Latest news with #MassGOP
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Keller: Who is to blame for Massachusetts's flailing economy?
The opinions expressed below are Jon Keller's, not those of WBZ, CBS News or Paramount Global. Massachusetts is already feeling the economic pinch, although economists say the broad impact of tariffs likely won't be felt until June or July. And the argument over who's to blame is in full swing. Nationwide, the inflation rate is down for the third straight month. The Labor Department says consumer prices rose 2.3% in April, the smallest increase in more than four years. Massachusetts inflation is ahead of the curve "We have a lot of great things going for us, but like many states right now, we struggle with costs," said Gov. Maura Healey at an announcement of steps she's taking to ease the bite of energy costs. But when the academic watchdog group MassBenchmarks released its latest report on the state economy, which shows inflation and unemployment are running ahead of national levels amid an economic slowdown, Healey's critics at the state Republican Party pounced. "We do put the blame really at the feet of the governor," said Massachusetts GOP Chair Amy Carnevale, who claims Healey is squandering state funds on things like housing and services for migrants while driving up the cost of living with expensive rules aimed at reducing environmental damage. "Some of the mandates that were put in place a number of years ago and supported by the Healey administration for the goals for green energy, we think, has had significant impact on the rates for Massachusetts homeowners," she says. Never mind that those mandates were signed into law by a Republican governor, Charlie Baker. How tariffs are hurting Massachusetts "The state's economy has been growing more slowly than that of the nation," noted Northeastern Professor Alan Clayton-Matthews, senior contributing editor for MassBenchmarks. He said Healey's policy choices, while crucial, are not the main source of our economic sore spots. "The current administration largely affects future growth, not current growth, and that's less true of the federal government, where administrations can conduct fiscal and monetary policy that immediately affect growth," he said. Countered Carnevale: "Nationally, we are experiencing what we think is a short-term impact at the national level. Here in Massachusetts, the impact is far greater, and we think the tariffs alone does not explain the data that was released this week." It's Carnevale's job to point the finger at Healey. But two can play the blame game. "No state in the country can begin to make up for the kind of cuts that are being talked about," said the governor. Many states may feel the effects of federal cuts and tariffs, but Massachusetts is especially vulnerable. We rely more heavily on federal grants and foreign trade than some other states, and we're counting on a continuing focus on fighting off damage from climate change to fuel emerging climate tech industries. Carnevale is in sync with a lot of swing voters here when she denounces one-party rule. But her position gets tricky when she has to defend the actions of the one-party rule in Washington.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2 candidates seek late Rep. Carol Doherty's Taunton seat in June 10 election
TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) — Two candidates are set to square off in the special election to fill the 3rd Bristol District seat that was held by the late state Rep. Carol Doherty. Lisa Field, a Democrat, and Larry Quintal, a Republican, both filed the required number of signatures by Tuesday's deadline, according to Debra O'Malley, a spokesperson for the secretary of the commonwealth's office. The special election to fill the seat will be held June 10. A primary election still will be held May 13 even though Field and Quintal are the only members of their parties who qualified for the ballot, with a write-in line for voters who want to vote for someone else, O'Malley said. Doherty, 82, died in February after a battle with cancer. She had been first elected in a June 2020 special election to fill the seat formerly held by Republican Shaunna O'Connell, who'd been elected mayor the previous fall. Massachusetts Republicans are hoping they can take back the 3rd Bristol seat since Taunton is relatively friendly territory for the party compared with other parts of the state. President Trump received 47% of the vote in the city last November, and Republican Kelly Dooner flipped the Senate seat formerly held by longtime Democrat Marc Pacheco on the same day. Field, who works for the Massachusetts Nurses Association, described Doherty as 'a dear friend' and said she would build on the late representative's legacy. 'I fought to save Morton Hospital and took on both Steward and the governor when it came to health care cuts,' Field said when she kicked off her campaign. 'I co-founded Clean Air Taunton which stopped the trash gasification project, and led on passing legislation that protected campus police shot in the line of duty.' Quintal, who owns a funeral home in Taunton, is a member of the City Council first elected in 2021. He is a supporter of State Auditor Diana DiZoglio's effort to audit the state legislature. 'We need a state representative who is committed to lowering our cost of living,' Quintal's campaign wrote on social media. 'As our next representative, Larry will support lowering the sales tax back to 5%. He will oppose the candy tax and new taxes on prescription drugs.' The Massachusetts Republican Party went on offense Tuesday, criticizing Field for failing to describe herself as a registered lobbyist when discussing her work for the Nurses Association. 'Lisa Field needs to be honest with the people she hopes to represent,' MassGOP Chair executive director John Milligan said in a statement. 'We already have enough secrecy on Beacon Hill. The last thing we need is another politician who hides their role as a paid lobbyist from the public.' MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan dismissed the criticism, calling it 'a lame attempt by the MassGOP to disparage a woman who has stood up for some of the hardest-working people anywhere, our nurses.' 'The MassGOP should worry more about what Donald Trump's disastrous economic policies will do to the average Massachusetts family instead of attacking Lisa Field, someone who goes to work every day fighting for working people,' Kerrigan said. Ted Nesi (tnesi@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesi's Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
‘Why do those groups care about our local elections?' In Andover, MTA and MassGOP enter electoral fray.
