Latest news with #GreaterBostonChamberofCommerce
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Healey, moving to cut red rape and burnish business-friendly chops, unveils dozens of regulatory changes
Advertisement 'What's most important is the mindset, [the] message that we heard,' said Jim Rooney, president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. 'This administration has that mindset of trying to deal with issues that are burdensome for people in businesses.' The various regulatory amendments followed a Her administration ultimately reviewed 150 sets of regulations. Healey said her administration is ultimately 'cutting down' 38 of them, many of which may appear minor, if not esoteric, to most consumers. One would Advertisement Grocery stores and supermarkets would no longer have to make parts of so-called Healey said the Division of Insurance would also no longer require banks and insurance companies to submit paper copies of filings in many instances. 'We'll save some trees in the process,' Healey said as she fed a prop piece of paper into the whirring shredder. 'It's about making sure that we have the right regulations [and] smart regulations.' Healey isn't the first governor to boast of slashing red tape for businesses. Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, boasted in his final year in office in 2014 having led a review of nearly 1,800 regulations, and Months after taking office in 2015, his successor, Charlie Baker ordered a wide-scale review of 'onerous' regulations. The move immediately Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, said many of Patrick and Baker's efforts ultimately had 'little or nothing to show' for it. Advertisement He said his own members had raised to their administrations concerns about the unit pricing rules or the state's so-called hoisting regulations — think forklifts, Hurst said — without ever seeing action on them. Healey on Wednesday offered changes to the latter, including removing the requirement that hoisting engineering applicants communicate in English. Those moves are encouraging, Hurst said, even if 'these were the easy ones, right?' 'The hard ones are yet to come,' he said, pointing to the potential for tackling escalating health insurance costs for businesses — a shift that could require legislation, is often complicated, and usually 'politically fraught.' 'We're just kind of just hitting the surface at this point,' he said. Healey called Wednesday's announcement a 'first set of cuts and reforms,' though she did not indicate where or what rules her administration would review next. Healey's first term, and her bid next year to remain in office, will likely hinge in part on whether she's met her repeated promise to shed Massachusetts' tax-heavy label and She ran on realizing, and signed, a Advertisement Both Republicans who've announced challenges to Healey — former MBTA executive 'Massachusetts [is] bleeding businesses, private sector jobs and workers,' Holly Robichaud, a Shortsleeve adviser, said in a statement Wednesday. Matt Stout can be reached at
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cellphone ban in all schools? Mass. Senate president wants to eliminate classroom distractions
The Senate president wants Massachusetts to consider making public schools cellphone-free in an effort to eliminate distractions in the classroom. Senate President Karen Spilka broadly broached the idea in a speech to business leaders Wednesday morning, a day after her branch unveiled its fiscal 2026 budget that continues to prioritize hefty investments in education spanning from pre-K to free community college. The Ashland Democrat indicated that her son, a public school teacher, inspired her to address the issue. 'There is mounting evidence that cell phone usage among students during the school day is detrimental for a number of reasons — from simple distraction to more worrying issues such as cheating and cyber bullying,' Spilka plans to say at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce forum at the Westin Boston Seaport, according to a copy of her prepared remarks. 'I know you will find this hard to believe, but it can be difficult for me to process the constant stream of negativity I receive through various digital channels — and I have a team that manages my social media and a fully developed pre-frontal cortex,' she continued. 'So, I can't imagine what 24/7 content, both impersonal and very personal, must do to a child trying to navigate learning while juggling emotions and the normal pressures of growing up.' At least 18 states already have laws that restrict cellphone use in schools, Spilka said. 'In Massachusetts, our schools should be a truly safe space where kids can grow, learn, make mistakes, and develop healthy relationships, and so making schools cell phone free should be as fundamental to our understanding of what helps a child learn as providing school meals and access to social and emotional learning resources,' she said. Spilka's remarks do not mention any specific legislation and she said she 'would like the Senate to explore ways to keep our schools distraction-free — and more precisely cell phone free.' Spilka, who has fiercely criticized President Donald Trump, also urged business leaders to speak out against the administration's actions, including federal funding cuts to research. 'So – again – my plea: You can count on the Massachusetts Senate to do all we can to uphold the rule of law, separation of powers and due process, but we are limited in what we can do and we can't do it alone,' Spilka said. 'That's why we need your partnership more than ever to call out, when appropriate, a President who wants to be king and a Congress that is handing over its power to that President.' The Senate president also challenged Trump to visit Massachusetts to learn about ways to grow the workforce, pursue live-saving research, and embrace diversity initiatives. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spilka interested in removing cellphones from classrooms
BOSTON (SHNS) – [Coverage Developing] The Senate president wants Massachusetts to consider making schools cellphone-free in an effort to eliminate distractions in the classroom. Senate President Karen Spilka broadly broached the idea in a speech to business leaders Wednesday morning, a day after her branch unveiled its fiscal 2026 budget that continues to prioritize hefty investments in education spanning from pre-K to free community college. The Ashland Democrat indicated that her son, a public school teacher, inspired her to address the issue. 'There is mounting evidence that cell phone usage among students during the school day is detrimental for a number of reasons — from simple distraction to more worrying issues such as cheating and cyber bullying,' Spilka plans to say at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce forum at the Westin Boston Seaport, according to a copy of her prepared remarks. 'I know you will find this hard to believe, but it can be difficult for me to process the constant stream of negativity I receive through various digital channels — and I have a team that manages my social media and a fully developed pre-frontal cortex,' she continued. 