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Saturday, May 4, 2013

State House News Service Weekly Roundup: Enter Gomez

Recap and analysis of the week in state government.

In case voters weren't paying attention, and turnout suggested many weren't, his name is Gabriel Gomez. And now only Ed Markey stands between him and the United States Senate. "My name is Gabriel Gomez, and I'm a proud Republican," Gomez said, reciting his full name for the second time during a five-minute chat with reporters outside the new go-to, post-election Broadway T stop in South Boston Wednesday morning. The reporters already knew who he was, but part of Gomez's strategy now is to make sure everybody else does too. The newly minted face of the Republican Party captured the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday by defeating two better known names in Massachusetts Republican politics. Former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan …

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Kim

1:27 pm on Monday, May 6, 2013

Well I'm sold. Americus Bell says NOAA's science is a crock, therefore it must be. Talk about low info ranters.   more ›

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Needham Votes Markey, Gomez in Primary

More than 5,000 people turn out for Needham's special primary.

The Primary race comes down to Ed Markey and Gabriel Gomez, but how did Needham vote in yesterday's primary?  WCVB reports that the town voted similarly to the rest of the Commonwealth yesterday in the special primary to replace John Kerry.  Of the more than 5,000 of Wellesley's voters, over 3,000 cast their ballots for Ed Markey, and more than 500 selected Gomez on their ballots, according to WCVB. The general election is slated for June 25.

Gomez to Face Markey in Senate Election

The former Navy SEAL and the longtime Congressman will face off June 25 to fill John Kerry's former U.S. Senate seat.

A political newcomer will face a long-time Massachusetts politician in the race to be the Bay State's next U.S. senator. The Associated Press has declared Republican businessman and former U.S. Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez of Cohasset and Democratic U.S. Congressman Edward Markey of Malden the winners of their U.S. Senate special primary elections, according to tweets from Fox 25. The call for Gomez came approximately one hour after the polls closed in the statewide primary while a call for Markey came moments later. Gomez defeats his more seasoned opponents, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan of Abington and state Rep. Dan Winslow of Norfolk. Markey beat fellow U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch of South Boston. Brett Rhyne of Needham ran an …

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Stringer Bell

7:00 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2013

U.S. Rep. Edward Markey: Taxpayers Should Pay Bomber Remains Bill http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_co... "U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, told the Herald the feds should take the problem off Stefan’s hands, although he didn’t say whether he intends to take any action. He said in a statement:“The people of Massachusetts should have the right to say …   more ›

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Needham, Cast Your Votes in the Special Primary

The special primary for the US Senate seat is today, polls open until 8.

  Those who like to vote early and often have another opportunity to exercise that right today.  Polls are open again today, and Needham residents can cast their votes in the special primary to fill Senator John Kerry's seat. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. This primary will choose who will go on to the special election, which takes place on June 25. See the Town Clerk's FAQ on the upcoming primary for more information. Patch interviewed all of the candidates for the primary, each one receiving more or less the same interview. Before you go out to vote, get to know each of the candidates. If you are not sure where you should go, find out with a visit to wheredoivotema.org, enter your street name and number. Below is a look at the …

Saturday, April 27, 2013

State House News Service Weekly Roundup: Lounging

Recap and analysis of the week in state government.

Emotionally drained by last week's marathon bombings, House lawmakers raced through budget week, shortening it to a three-day affair that averaged out to about a billion dollars in spending for every hour in session.  The only thing left to do by Friday was figure out where that money was going. It was an impressive display of efficiency and trust or acquiescence, depending on your vantage point. House lawmakers sprinted through deliberations over how to best allocate $33.8 billion, agreeing to bump up the bottom line closer to $34 billion between Monday and Wednesday night. After 37 hours in session - many spent in idle chatter awaiting a thumb's up or down on legislators' preferred earmarks, policy goals and spending priorities from …

paul surette

5:53 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Mike G, I'm still laughing at the 'bus and the brown guy' reflection. Ha ha ha.   more ›

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Patch Interviews U.S. Senate Candidates

We gathered questions from editors across Patch’s coverage area in Massachusetts.

