We provide this press release from the Senate President’s office highlighting the increases in the minimum wage and the earned income tax credit to take effect on January 1, 2016. Several articles on the minimum wage and the EITC are also provided.
Author Archives: Jeanne Mooney
Massachusetts Celebrates 25 Years of First Day Hikes
One great way to celebrate the New Year is to enjoy the outdoors. Join one of the free guided hikes sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on January 1 at 11 state parks. Details are in the press release below.
Waltham woman at front of sex abuse battle
The Waltham News Tribune? reported on the legal victory of Waltham native Rosanne Sliney, who won her “fight against child sex abuse laws last week when the Massachusetts Supreme Court reaffirmed a 2014 law? extending the statute of limitations for lawsuits filed by victims of child sex abuse.” Rosanne shared her story at a press conference held at the office of her attorney Carmen Durso. Anne Johnson Landry, Senator Brownsberger’s Committee Counsel and Policy Advisor, attended and shared, “Rosanne’s story was really compelling and I think spoke to the need for reform in a way that showed that the three year statute of limitation just didn’t make any sense.” Senator Brownsberger was a one of the co-authors of the legislation.
SJC upholds time limit expansion in civil sex abuse cases
The Boston Globe reports on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s (SJC) decision to uphold a 2014 law extending the statute of limitations on civil cases of child sexual abuse to 35 years and makes it retroactive. This was legislation that Senator Brownsberger long worked on. You can read the SJC decision here.
Belmont legislators and stakeholders weigh in on Gov. Baker’s opioid bill
The Belmont Citizen-Herald asked Senator Brownsberger about his stance on “One of the more controversial components of the bill would expand the state’s civil commitment laws by allowing doctors to involuntarily commit drug addicts for up to 72 hours without a court order.” Senator Brownsberger replied, “I am not sure it (the 72-hour hold provision) translates so readily into the opioid context.” And he added, “I am giving it a lot of study over the next few weeks. I am pleased to see the governor has some great people working on this issue.”
Chabot: Gov. Charlie Baker ripped over rehirees
Senator Brownsberger commented for the Boston Herald? on the rehiring of 70 MassDOT employees after they participated in the early retirement program. “When you really do the math and you factor in the true value of the increased pension benefits, it works out to a $90,000 gift to each person retiring,” said state Sen. William N. Brownsberger (D-Belmont), referring to the bump-up in pension benefits that were awarded to get people to accept early retirement. He added that refilling those jobs defeated the purpose. “The savings only happens if you keep the person off the payroll. So, to the extent that people are coming back, the economics looks worse.”