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  • President Bill Clinton endorses Coakley

    President Bill Clinton has made a last-minute endorsement of Attorney General Martha Coakley as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, saying, "you can trust her to get results."  Coakley was a strong Hillary Clinton supporter in the presidential election, as was one of Coakley's top supporters Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth). Bubba taped a [...]
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    Fetched: December 07, 2009, 1:34am EST

  • More lawmaker furloughs

    Lawmakers continued to file their furlough requests long after the deadline yesterday, and a total of 137 state representatives requested the pay cut. House Speaker Robert DeLeo and minority leader Brad Jones requested lawmakers and their staff take an unpaid week to help cut more than $600,000 in costs. The 28 members [...]
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    Fetched: December 01, 2009, 7:21pm EST

  • Bump leaving administration

    Rumors are swirling on Beacon Hill that Suzanne Bump, Gov. Deval Patrick’s labor secretary, will leave her post by the end of the month to join a crowded Democratic race to replace state auditor Joseph DeNucci. Bump, a former state representative who has been positioning herself for the race since earlier this [...]
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    Fetched: November 20, 2009, 7:37pm EST

  • Gov taps Tito for campaign

    Gov. Deval Patrick announced former Boston City Councilor candidate Tito Jackson would be the political director of his campaign today, charged with shaping the governor's outreach to political groups. Jackson served in the executive office of housing and development before his at-large bid. The campaign also announced that Sydney Asbury, who [...]
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    Fetched: November 17, 2009, 4:29pm EST

  • Cambridge mayor responds

    Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons on state Sen. Anthony Galluccio's case ... "I have reviewed the newly-released Cambridge Police incident report that chronicles the events that took place on October 4, 2009, during which the Cambridge Police encountered an allegedly intoxicated State Senator Anthony Galluccio and drove him home. This episode" [...]
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    Fetched: November 16, 2009, 6:26pm EST

  • Cambridge cops respond

    Statement from Superintendent Steven Williams on state Sen. Anthony Galluccio: “Historically if a call for service does not involve a crime, Cambridge Police Officers have not been required to write a report of the incident. In this particular case, a report was not written immediately following the incident. When a Supervisor [...]
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    Fetched: November 16, 2009, 6:26pm EST

  • Sen. President “very disappointed” in Gooch, protest planned

    Members of the left-leaning blog the Blue Mass group have organized a protest over the perceived special treatment of Sen. Anthony Galluccio (D-Cambridge), who has another court date on Friday on hit and run charges. The Associated Press reported today that Galluccio received a ride home from Cambridge police 13 hours before the Oct. [...]
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    Fetched: November 16, 2009, 3:31pm EST

  • House speaker laying low on U.S. Senate race

    While Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) has been extremely active and vocal in her support of Attorney General Martha Coakley in the race for the U.S. Senate, DeLeo has remained on the down low. Asked last Friday about who he's endorsing, DeLeo said he hasn't decided yet. Some of DeLeo's top lieutenants, such as' [...]
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    Fetched: November 02, 2009, 12:31pm EST

  • Tsongas for Coakley

    Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) will officially endorse Attorney General Martha Coakley in the U.S. Senate race tomorrow in Lowell. The support is a blow for Coakley's rival Congressman Michael E. Capuano (D-Somerville), who has been racking up congressional endorsements from U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, Stephen Lynch, John Tierney, and Jim McGovern. Tsongas Chief of Staff [...]
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    Fetched: October 27, 2009, 8:21pm EDT

  • Patrick a pauper?

    Gov. Deval Patrick deposited only $40,000 in campaign cash during the last reporting period while opponents Treasurer Tim Cahill and former Harvard Pilgrim CEO Charlie Baker boasted raising hundreds of thousands. The light fund raising is partially a result of hip surgery that sidelined Patrick for about a month, but it [...]
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    Fetched: October 06, 2009, 12:21am EDT

  • Khazie announces Thursday

    Alan Khazei, co-founder of the volunteer program City Year, will officially announce his bid for U.S. Senate on Thursday on the Boston Common, according to his website. Khazei, the last Democrat expected to enter the race, will hold the event at noon. He has been largely quiet as bigger names such [...]
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    Fetched: September 22, 2009, 8:15pm EDT

  • Pols warm to interim senator

    A controversial bill allowing Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint a temporary senator in place of the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy gained steam today as federal officials placed further pressure on local pols and Beacon Hill leaders gained support -- allowing for a vote as soon as Thursday. While both [...]
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    Fetched: September 14, 2009, 10:30pm EDT

  • Looks like there’ll be a Kennedy in the race after all

    More than 40 people have pulled nomination papers for the empty U.S. senate seat, including Joseph A. Kennedy. Kennedy, not to be confused with former Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, is registered as an unenrolled. He joins 42 other candidates who have hoofed it to the Secretary of State's office because [...]
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    Fetched: September 14, 2009, 1:15pm EDT

