Latest news with #Spilka
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
The millionaires tax is becoming a slush fund for Democratic leaders
When it was before voters, the millionaires tax sparked a debate about whether it would scare rich people and businesses away. That's still a real danger. But there was always another, subtler risk that came with the surtax: that it created a multibillion-dollar slush fund that the Legislature could abuse. And some of the Democrats' latest maneuvers are evidence that the tax is doing just that. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Senators put the finishing touches on a millionaires tax spending bill this month meant to allocate a $1.3 billion surplus from the surtax. At the 11th hour, leading Democrats passed $10 million in earmarks in a so-called corrective amendment, which is meant for technical errors. The corrective amendments included $1.6 million for Spilka's district, which, Advertisement The House version of the bill wasn't innocent either, with Mariano claiming the award for largest earmark at $25 million for a 500-spot garage in his hometown of Quincy. Advertisement 'It's certainly not what I was out there knocking on doors for,' one supporter of the millionaires tax The projects are transportation and education related — though Mariano was stretching the definition pretty far with the parking garage. That's not the issue. The issue is the backroom way Democrats are divvying up the tax revenues. Still, if you didn't think the Legislature would handle the bonanza behind closed doors and to the benefit of leadership, you haven't been paying attention. And while it isn't unusual for leadership to use corrective amendments to add earmarks, the timing and magnitude of this one raises red flags. 'Business as usual at the State House,' Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance president Paul Diego Craney told me. 'What makes this [amendment] a little more egregious is that it's going to the leaders. It didn't require debate, it didn't require a roll-call vote.' Not only are the leaders abusing the trust that voters placed in them in 2022, but their fiscal flippancy is also inconsistent with Democrats' economic fearmongering. Under Spilka's leadership, the Senate launched RESPONSE 2025 to 'counter federal threats' from the Trump administration, But if federal policy is on the verge of wrecking the state economy, wouldn't it make sense to return some state money back to 'your businesses, your employees, your families, and your bottom lines' instead of putting it into pork projects? It's easier for state Democrats to bash President Trump's policies than to exercise any restraint of their own. Advertisement Meanwhile, progressives are proclaiming vindication on the economic impact of the tax policy itself before all the evidence is in. The progressive Institute for Policy Studies published a There is almost no chance of repealing the millionaires tax, which would take a constitutional amendment. Maybe that's why Democratic leaders feel free to pig out from the proceeds. It seems like the tax revenue is helping education and transportation indeed — educating voters about how Massachusetts Democrats took them for a ride. Carine Hajjar is a Globe Opinion writer. She can be reached at
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass. lags behind other states on student cellphone use restrictions
BOSTON (SHNS) – As other states race ahead with new restrictions, Gov. Maura Healey is citing mental health concerns in calling for student cellphone use in Massachusetts schools to be restricted and Senate President Karen Spilka says it's time for the Legislature to 'take action.' 'I think we need to rein in the use of cellphones during the school day,' Healey told reporters during a scrum on May 7. 'I think it has a really negative effect on kids' mental health. It's distracting and it takes away from the important learning process and actual socialization process.' As of April, 21 states had enacted laws limiting student use of cellphones in classrooms, according to Ballotpedia, and Healey said she's been talking to governors about actions they're taking in their states. Three states advanced cellphone restrictions just in the past week. New York implemented a bell-to-bell ban for the 2025-2026 school year. The Alabama Legislature passed a bell-to-bell ban, and Gov. Kay Ivey supports the bill. And in Oklahoma last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law requiring a one-year ban on student cellphone use in public schools during the 2025-2026 school year. Bell-to-bell bans prohibit students from using cellphones at all during the school day, from walking in the doors until they leave. 'Bell-to-bell bans, for example, doesn't mean that your parents won't have a way to reach their children — that's important. Parents got to be able to reach their kids throughout the day. But it's also the case that I think we need to rein in the use of cellphones during the school day,' Healey said. New York included $13.5 million in its fiscal year 2026 budget to help districts purchase supplies to help implement the cellphone ban, such as small, lockable pouches that kids could be required to put their phones in. It'll be up to the districts to decide how they want to implement the bell-to-bell restriction. 'Our kids are overwhelmed by the addiction, the addictive algorithms and endless distractions,' New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press conference last week, the New York Focus reported. 'Ninety-five percent of teenagers have smartphones. They receive 250 notifications a day on average. They can't possibly focus on anything else. They're so afraid of missing something.' Spilka last week indicated that she supports making Massachusetts classrooms cellphone-free in an effort to eliminate distractions. She seemed to step up her rhetoric when asked about the issue on WCVB's 'On the Record,' which aired Sunday. 'My son is a public school teacher, 11th grade, so the kids are a little older. Half of his classroom time is spent saying, 'Put your phones down, put your phones away.' And it's a struggle,' Spilka said on the program. 