Thanks to Christopher for flagging this down: The SJC has made a rather uncomfortable "emergency" decision, in halving the number of signatures needed for some offices; extended deadlines; and required Sec. of Commonwealth Galvin to accept … [Read more...]
A slow-moving train crash: 20 years+ of disinvestment in the T
Michael Widmer, formerly of Mass. Taxpayers Association, gives a recap of the last twenty years (plus) -- twenty years -- of dawdling and avoidance on actually funding our transportation needs. It's a sad tale of short-sightedness and … [Read more...]
Voters support marijuana legalization; Baker, Walsh, & DeLeo don’t
A new poll from Western New England University found that 57% of Massachusetts voters support the ballot question to legalize marijuana for adults over 21, with only 35% opposed. 7% remain undecided (1% declined to give an answer). Full … [Read more...]
At Today’s House Session: More of Robert (DeLeo)’s Rules of Order
In our last episode on the parliamentary wrangling between the chambers of the Massachusetts Legislature, House Speaker Robert DeLeo was insisting that under the Joint House-Senate rules, the House was in charge of deciding if and when any … [Read more...]
More than 130 business leaders and professionals ask governor, state leaders to support direct care workers
With Labor Day approaching, I thought the BMG community would be especially interested in hearing about efforts to support the Salary Reserve for low-paid human service workers that the Governor and legislature have left behind for the last … [Read more...]
DeLeo moves to put Probation under Civil Service Commission
Press release: Speaker DeLeo's bill will address the immediate and potentially dangerous problem of hiring at Probation. Under the bill, new candidates will be subject to all Civil Service requirements. This will bring the department … [Read more...]
Casinos dead for the year?
I'm hearing that Terry Murray doesn't have the votes for an override of the Gov's veto, so DeLeo's giving up. No special session.Right now ... this is kind of a win-for-losing thing for the gov. He doesn't have to … [Read more...]
Patrick Response Press Release
That decision has the same practical effect as stopping work that would be happening now. Over the past few years, The House and Senate came together in compromise in a number of areas, including gaming. House Members put aside … [Read more...]
Our 200-Member Governmental Task Force Is Failing Us
Cross-posted from Blue News Tribune. I haven't read this MassINC piece yet, so if I hit on similar themes, it's coincidental. I remember, a long time ago when Mike Barnicle was a Globe Metro columnist, and he got frustrated with the … [Read more...]