Category Archives: State News

Governor to Exempt Chapter 70 from the Ax

Posted on January 22, 2009 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick will tommorow announce that he will not cut Chapter 70 school aid as part of the overall cuts to local aid that he will announce. That news, while good for schools throughout the Commonwealth, will mean that … Continue reading →

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New State Marijuana Laws Proposed

Posted on January 22, 2009 by billmanzi

Rep. Cleon Turner from Cape Cod has filed some state bills on marijuana that he feels will “tighten” the referendum law passed by voters in November. From the State House News Service: A Cape Cod lawmaker has filed a pair … Continue reading →

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Toll Hike Delayed?

Posted on January 21, 2009 by billmanzi

It appears pretty certain that Governor Deval Patrick and new Transportation Secretary Jim Aloisi will manage to get the Massachusetts Turnpike to postpone the toll increases announced a couple of months back and scheduled to be voted on tommorow. The … Continue reading →

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Rahm on Meet the Press

Posted on January 18, 2009 by billmanzi

I may have mentioned this before, but I have always thought highly of Rahm Emmanuel, the Obama Chief of Staff. He is hard working and brilliant, with a rough political edge to him. He appeared today with David Gregory on … Continue reading →

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Treasurer Cahill seeks Federal Dollars for School Construction

Posted on January 18, 2009 by billmanzi

State Treasurer Tim Cahill, in a letter to Governor Deval Patrick, has advocated for an application of federal dollars to the Massachusetts School Building Authority that would minimize, or erase, the need for local contributions to school projects in the … Continue reading →

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Essex and Middlesex Counties included in disaster relief

Posted on January 18, 2009 by billmanzi

The Federal Government yesterday announced that both Essex and Middlesex County would be included in the federal declaration of disasater for the recent ice storm, despite both counties failing to meet county wide financial threshholds. The initial failure to meet … Continue reading →

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Legislature Grants 9-C Authority to Governor

Posted on January 15, 2009 by billmanzi

The Legislature yesterday granted expanded 9-c authority to Governor Deval Patrick to close a budget gap that is at about one billion dollars. In doing so the legislature exempted themselves, the judiciary, and constitutional officers from the expanded authority. It … Continue reading →

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Senate Proposes Transportation Reforms

Posted on January 14, 2009 by billmanzi

Senate President Therese Murray and Senate Transportation Chair Steve Baddour today presented a bold outline of where the Senate hopes to lead Massachusetts in transportation policy. The plan outlined today had no revenue component, but Senator Baddour estimates cost savings … Continue reading →

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Melrose’s Rob Dolan to Head Mayors Association

Posted on January 14, 2009 by billmanzi

Melrose Mayor Rob Dolan will be nominated to head the Massachusetts Mayor’s Association at our annual meeting on January 24th. Mayor Dolan is an outstanding leader, and a really great choice to head our association. He comes in at a … Continue reading →

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The Gas Tax It Is

Posted on January 13, 2009 by billmanzi

It is quite obvious that we will have, probably within the next month, a proposal to shelve the toll increases proposed by the Mass Turnpike and move to a gas tax increase of undetermined magnitude. The Governor, engaged in an … Continue reading →

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