'Cellphones are not only a distraction — they're detrimental to the student's health. There is an increased chance of cheating and cyberbullying, and there's really no reason for students to have a cellphone.' Ed Harding, host of 'On the Record,' interjected, 'Except parents want to get a hold of their child.' One of the main concerns with phone restrictions is that parents may not be able to communicate as easily with their children throughout the school day, especially in case of emergency either at home or at the school. A survey from the National Parents Union found that 78% of parents polled wanted their child to have cellphone access during the school day in case of an emergency, K-12 Dive reported in September. Spilka responded to Harding, 'So what we will do, like any other bill — there are several bills that have been filed on this topic — we'll have hearings. We'll meet with parent groups. We'll meet with advocates. This is part of the legislative process. We'll look at what other states have done. We'll figure out something.' Attorney General Andrea Campbell filed a bill (S 335 / H 666) with Sen. Julian Cyr and Reps. Alice Peisch and Kate Lipper-Garabedian that would ban cellphones and other personal electronic devices, like smartwatches, from when a student arrives at school until the end of the school day. That bill is before the Joint Committee on Education, and has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. Rep. Carole Fiola also has a bill (H 574) to ban cellphones and smartwatches during the school day; and Sen. John Velis filed a bill (S 463) by request for a constituent, Kirstin Beatty, that would put time limits on screen time for each grade. Both are before the Education Committee, and have not yet received a hearing. Campbell's office earlier this year also released a 'toolkit' to districts with guidance on regulating student phone use in the classroom. Some Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members have raised concerns over a top-down ban coming from the state, worrying that it would be an overreach of local control. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Politico
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Beacon Hill Dems can't shake their bad blood
COMMITTEE CLASH — Tensions between the House and Senate have been creeping back after Democratic legislative leaders settled their differences to finish off several big bills last session. It didn't take much for them to spill out into public Monday. Senate President Karen Spilka slammed the House chair of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure of denying Sen. Jacob Oliveira the chance to testify in favor of one of his bills Monday — a move she called 'deeply troubling.' Oliveira joined the hearing remotely, after visiting a school in his district in the western part of the state, according to Spilka. But when he moved to testify, Rep. Tackey Chan, who chairs the committee, blocked him from speaking, citing the House rules that required committee members to participate in hearings in person. (something the chamber is also pushing in negotiations over joint rules this session). Only problem: House and Senate negotiators have yet to come to an agreement on those rules. Sen. Pavel Payano testified on Oliveira's behalf — after he derided Chan's decision as 'a hit on democracy' and a denial of 'the sacred principle that no voice in democracy should be silenced.' But Chan defended the move, saying the intent of the policy is to 'have folks actually show up for work.' Spilka argued in a statement that the 'joint rules the House and Senate mutually agreed to in January do not prohibit remote participation' and 'the notion that one branch's rules can bind the operations of joint committees is without merit.' But the 2019 rules that the joint committees are currently operating under don't explicitly allow legislators to beam in remotely to testify, either. The interchamber animus extends beyond just who and how legislators can testify. It seems to be stalling key pieces of legislation. The House advanced a supplemental budget Monday to keep the provider for state employees' and retirees' health insurance from running out of money. But before they could usher the time-sensitive bill to Gov. Maura Healey's desk, the Senate called it quits for the day, pledging to take up the bill Thursday instead (while dumping the blame at the House's feet). 'We are glad that the House decided to take action on this bill, which was filed five weeks ago on April 2,' a spokesperson for Spilka said in a statement. 'The Senate looks forward to taking up the legislation in three days, at our next session on Thursday.' GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey unveils her energy affordability bill at 1 p.m. in Leominster. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll hosts a meeting of the Local Government Advisory Commission at 1 p.m. at the State House. Auditor Diana DiZoglio visits the Mystic Learning Center After-School Program at 4 p.m. in Somerville. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signs an agreement with the Greater Boston Building Trades Council and the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters to create a new pathway to jobs for graduates of Madison Park Technical Vocational High School at 11 a.m. in Roxbury. YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS TODAY'S SPECIALS — Voters in Beverly an Wenham will head to the polls today to decide who will replace former state Rep. Jerry Parisella. Beverly City Councilor Hannah Bowen, a Democrat, is facing former Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce President Medley Long III, a Republican looking to extend the party's special election winning streak. More from The Salem News. DATELINE BEACON HILL HOUSING HEAT CHECK — Pro-housing production advocates from Abundant Housing Massachusetts are backing a handful of bills on Beacon Hill this session that would get rid of barriers to development. A new MassINC poll they commissioned shows the policies they're pushing are popular with Massachusetts voters. Housing was the top issue those surveyed said the state is facing, and 95 percent of those polled said the cost of renting or buying a home in Massachusetts is a problem. Some results that those watching the MBTA Communities fights play out: Seventy-one percent of voters said building more homes that people can afford is more important than 'protecting the character of neighborhoods from change,' and 79 percent said they support or somewhat support expanding the zoning law to allow more housing options near public transit 'in all cities and towns with train and bus service statewide. 'Voters 'recognize that we need to build a variety of types of homes in more communities in order to help stabilize our communities … and they're open to doing that in a variety of ways,' Jesse Kanson-Benanav, executive director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts, told Playbook. 