Today is Equal Pay Day, marking the 99 extra days women have to work this year to equal the pay men were paid last year.
STATE WIRE: MASS CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL AIMS TO PROTECT IN-PERSON JAIL VISITS
The visitation provision is part of a much larger criminal justice reform bill. According to Lucius Couloute, policy analyst with the Prison Policy Initiative, some sheriffs’ departments around the country have eliminated in-person visiting in favor of video systems that can turn a profit, and that makes provisions like this necessary.
NATIONAL WIRE: SUPREME COURT TO CONSIDER HEARING DACA APPEAL
“We don’t know if they will decide whether they will take it then, but they may,” Rebert explains. “They ordered the briefing on an expedited basis so that they could decide whether they wanted to take it up.”
STATE WIRE: NEW COALITION TO FIGHT CARBON POLLUTION
The Carbon Costs Coalition includes legislators from nine states, including Massachusetts. It will help those legislators design strategies to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean, renewable energy alternatives.
NATIONAL WIRE: CRITICS CALL HHS PROPOSAL ‘LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE’
Naomi Goldberg, movement and policy researcher with the Movement Advancement Project, said enforcement of that rule could apply not only to those who refuse to provide abortion or contraceptive services, but also to those who refuse to provide services to LGBT people in need of medical care – and that can be life-threatening.
STATE WIRE: BILL SEEKS TO PROTECT MARIJUANA USERS IN MASS
A bill has been introduced in the legislature to keep those who follow the Bay State’s law on marijuana use from being turned over to federal authorities.
NATIONAL WIRE: STUDY SAYS FOOD ASSISTANCE IMPROVES HEALTH
The Trump administration has proposed cutting SNAP by $192 billion over 10 years. But the paper suggests cutting benefits could harm health and raise health care costs.
NATIONAL WIRE: HEALTHCARE ADVOCATES SLAM PROPOSED INSURANCE RULE
The federal Department of Labor is proposing a rule that critics say would allow the sale of what some call “junk” health insurance.
NATIONAL WIRE: RAISING MINIMUM WAGE HELPS TEENS, FAMILIES
A new study from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center says raising the minimum wage has little impact on teen unemployment, but can have a big impact on teens and their families.
NATIONAL WIRE: WILL THE SESSIONS ANNOUNCEMENT HINDER CANNABIS LEGALIZATION?
Grant Smith, the deputy director of the Office of National Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, says Sessions’ action undermines state-level reforms around the country.
