Highlights of the final budget include good local aid results, strong municipal health reform, limited spending with no new taxes, moderate reforms of the public counsel system and relatively good funding for a number of high priority human services.
Author Archives: Will Brownsberger
Municipal Health Insurance Reform
The state budget approved today includes a new approach to health care negotiation for municipal employees. It streamlines today’s very cumbersome process while setting reasonable boundaries on the choices that municipal managers can make and assuring some sharing of savings with employees.
Mystic/Alewife Updates
A meeting was held on Monday, May 27, 2011 in the State House to review the status of key issues in the Mystic/Alewife area with the management of the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Group Insurance Commission Costs
One of the most important subjects in the conversation about municipal health care has been the risk of high out-of-pocket costs. The GIC has just released a study which sheds light on this issue.
Teachers on the Board of Education
On Tuesday, June 21, at 10AM in Room A-2 in the State House, the Education Committee will hear testimony on two pieces of legislation related to the membership of the board of education. Both bills — House 1088 (sponsored by Rep. Walz) and House 1917 (sponsored by Rep. Garballey) — are designed to assure that …
Virtual Charter Schools
Rep. Marty Walz and I have sponsored legislation (House 1090) to create virtual charter schools. This legislation is coming up for a hearing before the legislature’s education committee next Tuesday, June 21. Your thoughts on the legislation would be much appreciated.