Four months ago, CommonWealth reported that jockeying was underway for a slice of the $5.9 billion pie of federal money coming to Massachusetts state government from the American Rescue Plan Act. “It’s a lot of money, but it’s not infinite money. Not even close,” Evan Horowitz, director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at […]
Massachusetts Legislature
Posted inUncategorized
Can ARPA spending spur transformative change?
FOUR MONTHS AGO, CommonWealth reported that jockeying was underway for a slice of the $5.9 billion pie of federal money coming to Massachusetts state government from the American Rescue Plan Act. “It’s a lot of money, but it’s not infinite money. Not even close,” Evan Horowitz, director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts […]
Posted inEducation
Baker signs bill prohibiting ‘meal-shaming’ in schools
THE PRACTICE of “meal-shaming,” drawing attention to a student whose family owes money for school meals, is a thing of the past, after Gov. Charlie Baker signed a law prohibiting the practice in Massachusetts. “Now we can finally say when Massachusetts students go to the school cafeteria for lunch, they do not have to worry about being penalized […]
Posted inPolitics
Senate adds 6th majority-minority district in Brockton
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AFTER SOLICITING feedback over the past week on draft redistricting maps for the Legislature, House and Senate leaders on Tuesday finalized revised plans that would add a sixth majority-minority Senate district that covers Brockton and strengthen the majority-minority status of House districts in New Bedford and Framingham. The revised maps would […]
Posted inThe Download
Beacon Hill eyeing tradeoffs on offshore wind
A major policy debate is taking shape on Beacon Hill between those who see offshore wind as the key to meeting the state’s climate change goals, and those who see the industry as needing to do more than that – specifically, spurring significant economic development in the state. The debate centers around the price of […]
Posted inEnvironment
Beacon Hill eyeing tradeoffs on offshore wind
A MAJOR POLICY DEBATE is taking shape on Beacon Hill between those who see offshore wind as the key to meeting the state’s climate change goals, and those who see the industry as needing to do more than that – specifically, spurring significant economic development in the state. The debate centers around the price of […]
Posted inPolitics
Concerns raised on redistricting plan
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCATES knocked the Senate redistricting proposal as “overcautious.” A state representative with eyes on a seat in the other chamber slammed the potential split of Haverhill as “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” And in the most visible sign yet that internal dissent is rumbling, a member of the Senate […]
Posted inEnvironment
Baker shifts thinking on offshore wind
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER signaled a major shift in his thinking on offshore wind Wednesday, unveiling legislation that would entice developers to put down roots in Massachusetts by spending $750 million of federal funding on infrastructure improvements and removing price caps on procurements. At a national offshore wind conference in Boston, Baker said he wanted to […]
Posted inThe Download
Who’s keeping whom in check on Beacon Hill?
Massachusetts, the old adage goes, elects Republican governors to keep the free-spending Democrats on Beacon Hill in check. But lately it seems like the roles are reversed. Every chance Gov. Charlie Baker gets he pushes the Legislature to move faster to spend the $4.8 billion the federal government has given the state to deal with […]
Posted inUncategorized
Who’s keeping whom in check on Beacon Hill?
MASSACHUSETTS, the old adage goes, elects Republican governors to keep the free-spending Democrats on Beacon Hill in check. But lately it seems like the roles are reversed. Every chance Gov. Charlie Baker gets he pushes the Legislature to move faster to spend the $4.8 billion the federal government has given the state to deal with […]