  • An Aloisi timeline

    Transportation Secretary Jim Aloisi, who friends say has lost 20 pounds from stress since he took the job last December, said today he doesn't want to lead the newly reformed department set to begin Nov. 1. Officials, who say a replacement could be picked as soon as next week, said' [...]
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    Fetched: September 12, 2009, 5:30pm EDT

  • Mihos poll-ution

    Perhaps part of the explanation for Christy Mihos' head-scratching flip-flop is a $30,000 poll he recently commissioned showing, according to Mihos, fabulous winning numbers for a potential senatorial bid. The poll mainly focused on Mihos' race for governor, but the campaign slipped in a question about Mihos running for the empty senate seat, [...]
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    Fetched: September 10, 2009, 12:26pm EDT

  • Patrick and DeLeo on Kennedy

    Gov. Deval Patrick said during a press conference yesterday afternoon he learned political grace from the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, and said there was not enough time to list the improvements and accomplishments Kennedy made for Massachusetts. "Diane and I will miss his company, his humor, his stories, his" [...]
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    Fetched: August 27, 2009, 12:22am EDT

  • Senate President Therese Murray on Kennedy’s temporary appointment request

    Senate President Therese Murray declined to discuss the late senator's wish to appoint a temporary replacement. “I’m not going to respond to any succession issues. He just passed today. There will be plenty of time after his services to discuss what Massachusetts’ future in the us senate will be,” Gov. Deval Patrick, [...]
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    Fetched: August 27, 2009, 12:22am EDT

  • Baker courting GOP legislature

    GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker is meeting privately with the state's small band of Republican lawmakers this morning in the hopes of winning their endorsement. Baker, who boasts Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei as his campaign chairman, is meeting with the state's 21 Republican representatives and senators and will hold a press availability [...]
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    Fetched: July 30, 2009, 2:25pm EDT

  • Tech support chief out after bill-tracking boondoggle

    The state legislative director of information technology left his job yesterday following a $263,000 technological boondoggle meant to update the state’s bill tracking system, according to two legislative sources. Richard B. Arscott, who earns $92,500 a year, emptied out his desk and left yesterday. A source wouldn’t say whether Arscott was [...]
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    Fetched: July 22, 2009, 2:33pm EDT

  • LG Tim Murray becomes treasurer

    ...Of the Democratic Lieutenant Governor's Association (!), which announced a new team today aiming to sculpt the nations next Democratic leaders. Murray, who last week denied that he's looking at a run for state Treasurer, was appointed Treasurer/Secretary of the DLGAs behind co-chair Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter and big shot chairman John Cherry, the [...]
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    Fetched: July 22, 2009, 12:26pm EDT

  • T GM calls Transportation Secretary a liar

    The rift between MBTA General Manager Dan Grabauskas and Gov. Deval Patrick's Transportation Secretary Jim Aloisi turned into a gaping crevasse after Grabauskas flat out called Aloisi a liar an a local new show last night. Grabauskas, well versed in the kind political verbiage that allows many pols to call someone [...]
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    Fetched: July 22, 2009, 12:26pm EDT

  • Transparency can be so opaque

    Republican lawmakers blasted Gov. Deval Patrick for keeping them in the dark on legislation created to avoid a $274 million Pike debt payment, saying the behind-the-scenes maneuvering goes against Patrick’s pledge to shine light on Beacon Hill. The Patrick administration pushed today to pass legislation – filed at 4:59 p.m. on [...]
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    Fetched: July 13, 2009, 7:21pm EDT

  • Jumping the Congressional gun

    Former Sen. Andrea Nuciforo Jr. confirmed today he's running for U.S. Rep. John Olver's seat -- in 2012. Asked why he's joined a 2012 race so early, Nuciforo said he just likes to be well prepared is all. "As you know, a congressional run is a very significant undertaking and you have to be prepared'" [...]
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    Fetched: July 13, 2009, 7:21pm EDT

  • Big Red Bay State bound

    Former Gov. William Weld said he's considering comming back to the Commonwealth -- but he won't run for (any) office. His youngest child is graduating from high school in New York and there's no more reason for him to stay. "Massachusetts is certainly good living," Weld said, adding he'd move, "just for the" [...]
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    Fetched: July 08, 2009, 8:34pm EDT

  • Regan v. Rubin (and Patrick, for that matter)

    P.R. mogul George Regan does not like Doug Rubin. In fact, he thinks he's "a fraud. That's plain and simple. He pretends to be Tim Cahill's friend. If I was Tim I'd hire a food taster." Regan, who said he doesn't work for Cahill, praised the Quincy resident, who is changing political parties [...]
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    Fetched: July 07, 2009, 8:27pm EDT

