Advertisement
Boston's Morning Newsletter
3 new plans Gov. Healey wants to pass in 2024
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
Unlike the T, you don’t have to pay anything for these “creative ideas.”
Healey’s 2024 wish list: If you were wondering about the theme of Gov. Maura Healey’s first State of the Commonwealth address last night, a quick ctrl-F of the text would give you the answer. Healey used some form of the words “afford” or “affordable” 17 times during her speech. Early on, she touted last year’s tax break package as an example of how her administration is taking on the state’s cost of living. But the work isn’t done. Even amid a recent decline in revenue, Healey used her speech to pitch lawmakers on several new plans she hopes they’ll send to her desk in 2024. We know this governor loves a basketball reference, so here’s a look at her big three:
- Housing: Healey called her $4 billion housing bond bill — which she first unveiled last October — her “top priority.” The legislation includes a range of tax breaks, legal changes and other initiatives mostly aimed at boosting the construction of new housing. It would also allow communities to enact a tax of up to 2% on real estate sales over $1 million. (Mayor Michelle Wu is cheering.)
- Child care: The governor also plugged her new plan to take on the cost of childcare. The new proposal — which Healey plans to include in her FY25 budget proposal — would cap the cost of preschool in all 26 of the state’s so-called Gateway Cities, expanding a program that currently exists in 12 of them. It would also raise the income ceiling for state child care subsidies, so more middle-income families are eligible. WBUR’s Carrie Jung has a full breakdown here of the details.
- Literacy: While the governor said Massachusetts has “the best schools in the country,” she called attention to one “urgent issue.” Healey said a majority of the state’s third-graders did not meet expectations in English Language Arts on last year’s MCAS and said “many districts are using out-of-date, disproven methods to teach reading.” So, Healey plans to include in her upcoming budget proposal a five-year initiative called “Literacy Launch,” which would provide schools with better reading materials and direct teachers to use “evidence-based instruction.”
Ballot battles: A Maine court has put on hold the decision barring Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot. The reason? The judge in Maine wants to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to decide on Colorado’s similar move to ban Trump from the ballot, based on a provision in the Constitution that prohibits insurrectionists from holding public office. (Oral arguments in the Colorado case are scheduled to begin Feb. 8.)
- Meanwhile: Massachusetts’ own State Ballot Law Commission will hold a “pre-hearing conference” this morning to decide what’s next for the two challenges to Trump’s ballot eligibility in the Bay State. The commission could schedule a hearing or they could dismiss the challenges, which you can read more about here.
The hearing that isn’t happening today: Massachusetts’ top court has delayed probable-cause hearings that were scheduled to begin today for those accused of participating in a high-end, interstate prostitution ring. Federal prosecutors say over two-dozen men purchased sex out of the ring, which was run through apartments in Watertown’s Arsenal Yards, North Cambridge and Virginia.
- Who are the men? The feds say the ring catered to elected officials, military officers and other wealthy clients — but have not named any of the individuals accused of buying sex. WBUR and other outlets have appealed to make the hearings and documents public.
- However, as WBUR’s Deborah Becker reports, the defendants’ lawyers threw up roadblocks this week, arguing their clients would face embarrassment and negative consequences if their names were released before criminal charges are even filed. (If criminal charges are eventually filed, that information becomes public.)
Heads up: Newton teachers are slated to decide whether or not to go on strike this afternoon, after over a year of contentious, unsuccessful contract negotiations between the city and the teachers’ union. If approved, Newton could be forced to cancel school as soon as Friday. WHDH has more details on the next steps.
P.S.— Healey wasn’t the only major Massachusetts figure making a debut public address yesterday. The New England Patriots formally introduced Jerod Mayo as their new head coach. The press conference included Mayo’s thoughts on being the Patriots’ first Black coach, a few hints about how he plans to operate differently than Bill Belichick and some friendly awkwardness. Read the full recap here.
