Today's poll: Will requiring state agencies to "justify their existence" help reduce unnecessary expenses in the state budget?
The Forecast
It's good to see a forecast that consists of just two simple, declarative sentences.
The National Weather Service forecast for Friday, June 10 reads: "Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. North wind around 7 mph."
The weekend is looking a little unsettled. Showers and thunderstorms are possible Saturday after 2 p.m., and again on Sunday.
Temperatures over the weekend will be cool: National Weather Service is predicting a high of 69 on Saturday, and a high of 74 on Sunday.
Peeking into next week, temperatures will elbow their way up into the lower 80s by next Wednesday and Thursday.
Find the full forecast here.
Today's Poll
The Massachusetts Senate this week passed several major changes to the state's budgeting process. The AP reports:
Among other things, the measure would require all state agencies to periodically go before a “sunset” commission to justify their performance and continued existence.
Before approving the bill, senators approved a Republican-backed amendment that would require a zero-based budgeting system by 2017. Such a system would require the state to build a budget essentially from scratch each year, rather than base appropriations on the previous year’s funding levels.
What do you think -- will requiring state agencies to "justify their existence" help reduce unnecessary expenses in the state budget? Vote in our poll and check back Monday for the results.
Yesterday's results: On Thursday we asked, "Has Mitt Romney's Massachusetts health care mandate infringed on your economic freedom?" 16 people voted. 56.25% said "Yes"; 43.75% said "No".
Thursday's Top 5
The top 5 headlines on MassLive.com on June 9 were:
- Springfield Tornado Clean Up Continues [photo essay]
- MassLive.com prom contest 2011 [photo gallery]
- Aerials of tornado destruction [photo gallery]
- 2011 Chicopee Comprehensive Senior prom [photo gallery]
- Tornado cleanup day 7, Springfield, Ma.
Quote of the Day
— When I think about all the money, time and energy I have spent trying to make up for those years of tanning I realize it was a waste.”
&mdash Springfield police officer Michael Carney, who is joining with Jeffrey D. Brown, owner of JB’s Ice Cream, to sponsor “Scoops for Melanoma,” a fund-raiser and awareness effort about the dangers of tanning and skin cancer. Read Elizabeth Roman's story here.