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Anticipating Shaunna O’Connell’s Next Press Release

(Given what we have seen of late on the “welfare fraud” beat, we would not be surprised to find this press release in our Inbox sometime very soon.) O’CONNELL CALLS FOR WELFARE APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE...

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Supreme Judicial Court Adds Chapter to Michael McLaughlin Saga

(Update, February 20: There’s outrage at the U.S. Attorney’s very light plea recommendation, which does not even require McLaughlin to repay the money he stole. A sample (letter to Globe editor today):...

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“Roadrunner” up for “Official” Status: Get the Info You Didn’t Even Know You...

Chances are you are aware of the effort to have the State Legislature designate “Roadrunner” as the official rock song of the Commonwealth. As the Globe informs us, “Roadrunner,” first recorded by the...

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State Rep. Jim Lyons Does NOT Favor Free Sex Change Operations for All, After...

(But maybe free lawyers for all?) Probably no state legislator is more devoted to the ideals of the Tea Party and the ideals of the Massachusetts Family Institute than Representative Jim Lyons...

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Senator Wolf Is Right: Welfare Fraud Is A Distraction From Real Issues

State Senator Dan Wolf, who, like Treasurer Steve Grossman is contemplating a run for Governor, had some criticism for his potential rival last week over remarks Grossman had made in a speech before...

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Following the GOP Senate Race? Your Guide to the “Bathroom Bill”

The primary races for the U.S. Senate are getting into full swing. The Republican candidates are having their first debate tonight and there’s a chance that the “Bathroom Bill” will come up. The...

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Sunshine Week For Open Government: Our “Before” Picture

(This week is Sunshine Week, a national initiative to discuss the importance of open government. My contribution is a tale from nearly 20 years ago, when a bill cutting capital gains taxes passed the...

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You, Too, Can Navigate Our Legislature’s Website

The Sunlight Foundation has given our state Legislature’s website a failing grade — ouch. There’s also been some grumbling about the website on BlueMassGroup. One of the big complaints is the...

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Mass. Employers: It’s Always Time to Trim Employee Protections

Last week’s news that Massachusetts now has more jobs than it did just before the start of the Great Recession was greeted appropriately with cheers. A senior vice president at AIM (Associated...

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Unemployed or Underemployed? Don’t Bet On A Job In The Casino Industry

If you’re among the many people in Massachusetts who are unemployed or underemployed, you may have your eye on the casino industry. There are sunny predictions of more than 10,000 new jobs, and under...

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Taxed Beyond Belief: Tracking One State Rep’s Stand on the Revenue Question

There’s going to be a debate on taxes very soon at the State House and things are getting lively. Representative Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) was having a little fun on Twitter this week with those who...

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GOP Senate Candidate Mike Sullivan: Mr. Death Penalty

It’s time to pay a little attention to the U.S. Senate race on the GOP side. Let’s meet candidate Michael J. Sullivan and learn about the big role that the death penalty has played in his political...

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House Budget Debate: A Guide for Progressives

It’s budget week for our House of Representatives. The House Ways and Means Committee released its budget recommendation for the upcoming fiscal year on April 10, and since then Committee staffers have...

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Let’s Occupy the Film Tax Credit

Old joke – a merchant tells a customer that the goods he’s selling actually cost him more than he’s charging the customer for them. When he’s asked how he can afford to sell them at such a low price,...

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Dear IRS: Let’s Change the Subject (Slightly)

(Catching up on my correspondence.) Dear Folks at the IRS: I bet you would love to talk about something — anything — besides the extra scrutiny you have apparently been giving to Tea Party groups...

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Field Notes from the State House: Senate Budget Debate

This week at the State House, the Senate will debate the budget proposal that its Committee on Ways and Means released last Wednesday. The 39 Senate members (there’s currently one vacancy) have filed...

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A Flood of Special Elections?

Hey you – especially those of you who are trying to maintain a perfect attendance record at the ballot box. Does it seem like there are way too many special elections to try to keep up with? Me, too,...

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Making One Half of the Working Class Kill the Other Half

The 19th century railroad tycoon and robber baron Jay Gould is said to have bragged that he was so powerful he could make one half of the working class kill the other half.  Gould was likely referring...

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Going Great Guns: Field Notes from the State House

Remember when our state legislators were talking about the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut? Back then, in January, House Speaker DeLeo said he was going to convene a task force to look into the...

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And the Winner on Welfare Reform Is….Mitt Romney?

Yesterday, leaders in the State Senate announced the welfare reform proposal that Senate President Therese Murray has been promising for several months. “We want to shake up the system, and give people...

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