'I think actions that the Legislature has taken already, such as MBTA Communities do have broad support, and we've, we've seen that from the over 125 communities — the vast majority of communities – that have met their obligation under that law. 'The online survey of 803 Massachusetts voters was conducted March 17-20. It has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. FROM THE HUB — Boston Water and Sewer says it fired embattled HR director amid civil fraud complaint by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'The Boston Water and Sewer Commission now says that it fired its former human resources director, Marie Theodat, after previously saying only that her employment had ended. Theodat, who is embroiled in several civil lawsuits that include fraud allegations and was the subject of three internal investigations commissioned by her ex-employer, was fired on April 18, the Water and Sewer Commission told the Herald in response to a public records request.' — As global attitudes toward the U.S. sour, Boston braces for drop in tourism by Jeremy Siegel, GBH News: 'Boston officials are preparing for a significant drop in tourism for the remainder of 2025 as international visitors reconsider travel to the U.S. under the second Trump administration.' — Boston City Council set to debate removal of disgraced Tania Fernandes Anderson by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'The Boston City Council will take up a resolution this week that calls for disgraced Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson's removal from the body in the wake of her guilty plea to two federal corruption charges tied to a City Hall kickback scheme. Councilors Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn plan to introduce a non-binding resolution at Wednesday's meeting that calls for the Council to 'formally address the matter of Fernandes Anderson's continued service,' after her federal conviction last week.' — Fenway Park workers will vote whether to strike in June by Marilyn Schairer, GBH News: 'Concession workers at Fenway Park, which includes 1,000 unionized workers that sell beer and souvenirs, cook up ballpark food, run cash registers and more, will vote next month whether to strike. It would be the concession workers' first strike at Fenway Park in the ballpark's history.' FROM HARVARD YARD — Harvard says it won't abandon 'core' principles to meet Department of Education demands by Michael Casey and Collin Binkley, The Associated Press: 'Harvard University responded Monday to recent threats from the Education Department to halt its grant funding, highlighting reforms it was undertaking but warning it won't budge on 'its core, legally-protected principles' over fears of retaliation. A letter from Harvard President Alan Garber detailed how the institution had made significant changes to its leadership and governance over the past year and a half. Among the reforms, Garber said, was a broad 'strategy to combat antisemitism and other bigotry.'' BALLOT BATTLES — Mass. gun violence prevention advocates form campaign to oppose gun law repeal effort by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'A group of gun violence prevention advocates launched a campaign Monday to convince voters to keep in place a major gun law that gun owners and Second Amendment rights supporters are attempting to repeal through the 2026 statewide elections. The 'Vote Yes for a Safe Massachusetts; campaign slammed gun rights groups trying to repeal the law as 'extremists' who are looking to upend a 'lifesaving law in its entirety.' Critics of the law have said it is an overreach of governmental powers, while supporters contend it creates safer communities.' FROM THE DELEGATION — Markey, Mass. pols call on Trump to reverse course on AmeriCorps cuts by John L. Micek, MassLive: 'Massachusetts' two U.S. senators and all nine members of its U.S. House delegation have called on the Trump administration to halt its gutting of AmeriCorps, calling the national service program a 'model for cost-effective public-private partnership.'' FROM THE 413 — Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center at UMass braces for closure by Trump administration by Emilee Klein, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'Ahead of an expected round of workforce reductions at the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center based at the University of Massachusetts is preparing for the worst case scenario: elimination of the entire operation.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Worcester City Hall will be closed during council meeting due to 'public safety concerns' by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: 'City Hall will be closed to the public at 5 p.m. on May 13 due to safety concerns, the city has announced. The scheduled City Council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the budget hearing at the Standing Committee on Finance at 5p.m., both will be held virtually via Zoom. … The announcement follows days of protests in reaction to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement action on Eureka Street on May 8 when a woman was taken into custody by federal agents and two people were arrested by Worcester police.' — Court records: Charge against Worcester woman detained by ICE was domestic by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: 'The woman taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on May 8 in a chaotic scene on Eureka Street is being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island, according to an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainee database. Rosane Ferreira De Oliveira, 40, faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon stemming from February, according to a spokesperson for ICE. A statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on May 9 identified her by only the name 'Ferreira de Oliveira,' and referred to her as a 'violent criminal illegal alien.'' — Somerset voters could pass a ban on homeless camps by Dan Medeiros, The Herald News: 'Somerset voters will consider a bylaw at Town Meeting that would ban 'unauthorized camping on public property,' effectively outlawing homeless encampments in town.' — Oyster farmers brace for rising costs under Trump's tariffs by Mitch Fink, The New Bedford Light. HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Michael Goldman, president of Goldman Associates.
