Robert DeLeo

State Rep. Antonio Cabral of New Bedford says he expects much debate at the State House this week on providing more funding for the embattled Department of Children and Families. Democrat Cabral tells WBSM News, he supports funding for D-C-F to hire more social workers, but knows there will be opposition...

A group representing clergy from around the state is urging lawmakers to agree on a bill that not only raises the minimum wage but also ties future increases in the wage to inflation. Massachusetts Faith Voices met Thursday with representatives of House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray and delivered a letter signed by 344 religious leaders of several faiths...

Gov. Deval Patrick says he's confident House and Senate lawmakers will hammer out a compromise on minimum wage legislation that has run into parliamentary roadblocks on Beacon Hill. Patrick said the difference between the House and Senate bills isn't great...

Massachusetts lawmakers are vowing to act quickly to pass legislation outlawing the taking of photographs up the skirts of women in public.       The sense of urgency on Beacon Hill comes a day after the state's highest court ruled that a man who took cellphone photos up the skirts of women riding the Boston subway did not violate state law...

A task force examining the state's gun laws says Massachusetts should require background checks for most private firearms sales, increase penalties for failing to report lost or stolen guns and tighten regulations on rifle ownership.       The panel created by House Speaker Robert DeLeo in the aftermath of the school massacre in Newtown, Conn...

House Speaker Robert DeLeo has reported spending $300,000 on legal fees during the first half of the year as investigators ramped up their probe of the Massachusetts Probation Department.

A showdown is brewing between Governor Patrick and House Speaker Robert DeLeo over taxes and transportation.

Legislative leaders have unveiled a transportation financing plan that calls for $500 million in new revenues, including increases in state gasoline and cigarette taxes. The plan announced Tuesday rejects a $1.9 billion revenue plan proposed by Gov...

During his State Of The State address Wednesday night, Gov. Deval Patrick provided details on how he plans to pay for ambitious transportation and education programs over the next few years.  Patrick says hiking the income tax by 1%, and cutting back the sales tax by nearly 2% should generate two billion dollars in new spending...

Legislative leaders say gun control and transportation funding will be among the key issues facing Massachusetts lawmakers in the new session.       House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray were easily re-elected to their respective leadership posts shortly after members of both heavily Democratic branches were sworn-in by Gov...