Ed reform needs a new plan

New models must accompany any new money

By Bill Walczak 0 Comments Dec 13, 2018

MASSACHUSETTS, WITH ITS innovative industries and history of leadership and reform, should be the laboratory for reimagining public education to ensure equity, opportunity and excellence for all. But that’s not happening. As proud as we are of gains we have made in student achievement, our education system remains outdated – unable to deliver on the(...)

Health Care/ The Back Story/ Opinion

Pharmacy middlemen manipulating the system

Tighter regulation, greater disclosure could save millions

By Todd Brown Health Care 0 Comments Dec 13, 2018

A RECENT FEDERAL LAW allows pharmacists to inform patients when the price of their medication is less than the copayment they would pay using their insurance. This is helpful to some patients using certain low-cost medication. But there are much bigger savings to be realized by limiting payments to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who have(...)

Education

MTA will push for $1.5 billion in new ed spending

Teachers union vows to raise 'expectations,' 'hell,' and 'revenue'

By Katie Lannan 0 Comments Dec 13, 2018

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION is pushing lawmakers to increase state funding for public education by more than $1.5 billion a year by May 1, a campaign the union’s board unanimously threw its support behind on Saturday. “For far too long, the state has underfunded public education,” union vice president Max Page(...)

Health Care/ Politics/ Opinion

Track care providers who commit abuse

But offer those who are accused an appeals process

By Orlando Pena Health Care, Massachusetts Legislature 0 Comments Dec 13, 2018

IN EARLY NOVEMBER, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Children and Families heard compelling testimony from families, caregivers, and state agencies about the need to pass Senate bill 2606, an act that directs the Disabled Persons Protection Commission to establish and maintain a registry of care providers who commit substantiated findings of abuse. The bill also(...)

Politics

Moulton caves — and declares victory

With Pelosi concessions, Salem rep ends leadership challenge

By Michael Jonas Nancy Pelosi, Seth Moulton 0 Comments Dec 13, 2018

IT’S EASY TO poke some fun at Seth Moulton and liken his message to that of George Aiken, the Vermont senator who famously declared in 1966 that the US should simply declare victory in Vietnam and go home. The Salem congressman threw in the towel yesterday, saying it’s time to rally around Nancy Pelosi as(...)

The Download/ Politics

Moulton declares victory — and caves

By CommonWealth Staff Nancy Pelosi, Seth Moulton 0 Comments Dec 13, 2018

It’s easy to poke some fun at Seth Moulton and liken his message to that of George Aiken, the Vermont senator who famously declared in 1966 that the US should simply declare victory in Vietnam and go home. The Salem congressman threw in the towel yesterday, saying it’s time to rally around Nancy Pelosi as(...)

Plugging In/ Energy/ Environment

Why are electricity prices spiking this winter?

Baker administration report blames last winter

By Bruce Mohl Electricity, Energy 0 Comments Dec 12, 2018

RETAIL ELECTRICITY PRICES are going up this winter in eastern Massachusetts because of the price spike that occurred during an extreme cold spell last winter. The explanation for the rising price of electricity – it will be at its highest level since 2015 – was contained in an energy plan released on Wednesday by the(...)

Politics/ Opinion/ Mass. Fiscal Alliance

Mass. Fiscal social justice claims ring hollow

When it comes to questionable campaign finance issues, group should look in the mirror

By Maurice Cunningham 0 Comments Dec 12, 2018

BACK IN 1932 James Michael Curley arrived at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago without a seat in the Massachusetts delegation. Curley dexterously engineered himself into becoming the chairman of the Puerto Rican delegation – “Alcalde Jaime Miguel Curleo.” With the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance’s recent claim to be a crusader for social justice, Curleo’s triumph(...)

Politics

Globe seeks more women in House leadership

Urges DeLeo to get out of his ‘comfort zone’

By Bruce Mohl Women in office 0 Comments Dec 12, 2018

THE BOSTON GLOBE editorial page is demanding more women in House leadership, particularly at the helm of the House Ways and Means Committee. The message is a familiar one for Shirley Leung, who has made breaking the glass ceiling a theme of her work as the acting editor of the editorial page and previously as a columnist. The(...)