  • Rate rantings

    Attorney General Martha Coakley's office plans on testifying against a National Grid rate hike as, "excessive and harmful," at hearings over the next two weeks. The first one is scheduled for tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Nantucket. National Grid requested a $111.3 million increase in distribution rates, and is holding five hearings to [...]
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    Fetched: July 06, 2009, 1:23pm EDT

  • Gas tax denied

    Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said today she won't even consider an increase in the gas tax. Asked after Gov. Deval Patrick signed ethics legislation, Murray told reporters the senate already voted against it as an amendment to the state budget. "We already voted against that," said Murray. Patrick has left the' [...]
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    Fetched: July 01, 2009, 3:18pm EDT

  • DeLeo on the down low

    House Speaker Robert DeLeo, hoping to distance himself from the ethical cloud following ex-speaker Sal DiMasi, pledged when he took over in February to make the House open and transparent. But cracks in that pledge are already showing despite a comprehensive ethics reform bill scheduled to be signed by Gov. Deval Patrick tomorrow. The most recent is [...]
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    Fetched: June 30, 2009, 9:29pm EDT

  • Gov to lawmakers: Let me in!

    Gov. Deval Patrick slammed (ahem) the closed-door legislative process again yesterday, saying he and his administration have gotten the cold shoulder on broad transportation reforms currently underway. Patrick blasted a meeting with Rep. Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee), who co-chairs the transportation conference committee as, "frankly, not very informative." Patrick said the secrecy means he can do [...]
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    Fetched: June 15, 2009, 7:26pm EDT

  • Money, money, money

    Lawmakers who won the 2008 election spent twice as much money as their opponents and ex-Speaker Sal DiMasi shelled out a record-breaking $475,984, according to a study by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance released today. The study comes as lawmakers mull reducing the contribution limit to state parties from [...]
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    Fetched: June 15, 2009, 1:27pm EDT

  • Dem state chair: thumbs up for contribution limits

    Massachusetts Democratic party Chairman John Walsh sent a letter to all six members of the legislative ethics conference committee Sunday backing a senate measure which would limit contributions to state parties to $500. The controversial ban, which lowers the contribution limit from $5,000 to $500, was introduced by Sen. Frederick Berry as a tweak [...]
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    Fetched: June 10, 2009, 12:23pm EDT

  • UMass proff gets schooled in conflict of interest

    A University of Massachusetts at Boston professor quickly apologized last week after she sent a Umass email advertising Rep. Ruth Balser's campaign for Newton mayor -- and included a link to donate to Balser. Carol Hardy-Fanta, director of the center for women in politics and public policy, issued a retraction and [...]
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    Fetched: June 10, 2009, 12:23pm EDT

  • Even hacks don’t like the holidays…

    I got an email this morning from Robin, a state employee who said he would love to get rid of Evacuation Day on March 17 and Bunker Hill Day on June 17 as days off because he usually spends them at home doing chores. House lawmakers narrowly voted to preserve the [...]
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    Fetched: June 04, 2009, 2:17pm EDT

  • Republicans back Gov. Deval Patrick

    Well....sort of. In an unintended example of bi-partisanship, the Massachusetts Republican Party backed a campaign-funding loophole used by Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday, saying a bill to axe it hurts political challengers. "It protects entrenched incumbents and it makes it difficult for the party to help struggling candidates,” said state GOP spokesman Nick" [...]
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    Fetched: May 29, 2009, 1:26pm EDT

  • OMG! Gov. Patrick links me on Facebook

    Gov. Deval Patrick, continuing his war against the Legislature, posted a link to my article (and not-so-flattering pic of Senate President Therese Murray) on his Facebook page. The Facebook poster (I somehow doubt it was the gov himself) wrote that the senate prez and other legislators are, "admitting that their sales tax increase will fall" [...]
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    Fetched: May 27, 2009, 3:31pm EDT

  • Senate budget debate

    A mob of activists seeking higher taxes flooded the State House this morning as senate lawmakers began debating a twenty-five percent hike in the sales tax and other tax hikes. "This budget is balanced on existing tax revenues,” said Senate Ways and Means chairman Steve Panagiotakos (D-Lowell) as the debate kicked" [...]
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    Fetched: May 19, 2009, 2:24pm EDT

  • Muni relief package lauded

    Municipal and social service advocates are largely supporting a legislative plan aimed at bailing out cities and towns during the fiscal crisis. The report, due to be released tomorrow by the 14-member legislative Special Commission on Municipal Relief, would allow cities and towns to hike a range of local taxes, including [...]
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    Fetched: May 06, 2009, 8:17pm EDT