That growing influx of outside money and support is not only unusual for a municipal race but is a potential harbinger of what's to come across the state as groups, such as the MTA, expand their influence into what once were hyperlocal affairs. 'This is a logical extension of the great political and electoral work we've done,' said Max Page, president of the 117,000-member MTA, which in recent years put tens of millions of dollars behind efforts to Advertisement This spring alone, Page said the MTA is helping organize in roughly 20 towns where residents are weighing whether to The moves follow a swell of activism among teachers, who in recent years have launched strikes in several communities — and incurred But the decision to actually spend money in local races is relatively new. The Advertisement Where the MTA funnels money and support depends on which local affiliates ask, said Page, who declined to detail in which communities the union is backing candidates this year. 'Across our entire union, more and more of our locals are becoming much more active,' he said. That includes in Andover, where in 2023 teachers Last spring, the local union endorsed two school committee candidates — a former and current teacher — and the MTA's super PAC followed by spending $15,000 backing them and two others running for the town's select board, including covering the cost of a mobile billboard in town. Three of the four candidates won, including both who ran to be on the school committee. This year, the local teachers union again endorsed two school committee candidates, Advertisement Late last week, the MTA's super PAC While it's a mere fraction of the amounts the MTA has spent on statewide ballot questions, even a few thousands dollars goes far in municipal races. For example, as of last week none of Andover's school committee candidates reported raising more than roughly $3,600 this year, meaning the MTA's super PAC may ultimately spend more than anyone actually running. The MassGOP also offered a hand to Shepley, a 19-year-old running for the second time in as many years for a school committee seat. His campaign paid the party nearly $1,500 to cover the costs of a mailer, which the party sent out on his behalf, using its discounted rate on postage. Amy Carnevale, the MassGOP chair, said the party typically uses those so-called coordinated campaign mailers for legislative candidates. But she said the party is focused on 'building our bench,' including through local seats that can provide a feeder system for higher office. (Shepley did not respond to a request for comment.) 'Candidly we don't have the financial resources to compete with the MTA on direct support for local candidates, so it's been really focused on the technical support,' Carnevale said, adding that the party has held trainings around the state for those interested in seeking office. She declined to say where else the party is actively backing local candidates. 'Sometimes they prefer that the party itself don't do an endorsement' in a nonpartisan race, she said. 'But we may be helping them behind the scenes.' Advertisement The presence of the MTA and MassGOP has only inflamed tensions in Andover, where incumbents have questioned their interest in the race and the push by the unions to replace them. 'You need to ask yourself, why do those groups care about our local elections? What do they stand to gain or lose if certain candidates are elected?' DiCesaro said. 'School committee members need to represent the citizens of Andover and make decisions in the students' best interests, not in the best interests of the teacher union.' Wright, the other incumbent running, suggested that the MTA's financial backing creates the appearance of a 'quid pro quo,' given the committee will be responsible for bargaining a new contract with the union. The Andover Education Association, the local union, has also explored pursuing a union-run 'Our local election process has historically been focused on the local needs of Andover,' Wright said. 'When you have that outside influence, that changes the landscape.' Matt Bach, president of the local teachers' union, rejected that the MTA's support creates any type of conflict of interest. He also said a potential innovation school is only a 'concept' and is not a motivating factor for the union to get involved in the race because 'educators would be working for positive change on the School Committee whether we were exploring that idea or not.' 'The 'outside' groups referred to here are the Educators the community sends their children to everyday,' Bach said in an email. 'Educators, hundreds of which are Andover residents, should be involved in shaping the success of their schools. We know the problems in our schools better than almost anyone else.' Advertisement Tamarkin noted that legally he has no input on the MTA's super PAC decision to support him. To critics of the outside spending, he added: 'Hate the game, not the player.' 'If you don't like these rules, then change them,' he said in a phone interview. 'They're saying, 'Jake is not independent, therefore he's going to give away the farm.' I'm saying, 'They're bad strategists and they already gave away the farm [in the last contract].' I say we get closer to the union so they stop robbing us.' Matt Stout can be reached at
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dropkick Murphys kicked off of X after Ken Casey hurls expletives at MAGA attendees at Boston show
