Boston Globe
Joan Cirillo, President and CEO of Operation A.B.L.E., makes the case for two bills I’ve filed.
Constituents, Sen. Barrett fight back against money in politics
Citizens United has allowed special interests to play an even more discouraging role in the political process. A group of constituents is fighting back by calling for an amendment to the U.S. constitution. I’m with them. I recently co-sponsored the bill filed by Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep. Cory Atkins.
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.
Job Licenses in Spotlight as Uber Rises
A good, simple explanation of why taxi medallions — and other means of restricting competition and consumer choice — need a rethink.
Statewide Listening Tour Kicks Off
Barrett to Chair Senate’s Oversight Committee
Press Release
State State Senator Mike Barrett has been selected to head the State Senate’s Post-Audit and Oversight Committee, a unique body charged with overseeing implementation of all state programs run by the Governor and his appointees.
“This is a huge chance to shape policy for the district and the entire state,” Barrett said. “It means digging deep into how government operates day to day — and how it can do better. I’m honored and challenged by the assignment.”
Read moreYouth Mentoring Day 2015
Dropped by the 9th annual Youth Mentoring Day at the State House. The relationships these groups foster are something to behold. Here with AmeriCorps Ambassadors Sylvia Ngo, Johnny Xu and Melissa Ventola.
Will Charlie Baker’s Management Skills Be Enough?
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.”
