Last week, a political battle that I started in 2010 ended quietly. With leadership support on both sides, the Senate and the House adopted joint rules codifying sound business practices for procurement.
Blog Archives
The next couple of years
The next couple of years in state government will be challenging and fascinating and I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your state senator.
Tagged with: automation, clean energy, climate change, economic development, energy, energy efficiency, globalization, income distribution, income inequality, inequality, mbta, mbta debt, pension reform, pensions, sentencing reform, transparency
Posted in budget, clean energy, crime legislation, drug policy, economic development, education, emission sources, independent learning, land preservation, MBTA, pensions & benefits, personal footprint, reform, social issues, strategy in MA, traffic, transparency
Posted in budget, clean energy, crime legislation, drug policy, economic development, education, emission sources, independent learning, land preservation, MBTA, pensions & benefits, personal footprint, reform, social issues, strategy in MA, traffic, transparency
Session Wrap-up
On Tuesday night we finished formal sessions for the 2011-2012 legislative session. Here’s a summary of what we got done.
Tagged with: animal cruelty, bottle bill, casinos, Community Preservation Act, economic development, health care, local aid, mbta, non-competes, pensions, prescription drugs, public sector wages and benefits, reform, sentencing reform, transgender, veterans
Posted in budget, crime legislation, drug policy, economic development, health care, local aid, local issues, news, pensions & benefits, reform, social issues, traffic, veterans & military
Posted in budget, crime legislation, drug policy, economic development, health care, local aid, local issues, news, pensions & benefits, reform, social issues, traffic, veterans & military
Election Laws — Session Wrap-up
Tagged with: "Citizens United", campaign finance, election law reform
Posted in legislation, news, reform
Posted in legislation, news, reform
Senate Legislative Accomplishments — Session Wrap Up
The Senate President’s office has prepared a summary of legislative accomplishments so far this year.
Tagged with: "Valor Act", budget, economic development, education, health care, human trafficking, mbta, mbta debt, pensions, prescription drugs, public sector wages and benefits, transgender
Posted in budget, economic development, education, health care, legislation, news, pensions & benefits, reform, social issues, traffic, veterans & military
Posted in budget, economic development, education, health care, legislation, news, pensions & benefits, reform, social issues, traffic, veterans & military
State Election Laws
Will, The MassVote organization current campaign for election law reform includes: Online registration. We’re living in the 21st century! It’s time to let citizens register online. Pre-registration. When young people are registered, they vote. So how can we get more…
Citizen Rally and Summit for Democracy, Boston Jan 20 & 21
Please attend this two-day event if you can, and consider endorsing important related Statehouse bills S304 (campaign funding disclosure) S305 (corporate accountability) S308 (clean elections) 1577 (pay to play) On the January 20–21 anniversary of the Citizens United decision, a…
Tagged with: "Citizens United", "clean elections", OccupyBoston
Posted in reform, speak out, transparency
Posted in reform, speak out, transparency
Transparency Improvements Implemented!
The state’s new “Open Checkbook” website is a big step forward.
Summary of House Session
While I voted against the gambling bill, I think that we got a number of other good things done in this session. The biggest may be the redistricting plan which has been widely praised for the increase it creates in the number of districts from which minority candidates may potentially be elected.
Tagged with: budget, casinos, education, local aid, pensions, redistricting, reform, transgender
Posted in budget, legislation, pensions & benefits, reform, social issues
Posted in budget, legislation, pensions & benefits, reform, social issues
Support for Brewers request to change Distributor laws
Hi Will – just a note to let you know that I support the bill, filed by Rep. John Binienda, of Worcester, that would exempt small brewers from the laws protecting wholesalers in MA. The law was written at a…
Tagged with: beer distribution, brewers
Posted in economic development, local issues, reform, social issues, speak out
Posted in economic development, local issues, reform, social issues, speak out