MBTA retirement fund is headed for a financial reckoning

The new MBTA Retirement Fund Actuarial Valuation Report shows the fund is only about 51 percent funded. In 2006, it was 94 percent funded. A “death spiral” generally accelerates when retirement system funding dips below 50 percent.

Installing bike and bus lanes requires public debate

The problem isn’t with the concept of bike lanes but, rather, the lack of public conversation or transparency. Municipal governments are changing the infrastructure and character of entire neighborhoods and small commercial centers with little input from those most affected.

Removal of Mass. and Cass encampment long overdue

Michelle Wu’s plan to clear tents from the Mass. and Cass homeless camping site by January 12 is long overdue. If only it had been done earlier, the move could have averted a humanitarian crisis.

A Rare Victory for Transparency. Massachusetts Could Use Many More.

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Massachusetts is in the midst of wrongdoing on an unprecedented scale. Thousands of convictions had to be vacated because of the corruption of state drug laboratory chemists. Thousands more convictions were vacated because of the combined misconduct of the chemists and prosecutors. And still more will be vacated because of the Commonwealth’s repeated and deliberate failures to investigate the extent to which its evidence was compromised.

Executive branch overreach, blanket orders having harmful effects

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At the outset of the pandemic, limited knowledge and the need to mitigate risk understandably led to political overreach. At this point in the disaster response, though, we are far better at distinguishing fact from fiction and policies that have worked from those that have not.

In The Era Of COVID-19, Mass. Needs To Get Long-Term Care Right

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This op-ed originally appeared in WGBH News. In much of the…

Op-ed: Justification For 40% Legislative Leadership Raises Is Political Voodoo

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When doing the people's will is secondary to legislators'…

OpEd: Shine a light upon MBTA pension fund

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By Mary Z. Connaughton and Charles Chieppo Guest Columnists Originally…

Connaughton, Sivolella: Challenging the Legislature’s Secrecy

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By Mary Z. Connaughton and John Sivolella Guest Columnists This…

Boston Herald: Let’s put more light in sunshine law

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By J. Patrick Brown and Mary Connaughton. This op-ed originally…

Boston Herald: New convention center math

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This article was published in the Boston Herald on June 9, 2014. Author:…

Boston Herald: State often keeps public in dark

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Massachusetts performs dismally when it comes to government openness. Pending legislation filed by state Rep. Peter Kocot (D-Northampton) could begin to change that.

Boston Herald: Gov owes Obamacare diagnosi$

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Op-Ed by Mary Connaughton & Josh Archambault Wednesday,…

Boston Herald op-ed: Legislature must open up on spending

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Legislature must open up on spending  Monday, April 1, 2013 By: Mary…

Mary Z. Talks EBT Reform on Fox 25

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Watch Pioneer's Administration and Finance Director, Mary Z. Connaughton, on Fox 25 with Maria Stephanos. "Expert Discusses Surprising New EBT Numbers."

Medfield residents get around $2K if House GOP OKs payroll tax cut

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http://www.wickedlocal.com/medfield/news/x1157706593/Medfield-residents-get-around-2K-if-House-GOP-OKs-payroll-tax-cut?zc_p=2#axzz2OHGE6ymJ Medfield…

Boston Herald: Mass. must turn up lights

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If Massachusetts is serious about transparency, state leaders should provide one-stop campaign contribution shopping.

MetroWest Daily News: Why the Bay State needs its own CBO

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Establishing an independent office in Massachusetts like the CBO, to be run by the inspector general would pay for itself. Improved decision-making and accountability promote both efficiency and public trust.

Boston Herald: State Undercuts Open Records Law

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Friday, September 14, 2012 Circulation:108,548 By Tom Nash Tom…

With ‘process-lite,’ is a full-time Legislature even necessary?

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http://www.heraldnews.com/opinions/x465804200/GUEST-OPINION-With-process-lite-is-a-full-time-Legislature-even-necessary The…

Massachusetts releases details on tax credit recipients

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http://www.wickedlocal.com/ashland/news/x465800201/Massachusetts-releases-details-on-tax-credit-recipients?zc_p=1#axzz2NcNYjWOG The…

Transparency and reality

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http://www.wickedlocal.com/wayland/news/opinions/x1347550267/Morisy-Poftak-Transparency-and-reality?zc_p=1#axzz2NcNYjWOG Motherhood,…

Warren takes a pounding but keeps on ticking

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http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/The-Download/222-Warren-takes-a-pounding-but-keeps-on-ticking.aspx Elizabeth…

Marty Lamb Announces Support of State House Ethics Reform

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http://holliston-hopkinton.patch.com/articles/marty-lamb-supports-state-house-ethics-reform On…

Vispoli Supports Keyes Legislative Ethics Plan

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http://andover.patch.com/articles/vispoli-supports-keyes-legislative-integrity-to-plan Monday,…

Taxachusetts redux

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http://www.pharmacychoice.com/News/article.cfm?Article_ID=884991 May…

Mitt Romney Homeland Security Record In Massachusetts: Domestic Spying, Wiretapping

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/04/mitt-romney-homeland-security-massachusetts_n_1467940.html Mitt…

State Roundup: State Spending Drops $290 Billion In 5 Years

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News outlets examine a variety of state health policy issues,…

Another take on “budget buster” report: Health law was more expensive, one analyst says

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http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2012/04/18/another-take-budget-buster-report-health-law-was-more-expensive-one-analyst-says/P3MWkYqHtZG5MMYUGX6PvM/story.html Josh…

George Will: Laws sometimes serve up lawlessness

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http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2017712347_will12.html Two…