'So, I can't imagine what 24/7 content, both impersonal and very personal, must do to a child trying to navigate learning while juggling emotions and the normal pressures of growing up.' At least 18 states already have laws that restrict cellphone use in schools, Spilka said. 'In Massachusetts, our schools should be a truly safe space where kids can grow, learn, make mistakes, and develop healthy relationships, and so making schools cell phone free should be as fundamental to our understanding of what helps a child learn as providing school meals and access to social and emotional learning resources,' she said. Spilka's remarks do not mention any specific legislation and she said she 'would like the Senate to explore ways to keep our schools distraction-free — and more precisely cell phone free.' Spilka, who has fiercely criticized President Donald Trump, also urged business leaders to speak out against the administration's actions, including federal funding cuts to research. 'So – again – my plea: You can count on the Massachusetts Senate to do all we can to uphold the rule of law, separation of powers and due process, but we are limited in what we can do and we can't do it alone,' Spilka said. 'That's why we need your partnership more than ever to call out, when appropriate, a President who wants to be king and a Congress that is handing over its power to that President.' The Senate president also challenged Trump to visit Massachusetts to learn about ways to grow the workforce, pursue live-saving research, and embrace diversity initiatives. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Boston Globe
19-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Boston Chamber teams up with BPS to allow business leaders to shadow school principals
Advertisement Jim Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce passes the alma mater statue while touring Boston Latin School, his alma mater. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff From left to right: Jason Gallagher, head of school at Boston Latin School, Jim Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and Katherine Craven, chief administrative and financial officer at Babson College, talk in the auditorium at Boston Latin School. Rooney and Craven were shadowing Gallagher as part of the Principal Partners program; all three are Boston Latin alum. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Ever since Rooney started in his role as chamber chief executive a decade ago, he's been trying to better integrate the business community and Boston Public Schools. Some companies, such as Natixis and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, already had specific school partnerships established. But Rooney found it hard to make much traction for a broader chamber effort with previous school superintendents. Then came Skipper, a well regarded Somerville school administrator who was tapped by Mayor Michelle Wu in 2022 to lead BPS. Skipper and Rooney already knew each other; they actually live on the same street in Dorchester. So they hit it off quite easily. Among the fruits of those discussions: an agreement to help develop a financial literacy curriculum, to be rolled out this fall, and the Principal Partners shadowing event, reviving a concept similar to the 'Principal for a Day' program last tried in 2018. Advertisement Boston Public Schools superintendent Mary Skipper, right, talks with seventh-grader Iker Monrroy, during his earth/space science class at Boston Latin School. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff On Thursday, the business leaders shadowed principals throughout the morning, then came together at Bank of America's offices on Federal Street to debrief. Rooney, Skipper, and Wu all spoke, as did B of A executive Miceal Chamberlain. Rooney said the shadowing program will build a stronger connection between the business community and the city's schools. That in turn can help teachers keep pace with the city's ever-changing workforce needs, Rooney said, and send a good message to the kids when 'big branded Boston companies' are volunteering on their behalf. Plus, some of his members can provide expertise in developing the school system's new financial literacy program. 'Historically, the school department has been hard to help,' Rooney said. 'In the past, they defined 'partnership' as 'write me a check.' [Businesses] will do that as a matter of goodwill. But I wanted to do something deeper than that.' Jim Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, talks with seventh-grader Amani Sabir while touring Boston Latin School, his alma mater. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston's business scene. Jon Chesto can be reached at
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Affordability crisis': House budget won't raise taxes on Bay Staters, Mariano says
House Speaker Ron Mariano said Thursday that the House's fiscal year 2026 budget will not raise taxes or fees on residents or businesses in Massachusetts, and that his chamber will focus on the state's 'affordability crisis' this session including with a new emphasis on how policy impacts energy costs. Mariano promised at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event Thursday morning that the House Ways and Means budget proposal, expected next week, will 'continue to fund free school meals for all public school students in Massachusetts, along with another year of meeting our commitment towards the full implementation of the Student Opportunity Act.' There has been uncertainty about whether the state would be able to continue to pay for the school meals program, as it is subsidized by federal funds, which may be affected by President Donald Trump's large-scale cuts. The speaker railed against Trump in his speech, heightening rhetoric about the president as budget-writers have tried to craft a spending plan while dealing with changing news from Washington D.C. every day. Trump's second term has had a strong emphasis on cutting federal spending and workforce levels, part of an effort his White House says is focused on reducing government waste and fraud. 'When I spoke with you all last year, President Biden was still in office, which meant that Massachusetts had a reliable partner at the federal level. On January 20th though, we lost that partner, and now as much as $15 billion for Massachusetts could be in jeopardy,' he said. Mariano said Trump has 'decimated' institutions such as the Department of Education, 'is wreaking havoc on programs that millions of vulnerable Americans rely on,' and has 'worked to exact revenge on his political opponents.' The speaker said the president's executive order targeting offshore wind 'could also put the commonwealth's ever-important climate goals out of reach.' Still, he said the House wouldn't be 'distracted' by the president and federal level. The House will vote to establish an internal procedure to better predict the impact that future policy decisions will have on energy costs, he said, as well as take up legislation aimed to bolster access to early college programming for Bay State students. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
