Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Senate approves $34B Mass spending plan

Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:22:00 -0400

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate has given final approval to its version of the state budget, setting the stage for negotiations with the House over the $34 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Senators passed the budget on a 36-3 vote just before midnight Thursday after adding more than $68 million in spending over two days of debate.

The budget contains about $500 million in new revenues, including higher gasoline and cigarette taxes that were part of an earlier transportation financing bill.

Markey, Menino plan “major announcement” today

Hillary Chabot — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:36:00 -0400

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino will join U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey for a “major ...announcement” today at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 103 — hours before the long-time congressman releases at least seven years of tax returns.

Markey’s campaign released a statement last night scheduling the “major campaign announcement,” at the IBEW Local 103 with Menino at 10 a.m. Friday.

Campaign sources told the Herald that Menino will be endorsing Markey at the union hall.

GOP pols ponder: Do we even need a lieutenant governor?

Hillary C, Matt Stout — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Beacon Hill Republicans are thinking if Massachusetts can do with a lieutenant governor for a year and a half — after Lt. Gov. Tim Murray’s abrupt exit announcement Wednesday — maybe the state can save $124,000 a year and just do away with the position entirely.

“It’s certainly a long time without having anybody in the position,” said state Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica). “Over the next year, the case could be made as to whether we need this position.”

Casino stance hurts Daniel F. Conley in crucial Eastie

Richard Weir — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

A key political power broker in the battleground neighborhood of East Boston has yanked his support for Daniel F. Conley’s mayoral bid after the district attorney called for a citywide vote that was seen as a threat to the Suffolk Downs casino bid.

Mass. Senate candidate Markey to release returns

Associated Press — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:18:43 -0400

BOSTON — Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Edward Markey agreed Thursday to release his tax returns dating back to 2005, one more year than was previously released by his opponent Gabriel Gomez, in a day of campaigning in which money from outside groups was at issue as well.

Markey, a veteran U.S. congressman, will make public the tax returns Friday, according to spokesman Andrew Zucker, after strong pressure from Gomez and state Republican leaders to disclose the information.

Senate OKs amendment tightening sex offender laws

Matt Stout — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:08:44 -0400

The state Senate adopted an amendment today with a slew of reforms aimed at tightening the sex offender laws, which came under intense scrutiny following the arrest of a Level 1 offender last year on charges he sexually abused children and infants.

The amendment was immediately hailed on both sides of the aisle, with Democrat and Republican leaders in a joint statement touting its ability to keep the public and Sex Offender Registry Board better clued in on convicted sexual predators.

Middlesex Sheriff eyeing Markey's US House seat

Associated Press — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:15:34 -0400

BOSTON — Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian has opened a congressional campaign committee account as he eyes a run for the U.S. House if Congressman Edward Markey wins the state's special U.S. Senate election.

A victory by Markey over his Republican challenger Gabriel Gomez on June 25 would spark another special election for Markey's House seat.

Mass. Senate approves changes to sex offender laws

Associated Press — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:04:39 -0400

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate backed a plan Thursday to overhaul the state's procedures for classifying convicted sex offenders in response to the arrest last year of a registered sex offender on charges that he sexually abused infants and small children at his wife's unlicensed day care.

The proposal is an amendment to the Senate version of the state budget, and designed to strengthen information sharing between the Sex Offender Registry Board and other state agencies. It goes to a conference committee as part of the budget legislation.

AG: No active case on ex-Rep. Fresolo

Matt Stout — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:44:48 -0400

Attorney General Martha Coakley said today she is unaware of any active investigation into newly resigned state Rep. John Fresolo and the matter appears to be closed “at least for now,” explaining that her office has gotten nothing from a House Ethics Committee probe that was believed to be focused on him.

“We have not received any referrals or information on that,” Coakley said following an event on the Boston Common. “If we do on any individual, we certainly would pursue it if we think it’s something in our jurisdiction.”

