SOME OF THE SHORTCUTS in the democratic process we have come to take for granted – consolidated budget amendments, limitations on debate, and conference committees resolving differences in House and […]
Massachusetts Legislature
Posted inThe Download
House, Senate budgets contain plenty of policy proposals
So much for a “narrow” budget. When the House and Senate Ways and Means committees released their fiscal 2021 budget proposals, both were relatively narrow with few policy initiatives. Chairs […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
House, Senate budgets contain plenty of policy proposals
SO MUCH for a “narrow” budget. When the House and Senate Ways and Means committees released their fiscal 2021 budget proposals, both were relatively narrow with few policy initiatives. Chairs […]
Posted inUncategorized
Senate passes its own abortion budget amendment
THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE approved an abortion access budget amendment on Wednesday that is similar to but not identical to an amendment passed by the House last week. The amendment, which […]
Posted inOpinion
Senate amendment reinforces a woman’s right to privacy
MASSACHUSETTS HAS the opportunity to continue its legacy of expanding freedom by the Legislature passing Senate budget amendment 180 to remove obstacles and expand abortion access. This amendment includes policies […]
Posted inUncategorized
Senate abortion amendment differs from House’s in 1 key way
THE ABORTION ACCESS amendment the Senate is expected to take up on Tuesday mirrors the amendment approved by the House last week except for one provision – a broad statement […]
Posted inOpinion
Here’s my tipsheet for pending telemedicine legislation
THE CHALLENGES presented by COVID-19 have resulted in unprecedented changes to healthcare systems nationwide. Before the pandemic, only 1 percent of all physician visits in the US were conducted via […]
Posted inOpinion
Mass. is a participatory democracy in name only
AS WE FIXATE on the presidential election, ensuring that all votes are counted and yearning for a peaceful transition of power, we must avoid the smokescreen of national politics. Democracy […]
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 […]
Posted inUncategorized
House passes abortion access budget amendment
A LAME DUCK House passed a budget amendment Thursday night that would allow women as young as 16 to obtain abortions without parental or judicial approval and would also expand […]
Posted inUncategorized
Senate spending plan hews close to House version
THE SENATE WAYS and Means Committee on Thursday released its own nearly $46 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2021, a 5.5 percent spending increase over the current year, which is […]
Posted inThe Download
House budget addresses COVID-related education dilemmas
The coronavirus pandemic created – and exposed – multiple problems with the state’s education system, from preschool through high school. Now, lawmakers appear poised to use the must-pass vehicle of […]
Posted inEducation
House budget addresses COVID-related education dilemmas
THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic created – and exposed – multiple problems with the state’s education system, from preschool through high school. Now, lawmakers appear poised to use the must-pass vehicle of […]
Posted inOpinion
Warning: Debt collection tsunami coming
THERE’S A SECOND COVID-related wave about to hit families in the Commonwealth: a tsunami of debt collection activity that threatens our economic recovery. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, 20 percent […]
Posted inUncategorized
House rejects tax amendment as budget debate opens
AS THE HOUSE began its first day of debate on the state budget on Tuesday, progressives were defeated in their attempt to add new revenue. But some progressives remain hopeful […]
Posted inThe Download
Tran’s concession statement reflects his isolation
Sen. Dean Tran of Fitchburg posted a concession statement of sorts on Facebook over the weekend that seemed to capture the isolation he felt on Beacon Hill. Tran lost a […]
Posted inPolitics
Tran’s concession statement reflects his isolation
SEN. DEAN TRAN of Fitchburg posted a concession statement of sorts on Facebook over the weekend that seemed to capture the isolation he felt on Beacon Hill. Tran lost a […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
DeLeo backs budget debate on abortion access
HOUSE SPEAKER Robert DeLeo said late last week that he would frown on lawmakers using the budget as a vehicle for major policy reforms, but he backed off that stance […]
Posted inUncategorized
House budget: No new taxes, more eviction protections
MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE budget writers on Thursday released a $46 billion spending proposal for the rest of the fiscal year, which includes no sweeping changes to tax or fiscal policy and […]
Posted inPolitics
Biden wave in Mass. doesn’t translate in House
THE BLUE WAVE in Massachusetts for Joe Biden and the state’s congressional delegation didn’t translate into a sweep of House legislative races for Democrats. Republican state Rep. Leonard Mirra of […]
Posted inPolitics
Cronin declares victory; Sen. Tran not conceding
DEMOCRAT JOHN CRONIN was clinging to a tiny lead over Republican Sen. Dean Tran of Fitchburg early Wednesday morning, but Cronin said the trendlines were enough for him to declare […]
Posted inUncategorized
DeLeo, Spilka promise abortion debate in lame duck session
A clarification has been added to this story about current law. MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE SPEAKER Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka announced on Monday that the two branches will take up […]
Posted inOpinion
Vote for climate and democracy
CLIMATE AND DEMOCRACY are on the ballot this fall for hundreds of thousands of voters across the Commonwealth. Voters in all or part of 44 communities (a complete list is […]
Posted inPolitics
Enviro groups split on state Senate battle
TWO OF THE STATE’S leading environmental groups are split on which candidate is the best to represent the Plymouth and Norfolk Senate district, which includes six coastal communities dealing with […]