Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tell us: do you think Massachusetts needs to increase taxes to strengthen education and transportation?
In his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night, Gov. Deval Patrick proposed raising the state's income tax by a full percentage point and lowering the sales tax to pay for $2 billion worth of transportation improvements and early childhood education programs. "There is no good time to raise taxes. I know how tough the times have been on the people and families of the Commonwealth. And though the worst of the recession is over, many, many families still face tough decisions and have deep anxiety about the future. I would not ask if I did not believe in my heart that investing meaningfully today in education and transportation will significantly improve our economic tomorrows," Patrick said. Patrick said he wanted a more fair and…
The governor unveiled legislation Wednesday to strengthen gun laws in Massachusetts while increasing funding for mental health services. Sensible or reactionary?
Are new proposed laws regarding guns in Massachusetts and mental health services sensible and pragmatic steps, or reactionary measures that won't increase safety? Gov. Deval Patrick introduced new legislation Wednesday along those lines in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn. "I am encouraged by the palpable consensus in our Legislature that the time for action is now. All of us must pull in the same direction to bring about real change in this state and across the country," Patrick said in a press release. The bill would, among other things: Punishments for crimes involving guns would also sharpen, with tiered punishments for possessing different weapons on school property and giving police the authority to arrest without…
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Where and when to watch or listen to the Massachusetts governor's annual address tonight.
I would suspect that the governor's annual State of the State address is not, usually, a TV ratings champ. But tonight's speech, which starts at 7:30 p.m., may attract more viewers and listeners than usual. Why? Since it happens on the heels of Gov. Deval Patrick saying he wants to raise $1 billion by hiking the Massachusetts income tax. So you may want to watch tonight. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: CBS ABC NBC NECN Streamed live on boston.com Streamed live on http://www.malegislature.gov/ If you know of other websites, TV stations or radio stations carrying the State of the State live, please add them to the comment section below.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick announced plans to cut the state's local aid for the current fiscal year. But what could that mean for Wellesley?
Earlier this week, Governor Deval Patrick's office proposed a series of cuts aimed at closing up a half-billion dollar budget gap. The bulk of the cuts come from spending cuts in the Executive Branch, but some affect local programs or education. Many of these cuts will need legislative approval before they go into effect for the current fiscal year. According to a press release about the proposal, "The governor’s proposed plan ensures virtually all impacted programs and services will receive no less funding than last year and that no cuts will be made to Chapter 70 education funding." In particular, Patrick's proposal cuts $11.5 million from the state's Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursement program, a move that the governor …
Friday, November 30, 2012
Representatives from Wellesley's MassBay Community College among those meeting with Gov. Deval Patrick and Mass. Community College Board
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Friday, November 30, 2012
Below is a press release from the Governor's Office: GOVERNOR PATRICK CONVENES MEETING WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD CHAIRS TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AGENDA BOSTON – Thursday, November 29, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today hosted the first meeting of the Commonwealth’s community college Board Chairs to discuss the implementation of his community college plan. The fifteen newly-appointed Chairs will partner with the Administration to create a more integrated, effective community college system responsive to both local and statewide employer needs that gives community colleges additional capacity to expand student access to high-quality, relevant educational and training programs. View additional photos. The Governor’s community college…
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wellesley's Mass Bay was among the community colleges represented at today's meeting.
This is an edited version of a press release from the governor's office. Gov. Deval Patrick today hosted the first meeting of the Commonwealth’s community college board chairs to discuss implementation of his community college plan. The 15 newly-appointed chairs will partner with the administration to create a more integrated, effective community college system responsive to both local and statewide employer needs that gives community colleges additional capacity to expand student access to high-quality, relevant educational and training programs. The governor’s community college plan, supported by the legislature and included in the FY13 budget, calls for the governor to appoint the chair of the board of trustees at each community …
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Monday, October 1, 2012
The champs posed for photos and learned about state government last week.
The state champion Wellesley Little League baseball team meet the governor last week. Players and coaches for the team posed for photos with Gov. Deval Patrick, Rep. Alice Peisch, Sen. Cynthia Creem and Sen. Richard Ross last week. The little league team lost in the regional semifinals this summer.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Asked about toll fairness during a Patch live chat, Governor Deval Patrick asked a reader whether he'd support high-speed tolls. Are these a good way to share the transportation funding pain, or another money grab?
Are high-speed tolls along Interstate 93 and other highways a smart way to help fund transportation in the state? Governor Deval Patrick mentioned such a system during a Patch live chat on Thursday. If you've gone up Interstate 95 into New Hampshire, you've seen high-speed tolling in action. The system is designed to read your EZ-Pass (new Fast Lane) transponder while you breeze by at 65 miles per hour. There's no need to slow down or squeeze though a booth, as EZ-Pass users currently do on the Mass Pike, Tobin Bridge and harbor tunnels. The chat moved on to other topics, so no details about implementation were offered. What do you think? Would tolls along I-93 offer some fairness to riders in Boston, MetroWest and North Shore, who all …
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick is scheduled in the 9 p.m. hour.
The Democratic National Convention will have a Massachusetts feel tonight as Gov. Deval Patrick and Congressional candidate Joe Kennedy III are scheduled to speak before the convention. Kennedy is scheduled to speak during the 7 p.m. hour after a Kennedy family tribute video. Two hours later, Patrick is scheduled to finish the 9 p.m. hour. The night will also include a number of prominent speakers, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reed, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Director Kathleen Sibelius and conclude with a speech by First Lady Michelle Obama. The Wall Street Journal published a full schedule of speakers.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The governor on Saturday sent 'Melissa's Bill' back to the Legislature.
Gov. Deval Patrick set in motion a wave of criticism when he proposed an amendment to the "three strikes"/Melissa's Bill on the grounds that it lacked sufficient provisions for judicial discretion. Warning of possible unintended "unjust consequences" that can arise from mandatory sentencing laws, Patrick wrote in a letter to the Legislature, "None of us is wise or prescient enough to foresee each and every circumstance in which the new habitual offender provisions may apply." On Monday afternoon, the House rejected Patrick's amendment by a vote of 132-23, according to The Boston Globe. The bill's fate is up in the air, as the legislature's summer session will end Tuesday at midnight. The governor has not indicated whether he would veto a …
Michael Fleming
1:13 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Please notice Patricks phraseology: "invest in the future". First the word "invest". It sort of sounds like a person socking money away for a rainy day huh? That is always a good strategy. Sound money management, judicious use of your hard earned money, right? One "invests" their money for a reward later on, like retirement or for a college fund. Thing is, it isn't that at all. It's another word … more ›