We got through the budget week! The Senate budget unfolded without too much drama along the lines I outlined in my pre-budget piece. Thanks to all for comments on that piece. A few highlights and notes about the process: Commenters (and others by phone and email) urged support for the Mass Cultural Council budget. We …
Author Archives: Will Brownsberger
Headed into Senate Budget Week
In the coming week, the Senate will take up the budget for Fiscal 2015. We will vote on amendments proposed to the Senate Ways and Means draft budget and then send the budget to a conference committee to resolve differences with the House budget. This is a year where the major parameters of the budget …
Election Law Reform
The committee working to resolve the differences between the House and Senate on election legislation reported out a compromise bill last week. We approved the report unanimously in the Senate. The bill will come back for final enactment next week. Here are the main elements of what was reported out: A new mechanism to allow …
Drugs and addictions overview
In response to popular demand, I’ve created this conversation category on drugs and addictions. This overview collects some older posts and summarizes my current thinking. I have been thinking about these issues for over 20 years and my thinking has evolved considerably over time. Here is an overview of my thinking on drugs and addictions: …
Divest from Fossil Fuels?
I want to start a conversation on this site about a matter before the Senate that has been troubling me. I’d like to hear how my constituents feel about Senate 1225 which would require the state’s pension fund to sell all stocks in oil, coal and gas companies (fossil fuel companies). My initial reaction to …
The Green Line Maintenance Yard
I had a fascinating visit a couple of weeks ago to the Green Line Maintenance Yard in Newton. They roll cars in on a track extension and inspect them and perform routine maintenance from an underground trench. If the cars need heavier maintenance, they can roll them onto a special track and lift up the …