Boston Globe
12-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Boston's Vivien Li is feted for a lifetime of environmental work
Li's career as an environmentalist essentially spans the length of the modern environmental movement: She got started 55 years ago, around the same time as the first Earth Day, when Richard Nixon was president. As a teenager, she helped organize 'nocturnal ecologists' to surreptitiously clean up litter at night around her New Jersey community, and stayed engaged while attending Barnard College in the 1970s. Advertisement Now, Li's contributions are being recognized through the publication of UC Berkeley , and by the awarding of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy . Li is on a speaking tour of sorts, tied into the Bancroft Library project and Earth Day 2025 (April 22), that includes stops at the Boston Public Library and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce . Li led The Boston Harbor Association (now Boston Harbor Now ) for more than 20 years, taking over the nonprofit in 1991 and helping it out of a financial crisis. Her most visible claim to fame could be the 40-plus mile Harborwalk along Boston's waterfront. At the chamber event last month, she talked about how early help from waterfront developers such as John Drew and the late Norman Leventhal turned out to prove crucial to its completion. Her first decade with the association also coincided with the multibillion-dollar cleanup of the harbor. Advertisement Li left Boston in 2015 to take on a similar role with Riverlife in Pittsburgh, and returned to Boston nearly three years later to help with older family members who had health issues. She's retired now, though busy with several nonprofit boards and commissions — and with sharing advice for the next generation of advocates. 'Even in these difficult times, I'm optimistic,' Li said. 'Who knows? Maybe we'll bring back 'nocturnal ecologists.'' Senate President Karen Spilka, seen here with Governor Maura Healey (at right), wants to offer a tax break to help get multifamily residential projects off the ground. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff Giving 'em a break Could a sales tax break help reignite stalled housing construction? Senate President Karen Spilka sure hopes so. Speaking at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Spilka announced the Senate will explore removing the sales tax on construction materials for multifamily projects. Spilka mentioned it in the context of how Trump administration Chamber chief executive Jim Rooney praised the sales tax idea in a Q&A with Spilka after her speech. Housing production right now, he said, is flat at best, and Governor Maura Healey has said the Senator Julian Cyr , Spilka's point person on housing issues, said he'll push an amendment to the Senate's proposed state budget that calls for studying the issue; the legislation would then need to be approved by the House in upcoming negotiations. Advertisement The concept surfaced 'We need to be creative,' Spilka said told the chamber. 'Nothing is off the table here.' Warren Buffett and Eliot Tatelman both recently made retirement announcements. handout Not just a store As the omnipresent pitchman for Jordan's Furniture , Eliot Tatelman is a tough act to follow. But MullenLowe US chief executive Frank Cartagena sounds eager to try. No, we won't see Cartagena's face in Jordan's commercials. Instead, MullenLowe announced it will be the first ad agency of record for the Dedham-based chain, following several decades when its often-quirky advertising was handled largely in-house. MullenLowe's hiring comes as the Berkshire Hathaway -owned furniture chain girds for life without Tatelman at the forefront. Josh Tatelman and Michael Tatelman , took over but will not appear in ads like their dad. (Coincidentally, Berkshire Hathaway chief executive Warren Buffett just made It was an account that everyone in MullenLowe's Boston office wanted a part of, Cartagena said. Cartagena is based in New York, but he grew up in Bolton and is all too familiar with the Jordan's shtick: As a kid, his parents dragged him along for furniture shopping to a Jordan's store with the promise of watching an IMAX movie there. 'I knew that if we won this, everyone is going to go out to make sure it's a success,' Cartagena said. It's unclear how much longer Tatelman will appear in Jordan's ads. MullenLowe is still figuring out the best way to transition into the new era. Advertisement 'The last thing we want to do is just go dark on Eliot,' Cartagena said. 