  • Tax battle boils over — Gov. Deval Patrick’s Washington office on the line

    Republicans, who saw delicious opportunity in a rift between Gov. Deval Patrick and Democratic House lawmakers , wrangled support from some top Democrats to cut $407,000 in funding for a gubernatorial office in Washington D.C. The D.C. office, which Patrick boosted funding for shortly after he was elected, is meant to target federal cash for Massachusetts. Republicans argue [...]
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    Fetched: April 28, 2009, 9:30pm EDT

  • Treasurer ethics probe dismissed

    A state ethics investigation into a contract awarded under State Treasurer Tim Cahill, detailed in several high-profile Boston Globe stories, was dismissed today. The comprehensive investigation was into a potential conflict of interest between recent $21 million state lottery contract awarded to Scientific Games, and Cahill's close friendship with Thomas Kelly, who was doing [...]
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    Fetched: April 23, 2009, 7:16pm EDT

  • Sales tax dominates as House budget debate looms

    The state's top political leaders had defined their respective stances on a sales tax hike before this week -- House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray said they're open to an increase, while Gov. Deval Patrick has opposed it. The upcoming budget debate next week in the House has' [...]
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    Fetched: April 22, 2009, 7:24pm EDT

  • DeLeo taps the brakes on transpo reform

    House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said he'll delay taking action on major transportation reform passed by the senate last week, saying he wants to "digest" the comprehensive legislation. The bill would eliminate the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the MBTA and instead create a super agency housing all government transportation arms. "There's no question we're" [...]
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    Fetched: March 30, 2009, 6:06pm EDT

  • Stand by your man

    Lt. Gov. Tim Murray said he stands by Gov. Deval Patrick’s unpopular decisions to hire Sen. Marian Walsh for a long-vacant job and give a 27 percent raise to sheriffs overseeing placid tourist towns. "I support the governor’s decisions. She got a job and he expects her to do it,” Murray" [...]
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    Fetched: March 23, 2009, 8:06pm EDT

  • Bi-state anti-toll rally

    Lawmakers from both New Hampshire and Massachusetts gathered at the statehouse today to protest putting tolls at the New Hampshire border. Never mind that New Hampshire officials already have tolls on the border. Gov. Deval Patrick said he is actively looking at the possibility of putting up tolls on I-93 and [...]
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    Fetched: March 23, 2009, 8:06pm EDT

  • FastLane (mis)users can’t catch a break

    Drivers who sped through the FastLane tolls without a transponder used to get a warning for their first violation, but as of Feb. 27 anyone who goes through the tolls without a transponder will be slapped with a $50 fee. The change was implemented after the last Pike board meeting, said [...]
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    Fetched: March 17, 2009, 9:06pm EDT

  • An appeal for the insurance board of appeals

    Lawmakers will hold a hearing tomorrow on bills aimed at protecting the Board of Appeals, which currently allows drivers to -- you guessed it -- appeal when they are found to be at fault in an automobile accident. As many drivers know, an at fault finding can jack up auto [...]
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    Fetched: March 17, 2009, 7:06pm EDT

  • FastLane Fast one gets scrutiny

    Board members on the auditing committee of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority will review raw data showing the FastLane miscounting about 1 million transactions -- prompting overcharging for many customers. Several FastLane customers contacted the Herald after we broke a story on the mistakes, which charged thousands of drivers for an additional axle. [...]
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    Fetched: March 10, 2009, 8:05pm EDT

  • Transportation board shakeup

    Tucked inside the agenda for the Turnpike Authority Board meeting is a move to bump Mary Connaughton, a Romney appointee and often contentious member, off a committee created to avoid another boondoggle like the Big Dig. Connaughton, who voted against many of the recent toll hikes and is one of the only [...]
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    Fetched: February 23, 2009, 10:04pm EST

  • Irate transpo lawmakers demand delay in Pike toll hike

    Two top lawmakers have asked Transportation Secretary Jim Aloisi to delay a vote to hike tolls on the Pike, saying the toll hike vote shouldn't come before Gov. Deval Patrick files a bill to increase the gas tax by 19-cent gas. "We still don't even have a bill," said Rep. Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee) who [...]
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    Fetched: February 23, 2009, 10:04pm EST

  • Charters showing the money

    Charter schools in the Bay State are fiscally healthy, according to State Auditor Joe DeNucci. The 57 schools brought in $91.5 million in 2006 with an average balance of $1.6 million, and all but 11 recorded positive net incomes. They've also gotten better about keeping track of and reporting their finances' [...]
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    Fetched: February 19, 2009, 2:04pm EST

  • Crumbling infrastructure at Economic Development

    The shake up continues in Gov. Deval Patrick's administration. First Exec. office of Housing and Economic Development secretary Dan O'Connell makes a hasty retreat, and now Consumer Affairs Secretary Daniel Crane is out. According to two administration sources, Daniel Crane is leaving by the end of the month. The department will [...]
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    Fetched: February 18, 2009, 7:06pm EST

