Friday, May 10, 2013
New regulations will go into effect May 24.
New rules for the medical use of marijuana have been written into the commonwealth's regulatory code by the Massachusetts Public Health Council Wednesday, according to State House News Service report published on LowellSun.com. Among the new regulations are how much marijuana can be generally used by patients, the licensing procedure for medical marijuana dispensaries and how low-income patients can get access, according to the report. These regulations will go into effect May 24, according to the Sun. In November, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot measure that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana as part of a treatment. Under the law, the state was operating under a 120-day window starting Jan. 1 for creating regulations for …
Monday, April 15, 2013
The House proposal cuts out increased funding for early education, one of the centerpieces of Patrick's plan.
House leaders on Wednesday proposed a budget that was a billion dollars less than the one Gov. Deval Patrick put forth in January. The $33.8 billion House budget includes increased funding for higher education and local aid but not more money for early education, one of the centerpieces of Patrick's budget that emphasizes prekindergarten funding and investment in transportation. Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said the House budget would not increase these funds over concerns that the Department of Early Education and Care is inefficient and wasteful, the Boston Globe reported. Altogether, the House proposal would raise taxes by $500 million, compared to Patrick's proposed $1.9 billion tax hike. The House plan would result in a 3.9 percent …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Candidates for U.S. Senate Democratic nomination squared off in Lowell Monday.
U.S. Congressmen Stephen Lynch and Edward Markey met in their second debate Monday ahead of the Democratic U.S. Senate special primary in a contest that contained few fireworks outside of an exchange on health care. The debate, held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and sponsored by the college and the Boston Herald, lasted about 45 minutes and touched a wide variety of issues on which the two Democrats mostly agreed. An early question was asked about the candidates' positions on the Affordable Care Act. Markey (D-Malden) voted in favor of the bill that passed in 2010 while Lynch (D-South Boston) was one of few Democrats who opposed it. Markey said voting for the bill was the "proudest vote of my Congressional career." He said …
Monday, April 8, 2013
The Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate meet in their second debate.
The combatants for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate special election will square off Monday night in Lowell for their second debate leading up to the April 30 primary. Congressmen Edward Markey (D-Malden) and Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) will participate in the debate being held at 7:30 p.m. at Durgin Hall on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The debate is being sponsored by UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion and the Boston Herald. Questions for the debate will be posed by UMass Lowell students while the moderator will be reporter Jaclyn Cashman, according to the university. Markey and Lynch previously met for their first debate March 27 at the Channel 5 studios in Needham. The two candidates …
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?
On Thursday Massachusetts legislators answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The program aims to keep a closer look at who is using welfare, how it is being used and to restore public trust in the office.
A month after the head of the state welfare office resigned amid allegations of squandering millions of dollars, the department announced a new 100-day plan to reign in waste and fraud. "Our mission is to strengthen our programs to ensure that only those who are eligible for benefits receive them," Stacey Monahan, interim commissioner of the Department of Transitional Assistance, said Thursday. “This plan will help us reach those goals, while ensuring that our precious taxpayer resources are used appropriately and only as intended.” Reports surfaced in January that the agency may have overpaid federal food stamp recipients by almost $28 million since 2010, and given millions to people who weren't eligible for welfare. The 100-day plan, …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The public has until April 20 to comment on the long-awaited draft regulations on how medical marijuana may be dispensed in Massachusetts.
The regulations define everything from a debilitating medical condition to a certifying physician. They also outline the process for a physician to register as a prescribing physician. For example, a physician who wants to become certified must have one established practice in the state and an active full license with no prescribing restrictions. Once a patient is diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition, such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, they can apply for a registration card that would be valid for five years from the date of issue and can be renewed. The guidelines also outline the process for becoming a dispensary agent. Any agents must be 21 years of age, have no felony convictions and cannot operate more …
Sunday, March 31, 2013
A new report says Massachusetts' "tough on crime" laws are costly for the state and taxpayers without much return on investment—but should certain crimes remain subject to mandatory minimum sentences?
Mandatory minimum sentence laws remain popular on Beacon Hill. Just last summer, the state passed the so-called "three strikes" bill, which Gov. Deval Patrick signed despite reservations. However, a new study says that such laws cost the state and taxpayers millions each year—and potentially billions in the future—without much return on investment, as Massachusetts' recidivism rate remains high compared to other states. Nonpartisan research group MassINC commissioned the study in partnership with the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, a group of those in the criminal justice realm, businessmen and women and community organizers. The study said that the state's prison population has tripled since the early 1980s because of …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
State audit finds 119 Level 2 and 3 sex offenders living at addresses registered as child care providers. Also, background checks not being done in some cases.
A new report from State Auditor Suzanne Bump suggests that a surprisingly large number of sex offenders statewide may be living in properties also used as childcare facilities. According to the report, the recent audit found 119 Level 2 and 3 sex offenders living at addresses that were also registered with the state as child care providers. The audit took place over 15 months from July, 2010 through September, 2011. “While we recognize that all 119 may not pose a problem because some of the information in the sex offender registry may be outdated, we believe that routinely conducting this match will serve to better ensure the safety of children in (Department of Early Education and Care’s) programs,” stated the report. Meanwhile, the …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The answer may surprise you.
In Massachusetts, a family of four with two school-aged children needs to earn nearly $68,976 to make ends meet without public or private assistance, according to a study released Thursday by the Crittenton Women's Union. In Norwood, that number is slightly higher—$76,152. This amount includes rent, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare and personal needs. According to the Boston Globe, the gap between earnings and cost of living is increasing because of increased costs, no raises at work and a higher required level of education. Although the cost of living for a single-mother-headed household is high, they are not the only ones having trouble. Crittendon Women's Union's study noted four in 10 two-parent homes also struggle to …
Indiana
10:14 am on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
At least Lynch has a backbone and thinks outside the box...Markey like every other democrat hides behind "the women and the children" hoax as usual. If Lynch loses to this sheep it will be disgraceful. The fact that Planned Parenthood endorses Markey is all you need to know about Markey. more ›