GOV. MAURA HEALEY on Wednesday signed into law her first state budget, setting a different tone than the Republican who held the corner office for the previous eight years. She […]
Massachusetts Legislature
Posted inThe Download
Beacon Hill inaction leaves Avangrid in awkward spot
On July 27, the CEO of Avangrid told financial analysts that his company was preparing to resume work on the Massachusetts-financed transmission line carrying hydroelectricity from Quebec into New England. […]
Posted inPolitics
Beacon Hill inaction leaves Avangrid in awkward spot
ON JULY 27, the CEO of Avangrid told financial analysts that his company was preparing to resume work on the Massachusetts-financed transmission line carrying hydroelectricity from Quebec into New England. […]
Posted inOpinion
Maybe the Globe should take a look at itself
“IT’S BEEN YEARS since legislative democracy truly flourished at the State House,” the Boston Globe editorial board sighed in exasperation a few weeks ago. For more than a decade, Globe […]
Posted inHousing, State Government, State House News Service
House backs market-rate housing program
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE HOUSE came around on the idea of expanding a tax credit program designed to encourage much-needed housing production, just not in the legislative vehicle that […]
Posted inGuns
Another House-Senate squabble, this time over gun legislation
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WITH THE UNFINISHED fiscal 2024 budget, a road and bridge funding bill, and even their internal rules still tied up in slow-moving backroom negotiations, House and […]
Posted inOpinion
Nix cap gains, single sales factor tax cuts
THE DIFFERENT tax policy packages put forward by the Massachusetts House and Senate are both called “An Act to Improve the Commonwealth’s Competitiveness, Affordability, and Equity.” Each chamber’s proposed package […]
Posted inOpinion
Despite improvement, roads and bridges need more funding
AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE conference committee begins its work on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, the Construction Industries of Massachusetts respectfully asks the conferees to maintain the 50/50 split […]
Posted inOpinion
Taking stock of the T after 6 months under Healey
IT’S BEEN ABOUT six months since the Healey-Driscoll Administration took office, an opportune moment to assess its performance in connection with the revitalization of the beleaguered MBTA. Let’s look at […]
Posted inEnergy, State Government, State House News Service
Thong-wearing climate activists turn their cheeks in Senate
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THONG-WEARING climate activists intent on stopping fossil fuel infrastructure mooned senators and disrupted Thursday’s tax relief debate in the Massachusetts Senate. About an hour later, they […]
Posted inOpinion
Lawmakers should back Make Polluters Pay bill
IN MAY, the Massachusetts House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard testimony from a large number of voters who had descended on the State House to urge the committee […]
Posted inEconomy
Senate debate highights fault lines on competitiveness issue
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE SENATE’S TOP Republican opted against seeking a vote Thursday on a roughly $750 million tax relief proposal, but set off a debate that revealed some […]
Posted inOpinion
Sad state of affairs on Beacon Hill
THE MASSACHUSETTS Legislature is broken. It’s not as bad as Tennessee or Montana, where Republican supermajorities have tried to expel or silence Democratic dissenters. Or Oregon, where Republicans simply walk […]
Posted inState Government, State House News Service
Healey names Gobi director of rural affairs
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SEN. ANNE GOBI will leave the Legislature to fill a newly created post in the Healey administration, triggering a special election in the central Massachusetts district […]
Posted inPolitics
House leaders pushing majority rule in joint committees
HOUSE LEADERS appear to be pushing majority rule in most of the Legislature’s joint committees, but the effort has had little impact so far except in the badly divided Telecommunications, […]
Posted inEconomy
Split-in-two committee to hold dueling hearings this week
Those interested in testifying on bills dealing with offshore wind and energy storage may have to do double-duty this week. The feuding House and Senate chairs of the Legislature’s Telecommunications, […]
Posted inState Government
Split-in-two committee to hold dueling hearings this week
THOSE INTERESTED in testifying on bills dealing with offshore wind and energy storage may have to do double-duty this week. The feuding House and Senate chairs of the Legislature’s Telecommunications, […]
Posted inPolitics, State Government
Fight erupts over committee rules on Beacon Hill
This story has been updated with a comment from Rep. Jeffrey Roy. A FIGHT is brewing on Beacon Hill over the rules governing how joint committees made up of House […]
Posted inState Government, State House News Service
High Tech Council calls House move unconstitutional
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AN INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS group warned Monday that a bill the House approved last month features an “unconstitutional provision” to reshape the rebate program that provided nearly […]
Posted inPolitics
House approves budget amendments with little or no debate
THE HOUSE on Wednesday approved a spending plan for the coming fiscal year after three days of deliberations, with most of the serious discussions taking place out of sight. As […]
Posted inGambling
What you need to know about the House budget proposal
What follows is an explainer about what’s in the House Ways and Means budget proposal for fiscal 2024. How big is the House Ways and Means budget? It comes in […]
Posted inPolitics, State Government
House tax plan builds on Healey approach
HOUSE LEADERS fell in line behind Gov. Maura Healey’s call for tax changes to make the state more affordable and competitive, unveiling legislation on Tuesday that not only mirrors but […]
Posted inOpinion
No more climate legislation needed; it’s time for action
IN 2021, after extensive negotiation, the Massachusetts Legislature passed the Next Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy, which calls for reducing emissions by 75 percent by 2040 and 85 percent […]
Posted inOpinion
HDIP addresses need for market-rate housing
WE ALL KNOW that New Bedford is facing a housing crisis that involves not only rising rents and home prices, but a severe shortage in housing options across all income […]