could have been the mantra of Tuesday’s oversight hearing of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on […]
Posted inUncategorized
Mariano eyes vaccine mandate for public access to State House
HOUSE SPEAKER Ron Mariano said on Monday that lawmakers will likely require members of the public to show proof of vaccination if and when the State House reopens. Mariano made […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Spilka discloses she suffered ‘mild stroke’
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SENATE PRESIDENT Karen Spilka had what she said was “a mild stroke” in mid-November and was told by her doctors to get some rest, she said […]
Posted inOpinion
Breaking down the Legislature’s ARPA veto options
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE ended its formal business for 2021 on the third Wednesday of November, as its rules require, it left behind one of the year’s biggest bills, a spending […]
Posted inThe Download
Process overtakes promise on ARPA spending bill
It started out as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — the chance to spend billions of dollars in unexpected federal and state funds to accomplish real change in Massachusetts – but as […]
Posted inNews Analysis
Process overtakes promise on ARPA spending bill
IT STARTED OUT as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — the chance to spend billions of dollars in unexpected federal and state funds to accomplish real change in Massachusetts – but as […]
Posted inOpinion
Mass. falling behind on marijuana equity mandate
AFTER MASSACHUSETTS voters legalized adult-use cannabis in 2016, the Legislature made history as the first in the nation to require full participation in the regulated industry by individuals who were harmed by […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker worried about ‘red tape’ in ARPA bill
WITH FOUR DAYS left before Gov. Charlie Baker must act on a $4 billion spending bill, he voiced concerns about “a lot of red tape” in the legislation. “The thing we’re […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
ARPA spending bill finally heads to Baker
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE IT LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT from the bill he proposed, but Gov. Charlie Baker finally has on his desk a version of legislation doling out billions […]
Posted inThe Download
Compromise ARPA spending bill emerges $180m bigger
It’s nice to have money to play with. Under pressure, House and Senate negotiators reached agreement on a $4 billion spending bill, which was released Wednesday evening and which lawmakers […]
Posted inUncategorized
Compromise ARPA spending bill emerges $180m bigger
IT’S NICE TO HAVE money to play with. Under pressure, House and Senate negotiators reached agreement on a $4 billion spending bill, which was released Wednesday evening and which lawmakers […]
Posted inOpinion
Mass. egg market about to get scrambled
EGGS ARE A SYMBOL of birth, rebirth, and hope and are featured in recorded history of ancient cultures in Greece and China. In Massachusetts, however, eggs are currently a symbol […]