Tuesday, June 11, 2013
The pair of governors have agreed to a bet over hockey's greatest event, with the loser to volunteer at a food pantry in the winner's state.
Massachusetts and Illinois will be fixated on the Stanley Cup finals over the next few days, and it appears the governors of those states will be as well. This morning Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick announced the wager made including himself and Illinois governor Pat Quinn over the outcome of the series between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks. Under the terms of the wager, if the Bruins win, Quinn will volunteer at the Greater Boston Food Bank. If the Blackhawks win, Patrick will volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Both governors exchanged some good spirited trash talk along with the announcement. “I look forward to seeing the Bruins circle the ice with the Stanley Cup above their heads,” said Patrick. “And I’m…
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
While specific deductions would end, personal exemptions would double under the Patrick budget.
A recent analysis of Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed budget finds that it eliminates 44 tax breaks that benefit a large slice of Massachusetts taxpayers. Patrick's $34.8 billion FY2014 budget includes not only a 1 percentage point hike in the income tax – from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent – but the end of such deductions such as the capital gains from the sale of a person's primary home, college tuition, and contributions to a health savings account. The analysis, by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, found that the eliminations would raise an additional $1 billion for the commonwealth. But Patrick's assistant secretary for fiscal policy, Gregory R. Mennis, told The Republican that that amount would be offset by the doubling of personal…
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Do you agree with the governor's decision or was it too drastic?
All non-emergency drivers were ordered off the roads on Friday when Gov. Deval Patrick issued an executive order banning travel during the blizzard. (Editor's note: The ban is lifted statewide as of 4 p.m. Saturday.) Patrick's executive order is being praised by some and bashed by others, reported The Boston Globe. While former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who was in charge of the commonwealth during the Blizzard of ’78, praised the governor’s move, others called the order “tyrannical” and say the strict ban and hefty fines were too much, according to The Globe. Those caught violating the ban would face up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. What do you think? Do you agree with the governor’s decision or do you think the travel ban …
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Tell us: do you think we need 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 1 percentage point and lowering the sales tax to pay for $2 billion in 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 …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation released its 21st Century Transportation Plan, which outlines the state’s budgetary needs over the course of the next 10 years and beyond.
With infrastructure in need of repairs and the major city transit system steeped in billions of dollars of debt, the state may need to increase revenue from car registrations, license renewals, taxes and tolls. The Board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation released its 21st Century Transportation Plan Monday, which calls for a $13 billion overall investment in state transportations systems over the next decade. The breakdown is as follows, according to a statement associated with the plan released by Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey: To raise the necessary funds these recommendations will include an increase in the gas tax, payroll tax, sales tax or income tax; a new green fee on vehicle registrations; a …
Friday, December 7, 2012
Patrick announced the budget adjustments Tuesday.
In anticipation of the “fiscal cliff” combined with projected tax revenues that are more than half a billion dollars lower than previously expected, Gov. Deval Patrick released a revised budget designed to deal with the gap Tuesday. “The uncertainty of the fiscal cliff and the resulting slow down in growth, is the direct cause of our budget challenges,” Patrick said. “Congress and the President must come to terms on a solution so the private sector will continue to make the kind of investments that create jobs, grow state and federal tax revenue collections and contribute to a lasting economic recovery." The state is now expecting to bring in roughly $21.5 billion in tax revenue, and Patrick's plan to bridge the gap between this amount and…
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Get your questions ready for Gov. Deval Patrick; Patch hosts a live chat with the governor at 1:30 p.m.
1. Prepare your questions for Gov. Deval Patrick. Patch is hosting a live chat with the governor today at 1:30 p.m. 2. Post your photo of you and your pet in our weekly photo contest and you could win a $75 gift card to Barnes and Noble. 3. The ARC of Greater Plymouth invites you to join us in a night of Food, Music, Dancing and Laughter at New World Tavern, 56 Main Street, Plymouth, Thursday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $25. 4. REACH, Inc. celebrates 20 years of its annual fundraising Gala and Auction Friday at the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor. Walk down the red carpet and dance in the grand ballroom to music by CIA. For your bidding pleasure we have golfing, Bruins tickets, dinners, family events, and more. Our live …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Cape Cod, Massasoit, and Bristol community colleges are among the 15 state schools to receive grants to improve skill training, workforce alignment and continue efforts to develop unified and strengthened the community college system.
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
From a release from Gov. Deval Patrick's Office Governor Deval Patrick Tuesday announced $4 million in grants to support increased skill training and workforce alignment, improved student learning outcomes and efficiency measures at community colleges across the Commonwealth. These grants deliver on the goals of the Governor’s community college initiative to put more people in Massachusetts back to work and to strengthen the connections between community colleges, employers and the workforce. "A stronger community college system is good for students, employers and the whole Commonwealth," said Governor Patrick. "These additional resources will further accelerate this transformation, and help get people to work.” Included among the awards …
Friday, September 7, 2012
A statewide elder advocacy group will testify this Friday that the Patrick Administration has proposed “unreasonable” rate cuts that will cut $2.1 million in support for home care for low-income seniors.
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Friday, September 7, 2012
Al Norman, the Executive Director of Mass Home Care, will testify on Friday, September 7th before the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy in Boston, that its proposed rates are “unreasonable and inadequate.” “We should be investing more money to keep elders at home,” Norman said, “not less.” According to Mass Home Care, there are currently roughly 2,200 elders on home care waiting lists due to insufficient funding. This year, home care accounts are $15 million lower than in FY 2009. Old Colony Elder Services, the regional Aging Services Access Point covering Brockton and 22 surrounding communities, currently has 173 people on wait lists who cannot access needed services per Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director. The rate hearing Friday…
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Massachusetts governor had delegates on their feet Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, but did his speech resonate with you? Let us know by posting a comment below.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick came out firing Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, attacking his predecessor Mitt Romney's record in the Bay State. "Mitt Romney talkes a lot about all the things he's fixed," he said. "I can tell you that Massachusetts wasn't one of them. He's a fine fellow and a great salesman, but as governor he was more interested in having the job than doing it." By the end of his speech, which touched on President Barack Obama's first-term accomplishments, the economy, role of government and the American Dream, Patrick had the packed crowd of delegates on their feet and in a frenzy, but we want to know: How did Patrick's speech play here? Were you a fan of the governor's remarks? Or did…
JT
3:40 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
People should use their common sense in situations like this--but there are always some who won't and will endanger others in the process. The ban was good in that respect, and the $500 fine certainly should have made folks think twice if they were hesitating over driving or staying home for no particular reason. However, the threatened jail time was absurd--and enough's been said about that here… more ›