Patrick defends Murray, says he ‘can’t direct people to stay on’

Matt Stout — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:22:00 -0400

Gov. Deval Patrick, routinely quick to slam his predecessors for quitting office early, defended Lt. Gov. Tim Murray’s abrupt resignation as different, telling reporters that even as governor, he “can’t direct people to stay on.”

Mass. Senate bill would protect first responders

Associated Press — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:50:12 -0400

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill to ensure that off-duty first responders who provide emergency care are not subject to lawsuits.

Senate President Therese Murray said the so-called "Good Samaritan Bill" will provide legal protections for off-duty firefighters and emergency medical technicians who race to help in the event of a disaster like the Boston Marathon bombings.

Worcester State Rep. John Fresolo calls it quits

Matt Stout — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

WORCESTER — State Rep. John Fresolo yesterday stepped down from office under a cloud of scandal — but House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo insisted the Worcester Democrat jumped and wasn’t pushed.

“No member or officer of the House of Representatives pressured John Fresolo to resign,” said Seth Gitell, a DeLeo spokesman. “His resignation was not the product of negotiations.”

Attackers would owe welfare

Jordan Graham — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

A measure to let the state dun convicted terrorists for any welfare benefits they may have received — a budget amendment aimed at the Tsarnaev brothers, accused in the deadly marathon bombings after a decade on the dole — passed the state Senate yesterday.

Gov. Deval Patrick: Tim Murray leaving ‘very big hole’

Matt Stout — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Gov. Deval Patrick said yesterday that Tim Murray’s resignation as lieutenant governor “leaves a very big hole” in his lame-duck administration — but it’s a hole, experts say, that’s easily filled.

Mass. lawmaker: Recoup benefits from terrorists

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:19:03 -0400

BOSTON — The state Senate has adopted a proposal allowing Massachusetts to recoup public benefits given to anyone later convicted of using of a weapon of mass destruction.

Gloucester Republican state Sen. Bruce Tarr offered the proposal as an amendment to the Senate version of the state budget.

It would allow the attorney general to recover "any and all money" from anyone convicted of a terrorist act "who has previously collected public assistance, financial assistance or received any other direct financial benefit from the state."

Mass. Senate begins debating state budget plan

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:47:51 -0400

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate has begun debating hundreds of proposed amendments to its $34 billion state budget proposal.

Senators began Wednesday making their way through 725 proposed changes to the spending plan outlined by the Senate Ways and Means Committee last week.

The Senate budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 calls for an increase of $1.4 billion, or about 4.4 percent, over the current year.

That includes new spending on housing, education, mental health and veteran services.

Worcester state Rep. Fresolo resigns

Matt Stout — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:26:47 -0400

State Rep. John Fresolo — believed to be the focus in recent months of a House Ethics Committee investigation — has resigned from his post, according to his lawyer.

Attorney Thomas R. Kiley confirmed this afternoon that the Worcester Democrat was submitting his letter of resignation to House Speaker Robert DeLeo.

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray says resignation about ‘opportunity’

Hillary Chabot, Matt Stout — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:46:00 -0400

Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray announced his resignation this afternoon...

Boston grows regs for urban agriculturalists

Donna Goodison — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

New rules for farming in the middle of Boston — intended to expand urban agriculture while bringing some order to burgeoning inner-city bucolicism — are going up for public review and comment in 11 community meetings.

The draft zoning changes will cover everything from rooftop farms to aquaponics to backyard beekeeping.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino will kick off the first of the neighborhood meetings to discuss the proposed regulations at Suffolk University on June 3.

Boston bicyclists flex political clout

Dave Wedge — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Cyclists eager to speed ahead on aggressive bike expansion plans pushed by Mayor Thomas M. Menino for the past six years are plotting to court his successor to ensure his two-wheeled vision isn’t derailed after he steps aside.

“We really want to make this part of the agenda so the progress we’ve made doesn’t go away,” Steven Miller, board member of the pro-cycling group Liveable Streets, said at a packed bike rally at the Boston Public Library last night.