'I think you would have a mutiny in New England.' Mark Barrocas, chief executive of SharkNinja, has been on a mission to move his US-bound manufacturing work out of China. Jon Chomitz/via SharkNinja SharkNinja cleans up its China work In the consumer products industry, moving your supply chain out of China is all the rage — and for good reason, given the Trump administration's approach to tariffs Good thing for Investors responded, sending the stock up nearly 13 percent in one day. (Shares soared again on Monday after a tentative deal on China tariffs was announced, though they're still short of their levels in February.) All of SharkNinja's US-bound products were once made in China. Within two months, that will be down to 13 percent, and close to zero by year's end. The company began diversifying its supply chain in large part because of China tariffs under Trump 1.0. 'It was not fully understood by investors the competitive advantage we were building by [moving] outside of China,' Barrocas said in an interview Thursday. 'It wasn't like we just woke up on April 2 and said, 'We have to move out of China.' ' Julie Kim, pictured in this 2023 photo, will take over as CEO of Takeda in mid-2026. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Heads down in crazy times Julie Kim is due to be promoted to chief executive of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. next year. First, though, the head of the Japanese drugmaker's US operations had some business advice to share with the hometown crowd. Advertisement Speaking on Thursday at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts annual meeting, Kim offered tips and tactics for navigating uncertain times. Judging from recent surveys of AIM members, the crowd could use some cheering up: Kim said several biopharma-specific executive orders have added to the general apprehensiveness around her industry, along with the broader 'global uncertainty.' (Earlier in the day, for example, Kim spoke on an earnings call about the anticipated impact from one order Trump ended up signing on Monday, The key, Kim said, is to stay focused on your own personal mission, as well as your company's. 'We're in a moment where [the] landscape is shifting at such a dizzying pace due to both positive and negative forces,' Kim said. 'Some days, at least for me, it feels hard to steady ourselves.' She said executives have managed through disruption before. They can do it again. She likened the need to stay focused to the act of putting on noise-canceling earbuds when traveling. 'It may feel like we're on that noisy plane right now,' Kim said. 'There are distractions coming from every direction. [But] we can't be a pinball in a pinball machine being whacked around responding to every single stimulus.' Jon Chesto can be reached at
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Senate President calling on lawmakers to consider banning cell phones in public schools
WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)—The State Senate President's proposal to make public schools cell phone-free has sparked much discussion and debate among community members. Some welcome the idea as they believe it could improve student focus and productivity in the classroom, but others are worried about the potential safety risks of not having cell phones during an emergency. Cell phones have become an integral part of our daily lives, but their presence in classrooms has sparked a heated debate. Senate President Karen Spilka is calling on Massachusetts lawmakers to 'explore' a ban on cell phones in all public schools. And many are for it. 'I think cell phones shouldn't be involved in schools at all. It's a complete distraction. If they don't have distractions, they're going to learn more,' said Brian Friedrich of Connecticut. Spilka said in a speech to business leaders Wednesday morning that her son, a public high school teacher, often tells her about the unique challenges of teaching students who sit with a cell phone at their desk. She stated, 'There is mounting evidence that cell phone usage among students during the school day is detrimental for several reasons—from simple distraction to more worrying issues such as cheating and cyberbullying.' However, some are not in complete agreement with banning cell phones since they believe students should be able to use them in emergencies. 'A lot of different students might have health issues where they, you know, really need their cell phone,s and the influx of school shootings in the country. That's scary. I know as a mom, I would want to be able to contact my child if I ever needed it or if he ever needed it,' said Keira Hildack of Westfield. Some suggest setting guidelines for cell phone use, like keeping phones in a lockbox during class and then letting students have them back after the bell rings. It remains to be seen if this ban will potentially be implemented across Massachusetts school,s but Spilka says this idea has received broad bipartisan support. According to Spilka, at least 18 states have laws limiting cell phone usage. 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.
