Thursday, May 16, 2013
Ways & Means Committee budget falls short of many of Gov. Deval Patrick's proposals.
The Massachusetts State Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday released a fiscal year 2014 budget proposal that is just shy of $34 billion and which falls short of several of Gov. Deval Patrick's budget recommendations. According to the Boston Globe, the Senate $33.92 billion budget would increase spending by 4.4 percent as opposed to Patrick's budget, which hikes spending by 6.9 percent. The Senate budget is roughly in line in terms of spending with the $33.8 billion House budget proposed last month. The Globe reported that the Senate budget increases spending for elderly services and special education but does not reach Patrick's recommendations for expanding transportation and providing universal childcare access. Committee …
42.35763
-71.063499
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/senate-releases-34-billion-budget-proposal
1465768
/locations/9393734
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The state's Restaurant and Business Alliance said there was "no sign of opposition" at a hearing this week.
The Joint Committee on Revenue in the Massachusetts legislature held a hearing this 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 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," said Dave …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Several news outlets reported on the British Prime Minister's visit to Boston this week.
British Prime Minister David Cameron is spending time this week in Boston to offer his condolences to Gov. Deval Patrick on the Boston Marathon bombings and also discuss the lessons learned from the tragedy, according to WCVB.com. The news station reported Cameron arrived in Boston Monday and went into a private meeting with Patrick. While Cameron didn't address the meeting with reporters after the meeting, WCVB reported Patrick said the meeting "was great." Early Tuesday morning, Cameron and Patrick visited the makeshift Boston Marathon bombings memorial in Copley Square, according to an Associated Press report on WBUR.com. Cameron met with President Barack Obama at the White House Monday before coming to Boston, according to WBUR.
42.35763
-71.063499
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
/articles/cameron-visits-patrick-marathon-bombings-memorial
1465768
/locations/9385121
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Massachusetts has some old, sometimes funny morality laws about cursing and other no-nos. But sometimes those laws play havoc with modern-day living. Is it time to clear the books?
Massachusetts is famous for its out-of-date laws. The Boston Globe cites a few, like a cursing ban at sporting events. But there are other laws, passed over 100 years ago, which could complicate present-day political and legal dilemmas. But these old laws sometimes have a major effect on modern day issues. Representative Byron Rushing, D-South End, reminded the Globe that Governor Mitt Romney used a 1913 law about residency rules to prevent out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts. That old law was scrubbed from the books in 2008, five years after it was cited by Romney. The 19th-century anti-abortion laws are a particularly thorny issue, according to the Globe. They may be relics of a time past, but that didn't stop the …
Friday, August 24, 2012
A new state law bans animal control laws that target specific breeds, nullifying a Boston regulation for pit bulls. Does the new law go to far?
Boston officials are fuming over a new state law that nullifies the city's pit bull muzzle law. According to the Boston Herald, Mayor Thomas Menino and City Councilor Ron Consalvo are among the city leaders criticizing the new state law, saying the city knows best when it comes to protecting the public from what many consider vicious dogs. The new state rule, supported by animal rights groups, bans breed-specific regulations, like muzzle and leashing laws for pit bulls or other types of dogs the public considers aggressive or violent. Does the new state law go too far? Should cities and towns get to decide what kinds of dogs need muzzles? Or do you believe the laws supporters when they say there's no data to support breed-specific laws? …
Monday, November 14, 2011
The branch is one of 3,000+ nationwide the postal service is considering closing.
Beacon Hill only has two post offices, and one of them might be shuttered soon. The post office in the State House is one of 43 in Massachusetts considered for closure because of insufficient customer demand combined with declining postal revenues. The United States Postal Service released the list this summer and is now in the process of reviewing each site on it. But many on Beacon Hill say they use the State House office and are organizing to let the postal service know. There will be a public hearing on the closure of this location tonight from 5 to 6:30 p.m. for those interested in keeping it to let the USPS know. The hearing will be in Room A-1 at the State House; attendees are asked to use the Ashburton Park Entrance. Those …
Monday, June 13, 2011
Hearing ignited nine hours of testimony over legislation that would outlaw transgender discrimination.
Community members and legislators met at the State House last Wednesday to discuss House Bill 502, known as the "Transgender Rights Bill," a controversial piece of legislation surrounding transgender discrimination. The nine-hour meeting saw impassioned testimony from lawyers, public officials, public safety officers, parents and clergy members who expressed a wide range of opinions about the bill, which was introduced by state Rep. Carl Sciortino of Medford (D). The bill seeks to add “gender identity or gender expression" to existing civil rights laws to protect transgender people from discrimination in housing and employment. The legislation would make such discrimination a hate crime. If it passes the bill, Massachusetts would become …
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Your cheat sheet and everything else you need to know for Tuesday's elections.
Where do I go to vote? Who are these candidates anyway and what are they saying? The Beacon Hill Patch election guide is here to answer all of your decision day questions and give you the information you need to make an informed decision. Where Do I Vote? Hill House at 127 Mount Vernon St. if you live in ward 5, precincts 4, 5, 11. Open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. City Hall at 1 City Hall Plaza if you live in ward 3, precinct 6. Open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. State House if you live in ward 5, precinct 3. Open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Don't know your ward or precinct number? Just log onto this Website and punch in your address to get your polling place. What District Do I Live In? Perhaps one of the trickiest questions to answer in Massachusetts …
42.35774
-71.07086
Hill House
127 Mt Vernon St, Boston, MA
/articles/beacon-hill-election-guide-2010
1722585
/locations/2345563
42.36029
-71.057309
Boston City Hall
1 City Hall Sq, Boston, MA
/articles/beacon-hill-election-guide-2010
1363484
/locations/2345564
Friday, October 29, 2010
Mike Dunphy investigates the history behind the food at Scollay Square.
"There's always something doing," was the rambunctious slogan of Boston's old Scollay Square, the once renowned commercial and entertainment district now buried under the brutalist brick and concrete of Government Center. It's a fact lost on many of the customers entering Scollay Square restaurant in Beacon Hill and accounts for the whys and wherefores of the large photo reproductions on the walls. Several blocks away from its namesake, the restaurant is located next to the State House in a former, once opulent. The high ceilings and Greek capitals of the interior attest to this and add a comforting reminder of generations of luxury. Last Friday night, Scollay's was busy but not overwhelming, the tables mainly full of well-groomed …
42.3555
-71.078
101 Tremont Street, Boston, MA
Scollay Square restaurant
/articles/its-comfort-food-with-a-new-england-twist-at-scollay-square
/locations/2279243
Diana Robinson
11:35 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Intolerable, rather. more ›