Mass. House

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill repealing a less than two-month-old tax on computer and software services.       The governor's press office announced the signing in a one-sentence release Friday.       The House and Senate voted this week to repeal the 6...

The Massachusetts House has approved a repeal of an unpopular new technology tax. The House backed the repeal by a 156-1 vote when it met in a formal session Wednesday. Gov. Deval Patrick has said he's open to repealing the tax, which state officials had estimated would generate $161 million in the fiscal year that began July 1...

Rep. Robert Koczera of New Bedford says he'll be voting against the casino compact agreed to by Gov. Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, and he hopes his colleagues will do the same.  The tribe is hoping to build a resort casino in Taunton, but has yet to convince the federal government to put land in trust for the project...

Calls to toughen oversight of Massachusetts' welfare system are growing at the Statehouse.       A group of Beacon Hill lawmakers led by House and Senate Republicans are stepping up pressure on negotiators to include in the state budget restrictions designed to guarantee that welfare benefits are reserved for the state's neediest residents...

State Senator Mark Montigny of New Bedford belives it's time for the Legislature and Governor to take a close look at all expenses in the University of Massachusetts System.

A Southcoast lawmaker, Mattapoisett Democrat William Straus,  has been named to a conference committee to resolve differences between the House and Senate verisons of a State Transportation bill.  Both branches this month approved legislation that calls for $500-million in transportation spending...

Instead of going with the Governor's proposed $1.9 billion Transportation bill that included funding for Southcoast Rail, the Massachusetts House adopted a $500-million plan, that contains language that prioritizes the commuter rail project,  but contains no earmarked funding...

Rep. Tony Cabral says he's hoping to at least start the ball rolling Monday on salvaging funding for Southcoast Rail, when the Mass. House debates the leadership's proposed transportation plan. Gov. Patrick had proposed a 1% increase in the state income tax as part of a plan to raise $1.9 bi...

Gov. Deval Patrick is renewing his push for new revenues to pay for transportation and education initiatives, while acknowledging concerns about his plan to raise the state income tax.       The tax changes proposed by the governor, aimed at raising nearly $2 billion in the fiscal year starting July 1, have so far received a lukewarm reception from legislative leaders on Beacon Hill...

Gov. Deval Patrick is putting the finishing touches on his budget request for the fiscal year that starts on July 1.       Patrick has already said he plans to call for an increase in the state income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent, while lowering the sales tax from 6...