Transparency News
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alice wolf | civic engagement | education policy | education reform | house of representatives | legislation | legislative process | public education | senate | sonia chang diaz | state government | state house | transparencyStudies have shown school disciplinary exclusion to be one of the strongest predictors of dropping out, and one dropout is too many. That is why we’re asking you to contact your Massachusetts...Mar 5, 2012
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charter schools | children | collective bargaining | disability access | education policy | education reform | latest news | legislation | mini blog | opinion/op-ed | opportunity to learn | other states | public education | public employees | public investment | transparencyThe debate rages on about the effectiveness of charter schools over public schools...are the former the silver bullet in education reform to everything from closing the achievement gap to decreasing...Mar 5, 2012
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ballot questions | charter schools | civic engagement | diverse voices | education | grassroots organizing | latest news | mini blog | opportunity to learn | Organizers | other states | public education | public employees | teachers | transparencyMassachusetts Stand for Children started out as a grassroots citizen advocacy organization, advocating for full funding of quality public education for all children. The state legislative...Feb 23, 2012
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casinos | civic engagement | common cause | deval patrick | diverse voices | health insurance | latest news | legislation | legislative process | michael widmer | mini blog | pam wilmot | pension reform | public employees | public hearings | revenue reform | robert deleo | state house | therese murray | transparencyThe debate about the transparency of the legislative process on Beacon Hill continues. Lack of transparency was noted during this past year while the budget was being debated behind closed...Dec 28, 2011
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children | education | education policy | education reform | government oversight | latest news | mini blog | public education | teachers | transparencyThe New York Times conducted research on virtual schools, focusing on K12, Inc. What they found is not encouraging for us who care about quality education for our children and who are also...Dec 13, 2011
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latest news | mini blog | state budget | state government | state house | steven grossman | transparencyMA State Treasurer Steven Grossman has been working hard to make sure we can see how the state spends the money it receives from us (and other sources). He's going to unveil this website today...Dec 5, 2011
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casinos | diverse voices | government oversight | latest news | legislation | martha coakely | mini blog | other states | public confidence in government | public safety | state house | steven grossman | transparencyNow that the casino legislation has passed through the State House and the Governor signed it, it's time for implementation...and there's lots of details to get right from the beginning. The law...Dec 5, 2011
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Boston Heralds final part of a five-day Herald series focusing on four successful Boston public schools and efforts to improve urban education, the city’s superintendent unveils a new...Dec 2, 2011
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boston | Chinese Progressive Association | diverse voters | get out the vote | latest news | mass vote | mini blog | public confidence in government | redistricting | thomas menino | transparency | voter participationPublic officials should know by now that transparency is especially critical in the redistricting process. In Boston, the draft plan has Chinatown split into different voting districts. ...Nov 25, 2011
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At last -- local community activists' good work doing public education that made the decision process open and transparent was successful. Here is the article from the Globe in part. ...Nov 17, 2011
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casinos | civic engagement | conference committees | deval patrick | diverse voices | latest news | legislative process | mini blog | opinion/op-ed | public confidence in government | state house | transparencyWe all should be asking the same questions that are in this opinion piece...why all the secrecy around the casino legislation. Isn't it time for more transparency? Isn't it time to break...Nov 7, 2011
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High praise for access and transparency around redistricting and, in my humble opinion, not enough media coverage about the legislature doing something the right way. One great...Nov 2, 2011
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accountability | casinos | civic engagement | deval patrick | ethics | latest news | legislative process | mini blog | transparencyFormer Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts , is doing great work that benefits all the people in MA, reminding us that we shouldn...Oct 26, 2011
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2013 budget | budget deficit | budget priorities | economy | education funding | federal funding | fees | latest news | mini blog | municipal budgets | revenue sources | stimulus | taxes | transparencyCities and towns are now beginning their FY 2013 budget planning and estimation processes. There's no more federal stimulus dollars, and the economy hasn't bounced back as everyone hoped it...Oct 21, 2011
