I have worked hard to maintain a near perfect voting record in all my voting roles. However, on July 30, I chose to attend an important meeting outside the State House, even though I knew it would cause me to miss several hours of busy roll call voting. I wanted to let people know the story behind the statistic.
Author Archives: Will Brownsberger
Boston Strong on the Olympics — No Boston Olympics
While I’m a little saddened for dashed hopes, I’m mostly relieved by the decision to cancel Boston’s Olympics bid. For me, as for many others, the risks associated with the Olympics appeared too great for the Commonwealth to backstop. We should be proud for the robust debate we’ve had and I thank all who have participated in it — it looks to me like we just dodged a bullet.
Senate Passes Extension of Net Metering
Yesterday the Senate passed a climate adaptation planning bill, including an amendment to extend solar net metering for investor owned utilities. The Senate was eager to move this issue forward in part because some areas of the state have reached their current cap and solar installations are at risk of losing the federal subsidy which possibly expires at the end of next year. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where its prospects are unclear.
Sales Tax Holiday?
Since 2004 (except in the 2009 recession year), the legislature has voted a sales tax holiday weekend in August. I’ve historically voted in favor of these holidays. However, I’m giving it a second thought this year. They just don’t work the way we think they should, as I explain in this post. What are your thoughts?
Criminal Justice Reform — Statistics Collection
The legislature is considering directions for criminal justice reform. Check out the background we have been assembling. Help us with additional information.
Mandatory Sentences Disproportionately Impact Minorities.
Illegal drug use spreads through all racial and ethnic groups and whites are the group most commonly convicted of possession (70.9% in Fiscal 2013). The racial disproportionality at the mandatory minimum level is therefore troubling, especially because of the unique role of prosecutorial discretion in bringing and enforcing mandatory minimum charges.