“Pressley says she is ‘deeply disappointed’ same-day registration isn’t included in Mass. voting bill,” Boston Globe
“Same-day registration is critical to boosting voter turnout, especially among Black, brown, low-income, and immigrant communities, and arbitrary voter registration deadlines should not be a barrier to exercising the right to vote,” she said. “I urge my State House colleagues to swiftly reverse course.”
“House stands firm against same-day voter registration,” CommonWealth
“Even if a study happens, we’re just back where we are today and we start over,” Elugardo said, later adding, “The increases in turnout that we’re codifying today have been concentrated in communities that don’t include people who are Black, indigenous and other people of color.”
“House should pass same-day voter registration,” CommonWealth
“House leadership and members must vote to include same-day registration and strong jail-based voting reforms in the VOTES Act so that we can guarantee that no eligible voter who wants to participate in our democratic process gets turned away. Then, it’s time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and work on the harder, and year-round, task of increasing the number of people who want to participate in the first place.”
“Mass. Senate President calls for same-day voter registration as House takes up voting rights,” GBH News
“Eighteen other states have same day registration, I believe that Massachusetts should be at least the 19th at this point in time,” Spilka said on Boston Public Radio Tuesday. “Too bad, we should have been number one earlier, but at least we should be doing it. I believe we should be doing anything to help people who want to vote.”
“Galvin: Registration Reform Study Not Needed,” State House News Service
“Secretary Galvin does not think further study of Election Day registration is necessary, and he was not consulted on this requirement,” Galvin spokeswoman Deb O’Malley said in a statement to the News Service in response to questions about his point of view. “He strongly supports moving forward as soon as possible with Election Day or same day registration, which is why he included it in his election reform proposal a year ago.”
“Elected officials from 15 municipalities want the MBTA’s help to eliminate bus fares,” Boston Globe
“Thirty elected representatives from Cambridge, Amesbury, Boston, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newburyport, Newton, Rowley, Somerville, Wakefield, Watertown, Winchester, and Worcester sent a letter to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager Steve Poftak Thursday calling on the agency to make it easier for them to create fare-free bus lines.”
“Millionaire’s tax opponents sue over ballot language,” CommonWealth
“Dedicating the money in our state constitution is the strongest way possible to ensure that the revenue raised by the Fair Share Amendment is spent on essential investments in education and transportation,” the coalition [Raise Up Mass] said in a statement. The group said money is needed as Massachusetts recovers from the pandemic, and added, “Massachusetts families deserve an honest debate and they deserve the stronger economy we can provide them with through the additional revenue raised by the Fair Share Amendment.”
“Boston’s rental market has reached an all-time high,” Boston Globe
“That’s an all-time high for Boston, which has long ranked among the priciest cities in the country but typically lagged behind the Bay Area — where the weather and booming tech scene pushed pre-pandemic real estate prices into the stratosphere.”
“Lawmakers press bill on funding police alternatives,” Daily Hampshire Gazette
“It really struck me that … the best solution we had in our community to a situation that the caregivers couldn’t control was to call in armed police officers,” she [State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa] said. Police officers “are not the people to call when your kid is having a meltdown, or at least they shouldn’t be.”
“A simple card that drives conservatives crazy,” Boston Globe
“Good bills often idle on Beacon Hill, and this one, perhaps because it would generate a knee-jerk anti-immigrant reaction, has remained stubbornly in limbo. But there’s a simple reality to consider: Undocumented workers are here in abundance and often driving to their jobs. Let’s make our roads safer for everyone in the Commonwealth.”
“Massachusetts Democrats support democracy, right? Right?,” Boston Globe
“In a state whose leaders once helped shape the foundational principles of this democracy, there should be no room for halfhearted measures for, or delay on, voting reform.” A great editorial from the Globe — and, alas, many Democratic state reps answered the titular question with a resounding “NO”
“100 Millionaires And Billionaires Sign Open Letter Pleading For Higher Taxes,” HuffPost
“To put it simply, restoring trust requires taxing the rich. The world — every country in it — must demand the rich pay their fair share,” the letter states. “Tax us, the rich, and tax us now.”
“Should Massachusetts guarantee anyone serving a life sentence the chance for parole?,” Boston Globe
“In Massachusetts 34 percent of those serving life without parole are Black, yet Black people comprise only 9 percent of the state’s population. Massachusetts ranks first in the nation for racial disparities in incarceration rates of Hispanic residents, and 12th for Black residents. This is a racial justice issue and our Commonwealth’s overuse of life-without-parole sentences is disproportionately impacting Black and Brown families and communities.”
“Money starts to flow into ‘millionaires tax’ ballot fight,” Boston Globe
“Putnam Investments CEO Bob Reynolds gave $200,000 to the cause, making him the biggest donor to the opposition campaign as of Dec. 31, according to campaign finance documents filed with the state on Thursday.” He clearly can afford to pay his fair share.
