Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tell us: do you think Massachusetts needs to increase taxes to strengthen education and transportation?
In his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night, Gov. Deval Patrick proposed raising the state's income tax by a full percentage point and lowering the sales tax to pay for $2 billion worth of transportation improvements and early childhood education programs. "There is no good time to raise taxes. I know how tough the times have been on the people and families of the Commonwealth. And though the worst of the recession is over, many, many families still face tough decisions and have deep anxiety about the future. I would not ask if I did not believe in my heart that investing meaningfully today in education and transportation will significantly improve our economic tomorrows," Patrick said. Patrick said he wanted a more fair and…
The governor unveiled legislation Wednesday to strengthen gun laws in Massachusetts while increasing funding for mental health services. Sensible or reactionary?
Are new proposed laws regarding guns in Massachusetts and mental health services sensible and pragmatic steps, or reactionary measures that won't increase safety? Gov. Deval Patrick introduced new legislation Wednesday along those lines in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn. "I am encouraged by the palpable consensus in our Legislature that the time for action is now. All of us must pull in the same direction to bring about real change in this state and across the country," Patrick said in a press release. The bill would, among other things: Punishments for crimes involving guns would also sharpen, with tiered punishments for possessing different weapons on school property and giving police the authority to arrest without…
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Where and when to watch or listen to the Massachusetts governor's annual address tonight.
I would suspect that the governor's annual State of the State address is not, usually, a TV ratings champ. But tonight's speech, which starts at 7:30 p.m., may attract more viewers and listeners than usual. Why? Since it happens on the heels of Gov. Deval Patrick saying he wants to raise $1 billion by hiking the Massachusetts income tax. So you may want to watch tonight. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: CBS ABC NBC NECN Streamed live on boston.com Streamed live on http://www.malegislature.gov/ If you know of other websites, TV stations or radio stations carrying the State of the State live, please add them to the comment section below.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Nearly $73,000 in state funding cuts for Belmont with $53,000 in special education reimbursement slashed.
A week before Belmont is to begin the public process to create the fiscal 2014 town and school budget, Massachusetts Deval Patrick threw a bucket of cold reality into the mix as he announced a proposed one percent cut in local aid in the coming fiscal year to fill a $540 million state budget gap. The proposed cuts, announced Tuesday, Dec. 4, would slash approximately $72,000 from the amount the state provided Belmont last year. In addition to those cuts, Patrick proposed a two percent reduction in Council on Aging support which will likely impact Belmont's own council. If Patrick's proposal is approved by the legislature, the town would see its local aid for town departments drop by $19,000 from fiscal 2013 levels. And while Patrick's …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Asked about toll fairness during a Patch live chat, Governor Deval Patrick asked a reader whether he'd support high-speed tolls. Are these a good way to share the transportation funding pain, or another money grab?
Are high-speed tolls along Interstate 93 and other highways a smart way to help fund transportation in the state? Governor Deval Patrick mentioned such a system during a Patch live chat on Thursday. If you've gone up Interstate 95 into New Hampshire, you've seen high-speed tolling in action. The system is designed to read your EZ-Pass (new Fast Lane) transponder while you breeze by at 65 miles per hour. There's no need to slow down or squeeze though a booth, as EZ-Pass users currently do on the Mass Pike, Tobin Bridge and harbor tunnels. The chat moved on to other topics, so no details about implementation were offered. What do you think? Would tolls along I-93 offer some fairness to riders in Boston, MetroWest and North Shore, who all …
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Fairness of Mass Pike tolls and how to keep tech skills in-state were also among topics touched on in Patch's live chat today with Gov. Patrick.
Governor Deval Patrick answered Patch reader questions for 45 minutes this afternoon. Read the transcript of thelive chat, above.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Gov. Patrick speaks with Patch readers live at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. What questions do you want him to answer?
If you could ask Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick one question, what would it be? Patrick will join Patch Thursday at 1:30 p.m. for a live chat with readers. Now's your chance to ask the executive of the commonwealth your question about casinos, the state crime lab, the economy, elections or whatever else you want to know Can't make it to the live chat? Leave your questions for the Gov in the comments to have them considered for the live Q&A session. We'll be sure to ask about the most popular topics when we chat Thursday. To join Thursday's chat, come back here at Belmont Patch from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., and see the recap on Friday morning.
Ask the guv about any topic you like - well, up to a point! - during our live chat at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 27.
Yo, Deval – have I got a question for you! That's right: Massachusetts Gov. Patrick will take your questions live on Patch Thursday, Sept. 27. The governor will spend 45 minutes fielding your questions as they come. Head on over to Belmont Patch from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Thursday to join our chat. You'll simply have to provide your name, and you'll be able to ask your questions immediately. If you can't make the live chat, leave your questions as comments to this article, and we'll do our best to add them to the queue. We will publish the live chat transcript immediately and a recap first thing on Friday morning. Questions submitted will be subject to moderator approval. No vulgar or libelous comments will be allowed. Because we …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
But where will it be spent? Added funds to schools or direct it towards town services.
Like a legislative Gabriel, Will Brownsberger once again was the bearer of good news from Beacon Hill to his hometown. The newly-elected state senator came to the Warrant Committee on Wednesday, April 11, to announce that the budget-creating Ways and Means Committee of the Massachusetts House of Representatives had just released its draft budget earlier in the day. And for the second year running, Brownsberger was invited to address the group to reported that the House proposal goes beyond that of Gov. Deval Patrick, providing Belmont an additional $291,006 in state revenue. Brownsberger told the committee that the draft would provide an extra minimum of $40 per student in Chapter 70 education aid or about $153,920 to Belmont's school …
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W. L. Chenery Middle School
95 Washington St, Belmont, MA
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Monday, July 11, 2011
Here's your chance to vent.
Today, Gov. Patrick has signed the 2012 state budget with five days to spare. There are a few amendments he issued on municipal health care reform that favors unions but for the most part he is supporting the budget hammered out by the House and Senate that provides additional money to cities and towns in local aid. So: How will the 2012 state budget signed by Patrick impact you?
Michael Fleming
1:13 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Please notice Patricks phraseology: "invest in the future". First the word "invest". It sort of sounds like a person socking money away for a rainy day huh? That is always a good strategy. Sound money management, judicious use of your hard earned money, right? One "invests" their money for a reward later on, like retirement or for a college fund. Thing is, it isn't that at all. It's another word … more ›