Keep going; an illuminating read:
Good Reads
Few states match Mass. in income inequality The Boston Globe
Food for thought:
Lawmakers give millionaires’ tax overwhelming endorsement The Boston Globe
If a “millionaires’ tax” is approved by Mass. voters in 2018, on the next dollar you earn after your first million in annual income, you’ll pay approximately nine pennies rather than approximately five. Adds up to an income tax that’s progressive but still reasonable.
Read the article on a progressive income tax for Massachusetts
Keep kids out of detention The Boston Globe
A budget priority of mine: The detention diversion program run by the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps is an initiative to prevent young people from re-entering the juvenile justice system. Its community-based support includes 24/7 case management — coordination with probation staff, face-to-face communication and curfew checks and weekly family check-ins.
Seth Moulton opened his home, heart to a refugee The Boston Globe
Congressman Moulton injects some much-needed perspective into the conversation about refugees: As Americans, we don’t turn our backs on those in need. We lend a helping hand.
The carbon tax, an idea with appeal The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe’s Scot Lehigh writes, “Although carbon dioxide emissions are the primary contributor to manmade global warming, the price of carbon-based energy doesn’t reflect the environmental harm it causes.” His favored solution: “put a price on carbon.” My bill, S.1747, would do just that. I want us to lead the way on an approach that other states — and eventually the entire country — can adopt.
‘Rachel’s Box’ marks 20 years of fighting domestic violence The Concord Journal
A story of persistence and local unity.
It’s Time to Stop Employer Credit Checks Time
Tip of the hat to Sen. Warren for leading the charge on the federal level. I’ve filed similar legislation for Massachusetts.
Innovation Sputters in Battle Against Climate Change The New York Times
Reports the New York Times, “In the race to develop technologies to slow climate change, the world is off track.” Which means it’s high time to put a price on carbon, as my legislation will do for Massachusetts.
Mass. home health workers win wage hike to $15 an hour The Boston Globe
This is important, since it promotes an elusive idea: If you work hard, 40-50 hours a week, you should make enough to get by.
Obama bans some military-style gear given to police The Boston Globe
Nationwide, we’re seeing a trend towards the militarization of community police forces. The President’s action takes a wise step back towards balance. Here in Mass., Rep. Mary Keefe and I have filed a bill to require local debate before military equipment transfers are allowed.
Fighting Back Against Health Disparities WBUR
“Get off at Dudley Square, the diabetes rate is 11 percent; get off at Arlington, it’s just 3 percent.”
A bill I’ve filed would establish an Office of Health Equity to focus on reducing these types of health disparities along the lines of race, ethnicity or disability.
Pope Urges Action on Climate Change The New York Times
Revisiting grad tax Boston Herald
Massachusetts is one of only 16 states that doesn’t have a graduated tax on personal income. A bill I’ve filed would amend the state constitution to include one. Let’s balance the tax burdens of our citizens and narrow our widening disparities in income. A constituent from Chelmsford, Adithya Raajkumar, makes the case.
Knowledge Isn’t Power The New York Times
Food for thought: the NYT’s Paul Krugman suggests we can’t come up with good answers without asking good questions; such as, if there’s a shortage of educated workers, why haven’t the salaries of educated workers gone up?
Deeper Ties to Corporate Cash for Doubtful Climate Researcher The New York Times
Well, well. Things just got a little hotter for a recipient of funding to belittle climate change.
Most Republicans Say They Back Climate Action, Poll Finds The New York Times
Global warming bell-ringer — a huge shift from the divided public of five or so years ago.
2014 Breaks Heat Record, Challenging Global Warming Skeptics The New York Times
This just in. Yikes. For the urgent consideration of the new Mass. Legislature, I’m proposing “An Act Combatting Climate Change.” Pollution and health are huge expenses excluded from the prices of “fossil fuels” like coal, oil and natural gas; the taxpayer gets whacked with the expense later on. If you want to reduce emissions, clean the air and cool the planet, ask us Mass. state legislators to go where British Columbia has already gone — to honest full pricing for fossil fuels.
The oil price is just plain wrong Reuters
Stated plainly but well, the case for helping the planet by putting a price on pollution — meaning on “carbon.”
Oil’s swoon creates the opening for a carbon tax The Washington Post
Neat to agree with Larry Summers on something. Tip of the hat to Wayne Davis for spotting this.