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civic engagement | get out the vote | government | government oversight | latest news | legislation | letters to the editor | mini blog | nationwide | opinion/op-ed | other states | reports | transparency | voter participation | voting rights | youthIf there is no discernible voter fraud in the United States, why then are many states pushing for restrictive measures and passing legislation, including Massachusetts, that make it more difficult...Oct 9, 2011
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casinos | cities and towns | deval patrick | economic development | government oversight | latest news | legislative process | mini blog | other states | public hearings | revenue policies | revenue sources | stanley rosenberg | state aid | taxes | transparencyIt seems Massachusetts is at the middle of the pack, nationally, when it comes to taxes on casinos. And, we're on the low end for the Northern states. Why is the tax...Sep 14, 2011
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boston | chelsea | civic engagement | congress | deval patrick | diverse voices | election reform | get out the vote | latest news | lawrence | letters to the editor | lynn | mini blog | redistricting | scott brown | senate | transparency | voter participation | voting rights | worcesterIn Kevin C. Peterson's letter to Governor Patrick, Mr. Peterson makes an appeal to end the practice of packing and cracking, which suppresses the political expression of racial minorities. Now...Sep 12, 2011
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common cause | government | government oversight | government reform | jobs | latest news | lobbying | lobbying reform | mini blog | public employees | transparencyWhen does lobbying reform go too far overboard and to the detriment of all? The Obama Administration may have reached that point. Lobbying, just like other noble professions, is performed...Sep 8, 2011
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broad based taxes | casinos | deval patrick | government oversight | latest news | legislative process | letters to the editor | mini blog | opinion/op-ed | other states | public confidence in government | public health | public hearings | public investment | revenue policies | revenue sources | robert deleo | state government | taxes | therese murray | transparencyCasinos in Massachusetts - may be a foregone conclusion if leadership in the State House has its way. But is this the way to achieve fiscal stability for the Commonwealth as some would...Sep 3, 2011
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cities and towns | civic engagement | community action | diverse voices | election reform | get out the vote | latest news | mini blog | public confidence in government | public hearings | transparency | voter participation | voting rights | worcesterSome people want to use the get out the vote grassroots-organizing expertise of the activist group Neighbor to Neighbor as an excuse to suppress voter participation by claiming voter fraud and...Aug 31, 2011
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civic engagement | diverse voices | election reform | get out the vote | government oversight | government reform | latest news | legislation | legislative process | letters to the editor | mini blog | nationwide | other states | polls | public confidence in government | transparency | voter participation | voting rightsIf we started with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one would expect that by 2011 we should have made voting accessible to everyone and it would not still be a big issue. Unfortunately, many...Aug 27, 2011
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budget priorities | casinos | cities and towns | civic engagement | deval patrick | economic development | government oversight | government reform | jobs | latest news | mini blog | municipal services | public hearings | revenue | revenue policies | revenue sources | robert deleo | state aid | state government | therese murray | transparencyAre you ready for another casino gambling proposal from the Governor and the State House Leadership? It seems they're ready for prime time with a 133-page bill which would provide for the...Aug 23, 2011
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boston | cities and towns | civic engagement | congress | diverse voices | government | government oversight | government reform | latest news | legislative process | mini blog | new bedford | redistricting | robert deleo | somerville | stanley rosenberg | therese murray | transparency | voter participation | voting rightsWe're almost to the finish line with the final redistricting plan. Several scenarios are being discussed to reduce the House seats from 10 to 9. One that has bubbled to the surface has two...Aug 19, 2011
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government oversight | government reform | latest news | mini blog | public confidence in government | transparencyAnother positive thing for residents in Massachusetts. This will provide more accountability to the way government is doing things on our behalf. If you're wondering if the state made the...Aug 17, 2011
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government oversight | government reform | latest news | mini blog | public confidence in government | transparencyThe state is taking more steps forward creating a more transparent government for all of us: You will soon be able to see how every one of your tax dollars is being spent. The state is...Aug 17, 2011