A Vision for Sustainable, Transit-oriented Development

In this public comment, Pioneer Institute examines the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development's guidelines on how localities can comply with new zoning mandates around MBTA stations. While some of the compliance criteria and goal-setting language need further clarification and adjustment, overall Pioneer Institute is supportive of the vision for sustainable, transit-oriented development which, if properly implemented, will expand economic opportunity to a new generation of the state's residents.

Comments on How Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) affect Smaller Pharmacies and Consumers (ID FTC-2022-0015-0001)

Pioneer Institute Senior Fellows William Smith and Robert Popovian submitted public comments about PBM business practices to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Pioneer recommended that PBM discounts be passed along to patients when they are meeting their deductible or coinsurance requirements.

Testimony in opposition to S. 2651 to impose price controls

Testimony submitted on February 4, 2022 in opposition to S. 2651, legislation that would impose price controls on one of Massachusetts most important economic sectors, biopharmaceuticals.
A Woman Helping a Disabled Man in a Wheelchair

An Act advancing health care research and decision-making centered on patients and people with disabilities

On November 9th, 2021, William Smith, Pioneer Institute Visiting Fellow in Life Sciences, submitted the following testimony to the Massachusetts Legislature in support of House Bill 201, which addresses a number of flaws and infirmities in the Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) methodology that is utilized by a number of foreign nations in evaluating the value of medicines.

Statement before the MA Joint Committee on Revenue in Opposition to HB 86 (Pages 1-4) A legislative amendment to the Constitution to provide resources for education and transportation through an additional tax on incomes in excess of one million dollars.

Pioneer Institute's Jim Stergios submitted public testimony highlighting Pioneer’s very serious concerns about how the proposed graduated income tax amendment to the Massachusetts State Constitution would have a detrimental impact on the state’s economy as it begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public Comment on I-90 Allston Multimodal Project

Last year, Pioneer Institute proposed that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)  revise its Scoping Report on the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project and recommend an additional option - a modified at-grade option for the throat area - to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  The Institute believed then and continues to believe that an all at-grade design will shorten construction time, lower costs, create fewer negative economic and congestion impacts, and improve neighborhood access to parkland along the Charles River.

Public Testimony to the Joint Meeting of the MassDOT Board of Directors and Fiscal Management Control Board

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Public Testimony to the Joint Meeting of the MassDOT Board of Directors and Fiscal Management Control Board regarding the Allston Multimodal Project, on Oct. 19th, 2020 by Mary Z. Connaughton, Pioneer Institute.

Accountability in Massachusetts’ Remote Learning Regulations

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This policy brief and public comment argues that the COVID-19 pandemic-related revisions to Massachusetts’ remote learning regulations should restore state and local accountability by specifying that any remote academic work shall, to the same extent as in-person education, prepare students to take MCAS tests, and that grading criteria should be the same across in-person, remote, and hybrid learning environments.

Public Comment on MassDOT’s I-90 Allston Multimodal Project National Environmental Policy Act Review Scoping Report

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Pioneer Institute’s Public Comment calls on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to revise its Scoping Report on the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project and recommend an additional option to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Institute believes that closer analysis of an at-grade option may reveal that an at-grade design will shorten construction time, lower costs, create fewer negative economic and congestion impacts, and improve neighborhood access to parkland along the Charles River.

On the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Transportation

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Pioneer Institute is grateful for the opportunity to share brief thoughts on the work of the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Transportation. Our comments are focused on four issues: (1) governance, (2) budgeting and operations, (3) the role of public transportation at a time of rapid private market transformation, and (4) the need to set increasing ridership as the top strategic transit goal.

Special Legislative Commission On Public Records

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Mary Z. Connaughton provides public testimony to a special legislative commission regarding public records.

2018 Proposed Revisions to Massachusetts History and Social Studies Frameworks

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This public statement addresses the draft of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework that was released for public comment in January. The authors argue that the new standards would follow in the footsteps of recently adopted English, math, and science standards by representing a decline in content and coherence compared to their predecessors.