Patch editors interviewed each of the candidates running for U.S. Senate in the April 30 special election. We gathered questions from editors across Patch’s coverage area in Massachusetts. The editors asked both broad questions about policy, as well as opinions on more local, regional issues. Click on the links below to read the questions and answers with each candidate… Stephen Lynch Edward Markey Brett Rhyne (write-in candidate) Gabriel Gomez Michael Sullivan Daniel Winslow

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Larry

6:47 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013

"@Larry. Who told you it wasn't?" The experts that document every single word written by or about Jefferson. http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/those-who-hammer-their-guns-plowsquotation "Earliest known appearance in print: No appearances in print found. Earliest known appearance in print, attributed to Thomas Jefferson: See above. Other attributions: None known. Status: We have not found …   more ›

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Boston, Massachusetts Communities to Hold Moment of Silence Monday for Marathon Victims

Mayor Tom Menino and Gov. Deval Patrick are asking people to honor the Boston Marathon bombing victims exactly one week after the tragic events.

The city of Boston and communities throughout Massachusetts are being asked to join in a moment of silence on Monday at 2:50 p.m.—the time the two bombs went off, within about 10 seconds of one another, near the finish line of the 117th annual Boston Marathon. The minute of silence at 2:50 p.m. will honor the victims and families of those injured and killed by the terrorist attacks. Following the moment of silence, bells throughout Boston and the state will ring, according to a statement from Boston Mayor Tom Menino’s office. “Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Governor Deval L. Patrick and One Fund Boston are calling upon Boston and all communities across the Commonwealth to join together in a Moment of Silence Monday afternoon, exactly one week …

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Kathy

8:54 pm on Monday, April 22, 2013

Amen Craig..... Thank You !!!!!!!   more ›

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Slain Officer Had The Qualities of 'An Ideal Police Officer'

Thousands pack Wilmington Town Common to pay tribute to a hometown hero.

More than 1,000 residents, friends and law enforcement personnel from throughout Eastern Massachusetts packed the Wilmington Town Common for a candlelight vigil Saturday night to bid farewell and say thank you to a hometown hero. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer Sean Collier, a 2004 graduate of Wilmington High School, was gunned down as he sat in his cruiser Thursday night on a Cambridge Street, allegedly by brothers Tamerlan and Dzokhar Tsarnaev, the same men investigators believe are responsible for the fatal bombing attack at Monday's Boston Marathon. Before the start of Saturday's vigil, a hearse carrying Collier's body drove down Church Street, shut down to traffic during the ceremony. The road was lined with …

PAUL FERGUSON

11:05 am on Sunday, April 21, 2013

MAY ALMIGHTY GOD HAVE MERCY ON OFFICER COLLIERS SOUL AND BRING HIM TO LIVE EVERLASTING. AND SO GOES FOR ALL THOSE OTHERS WHO DIED THAT FATEFUL DAY.   more ›

Monday, April 15, 2013

Lots of Hybrid Owners and Democrat Voters in Needham

Needham voted for Elizabeth Warren and owns more hybrid cars than the state average.

Needham is green and blue: That’s what we found when we compared data from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to the vote in the 2012 U.S. Senate race. You can see the results in the map above: Large circles suggest towns with more hybrid ownership per capita, and the red/blue color suggests which way those towns voted last year. In Needham, 29.3 of every 1,000 vehicles is a hybrid, compared to the state average of 18. Patch’s research suggests the state has a good number of what might be called “green Republican” communities. More than 40 percent of the communities where Republican Scott Brown carried the vote have an above average numbers of hybrids. The data is a nice rebuttal to the national trends of hybrid/GOP separation: …

Sunday, April 14, 2013

House Budget $1 Billion Less Than Patrick Plan

The House proposal cuts out increased funding for early education, one of the centerpieces of Patrick's plan.

  House leaders on Wednesday proposed a budget that was a billion dollars less than the one Gov. Deval Patrick put forth in January.  The $33.8 billion House budget includes increased funding for higher education and local aid but not more money for early education, one of the centerpieces of Patrick's budget that emphasizes prekindergarten funding and investment in transportation.  Speaker Robert A. ­DeLeo said the House budget would not increase these funds over concerns that the Department of Early Education and Care is inefficient and wasteful, the Boston Globe reported.  Altogether, the House proposal would raise taxes by $500 million, compared to Patrick's proposed $1.9 billion tax hike. The House plan would result in a 3.9 percent …

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