Wednesday, March 27, 2013
State Sen. Jamie Eldridge represents Westborough.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, March 27
By State Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) Governor Patrick’s growth agenda goes to bold lengths to move our Commonwealth forward and invest in the future of our communities. We can’t afford to watch from the sidelines as our roads, bridges and public transportation systems decline, nor can we turn a blind eye to the rising cost of higher education that is deterring tomorrow's bright minds from following their dreams. The years of cuts to Chapter 70 education funding, special education, regional school transportation and local aid have hurt the quality of education in our schools and divided residents in each community. Governor Patrick has proposed to change that with a revenue proposal that is fair and progressive by shifting the burden of …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Westborough's state education aid would increase by $1,121,051 next year.
Westborough's state education aid would increase by $1,121,051 next year under Gov. Deval Patrick's fiscal 2014 budget plan, the Patrick-Murray administration said today. In addition, the budget proposal would move 53 students on Westborough's early education wait list "into high-quality early education programs," administration officials said in a press release. Westborough also would get a $412,143 increase in state transportation aid next year, the press release says. The figures are on new online maps showing "in real terms, what investing in growth and opportunity will mean for their communities," the release says.
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 on 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 …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
State and local officials today broke ground on the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s $25 million new field headquarters at 80 North Drive, off Route 135.
Massachusetts’ first zero net energy state office building “will set a benchmark for energy efficient office buildings” when it opens in Westborough in 2014, Gov. Deval Patrick said today. State and local officials today broke ground on the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s $25 million new field headquarters at 80 North Drive, off Route 135. The 45,000-square-foot facility will replace the 12,000-square-foot Richard Cronin Building, as well as three trailers, serving about 90 employees, the Patrick administration noted in a press release. Patrick called Massachusetts “a leader in the nation in clean energy and energy efficiency.” “Once this building is up and running, it will on an annual basis produce as much energy on …
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80 North Dr, Westborough, MA
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Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Framingham-based New England Compounding Center produced a steroid linked to a deadly meningitis outbreak, which has killed 12 people and infected 130 others across 10 states.
New England Compunding Center, which has been tied to the national memingitis outbreak, may have misled regulators and completed work beyond its state license, said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. The Framingham-based specialty pharmacy produced a steroid, that health officials believe killed 12 people, infected 130 others across 10 states, with a fungal meningitis. The governor told reporters Wednesday, "What they were supposed to be doing is filling specific prescriptions for specific patients, as I think any of us would understand a pharmacy to do. What they were doing instead is making big batches and selling them out of state as a manufacturer would and that is certainly outside of their state license." While the compounding …
Friday, September 28, 2012
The governor had a live chat with Patch yesterday.
Natick resident and Patch blogger Ben Jackson asked Gov. Deval Patrick a question during Patch's live chat. "Governor, those of us in the MetroWest area currently pay an unequal premium to commute into the city. Are there plans to finally elminiate the Mass Pike tolls, or to equally tax those who enter the city from the North and South—and possibly to use that money to fill the MBTA or MBCR budget deficits?" The governor responded: "Hi, Ben. Tolling on the Pike is a function of commitments made by previous administrations in our bond agreements. Tolling on the central artery (for example) can be done only with federal approval, because it's a federal highway. Rest assured, all of it is under consideration as we think through a …
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The governor is taking your questions right now.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, September 27, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick will answer your questions during right now. To join the chat, enter your name and question in the widget above. We will try to get to as many questions as we can within the allotted 45 minutes, but can't guarantee every question will make it into the chat.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Legislators decide to take the bottle bill amendment out of the jobs act.
The bottle bill will not make it to the governor's desk this year. The controversial proposal was included as an amendment to the Senate jobs bill but scrapped Monday in conference committee, according to an aide to its sponsor, Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth). The jobs bill is expected to be laid before Gov. Deval Patrick Tuesday, the last day of the legislative session. The amendment had faced strong opposition in the House, with Speaker Robert DeLeo describing it as a tax. Hedlund disputed this view, saying that taxes can't be redeemed. The expansion to the 31-year-old law designed to promote recycling and reduce litter would have added plastic bottles used for water, juices, iced tea and sports drinks to the list of containers …
The governor on Saturday sent 'Melissa's Bill' back to the Legislature.
Gov. Deval Patrick set in motion a wave of criticism when he proposed an amendment to the "three strikes"/Melissa's Bill on the grounds that it lacked sufficient provisions for judicial discretion. Warning of possible unintended "unjust consequences" that can arise from mandatory sentencing laws, Patrick wrote in a letter to the Legislature, "None of us is wise or prescient enough to foresee each and every circumstance in which the new habitual offender provisions may apply." On Monday afternoon, the House rejected Patrick's amendment by a vote of 132-23, according to The Boston Globe. The bill's fate is up in the air, as the legislature's summer session will end Tuesday at midnight. The governor has not indicated whether he would veto a …
Saturday, May 12, 2012
State health officials want to put restrictions on school bake sales to discourage unhealthy eating habits, but will this hurt fundraising efforts?
Massachusetts state health officials recently recently approved regulations that would prevent bake sales from being held during school and in the 30 minutes before and after school to discourage unhealthy eating habits. Gov. Deval Patrick has backed down on the regulations after criticism from parents and organizations that say putting restrictions on bake sales would negatively impact fundraising efforts for the schools and nonprofit groups, according to USA Today. Legislation passed in 2010 will still require schools serve healthy snack options in the cafeterias and limit sugary foods. In today's poll question, we're asking: Do you think Gov. Deval Patrick should enforce the bake sale ban to help encourage Massachusetts youth to have …
SAT
5:26 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Yes, but Westborough is a high income town, so our residents would probably pay more than that in increased income taxes. We'd end up losing money in the long run. more ›