MASSterList told you last week about former Gov. Charlie Baker’s plans for an official portrait, soon to grace the governor’s lobby. Turns out, there’s another portrait in the works that will take a spot on the State House’s walls of history. As with Baker, political finance records provided the clue: former Senate President Stan Rosenberg has engaged a local art […]
Sam Doran
Posted inEditions
Midnight came, and the Legislature still couldn’t clear the shelter spending hurdle
“What do we have? Seven more hours.” (That was Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues at 5:20 p.m.) “According to the clock, an hour and 15 minutes, but you know, sometimes we work with that.” (That was Sen. Will Brownsberger, around 10:45 p.m., interpreting for Sen. Bruce Tarr how much time was left ’til the clock struck midnight.) […]
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House and Senate face a long day with bills on long-term care, prescription drugs and funding
It’s the Legislature’s final day of formal sessions for 2023. Here’s a little primer on what to have in mind as we spectate on sessions that could stretch into the night… Top priority bills for House and Senate leaders are on the docket for earlier in the day, as the House takes up an overhaul of the […]
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The hunt for signatures intensifies for ballot questions — both familiar and obscure
Backers of potential 2024 ballot questions are running toward their next hurdle: 74,574 signatures. Initiative petition supporters need to get those autographs in to local officials for certification by Nov. 22 (the day before Thanksgiving), ahead of a December deadline to turn the signature pages over to the state Elections Division. Plenty of high-profile questions grabbing […]
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Ahead of gun reform package, campaign filings show Rep. Day lunched and listened
Detractors of Rep. Mike Day’s firearm bill at a public hearing last week said top lawmakers hadn’t been listening to their apprehensions about the gun reform package. But Day has heard out at least a few critics, if you take a look at his campaign checkbook. The House’s point-person on the Judiciary Committee, Day was anointed last year […]
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Newly appointed to the bench, former Rep. Hank Naughton suddenly returns to law firm handling major settlement
A former long-serving state representative and officer in the Army JAG Corps, Hank Naughton once briefly ran for attorney general, turned his attention to judicial aspirations, and ultimately scored one of Gov. Charlie Baker’s final court appointments. But after just six months presiding over District Court cases in Worcester County, Naughton dashed off a sudden resignation letter […]
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With a month to go before lawmakers take holiday break, mini-budget among much unfinished business
They’re coming around the track… Sunday marked one month to go ’til the Nov. 15 deadline for lawmakers to conduct major business in 2023. (That’s when they gavel into a holiday break that stretches from pre-Thanksgiving to post-New Year’s.) What’s on deck? The House plans to vote Wednesday on one of its leaders’ priorities: gun law reform. Then it’ll […]