THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT issued a ruling Tuesday that will make it easier for Massachusetts prisoners to request medical parole, which is sometimes called compassionate release. The court held that […]
State Government
Posted inUncategorized
Ex-Fox News host joins State House battle on nondisclosure agreements
WHEN GRETCHEN CARLSON filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes in a scandal that ultimately led to his firing, she said she had no idea […]
Posted inEducation
As expected, new ed funding helps Gateway Cities
MASSACHUSETTS’S POOREST CITIES will receive the most new money under the first year of implementation of a new education funding formula, but even wealthy communities will see their funding increase. […]
Posted inEnvironment
Senate to vote on sweeping climate change bill
THE SENATE IS PREPARING to vote on sweeping legislation to address climate change, putting in place a series of mandates and regulatory measures as well as phased-in carbon pricing on […]
Posted inTransportation
Baker proposes $1 fee per ride-hailing trip
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER wants to increase funding for the MBTA by $134.8 million in the coming fiscal year, and cover part of the cost by raising fees on ride-hailing trips […]
Posted inEducation
Sex-ed bill heads to House; meanwhile, local fights continue
THE SENATE PASSED a sex-ed bill on Thursday with more Republican support than in the past, but it’s heading to the House where Speaker Bob DeLeo has not yet committed […]
Posted inThe Download
Sex-ed bill heads to House, meanwhile, local fights continue
The Senate passed a sex-ed bill on Thursday with more Republican support than in the past, but it’s heading to the House where Speaker Bob DeLeo has not yet committed […]
Posted inEducation
Will voters judge Walsh on schools?
IT WAS ALMOST 25 years ago, in 1996, that Mayor Tom Menino issued his famous challenge to voters to “judge me harshly” if he didn’t deliver significant improvements to the […]
Posted inThe Download
Will voters judge Walsh on schools?
It was almost 25 years ago, in 1996, that Mayor Tom Menino issued his famous challenge to voters to “judge me harshly” if he didn’t deliver significant improvements to the […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
MTF projects $900m funding gap in FY21
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WITH A SLOWDOWN in tax revenues expected and spending pressures escalating, Gov. Charlie Baker and the Legislature will grapple with a gap between likely revenues and […]
Posted inOpinion
What new regs on college closures do
MASSACHUSETTS IS THE FIRST STATE in the nation to protect students and their families from the seismic disruption that occurs when a college or university suddenly closes. The bill and […]
Posted inOpinion
Mass. Clean Energy Center needs more funding
OVER 111,000 PEOPLE WORK in Massachusetts’ dynamic clean energy economy, due to a powerful combination of leading policies, strong talent, and key institutions. At the center of this dynamic industry is the […]
Posted inEconomy
Upcoming tax debate awkward for GOP
As the House prepares to debate new funding sources for transportation, Massachusetts Republicans find themselves in an awkward situation. They generally oppose raising taxes, particularly the gas tax, but the […]
Posted inUncategorized
Overall state workforce increased slightly in FY19
THE SIZE OF THE STATE’S workforce is increasing, but it’s still below the level it was at prior to the election of Gov. Charlie Baker. According to a financial report […]
Posted inOpinion
A New Year’s resolution for the Mass. House
THERE WAS SOMETHING different about the start of this legislative session in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It wasn’t the composition: Yes, Democrats did manage to flip two seats, but […]
Posted inPolitics
Liberty Mutual, Verizon pushed tax change
LIBERTY MUTUAL AND VERIZON were two of the companies lobbying for a controversial corporate tax relief provision that appears to have nearly derailed a closeout budget bill late this year. […]
Posted inUncategorized
Healey seeks DPU crackdown on electricity sellers
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY is asking the state Department of Public Utilities to investigate whether competitive electricity suppliers are charging low-income customers unreasonably high rates and whether those higher charges […]
Posted inOpinion
Speaker’s PAC provides incumbent protection
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S DOMINANCE in the Massachusetts Legislature is a matter beyond dispute. Since 1978, when a constitutional amendment reduced the number of seats in the House of Representatives from […]
Posted inOpinion
Mr. Fix-it struggling with culture change
IT’S THE CULTURE of state government versus the Baker administration and the winner, by a knockout in the fifth round, is state government culture. Think of the MBTA and the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Lawmakers finally pass close-out budget
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS broke a weeks-long impasse over a more than $1 billion surplus spending bill on Wednesday night, cutting a deal that dropped a […]
Posted inPolitics
House challenges comptroller’s ultimatum authority
STATE LAWMAKERS BLEW past Wednesday’s deadline for passing a closeout budget bill, and then a top House lawyer challenged the comptroller’s authority to even impose such an ultimatum. It was […]
Posted inEconomy
Vaping ban ends with mixed results
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH officials acknowledged that they still do not know what is causing lung injuries and illnesses among some people who vape, and reiterated that […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
What’s behind the legislative budget stalemate
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS have been mum about what is keeping them from agreeing on a bill to close the books on the fiscal year that ended almost […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Budget impasse could sweep away House, Senate funds
IF THEY FAIL to reach a compromise before Wednesday afternoon, leaders of the House and Senate will lose out on tens of millions of dollars in budgetary allowances that have […]