STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A DEAL BROKERED by Beacon Hill leaders between labor and the hospital industry to avert a contentious hospital pricing disparity ballot question this fall would reenergize a special commission examining health care costs and direct $120 million over five years in financial relief to hospitals across the state. The tentative agreement […]
Matt Murphy
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Mass GOP to compete in 40% of legislative races
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE STATE’S POLITICAL HISTORY being what it is, the Massachusetts Republican Party hopes to make modest electoral gains at the state level this year, favoring a targeted strategy rather than casting the kind of wide net that has blown up in its face before. Despite Gov. Charlie Baker’s soaring popularity and […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Hydro-wind combo would save customers $171m
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A NEW STUDY ON THE IMPACT large-scale hydro and wind power imports could have on the Massachusetts energy market predicts significant savings for consumers, challenging the narrative put forward by critics of Gov. Charlie Baker’s energy bill that hydropower would be a costly alternative to natural gas. The economic analysis, conducted […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
House panel unveils $39.48b budget
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE LEADERS unveiled a $39.48 billion annual budget proposal on Wednesday, a leaner spending plan for fiscal 2017 than that offered earlier this year by Gov. Charlie Baker, but one that nevertheless makes a more sizable investment in local aid for public schools. The budget, which marks the sixth produced […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Solar negotiators reach a deal
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FIVE MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS resulted in a deal Tuesday between House and Senate leaders to raise the cap on the amount of energy that public and private solar power generators can sell back to the grid while slashing the net metering rate that those generators get paid. The compromise would also […]
Posted inDrug Addiction, State House News Service
House passes opioid abuse prevention bill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED a compromise opioid abuse prevention bill on Wednesday afternoon that was negotiated over the past seven weeks with the Senate. The bill, which included multiple initiatives tied to intervention, treatment, prevention, and education, would limit the size of first-time opioid prescriptions and require schools to screen students […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
House bill: No fingerprinting for Uber drivers
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE DRIVERS FOR RIDE-FOR-HIRE SERVICES such as Uber would have to undergo a two-step background check process, but would not be required to submit to fingerprinting under a bill prepared by House leaders to regulate the growing industry. Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, the House chair of the Financial Services Committee, on Friday released a […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Joyce says he won’t seek reelection
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A week after the FBI and IRS raided his Canton law office, Sen. Brian Joyce of Milton announced Tuesday that he would not seek re-election. The announcement came on the same day that one state representative in his district appeared to be gearing up for a campaign. Joyce, who has been under […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Baker defends fare hike amid commuting chaos
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AMIDST ANOTHER DAY OF CHAOTIC COMMUTES for public transit riders, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday delivered a forceful defense of proposed MBTA fare hikes as he tried to empathize with the frustration of the riders struggling to navigate through cancelled commuter trains and overcrowded T cars. Amtrak, which operates the rails […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Feds raid Joyce’s law office
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE FBI AND IRS raided the Canton law offices of state Sen. Brian Joyce on Wednesday in the first indication of criminal problems for the Milton Democrat accused of ethical missteps. Joyce, who has been the subject of several media reports questioning his use of campaign funds and influence as a state […]