  • Committee assignments

    Rumors over who nabbed the coveted posts are flying, but so far sources have confirmed the following: Rep. Charlie Murphy (D-Burlington) will nab Ways and Means chairman, Rep. Ronald Mariano will be majority whip. These posts are coveted for their power and additional salary and go to new House Speaker Robert DeLeo's' [...]
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    Fetched: February 12, 2009, 2:06pm EST

  • The luck of the Irish…

    Think the Wilkerson bra jokes are a little overplayed? Pick yourself up a "Kiss me I'm Marty Walsh" T-shirt, perfect for the other senatorial embarrassment of the year (via universal hub.) http://www.cafepress.com/womendo.355228394 Disgraced senator Jim Marzilli gave police the Irish Rep. from Dorchester's name after they cornered him in a Lowell public parking' [...]
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    Fetched: February 10, 2009, 9:03pm EST

  • Transportation reform part I

    Senate lawmakers will file legislation on their much-ballyhooed transportation reform plan tomorrow, according to two Beacon Hill sources. The original plan avoided revenue sources like tolls or a gas tax and instead focuses on reforms like lowering the benefit for new MBTA employees and demolishing several agencies, including the MBTA and [...]
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    Fetched: February 04, 2009, 9:06pm EST

  • Shocker

    Ex-Sen. Dianne Wilkerson is late on her political campaign finance filings. Again. Wilkerson, who was arrested for accepting $23,500 in bribes, was fined $10,000 last year for campaign finance violations dating back to 2000. Wilkerson admitted to giving improper reimbursements of campaign contributions to herself and failing to report some contributions She [...]
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    Fetched: February 03, 2009, 12:09pm EST

  • Section 2, Row 2 of history

    My neck is still sore from looking up at President Barack Obama from my unbelievable perch in Section 2, Row 2 just feet from history. "These are really good seats," said an inauguration official handing out tickets to the press the other day. My colleagues were in Section 8, a bit [...]
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    Fetched: January 20, 2009, 4:06pm EST

  • Poor sports?

    Some in the audience began singing "Sha-na-na Hey Hey Goodbye" as President Bush was introduced at the podium. (It's a Dave Clark 5 classic, but used as a kick to the outgoing president as he heads out the door.) [...]
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    Fetched: January 20, 2009, 12:07pm EST

  • Denzel Washington up early

    In an amazing show of being an early riser, Denzel Washington took his seat before the crowds started pouring in today. Now he's allowing anybody and everybody to take a photo with him. Denzel is wearing a blue knit hat and black jacket, he's chatting with a lot of people, shaking [...]
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    Fetched: January 20, 2009, 12:07pm EST

  • High fives from hip-hop

    Jay-Z and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs are high-fiving about a dozen rows back from the podium. Beyonce, bundled up and sitting between the two, said "it's history" to be at Barack Obama's inauguration today. "I'm glad to be here. We're all part of it," she says. "It's a beautiful day for America," [...]
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    Fetched: January 20, 2009, 12:07pm EST

  • Live blog: Front row of history

    Smokey Robinson and Denzel Washington are among the throngs of celebrities sitting just feet from my perch about 15 feet away from the podium for today's inaugural. ``I am very proud of us, of America and of today. You can look around and see the changes,'' Robinson just ... [...]
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    Fetched: January 20, 2009, 12:07pm EST

  • Obama-rama day 2

    Gov. Deval Patrick will be putting together care packages for veterans today during a "Day of Service," then he heads over to emcee a dinner in honor of Sen. John McCain. The gov is so busy he may not be able to attend an event in his honor held by [...]
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    Fetched: January 19, 2009, 10:05am EST

  • Mass Dems in D.C.

    Joe and Matt Kennedy were working the room at Democratic party at the Nationals Stadium tonight, which was blaring such Fenway hits as "Sweet Caroline" and "Dirty Water." Other notables were Gov. Deval Patrick, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, U.S. Rep Niki Tsongas, and Sen. Marc Pacheco. The party, which was on two [...]
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    Fetched: January 19, 2009, 2:06am EST

  • Crazy in D.C.

    Just touched down a while ago and traffic is crazy on the way to the house we rented. Police and fire trucks descended on a someone stranded on the icey Potomac River. Hoping to pick up my credentials in time and take a few swings at the National Stadium, where the Massachusetts Democratic party [...]
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    Fetched: January 18, 2009, 6:03pm EST

  • Menino to DiMasi hug…no thanks

    Boston Mayor Tom Menino gave the international sign for "keep yer mitts off," on the House floor today. As House Speaker Sal DiMasi opened wide for a big hug, Menino held his two hands up near his chest, palms facing DiMasi, indicating the hug request was firmly denied. The two chatted [...]
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    Fetched: January 07, 2009, 8:05pm EST

  • DiMasi bid delayed on election eve

    House Speaker Sal DiMasi's high-stakes re-election will be delayed by old man winter, as forecasts of a snowy and icy morning prompted the membership caucus to be delayed until 10 a.m. An electric atmosphere charged Beacon Hill as House lawmakers gossiped and attempted last-minute wrangling before the vote, which most Representatives said [...]
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    Fetched: January 06, 2009, 9:05pm EST

  • 20 cent gas tax?

