Items filed under "Massachusetts"

Uneven response on House earmarks - The Boston Globe

Mike — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:30:48 -0400

WASHINGTON — Despite a new requirement for disclosure, some members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation have tucked lists of requests for special appropriations, known as earmarks, in obscure corners of their official websites, making the proposals more difficult for the public to find.

A political health worry - The Boston Globe

Mike — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:55:17 -0400

The latest edition of an annual health care poll conducted by Mass Insight suggests most people don’t find the price they pay for health coverage to be a serious problem. The poll, which will be officially released next week, also shows a large majority of people don’t want to give up anything when it comes to health coverage or the freedom to choose whom they see for medical help.

Tax relief — or not - The Boston Globe

Mike — Sat, 01 May 2010 07:55:44 -0400

He agreed to an increase in the regressive sales tax. Local aid is highly dependent on an even more regressive tax we like to call the lottery. The governor continues to support casino gambling. Meanwhile, his modest attempts to close corporate tax loopholes have led him to lower the corporate tax rate.

State should stop shielding firms with special tax breaks - The Boston Globe

Mike — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:07:50 -0400

Massachusetts offers a number of economic-development tax credits that are simply awarded by state officials or claimed by recipients on their tax returns. For many of these programs, the state does not disclose which companies received them. The Patrick administration, to its credit, has filed legislation requiring public disclosure.

How about necessary jobs? - The Boston Globe

Mike — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:23:20 -0500

This raises the question, if workers in Lynn could be given new jobs, then who really benefits from building the unneeded jet engines? Could it be the top management and investors at GE? Or dare I say, our hallowed congressional delegation? When we bring home the bacon, perhaps the swine that are being slaughtered are none other than ourselves as taxpayers.

A bloodless revolution - The Boston Globe

Mike — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:46:24 -0500

Politics used to be a blood sport in this state. Now it’s bloodless. Campaigns are managed like money. Gut instinct, candor, and common sense are considered dangerous. Everything’s safe, everything’s clean.

For immigrants, illness can bring a death sentence - The Boston Globe

Mike — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:16:40 -0500

The death of Pedro Juan Tavarez, as well as the 2006 death of Vincent Murphy, another Suffolk detainee, brings to at least 105 the number of known deaths of immigrants in custody of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2003. While the details behind these two deaths remain murky, we must ask whether they, like others around the country, were caused by the failure to provide the most basic health care to people detained in Massachusetts jails and prisons during deportation proceedings.

Made in Mass., bomb stirs global debate - The Boston Globe

Mike — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:12:02 -0400

“Knowing that we are in no way, shape or form contributing to [civilian suffering] is really a very satisfying place to be,’’ he said.

Mass. Panel Backs Radical Shift in Health Payment - NYTimes.com

Mike — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:11:31 -0400

The commission’s action kicks off the second phase of a health care overhaul that has succeeded in covering nearly every resident of the state but done little to slow the relentless growth of spending.

The recommendations, if approved by the legislature and Gov. Deval Patrick, would make Massachusetts the first state to end the practice of paying health care providers for each office visit, laboratory test or procedure.

Patrick wants more students to go to charter schools - The Boston Globe

Mike — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:36:05 -0400

The governor’s push comes as President Obama is threatening to withhold millions in federal stimulus dollars from states that hinder charter school growth. The US secretary of education, Arne Duncan, will join the governor at a press conference today unveiling the legislation, which will be filed today.