THERE IS A STRUGGLE going on for the soul of the Massachusetts Republican Party between Trump loyalists who control the party apparatus and a more moderate brand of Republicanism espoused by Gov. Charlie Baker. The state party is headed by Jim Lyons, a social and economic conservative who said in a recent email to state […]
Massachusetts politics
Posted inThe Download
What’s behind the split within the Mass. GOP
There is a struggle going on for the soul of the Massachusetts Republican Party between Trump loyalists who control the party apparatus and a more moderate brand of Republicanism espoused by Gov. Charlie Baker. The state party is headed by Jim Lyons, a social and economic conservative who said in a recent email to state […]
Posted inThe Download
Now there’s a name for ballot questions that improperly combine different, unrelated elements — they’re called Frankensteins. Business groups last year succeeded in blocking a ballot question proposing a millionaire’s tax by convincing the Supreme Judicial Court that the question tried to do too many unrelated things at once — hike taxes on the rich, […]
Posted inEconomy
Cumberland Farms ballot question called a Frankenstein
NOW THERE’S A NAME for ballot questions that improperly combine different, unrelated elements — they’re called Frankensteins. Business groups last year succeeded in blocking a ballot question proposing a millionaire’s tax by convincing the Supreme Judicial Court that the question tried to do too many unrelated things at once — hike taxes on the rich, […]
Posted inOpinion
Mass. GOP building strong farm team
IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS a few weeks ago, Republican candidates won seats in key cities across the state, surprising many political watchers. In Fall River, Christopher Peckham was the first Republican city councilor elected in a half century. Republican Donna Colorio was the only non-incumbent elected to the City Council in Worcester, where the Democrats […]
Posted inOpinion
Is Baker launching a new state political party?
AFTER MONTHS OF CONFLICT between Gov. Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts Republican Party, a powerful new super PAC that backs candidates Baker supports has stepped into public view and gotten involved in elections. In last week’s municipal elections it spent an unbelievable $267,000 on 15 candidates, of which 11 won. Four of the 11 candidates […]
Posted inPolitics
Trahan changes tune on campaign cash
CONGRESSWOMAN LORI TRAHAN wouldn’t look as bad right now if she had accurately explained the source of a last minute campaign-cash infusion soon after she was first asked about it. From the time the Boston Globe’s Andrea Estes first started poking around about it earlier this year, there was strong suggestion that her husband, businessman David […]
Posted inThe Download
Trahan changes tune on campaign cash
Congresswoman Lori Trahan wouldn’t look as bad right now if she had accurately explained the source of a last minute campaign-cash infusion soon after she was first asked about it. From the time the Boston Globe’s Andrea Estes first started poking around about it earlier this year, there was strong suggestion that her husband, businessman David […]
Posted inPolitics
PAC with ties to Baker getting active
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A NEW SUPER PAC closely tied to Gov. Charlie Baker and funded by a familiar ensemble of well-heeled GOP donors has been spending heavily this fall in local elections, backing both Democrats and Republicans. The Massachusetts Majority super PAC has reported spending $267,429 to support candidates in mayor and city council […]
Posted inPolitics
DeLeo-Kaufman tale pulls back curtain on Beacon Hill ways
AGAINST THE BACKDROP of the usual State House ways, where lawmakers rise to voice opposition to an amendment offered by “the gentleman from Boston,” or part ways with the view of their “good friend” from this district or that one, a public disagreement that aired this week came in jarringly raw terms. It started when […]