    Gov. Deval Patrick said a comprehensive transportation reform plan meant to address sky-high debts in the Pike and the MBTA will be out in a few weeks, as one finance watchdog called for a 20 cent gas tax hike to pay off the transportation department's increasing debt. "I hope we'll be able [...]
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    Fetched: January 06, 2009, 9:05pm EST

  • Patrick to release ethics suggestions

    After a scandal filled year on Beacon Hill, Gov. Deval Patrick will release ethics reforms compiled by his 12-member team this afternoon. Patrick created the team after former Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston) was charged with accepting bribes in return for pushing through legislation, and former Sen. Jim Marzilli (D-Arlington) was [...]
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    Fetched: January 06, 2009, 12:06pm EST

  • What, no “Clinton groper” of the year?

    Competition is hot and heavy this year for the Boston Globe's "Bostonian of the year" title, which may give Barack Obama speech writer Jon Favreau a leg up, considering the unfortunate photo of him groping a life-size cardboard cut out of Obama rival Hillary Clinton. The Washington Post broke the story two [...]
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    Fetched: December 16, 2008, 4:06pm EST

  • One swaption down, two to go

    Turnpike officials are pushing to buy their way out of controversial variable-rate loan with the bankrupt Lehman Bros. for less cash than the state originally borrowed. Alan LeBovidge, executive director of the Pike, asked Pike board members Monday night to authorize a purchase of the Lehman Bros. loan for less than the $35 [...]
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    Fetched: December 15, 2008, 10:01pm EST

  • More Cohen fallout, Aloisi speculation

    As word of Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen's resignation trickled down to state officials Monday night, several saw Cohen as an unfair scapegoat for Gov. Deval Patrick. "Cohen's become the fall guy for their own bad decision making," said Massachusetts Turnpike board member Mary Connaughton. "In the end, Patrick has to be accountable [...]
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    Fetched: December 15, 2008, 10:01pm EST

  • Grievances? I gotcher grievances right here…

    Beacon Hill enjoyed an early Festivus celebration recently, and even Lt. Gov. Tim Murray got in on the action. Festivus, for those who don't know, is a Seinfeldian (sure, that's a word) holiday involving a metal pole, feats of strength and the airing of grievances. To the last end, owners of the [...]
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    Fetched: December 11, 2008, 4:08pm EST

  • Local aid fight, part II

    Rep. Lew Evangelids (R-Holden), a contender for House Minority leader, sent a letter strongly opposing a 10 percent local aid cut to Speaker Sal DiMasi today. Evangelidis said he wrote the letter, signed by six other Republican reps, Wednesday before current Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) sent out a press release [...]
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    Fetched: December 11, 2008, 2:07pm EST

  • Step away from the local aid

    Reacting to a potential 10 percent cut to local aid, House Republicans warned Speaker Sal DiMasi to keep his hands off state funding for cities and towns. Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) said all 16 Republicans would oppose any cuts, saying Beacon Hill pork should be slashed first . DiMasi said earlier this [...]
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    Fetched: December 10, 2008, 8:04pm EST

  • Wilkerson has not left the building

    Ex-Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, arraigned on bribery charges today, was back in her third floor office two weekends ago – this time with approval from Senate President Therese Murray. Wilkerson was booted out of her third floor digs last month when she showed up unannounced and began chucking out pounds of [...]
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    Fetched: December 08, 2008, 8:02pm EST

  • Patrick on Hillary Clinton

    Gov. Deval Patrick heaped praise on his pal president-elect Barack Obama today for choosing former rival Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State appointee, saying the choice shows, "enormous self-confidence." "He's going to have people around him who don't all agree on everything that he believes. I think it makes for better [...]
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    Fetched: December 01, 2008, 4:02pm EST

  • Medicaid overpaid, audit finds

    State Auditor Joe DeNucci found the state's Medicaid program has handed out more than $12 million it didn't need to pay. The audit found that $4.9 million of the overpayments were for medical equipment like wheelchairs which applicants failed to prove they needed or that they even received. He also found $7 million [...]
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    Fetched: November 28, 2008, 5:00pm EST

  • Driving home on your dime

    Gov. Deval Patrick will cut 107 of the take home vehicles listed below as a cost-saving measure, but his administration hasn't said which ones. Here is a link to a list of the take-home vehicles provided by the administration before the cuts. domicile_20081.xls domicilemhd_20081.xls [...]
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    Fetched: November 28, 2008, 3:00pm EST

