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Disapproval of Massachusetts State House jumps in new poll
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Part two of our 2024 election poll is here — with a focus on this year’s slate of ballot questions. By the looks of the results, we could have at least a few tight races on our hands, from psychedelics to wage laws. (Click here for the full story on the ballot question polling results.)
But there’s one question where the race doesn’t look so close. Question 1, which asks voters to give the Massachusetts auditor the authority to audit the Legislature, received 70% support and only 8% disapproval.
Rich Parr, the senior research director at the MassINC Polling Group, which conducted the poll, says those numbers may partially reflect a growing dissatisfaction with the Massachusetts Legislature.
Here’s a closer look:
State House underwater: The good news for Massachusetts state lawmakers is they still have a higher approval rating than Congress. The bad news is it has fallen double digits over the past year. The new poll results released today found 47% of registered voters in Massachusetts said they somewhat or strongly disapprove of the job the state Legislature is doing, compared to 42% who approve. It’s a big drop from the last time MassINC polled the question in October 2023, when 51% of registered voters said they approved of the State House’s job and only 32% disapproved.
- What’s causing the drop? Parr told WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann negative attention from another late budget and the acrimonious end of the legislative session this summer could be “taking a toll.” While the Legislature did pass a number of major items during the session (tax cuts, gun reform, housing, free community college), several voters interviewed by WBUR expressed displeasure with what they characterized as a lack of transparency and accountability among State House lawmakers.
- In the poll, 58% of respondents said they’d like to see more candidates for State House seats, compared to 19% who said there were enough. (For reference: Roughly two-thirds of lawmakers have no primary or general election opponent this cycle.) “There is a logic to the complacency of some of these places where they’re not getting as much done because they don’t have to, they don’t have proper challengers,” Samantha Fletcher, a 26-year-old Allston resident, told Walt.
- The poll also found 36% of respondents believe the Legislature operates in an open and transparent way, while 45% said it did not. Parr says that secretive reputation also seems to be fueling the overwhelming support for Question 1. Multiple voters admitted they didn’t know much about the details, but said they supported the general concept of auditing the State House. “Anything that causes those in positions of power to have to explain more is a good thing,” Devin Cole, a 44-year-old from Roslindale, told WBUR’s Simon Riós.
- Go deeper: What would an audit of the State House reveal? How did this even get on the ballot in the first place? Click here to read Simón’s Question 1 explainer for more details on the debate — and the challenges that could be waiting after the election.
The biggest MBTA grant — ever: The federal government is giving the MBTA a hefty chunk of cash to replace the nearly 100-year-old drawbridge that brings trains over the Charles River to and from Boston’s North Station. State officials announced yesterday the T won a $472 million grant for the North Station Draw One Bridge replacement project. The amount — $472,300,616, to be exact — is the largest grant in the T’s history. (Now, we just need someone to work it into a “Seasons of Love” parody song.)
- The construction timeline is TBD. The bridge replacement is part of a larger project to add an extra platform and two more tracks to North Station. T officials say they’re still finishing design plans. But after they get bids from contractors, we should have a better idea of the planned timing.
Speaking of bridges: Merrimack Valley Credit Union is planning to change its name next year to “Bright Bridge Credit Union.” The North Andover-based credit union said yesterday the change will reflect that it now has branches outside of the Merrimack Valley — like on the South Shore, the MetroWest and New Hampshire.
P.S.— Want an early jump on spooky season? For the first time in five years, Coolidge Corner Theatre is bringing back its outdoor Cemetery Cinema film program — with a double feature tonight at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Click here for the details (and tickets).