Recommendations of Pioneer Institute to the Special Senate Committee on Health Care Cost Containment and Reform

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Jim Stergios, on behalf of the Pioneer Institute, provides public…

Testimony to the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight on MBTA Bus Maintenance Reform

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Charles Chieppo provides public testimony regarding the "Post Audit and Oversight on MBTA Bus Maintenance Reform."

Testimony in Support of Expanded Access to Oral Health

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There is a bill before the Massachusetts Legislature seeking to expand access to dental care through the creation of a mid-level provider position, commonly known as a dental therapist.

Putting The T On A Clear Path To High Performance

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Much has been accomplished in the past 20 months. The draft strategic plan, however, correctly notes that the MBTA is still nowhere near where the riding public needs it to be. Pioneer Institute believes that getting there will require maintaining the same kind of discipline and urgency that the Control Board has made possible, but over a longer and more explicitly defined period.

Recommendations to the Transparency Subcommittee of the Special Commission on Provider Variation

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Submitted to the Special Commission on Provider Price Variation on January 31, 2017

Public Comment for the Stakeholder Input Meeting

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Jim Stergios shares Pioneer Institute's perspective on the Strategic Plan being developed by the Fiscal and Management Control Board. Please allow me to make a few observations on “Strategic Planning Update, September 26, 2016,” the 23-page slide deck that has been made publicly available.

Testimony on Healthcare Price Transparency

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Testimony emphasized the need to focus more on what would help consumers make better decisions about spending on healthcare.

Why Massachusetts Should Abandon the PARCC tests and the 2011 Coleman et al English Language Arts Standards on which the MCAS Tests are Based

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Stotsky first describes her qualifications, as well as the lack of relevant qualifications in Common Core’s standards writers and in most of the members of Common Core’s Validation Committee, on which she served in 2009-2010.

Testimony Before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Regarding Government Transparency

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Mary Connaughton provides testimony before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight regarding government transparency.

Testimony in Support of House 3347 Transportation Reform

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Charles Chieppo provides public testimony before the Joint Committee on Transportation in Support of House 3347.

Testimony Before the Joint Committee on Transportation in Support of House 3347

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Greg Sullivan provides public testimony before the Joint Committee on Transportation in Support of House 3347.

Testimony Before the Joint Committee on Public Service Regarding the MBTA Retirement Fund

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Testimony Before the Joint Committee on Public Service Regarding the MBTA Retirement Fund Provided in February 2014.

Testimony to the Missouri Elementary and Secondary Education Committee

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Testimony to the Missouri Elementary and Secondary Education Committee provided in February 2014.

Testimony to the Kansas House Standing Committee on Education

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Testimony to the Kansas House Standing Committee on Education in February 2014.

Presentation to the Tax Fairness Commission: Tax Issues Affecting Economic Competitiveness

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The Tax Fairness Commission deserves credit for considering tax issues affecting Massachusetts’ economic competitiveness. Establishing fair tax policies for individual taxpayers is a laudable and worthwhile goal, but the commission is wise to acknowledge as well that issues of tax fairness affect Massachusetts businesses. Massachusetts businesses compete in a national marketplace where state tax policy plays a critical role in decision-making about where to locate and expand business operations.

Testimony before the Joint Committee on Public Service of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regarding the Fiscal Condition of Local Retirement Systems

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Testimony before the Joint Committee on Public Service of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regarding the Fiscal Condition of Local Retirement Systems provided in January 2014.

A First Step Toward Retiree Healthcare Reform, But Much More is Needed

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A First Step Toward Retiree Healthcare Reform, But Much More is Needed was provided in October 2013.

Testimony to the Utah 2012 Education Interim Committee

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Testimony to the Utah 2012 Education Interim Committee in August 2012.