Saturday, May 25, 2013
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
The rush from Beacon Hill to the westbound turnpike this week had as much to do with two of Worcester's political sons beating feet from the capitol as with the impending Memorial Day weekend. As Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray attempted as graceful an exit as possible from politics, fellow Worcester Democrat Rep. John Fresolo made his hasty escape under an ethics cloud feeling "marginalized" by his peers and pressured to resign, which he did. If not for those two storylines, the focus may have been on the Senate's breakneck budget debate concluding Thursday night as senators wiped their hands clean of 725 amendments and passed a $34 billion fiscal 2014 budget without the need for Senate President Therese Murray to threaten a Friday or Saturday …
Friday, May 24, 2013
Aldermen offered unanimous support for Newton Mayor Setti Warren's budget proposal.
Newton has an approved Fiscal Year 2014 budget. The Newton Board of Aldermen Monday night voted 22-0 to approve Mayor Setti Warren's $331 million FY14 budget. The approved budget includes $188 million for Newton Public Schools and represents an overall $13.4 million increase over the FY13 budget. "I am thankful to the members of the board of aldermen for their partnership,” Mayor Warren said Monday night. "This budget represents three-and-a-half years of work together to get our fiscal house in order, and build upon priorities such as excellence in education, unparalleled public safety, and improved capital infrastructure.” The budget also reflects Newton voters' support of Warren's $11.4 million override package, on which they voted in …
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The campaign committee called “Koutoujian for Congress” allows the candidate to raise money for a campaign and hire campaign staff.
Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian announced Thursday that he is opening a Congressional campaign committee account. The move is a serious indication that Koutoujian will run for U.S. Congress if Congressman Edward Markey wins the U.S. Senate special election next month. "I have dedicated my life to working on issues important to the people I have been honored to represent as a legislator and now as Sheriff. If given the opportunity, I intend to fight for the people of the 5th Congressional district as their representative in Washington," said Koutoujian. "Throughout my career, I have focused on guaranteeing access to quality, affordable health care, enacting common sense measures to strengthen our economy, ensuring public …
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Outgoing lieutenant governor said recent controversies had nothing to do with decision to resign.
Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray said none of the controversies that have dogged him during his tenure on Beacon Hill contributed to his decision to announce his resignation. In a press conference at the State House Wednesday, Murray said his final day on the job will be June 2. The next day he will take over as president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce where his salary will reportedly be around $200,000. In January, Murray said he had no intention of running for governor when Gov. Deval Patrick's term expires in January 2015. "This has been a very difficult but empowering decision," Murray said. "It has been an honor to serve as lieutenant governor." Patrick called Murray an "outstanding partner" during his time in …
42.35763
-71.063499
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/murray-to-resign-june-2-patrick-calls-him-outstanding-partner
1465768
/locations/9409818
CBS Boston reports Murray has a new job lined up already.
UPDATE, 12:15 p.m.: The Massachusetts Republican Party was quick to jump on the reports about Murray's resignation, saying Murray is trying "to outrun the scandal that dogs him" in a statement on their website. MassGOP attempted to liken Murray's exit to that of former House Speaker Thomas Finneran, who was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2007. “History doesn’t always repeat itself, but in this case it looks like Tim Murray is following the same path as a previous, disgraced Democratic official,” said Nate Little MassGOP Executive Director in the scathing statement. “Only time will tell if Murray follows the Finneran playbook to the end, complete with indictment and guilty plea.” UPDATE, 10:45 a.m.: Boston.com has updated their …
42.35763
-71.063499
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/lt-gov-tim-murray-to-resign
1465768
/locations/9408680
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The state's Restaurant and Business Alliance said there was "no sign of opposition" at a hearing last week.
The Joint Committee on Revenue in the Massachusetts legislature held a hearing last week on the notion of a potential meals tax holiday for August and one supporting group liking its chances. According to the state's Restaurant and Business Alliance (R.A.B.A), the hearing held Tuesday, May 14, for the Meals Tax Holiday Bill saw "no sign of opposition" to the measure. Twelve legislators have signed on to the bill primarily sponsored by Rep. Keiko Orrall of Lakeville and Sen. Michael O. Moore of Millbury. If passed, the legislation would go into effect from Sunday, Aug. 11 through Thursday, Aug. 15. "We should offer a Meals Tax Holiday to benefit employees and small local business owners inside Massachusetts to help stimulate the economy," …
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Honorable Theodore D. Mann Memorial Newton Mayor's Annual Community Prayer Breakfast will take place next week.
United States Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be the featured guest speaker at this year's Honorable Theodore D. Mann Memorial Newton Mayor's Annual Community Prayer Breakfast. Mayor Setti Warren and Rabbi Eric Gurvis, president of the Newton Clergy Association, invite guests to the 39th annual event scheduled to take place at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29 at Boston College's McElroy Commons. In 2012, Mayor Warren renamed the annual breakfast in honor of Mann, a former Newton mayor, who initiated the breakfast in 1975. Individual tickets for the breakfast are $25, with proceeds going to the Foundation for Racial, Ethnic and Religious Harmony. To purchase individual tickets or a table, contact Tony Bibbo at 617-969-5906 ext. 305, or by e-mail …
42.33764
-71.171549
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA
/articles/sen-warren-to-speak-at-upcoming-community-prayer-breakfast
1984367
/locations/9399734
Saturday, May 18, 2013
The city's annual Memorial Day parade will take place Sunday, May 19.
It promises to be a festive day when Newton organizations, officials and residents parade through the streets Sunday, May 19 in the city's annual Memorial Day parade. Newton's Annual Memorial Day parade steps off from Our Lady's Church and will wind through several streets before ending at Coletti-Magni Park. World War II veteran Frank Dippo will serve as grand marshal for this year's parade, in which Newton Mayor Setti Warren and other elected officials will participate. The parade is scheduled to step off at 2 p.m. and the following streets will be closed for the festivities, according to the City of Newton website: Washington Street at Jackson Road to Washington at Walnut Street (westbound); Walnut Street (Between Washington & Watertown…
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Like pieces of a puzzle that don't quite fit together yet, the Big Three may have been separated at birth, but with each incremental step their destinies seem to grow more intertwined. No, we're not talking about those Big Three - Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker Robert DeLeo - though they play major character roles in this thickening plot. Instead, three bills have come to define the early months of the 2013 legislative agenda and resolutions on tax hikes, local road funding and the annual state budget continue to be elusive and dependent on one another. Patrick spent the early part of his week welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron to Boston for a few quick meetings and a visit to the Copley …
Friday, May 17, 2013
If you draw the Powerball winning numbers in Saturday’s lottery, you could score $550 million, or a $350 million one-time payout.
Powerball results were watched closely Wednesday when the jackpot was $363 million. After no one picked all six winning numbers, the new Powerball prize for the Saturday, May 19 drawing is now $550 million. The one-time cash payout is estimated at $350.1 million. Tickets are $2 and the game is played in Massachusetts and 42 other states, including Florida, Texas, California and New York. For a full list of lottery agents, click on this link and you can search by community. The largest Powerball Jackpot cash payout to date was $384 million and was won on Nov. 28, 2012, in Arizona and Missouri. Wonder what happens to the folks who hit it big? Browse the Huffington Post’s collection of lottery winners’ stories.
phil t
1:39 pm on Saturday, May 25, 2013
Wake up Paul. He STOLE it. more ›