“Even for seasoned lobbyists, lawmakers, and advocates used to the secretive, deadline-averse Massachusetts Legislature, the end of the formal session came as a shocking disappointment, with billions of dollars in spending and major policy proposals left on the table as legislators decamped for a five-month recess from formal duties.”
“Senate president is our employer, she should talk to us,” Common Wealth, 8/6
“On July 29, one day after Spilka rejected voluntary recognition of our union, staff asked Senate counsel if we had a path forward and the answer was yes. The hurdles ahead shouldn’t deter anyone – after all, the Senate tackles complex issues every day. For the sake of her workers and workers unionizing everywhere in Massachusetts, we hope that Spilka opens her doors to her staff. Union busting should not become a pillar of her Beacon Hill legacy.”
“But then Rollins left the prosecutor’s office to become the US attorney for Massachusetts early this year and attorney Kevin Hayden was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker to finish out her term….Under Hayden, the office seemed far less eager to pursue the case….And now a Globe investigation into the incident has sparked a swirling controversy, with fingers pointed in all directions, and accusations of deception and lies lobbed back and forth among attorneys, police, and prosecutors.”
“Congress has appropriated sufficient resources to make this necessary investment and provide meaningful relief while the Orange Line is out of service,” Pressley and Markey said in a statement. “The state has let riders down, and riders shouldn’t have to shoulder both the inconvenience and the cost.”
“A ballot measure that could mean billions in new revenue,” Boston Globe (letter), 8/4
“The Fair Share Amendment will constitutionally guarantee almost $2 billion more each year for two of the business community’s most important priorities: better roads and transit and improved public education. Yet, as The Boston Globe has reported, opponents are targeting the Legislature in a desperate attempt to confuse voters. Only the very rich will pay more, and we will have billions of dollars in new revenue to build a better economy that’s fair for everyone.”
“Will the cost of housing tank the Massachusetts economy?,” Boston Globe, 8/1/2022
“We are facing a potential “brain drain,” says Michael Goodman, a professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. In this hub of intellectual firepower, our most potent natural resource isn’t land or oil; it’s talented people. And when they can’t afford to live in the state, that’s a problem.”
“A new prison won’t help our community,” Boston Globe (letter), 7/30
“We seek to stop funneling money into prisons and fund services in the community to provide support and intervention to individuals with disabilities that may divert them from becoming mired in the criminal justice system, and also to provide alternatives to incarceration and civil commitment in correctional facilities. Moreover, necessary mold and asbestos remediation within an existing prison would not run afoul of the moratorium.”
“How to create a community where we all want to live? Tax the rich.,” Boston Globe (letter), 7/29
“As a Boston resident and parent of young children, I want nothing more than to create a community that values education, robust public resources, and collective investment in shared well-being. The super-rich have accumulated wealth with the support of these very things. For only an additional 4 cents of each dollar earned above a million dollars, we can restore and revitalize our economy and create the communities we all want to live in.”
“Baker won’t sign no-cost prison calls without dangerousness bill,” Boston Globe, 7/28
“When someone is found to be dangerous – before a jury is seated and the full evidence has been gathered – they are taken from their communities, locked up and forced to sit behind bars while presumed innocent,” Benedetti said. “This is not how justice is done, and we applaud Chairs Mike Day, Jamie Eldridge and other lawmakers who recognize that expanding this punishment-first law hurts our clients and has a disparate impact on poor people of color.”
“T riders say they are frustrated by having to pay the same fare for worse service, and splurge on Uber rides or spend more time away from home to be able to make it to appointments, work, and school on time. And advocates warn about the service cuts deepening racial inequities and increasing carbon emissions.”
“I was on the Orange Line train that caught fire. I’m furious.,” Boston Globe, 7/25
“The state needsto pay for more frequent and thorough car inspections so that people don’t get caught in doors and dragged to their deaths. It needs toput money into fixing busted stairs so people don’t fall through them and die. It needs to fix the ceiling of the heavily-trafficked pedestrian tunnel that connects the Red and Orange Lines at Downtown Crossing before it caves in.”
“Thankfully, the Fair Share Amendment will be on the November 2022 Massachusetts statewide ballot. It will create a tax surcharge of four percentage points on annual income above $1 million. These funds would then be dedicated to quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation.”
“The calls for decisive action have been coming from city planners and urban policy analysts, as well as social justice activists and environmentalists, transportation enthusiasts who push for smart growth and business leaders focused on economic development. All agree that the state can do more to desegregate communities, bring more economic diversity to Boston’s suburbs, and create more places where average people can afford to live.”
“41% of Massachusetts families struggle to afford health care,” Boston Globe, 7/20
“Massachusetts continues to be the state with the lowest uninsured rate in the nation,” said Christine Loveridge, manager of research for the Center for Health Information and Analysis. “And yet, two-fifths of residents report they and their families experienced affordability issues in the last 12 months.”
“The day state senators and representatives are sworn into office, they are covered by Massachusetts’ employee health insurance. But legislative staff — the chiefs of staff, legislative aides, policy directors, and others who play a large role in crafting laws — are subject to a minimum 60-day new hire waiting period before coverage is effective.
A Senate-backed proposal to immediately cover staffers was included in the chamber’s state budget bill but was killed in negotiations with the House, to the chagrin of staffers who had hoped their concerns about the gap in coverage would be addressed this year. That means the budget sent to Governor Charlie Baker this week does not include any such help for hundreds of employees who work in the state House and Senate.”
“A $250 check from Beacon Hill? Great. But don’t leave out the very poor.,” Boston Globe, 7/9
“But if the state is going to provide one-time payments out of what is expected to be a historic, nearly $3.6 billion surplus for the fiscal year that ended June 30, then tending to the most vulnerable families should be top of mind.”
“Police can seize your property too easily in Massachusetts,” Boston Globe, 6/29
“The legal parameters of civil asset forfeiture have long cried out for reform. But that is only part of the problem. Removing the financial incentives for abuse — by taking district attorneys and police departments out of the equation — is just as essential.”
“Let me be absolutely clear: The Senate president can prove [the Senate] is a champion of labor today by announcing its support for the Massachusetts State House Employee Union,” Senate staffer Tara Wilson said, prompting applause and cheers from a crowd gathered in front of the building.