The Quincy band Dropkick Murphys have been kicked off of X. The Irish punk band's X account was suspended soon after Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey, in an expletive-filled rant, publicly singled out a concert attendee wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat during a St. Patrick's Day show in Boston. The Dropkick Murphys also posted a video of Casey's rant during the St. Patrick's Day show on the band's Instagram page, along with the words, 'Happy St. Patrick's Day from Boston !!' 'Chinese (expletive) red that they all wear and they think it's dyed in their brains,' Casey, wearing a green shirt, shouted while on stage to his audience, referencing 'MAGA' hats worn by supporters of President Donald Trump and concert attendees. 'They got the black-on-black, Elon Musk, true-Nazi edition,' Casey continued shouting into his microphone and to the audience. 'And then, my man here,' Casey said, pointing to a concert attendee wearing a MAGA hat in the audience. 'He's getting ready for summer with a nice (expletive) white, white one, alright?' 'If you're in a room full of people and you want to know who's in a cult, how do you know who's in a cult?' Casey asked the crowd. 'They've been holding up a (expletive) hat the whole night to represent a president.' He then said, 'This is America, there's no kings here. And anyway, if you mind, sir, we're gonna play a song about our grandparents and people who, like, fought Nazis in the war and (expletive), you know.' 'So if you could just shut the (expletive) up for five minutes,' Casey shouted to the concert attendee. The official X page of the Dropkick Murphys on Tuesday read, 'Account suspended. 'X suspends accounts which violate the X Rules.' Neither the band nor Musk have publicly commented on the suspension. In a statement on Tuesday, MassGOP Spokesperson Logan Trupiano called Casey's rant ignorant and offensive. 'This is yet another example of an out-of-touch celebrity who lives a charmed life, completely insulated from the consequences of the policies they champion. When you're that rich and famous, politics doesn't affect you the way it does everyday Americans,' Trupiano said. 'Surrounded by yes-men, these celebrities feel entitled to insult and demean millions of hardworking people simply for holding different political views.' 'It's not just ignorant—it's offensive,' Trupiano said. 'Under the Biden administration, countless Americans have suffered. They saw the impact of failed policies firsthand and made a decision for change. For a celebrity to vilify them for that choice is a slap in the face to the very people who spend their hard-earned money supporting their work.' 'This is yet another reminder that the so-called 'tolerant left' is anything but,' Trupiano said. 'We need less division and more respect for differing viewpoints—especially from those whose wealth and privilege shield them from the struggles of everyday life.' Dropkick Murphys have a history of being politically active, railing against former President George Bush as part of an anti-Bush music effort called Rock Against Bush, supporting unions and advocating against Trump in 2017, the Patriot Ledger reported. 'No politics during a concert, especially when I'm paying for that ticket,' one Instagram user said, according to the newspaper. More recently, at an event in Clearwater, Florida last month, the band again called out an attendee wearing Trump political gear, the newspaper reported. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
CBS News
07-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maura Healey plans to run for re-election as Massachusetts governor: "Really proud of the record so far"
BOSTON - Gov. Maura Healey said in a radio interview on Friday that she's planning to run for a second term as governor of Massachusetts. "I intend to run for re-election," the Democrat told GBH's Boston Public Radio. "I'm really proud of the record so far." The governor said housing affordability, transportation, tax cuts, and investing in education have been the priorities of her time in office so far. "I feel like we've done all of those things, yet there's a heck of a lot more to do," Healey said. Healey was the first woman to be elected governor in Massachusetts in 2022 and joined Oregon's Tina Kotek as the first two openly lesbian governors in the United States. Healey previously served as the state's attorney general for two terms. "I love my job, i feel incredibly privileged to be in this position and I'd love to have the opportunity to continue to work for the great people of this state," she said. Massachusetts Republican Party response Responding to Healey's news, the Massachusetts Republican Party continued to hammer the governor's handling of the migrant crisis in Massachusetts. "Under her leadership, the Commonwealth has become the least transparent state in the nation, with billions wasted on a migrant crisis that has spiraled into a full-blown humanitarian disaster-marked by sexual assaults, drug trafficking, child abuse, and violent crime," MassGOP said in a statement. Healey said last months that background checks she had ordered at Massachusetts never happened. She's also proposing changes to the heavily scrutinized right-to-shelter law in Massachusetts. "We are actively engaging with several Republicans who would all make strong candidates, and we are confident we will have a formidable challenger ready to take on Healey and restore prosperity to the Commonwealth," MassGOP said.
