Saturday, January 12, 2013
Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation that would require teachers, workers at child care centers and school bus drivers to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks.
Should school and child care employees fingerprinted before starting employment in order to check their criminal backgrounds? How about fingerprinting anyone who wants to adopt or foster a child? The governor thinks so. The state education office announced on Friday that Gov. Deval Patrick had signed a bill authorizing the Department of Early Education and Care and school districts to conduct fingerprint-supported national criminal history background checks on all teachers, school employees and early education providers in Massachusetts. "Prior to this law, school districts and early education providers were allowed only to conduct name-based Criminal Offender Record Information checks covering criminal history record information for …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Internet retailer said the collection would begin in time for next year's holiday shopping season.
Checking out at Amazon.com will be a little pricier starting next November. The Internet retailer will start collecting Massachusetts state tax for next year's holiday shopping season. Gov. Deval Patrick's office announced the deal Tuesday, stating the company would be adding jobs to Massachusetts in the next few years. Amazon.com and Patrick said they would work together to support a federal bill allowing individual states to collect sales tax in states where they have no physical location. The co-owner of one well-known Boston area business that has been hit hard by Amazon's tax-free run is is celebrating the decision. "For every brick and mortar retailer, this is a huge victory,” Dana Brigham of Brookline Booksmith told CBS Boston. "It …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Asked about toll fairness during a Patch live chat, Governor Deval Patrick asked a reader whether he'd support high-speed tolls. Are these a good way to share the transportation funding pain, or another money grab?
Are high-speed tolls along Interstate 93 and other highways a smart way to help fund transportation in the state? Governor Deval Patrick mentioned such a system during a Patch live chat Thursday. If you've gone up Interstate 95 into New Hampshire, you've seen high-speed tolls in action. The system is designed to read your EZ-Pass (new Fast Lane) transponder while you breeze by at 65 miles per hour. There's no need to slow down or squeeze though a booth, as EZ-Pass users currently do on the Mass Pike, Tobin Bridge and harbor tunnels. The chat moved on to other topics, so no details about implementation were offered. What do you think? Would tolls along I-93 offer some fairness to riders in Boston, MetroWest and North Shore, who all pay …
The governor, during a live chat with Patch, expressed skepticism about the legalization of medical marijuana, though he sympathized with patients in pain.
Governor Deval Patrick said he would likely vote no on Question Three this fall. During a Thursday live chat with Patch, a reader asked Patrick how he would vote on the ballot question and whether the governor was for or against the legalization of cannabis. "I am not too energized on this issue, personally. California's experience has been mixed. I will probably vote against it. I respect the opposing view, though, especially those whose concern is for people in constant pain," wrote the governor. Proponents say medical marijuana will help ease the pain and suffering of cancer patients and other eligible residents. Opponents, meanwhile, say the law is a back door to full legalization, and that medical marijuana can be dangerous. If …
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Check out the transcript of this Patch.com chat with Governor Patrick.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Governor Deval Patrick will answer your questions during our live chat on area Patch.com websites at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. 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, September 25, 2012
Ask Governor Deval Patrick about any topic you like during our live cat at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Governor Deval Patrick will take your questions live on local Patch.com websites this Thursday. The governor will spend 45 minutes fielding your questions as they come. Head on over to our homepage from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Thursday to join our chat. You'll simply have to provide your name, and you'll be able to ask your questions immediately. If you can't make the live chat, leave your questions as comments to this article, and we'll do our best to add them to the queue. We will publish the live chat transcript immediately and a recap first thing on Friday morning. Questions submitted will be subject to moderator approval. No vulgar or libelous comments will be allowed. Because we expect a high volume of questions for the chat …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Patrick calls the bill "a good start."
Gov. Deval Patrick on Tuesday ended specualtion that he might kill the mandatory sentencing bill he had objected to but the Legislature supported. Calling the bill "a good start," Patrick said he would sign it but wants to see changes made to it in the next legislative session. "I still believe there is a necessary role for judicial discretion when it comes to sentencing and many of the advocates of this bill have pledged to support that next year," he wrote on his website Tuesday. "The Senate President and the Speaker have pledged to return to the subject of mandatory minimum sentencing early in the next session. I take them at their word." As it stands, the so-called "three strikes" bill, dubbed "Melissa's Law" after a Jamaica Plain …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A student from Wakefield's Nazareth Academy served as the state's "Governor for a Day" in April.
Look out, Deval. A Wakefield student took on the top legislative job in the state last month when she served as the state's "Governor for a Day" through the 65th annual Student Government Day program in Massachusetts. During Student Government Day, students play the role of elected or appointed officials to better understand what that individual’s role is in state government. Students also participate in mock debates, simulated committee hearings and House and Senate formal sessions. Sofia Pagliuca, 18, of Saugus, who attends Wakefield's Nazareth Academy was selected to be part of the April 13th program which brings in students from all over the state to learn about the role of state government. Not only that, but she was selected amongst …
A student from Wakefield's Nazareth Academy served as the state's "Governor for a Day" in April. The following is her speech she made to the students and legislators on 21st Century learning.
A student from Wakefield's Nazareth Academy served as the state's "Governor for a Day" in April. The following is the speech she made to the students and legislators on 21st Century learning. ---- Lieutenant Governor and fellow Constitutional Officers, Madame President, Madame Speaker and Members of the Senate and of the House, Members of the Judiciary, and other distinguished guests; Being the proverbial “number one” can sometimes be quite a difficult position to maintain. Once considered “the first” or “the best,” the hopes of who you are and who you will become are elevated significantly. Be it in school, on a sports team, or even in your own family, the moment that you exceed people’s expectations, those people can rightfully …
kerstin locherie
4:11 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does. … more ›