  • Fast lane for toll and tax legislation

    Transportation committee co-chair Joe Wagner (D-Chicopee) said bills aiming to freeze tolls until 2010 and hike the gas tax by 11 cents could get a hearing as soon as next Wednesday. Further legislation dealing with privatization of the Massachusetts Turnpike filed by the Transportation committee chair in the Senate could be heard in [...]
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    Fetched: November 25, 2008, 8:00pm EST

  • Medicaid overpaid audit finds

    State Auditor Joe DeNucci found the state's Medicaid program has handed out more than $12 million it didn't need to pay. The audit found that $4.9 million of the overpayments were for medical equipment like wheelchairs which applicants failed to prove they needed or that they even received. He also found $7 million [...]
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    Fetched: November 25, 2008, 2:02pm EST

  • Pigpile on tolls

    Lawmakers are coming out of the woodwork to suggest alternatives to the toll increased advanced by Turnpike board members two weeks ago and the gas tax suggested by House Speaker Sal DiMasi.  Sen. Anthony Galluccio (D-Cambridge) has suggested taxing SUVs and other "low fuel efficiency vehicles." He adds that a gas tax [...]
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    Fetched: November 24, 2008, 11:00pm EST

  • Press on Patrick

    You just can't see Barack Obama's name these days without seeing Patrick's somewhere nearby. Patrick is heading to Chicago to be with his buddy tonight, and sites like Politico have mentioned the governor as a likely pick for Obama's administration. Even the American Bar Association has picked Patrick as a top [...]
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    Fetched: November 04, 2008, 1:04pm EST

  • Schilling weighs in on Wilkerson

    Ace pitcher and he of the bloody sock unexpectedly tore into the tawdry world of Massachusetts politicians while discussing his support for Sen. John McCain recently, saying a recent bribery flap surrounding Sen. Dianne Wilkerson is "embarrassing." "All the corruption and the crap we’re dealing with in Massachusetts, every day you open the paper [...]
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    Fetched: November 04, 2008, 11:04am EST

  • Conventions rake in local campaign cash

    Massachusetts local politicians coughed up nearly $44,000 for a taste of presidential excitement at the national Democratic and Republican conventions this year, according to a search of the most recently filed campaign finance records. Unsurprisingly, Democrats spent more than Republicans, with 17 Bay State Democrats -- from Boston Mayor Tom Menino to Attorney General Martha Coakley [...]
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    Fetched: October 27, 2008, 9:02pm EDT

  • Massachusetts residents: Don’t cut taxes, toke up

    A majority of 400 Massachusetts residents polled by Suffolk University/ Channel 7 oppose Question 1 which would gradually eliminate the state's five percent income tax. Fifty nine percent of those asked would vote no on the question, 26 percent would vote yes and 16 percent were undecided.   Those same folks approved a question which would [...]
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    Fetched: October 23, 2008, 8:02pm EDT

  • DeLeo loves the Herald

    Maybe I'm overstating. In one of the funniest speeches at a park dedication for former Treasurer Bob Crane, House Ways and Means chair Robert DeLeo poked fun at himself while giving a nod to a Herald story about the race to succeed House Speaker Sal DiMasi. "Good morning everyone. I'm Bob DeLeo, [...]
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    Fetched: October 21, 2008, 7:01pm EDT

  • First dude joins Palin

    Todd Palin, Palin's husband, joined her on stage for her final speech under the autumn full moon in Salem, New Hampshire. Also on stage is Alaskan Iditarod winner Martin Buser, and Palin is surrounded by more than 5,000 people at the outdoor stadium of the Salem high school.  U.S. Sen. John Sununu caused a stir [...]
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    Fetched: October 15, 2008, 8:02pm EDT

  • No “terrorist” shouts so far

    But we just got a "socialist" jeer less than two minutes into U.S. Sen. John Sununu's opening speech and before GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin even took the stage at her event in Dover, N.H. Sununu was outlining the difference between GOP presidential candidate John McCain and Democratic candidate Barack Obama when a crowd member booed [...]
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    Fetched: October 15, 2008, 12:05pm EDT

  • Palinpalooza

    More than a thousand people are waiting outside the Dover, New Hampshire high school in a line around the block for Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin Wednesday morning. Ellen Andolina, 42, donned a "Hockey moms 4 McCain/Palin" shirt and said she supports the Alaskan Governor because, "she's one of us." "She's a regular [...]
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    Fetched: October 15, 2008, 12:05pm EDT

  • Studying where to cut…you’re doin’ it wrong

    Gov. Deval Patrick will take a break from his intensive week-long budget slash fest to stump for buddy Barack Obama in New Hampshire Saturday (via Politickerma via Obama's website http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/canvass/gs5297). Patrick has been meeting all week with cabinet heads in an effort to determine where to cut the hundreds of millions from the [...]
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    Fetched: October 09, 2008, 12:05pm EDT

  • Selective economic summit?

