Hot threadsThe House took action today on its own version of a driving safety bill. The House version still needs to be reconciled with the Senate version. Check out our new local aid reference links, which provide current, historical and comparative data on distributions by the state to cities and towns. The flash news in the Governor’s state of the state address was that he intends to file a budget (due next week) that preserves local aid at last year’s level. This from a lifelong Democrat and continuing true believer in government spending: The heart of our problem is a sense of entitlement to spend the taxpayers’ money. Early Thursday evening the House completed final approval of the Education Reform bill. It is “on the Governor’s Desk” and a signing is scheduled for Monday morning at 11AM at the Children’s Museum, 300 Congress St., Boston. I’ve had conversations with several friends in the Benton library area in Belmont who have sought my advice about how to interact with the town as the town decides what to do with the property. The House moved forward a version of the education reform bill last night. There is plenty of coverage of the issue in the newspapers, but here is a perspective from the floor. There is a deep and passionate conversation going among legislators right now around the issue of transparency. There is a growing group of legislators who feel that the legislature needs to change the way it manages its own business. Hi Will, I applaud your efforts toward transparency re: state contracting. I am a bit concerned, however, re: transparency as understood by the Pioneer Institute. Just want to thank you for co-signing and championing House Bill 1728: An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes. You rock. Now, if only we could get the darned thing out of committee… I remember how shocked I was when the cable broadcasts of the House and Senate sessions were dropped, and then I checked into it and found that long before I even moved to Massachusetts, which was in 1983, the legislature had voted to exempt itself from both Open Meetings laws and the Freedom of Information [...] Just read this Globe article today.; One [...] Someone from Clean Water Action came to my house last night asking for signatures and donations. I am aware that you have now given your support to this bill and I gave them my support. I did wonder, though, if you have any reservations about it. I am very concerned about the definition of an underperforming school district that could be written into the new education bill. on 2/08/10, tomaustin said about Comments on Non-competes from Forrester Research: Non-competes do nothing to protect the employee. They are one-sided manacles that help grow business in states without non-competes. Interesting to se [...] on 2/06/10, HalShubin said about House passes driving legislation: I understand that, but it's sort of ironic. "It's dangerous, but we all want to do it, so we'll allow it." Would texting be prohibited whenever one [...] on 2/05/10, AnnEgan said about House passes driving legislation: Banning cell-phone use while driving is long overdue. The specification of an age for re-testing drivers is, in my opinion, arbitrary and prejudicial [...] on 2/05/10, CWogganer said about House passes driving legislation: Go for it house and Senate! To the first commenter who said that the 89 year old drives better than the 35 year old, I completely agree. However, [...] on 2/05/10, NancyDavis said about House passes driving legislation: Evidence has proved that distracted driving is dangerous, whether by hand-held or hands-free cell, concentration on gauges or other electronic devices [...] on 2/05/10, Sarmonica T. Jones said about Tenant/Landlord Issues: Invasions of Privacy: Hi Will, Thank you for the suggestion...looking forward to a peaceful resolution. on 2/05/10, DouglasReynolds said about House passes driving legislation: I completely agree about texting and cell phone use while driving - it is becoming a real hazard on the road. I completely disagree about doctors and [...] on 2/02/10, Paul Looney said about Bottle Bill: I would prefer the bottle bill be eliminated. I counted 3 crushed bottles on my 2 mile walk arond Town the other day. It got me wondering who are the [...] on 1/29/10, CarolynBishop said about Bottle Bill: Glad to see some discussion on the Bottle Bill and agree it definitely needs to be expanded for ALL other bottles and cans: non-carbonated, water, fru [...] on 1/28/10, Michael Arnott said about Bottle Bill: I heard yesterday that there is less money in the Governor's budget this year for state parks. That continues a state tradition of cutting the state [...] on 1/28/10, Alex Mankowski said about Biking Around Alewife: Will, How will the new trail be connected with 1. The Hill Estates, 2. Pfizer/Wyeth, 3. Cambridge Park Drive, 4. EMC Corporation? The project's suc [...] on 1/27/10, MarkKirk said about Biking Around Alewife: I think the path expansion will improve things. I agree that if there is work starting this spring that any other efforts should wait until then. It [...] |