Spending spiral

By Bruce Mohl and Jack Sullivan Elementary and Secondary Education 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

INTRO TEXT EDITOR’S NOTE: Since the publication of this story, CommonWealth has learned that some of the information it presented was incomplete. For clarification, please go here.

Tax Credits/ Economy

Making an impact

By Bruce Mohl Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

every time our magazine comes out, I wonder what kind of impact it will have. I know I’m interested in the issues we’re covering, but will others find them compelling? We received a positive answer to that question recently with the release of Gov. Deval Patrick’s fiscal 2010 budget proposal. It contains two provisions that(...)

Economy/ Politics

Patrick vs. Cahill

By Robert David Sullivan State Government, Taxes and Budget Issues 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

UPDATE: State Treasurer Tim Cahill is running for governor as an independent, not as a challenger to incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick in the Democratic primary. Still, this CW map from 2009 gives some idea of the geographic contours of this fall’s general election if Cahill manages to sneak past GOP nominee Charlie Baker to become(...)

Uncategorized

End of an exodus

By Robert David Sullivan Demographics, Immigration 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

Only a couple of years ago, many of us fretted about the Bay State’s declining population. (See “A Fading Dream?”, Civic Sense, CW, Fall ’06.) We didn’t realize that something was coming that would reverse the tide: a rotten economy. According to Census Bureau estimates, Massachusetts grew by just over 30,000 people from July 2007(...)

Criminal Justice

Statistically significant

By Robert David Sullivan 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

Illustrations by Travis Foster bay state farms get fruitful and multiply Are “buy local” campaigns helping to preserve the state’s small farming sector? New data from the US Department of Agriculture show that the number of working farms went up from 6,075 to 7,691 from 2002 to 2007 — even though the amount of land(...)

Politics

Back in the sunshine

By Shawn Zeller 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

during his eight years in office, President Bush alienated few groups more than scientists, who complained that he ignored them and impeded their work. So when President Barack Obama took office in January, researchers had high hopes for big changes, perhaps impossibly high hopes. But so far, they like what they see. “It is just(...)

Politics

Strings attached

By Michael Jonas Ethics and Open Government, State Government 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

Illustration by Travis Foster It had been a rough year for Speaker Sal DiMasi, but you never would have known it when members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives gathered on the first Wednesday in January to elect a leader for the new two-year legislative session.

Environment/ Politics

The shape of watts to come

By Gabrielle Gurley Energy, Municipal Government 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

Leonard Bicknell confesses that he’s a nut about consuming less energy, even if it costs him more to do so. Over the years, the South Shore heating oil dealer has super-insulated his house, installed magnetic interior storm windows, and switched over to a solar water heater.

Economy

Banks balk at short sales of underwater homes

By Michael Jonas Growth and Development, Housing 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

with banks bleeding red ink under the weight of massive losses on home loans, you would think lenders would be scrambling for every dollar they can squeeze out of the devalued houses they hold mortgages on. But when it comes to minimizing mortgage losses, housing advocates and real estate agents say banks often can’t get(...)

Politics

Beacon Hill pols share their bounty

By Christina Prignano State Government 0 Comments Apr 15, 2009

Massachusetts legislators are big givers with other people’s money. Campaign finance reports for 2008 indicate lawmakers took about $1 million of the $9.8 million they raised from supporters and donated it to charities, other politicians, or a political party. The records show 179 lawmakers gave just over $650,000 to charitable causes. Senate President Therese Murray(...)

Spring 2009