    While House Ways and Means chief Robert DeLeo and House Speaker Sal DiMasi hunkered down with various fiscal analysts to discuss the Bay State's really, really bad economy Tuesday, some members of the Ways and Means committee were a little miffed that they weren't invited. One even wrote DeLeo an email asking why the other members, [...]
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    Fetched: October 08, 2008, 7:01pm EDT

  • Tough cuts

    Gov. Deval Patrick spent two hours with Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Sal DiMasi at the weekly leadership meeting Monday afternoon discussing the state's tough budget situation. Patrick spent all day conferring with cabinet heads to determine where and how deep the cuts will be. "It’s awful, because there is [...]
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    Fetched: October 06, 2008, 9:01pm EDT

  • Live long and prosper

    As we report today, a McCain administration passes the test of time, an MIT actuary table aficionado says. Boston-based actuary Stephen Kraysler gives McCain a 94.5 percent chance of surviving his first term, while his Democratic opponent Sen. Barack Obama has a 99.5 percent chance. Leading to the question -- How [...]
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    Fetched: September 17, 2008, 9:04am EDT

  • Wilkerson chronicles….or is that Wilkensen?

    Not known for his mastery of pronunciation, Boston Mayor Tom Menino again proved unintentionally hilarious during his robo-calls for Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, who is facing challenger Sonia Diaz-Chang in the primary today. Menino's calls, which hit voicemails Monday, pronounced the embattled senator's name as Wilkensen, not Wilkerson. "Hi, this is Mayor Tom Menino, [...]
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    Fetched: September 16, 2008, 7:02pm EDT

  • Election day drivel

    So far the primary day turnout has been pretty low, but Beacon Hill got a bit of a boost when U.S. Sen. John Kerry stopped by to cast his vote. The toothy erstwhile windsurfer, who is facing Gloucester attorney Ed O'Reilly, dropped by the State House at around 9:30 a.m.  [...]
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    Fetched: September 16, 2008, 5:02pm EDT

  • Palin’s big night

    Bloomington, Minn -- Frank Donatelli, deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee, said embattled Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s speech tonight will “knock (America’s) socks off.” “America is going to meet a new heroine tonight,” said Donatelli, who has also served as an assistant to former president Ronald Regan. “She’s [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2008, 2:02pm EDT

  • Red Meat!

    A fiery Fred Thompson brought Tuesday night’s toughest red meat, attacking Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s inexperience and pro-choice stance. We need a President who doesn't think that the protection of the unborn or a newly born baby is above his pay grade,” the former Republican Tennessee senator hollered to thunderous applause, referring [...]
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    Fetched: September 03, 2008, 12:00am EDT

  • Who’s on first?

    Big name speakers like President George Bush and Presidential nominee Fred Thompson scheduled to speak on Labor Day will instead take the mic today, sending Former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney's gig into question. "I don't even know if I am speaking," said Romney Monday night when asked if he had [...]
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    Fetched: September 02, 2008, 12:06pm EDT

  • Beatty buttons

    Republican candidate Jeff Beatty, who is running against U.S. Sen. John Kerry, turned on the charm at the first Massachusetts delegation brunch Minnesota this morning, asking delegates to wear a pin with his name and the phrase "Defeat John Kerry." "(Kerry) knows this is winnable, that's why he's out there campaigning, something [...]
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    Fetched: September 01, 2008, 4:57pm EDT

  • DiMasi to Denver

    House Speaker Sal DiMasi told reporters yesterday he's headed to Democratic National Convention, despite earlier speculation that several family issues might prevent him from attending.  DiMasi said he plans to vote for former presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York), but will eventually back nominee Barack Obama like many Clinton supporters [...]
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    Fetched: August 20, 2008, 1:03pm EDT

  • Locked in

    For the second time tonight, Rep. Paul Donato (D-Medford) has locked members in to the House chamber over a loud chorus of boos to ensure everyone is prompt for roll call. It's no animal house, but it'll have to do. Donato almost looks like he's enjoying it. [...]
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    Fetched: August 01, 2008, 12:17am EDT

  • $61.2 million in pork

    Looks like the fiscal crisis gripping the Bay State will mean $61.2 million in cuts, only half of the $122.5 vetoed by Gov. Deval Patrick out of the $28.5 billion budget. Senate ways and means chairman Steve Panagiotakos (D-Lowell) announced the senate will override about half of Patrick's vetoes before the end [...]
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    Fetched: July 30, 2008, 10:16pm EDT
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