Category Archives: State News

The We Can Solve It Campaign- Solar

Posted on March 3, 2009 by billmanzi

You will likely see this ad by the We campaign on the air shortly. Solar arrays in a desert! Not a bad idea. Maybe that goes along with improving our grid so that we can transmit that power to where … Continue reading →

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Cahill Calls for Slot Parlors

Posted on March 3, 2009 by billmanzi

Treasurer Tim Cahill will tommorow call for the licensing of at least three slot parlors in Massachusetts. These operations would be much less than the destination casinos envisioned in Governor Patrick’s original gaming proposal, but would have the advantage of … Continue reading →

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Gas Tax Battle Heats Up

Posted on February 28, 2009 by billmanzi

The political battle over the Governor’s proposal to hike the gas tax by 19 cents per gallon moved up a notch today, with (the great and powerful) Senator Steve Panagiotakos, Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, appearing to … Continue reading →

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Methuen Set to Host Transportation Hearing

Posted on February 27, 2009 by billmanzi

Four separate hearings are being planned for discussions of the transportation bills filed by the Governor and Senate leadership. From the State House News Service: Lawmakers are flushing out the details but at least four hearings are planned, beginning next … Continue reading →

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Baddour: I Don’t Represent Boston Elites

Posted on February 26, 2009 by billmanzi

The Senate Chair of Transportation went on yesterday with Jim Braude, talking about the Governor’s transportation plan and the toll hikes voted by the Mass Pike. Baddour stuck to his mantra of “reform before revenue”, and alternately discussed the tension … Continue reading →

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The Governor Files a Transportation Bill

Posted on February 25, 2009 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick, under some political heat on transportation, yesterday finally filed his long awaited transportation bill. The text of his letter to the Legislature is below. The Mass Pike yesterday passed phase one of the prospective toll increases, with … Continue reading →

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Transportation Chess Match

Posted on February 24, 2009 by billmanzi

The political dance between Governor Patrick and the Legislature over transportation continued yesterday, with the governor taking some fire over his plan to raise the gas tax by 19 cents. The Governor has, up to this point, been substantially outmaneuvered … Continue reading →

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The Gas Tax It Is

Posted on February 20, 2009 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick will today announce that he will file legislation that will raise the state’s gasoline tax by 19 cents, bringing it from 23.5 cents to 42.5 cents per gallon. While less than the Governor’s trial balloon number of … Continue reading →

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Baddour Tepid on Gas Tax

Posted on February 11, 2009 by billmanzi

State Senator Steve Baddour gave a tepid response to the gas tax talk coming out of the Governor’s Office, telling the Eagle Tribune that the “gas tax isn’t going anywhere right now”. From the Tribune: Baddour said the Senate is … Continue reading →

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The Gas Tax Trial Balloon

Posted on February 10, 2009 by billmanzi

A leak out of the Patrick Administration yesterday floated the potential for a gas tax hike of 27 cents per gallon to deal with the state’s transportation system financing. AP reported that figure, citing an internal memo that had been … Continue reading →

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