With most votes counted, the legislative audit question was approved by a margin of 71.5 percent to 28.5 percent. The MCAS question’s margin was 59-41.
Maura Healey
Posted inBallot Questions
Political Notebook: Does Healey have coattails on Question 2?
Healey is opposed to Question 5, which would establish a minimum wage for tipped workers. She’s still considering her vote on Question 3 (unionization for Uber and Lyft drivers) and Question 4 (legalization of psychedelics). On Question 1, which would explicitly authorize the state audito to audit the Legislature, Healey doesn’t plan to take a stand, telling GBH she’ll “leave that to the voters.”
Posted inPolitics
Political Notebook: Ron Mariano, media critic | First lady or first partner?
“I mean, you guys have an obligation to write what’s really gonna happen,” House Speaker Ron Mariano huffed.
Posted inState Government
Healey spending bill bypasses climate talks in Legislature
Healey has expressed optimism that the Legislature will pass economic development legislation in a special session later this year, but the spending bill she filed on Wednesday suggested she isn’t confident that the House and Senate will reach a deal on climate legislation.
Posted inPolitics
Healey says she’s not interested in Harris administration post
“You know, I laugh at people with their speculation about stuff,” Healey said. “I want to be really clear: I am not interested in any job other than being governor.”
Posted inOpinion
Our judges should reflect the breadth of the legal profession
Attorneys with backgrounds in corporate law or as prosecutors are so overrepresented in Massachusetts courts it should set off alarm bells for anybody who believes in the promise of equal justice in the Commonwealth.
Posted inTransportation
Political notebook: Healey’s ‘tool kit’ task force | Pushback on merger of state agencies
“What we are really hoping to give [to the governor] is a tool kit that lists sources and uses. I am not so sure – again, I’m not a member of the task force, I’m staff to the task force — that they will get to the prioritization level. It’s possible, but we haven’t really discussed that yet.”
Posted inPolitics
Mass. delegates explain why they’re backing Biden in new survey
While President Biden faces unprecedented calls from within his party to step down as the Democratic nominee, members of the Massachusetts delegation who are headed to the national convention in Chicago appear largely supportive of Biden staying at the top of the ticket, according to a new survey.
Posted inGovernment
Healey’s capital spending plan puts bond bills in perspective
The state’s plan for actual capital spending dedicates $2 billion for housing over the next five years, and $400 million in fiscal 2025, which is a 30 percent increase over fiscal 2024.
Posted inPolitics
Political Notebook: Facebook frenemies, West End ghosts, missing the Trump train
When it comes to many politicians and social media apps like Facebook, there’s a give and take: They take shots at the tech behemoth, and they also give the company money.