STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE If Sen. Elizabeth Warren breaks from her firm public stance and runs for president, she will have the backing of Congressman Michael Capuano, who said Monday that he offered his assistance without “trying to pry” into her intentions. “I have spoken to her. I have not asked her for any response. […]
Matt Murphy
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Patrick “lone walk” to take place a day early
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Gov. Deval Patrick plans to take the “lone walk” down the front stairs of the State House a day before Governor-elect Charlie Baker’s inauguration in an attempt to not overshadow the incoming governor’s moment, according to people familiar with planning for the transition of power in early January. Meant to symbolize […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Baker, Patrick differ on pay raise report
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Outgoing Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday quickly signaled his support for major increases in the salaries of eight top state officials, as recommended by a special commission, while his successor said he would “probably veto” them if they arrived on his desk before the state’s financial situation had improved. In a […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics, State House News Service
Panel: End mandatory minimum drug sentences
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Tackling an issue that could re-emerge in the Legislature over the next two years, a special commission studying the state’s criminal justice system recommended eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for all drug offenses in Massachusetts. The commission also voted to recommend parole eligibility for all state prison sentences after an inmate has […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Chinese firm to build rail cars in Springfield
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A Chinese-owned railroad car manufacturer being recommended for a $556.6 million state contract plans to build a 150,000 square-foot facility in Springfield to assemble new Orange and Red Line MBTA cars, bringing 250 jobs to that city, Gov. Deval Patrick said Tuesday. Patrick and outgoing Transportation Secretary Richard Davey were in […]
Posted inGambling, State House News Service
Suffolk Downs challenges casino award to Wynn
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Suffolk Downs on Wednesday asked the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to reconsider its decision to award a casino license to Wynn Resorts, filing a detailed letter with the commission alleging that Wynn’s bid can no longer proceed in compliance with the law after the indictment of the owners of property in Everett […]
Posted inHealth Care, Politics, State House News Service
Health spending slows; Patrick sees ‘mixed story’
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE While consumers saw their health insurance premiums and benefit levels stabilize in 2013, overall state spending on health care in Massachusetts climbed to over $50 billion and efforts to move away from fee-for-service care “stalled,” according to a new report. The Center for Health Information Analysis, created by the state’s 2012 […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Grossman and Berwick target Coakley at debate
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Democrat Martha Coakley, with just one full week of campaigning left before the primary election, is attempting to do what she could not in her 2010 race for the US Senate – hold on to a late lead. Her opponents, however, are determined not to make it easy for the attorney […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
DeLeo flattered by term limit talk
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who has helmed the chamber since 2009 and is staring at a term-limited departure from the speaker’s office in just over two years, said Wednesday he was “flattered” by the suggestion that he might try to extend his stay. DeLeo’s comments were a reaction to an unsourced […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Health Care, Politics, State House News Service
Mass. prison spending ranked 7th in US
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Massachusetts trailed only six states in per-inmate spending on prison health care in 2011 as an aging population contributed to the growing cost of care for inmates, which has been on the decline since 2009 in line with the experience of most other states, according to a new study. A new […]