The state can’t make up for all of the federal government spending cuts that are occurring, according to Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, who also said she’s not looking to raise taxes as part of any response.
Read MoreThe Senate will vote next week on wide-ranging legislation that would erect strict guardrails around collection and distribution of personal data, a practice that has become ubiquitous with cell phones in every pocket.
Read MoreCommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues to discuss the Senate's budget proposal. They get into differences between the Senate and House proposals, potential revenue measures, transit and shelter funding, programs supporting families and youth, and more.
Read MoreSpilka, joined by the Senate’s top budget writer, the Senate chair of the Legislature’s higher education committee, and several community college presidents, said the report, which pegs the annual cost of such an effort at $170 million, moves the state “one step closer to that vision of free community college for all.”
Read More