Final Projects
Fall 2007
health disparities
Subtleties Behind the Numbers
Statistics that show racial and ethnic disparities in
mortality and disease rates has become a staple of news in the state. There has been a steady stream of reports and commissions. The Legislature is considering a bill to create a special office of health care disparity. But health professionals and advocates say that there is more behind the numbers than a flaw in how the hospitals and doctors treat minorities.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BOSTON MIRACLE
Homicides growing after dramatic
declines
In 1999 Boston was hailed as a model for the nation when it came to homicide prevention. The deaths that year were more than half the trends in the violent 1980s. But over the past two years, the murder rate has doubled what it was back in 1999 and police, politicians and community
leaders are trying to understand why.
Domestic violence
Can addiction treatment help?
Can abusive behavior be an addiction? Some psychiatrists,
domestic violence activists and even the government are treating batterers in a fashion similar to alcohol> ics and drug abusers and while the concept may be new for some, programs have been around for decades. Now there are
questions whether this holistic attitude towards abusers is ineffective and puts victims right back in harms way.
LEGAL IMMIGRANTS
More flock to state despite cuts in social programs
Three years ago Massachusetts lawmakers cut social programs that would offer aid to legal immigrants in the state. Part of the justification was the fear that such programs were attracting a flood of people eager to
game the system. Instead, data shows the influx of legal immigrants has continued, raising policy questions for the state.
DOCTOR SHORTAGE
Fewer Doctors, More Patients
Henry Tuttle has tried to hire three doctors for Wellfleet’
s Outer Cape Health Services this year. But after going through 37 resumes and 21 interviews he’s only been able to hire one physician’s assistant. Tuttle’s dilemma is not unique. Officials say large regions of the state
face a major shortage of primary care doctors just as thousands of previously uninsured residents sign up for health coverage under the state’s new compulsory law.
NEW PATIENTS
Health Insurance Mandate Straining System
Family practice doctors say the new wave of patients coming in under the state's new mandatory health insurance plan are requiring more time and more treatment. Many of the formerly uninsuredwho have avoided doctors for years; they are sicker with little or no documentation of past medical histories.
children in need
Lawmakers Seek New Solutions for Problem Children
SPRING 2007
grassroots
Little Evidence of Groundswell Support for Patrick Agenda
Deval Patrick’s overwhelming victory last fall led to speculation his grassroots support would convince lawmakers to adopt the new governor’s budget initiatives. But Patrick is struggling to translate Election Day popularity into post-election support. Lawmakers contacted by the Boston University Statehouse Program said Patrick’s attempts to reach out to the public haven’t increased calls or constituent pressure on Beacon Hill.
Immigrant Tuition:
Even with Degrees, Immigrant Students Can't Work
The debate over a bill to grant in-state tuition bill to an estimated 400 illegal immigrant students ignores one large question: even if the lower tuition allows them to earn degrees, the students must wait for immigration reform by Congress before they can get a legal job.
Redistricting:
Lawmakers, Advocates, Push To Take Job Away from Legislature
For more than two centuries, Massachusetts has had the dubious distinction as the poster child for politically manipulated electoral districts. But some persistent lawmakers are trying to get the birthplace of “Gerrymandering” to join an increasing number of states that limit legislators’ power to redraw their own districts.
Foreclosure Crisis:
Number of Foreclosures Rising
The foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts is far from over. With foreclosures up 76 percent over last year, experts believe the problem will continue to grow, especially in the lower-income and minority neighborhoods that have already borne the brunt of the problem.
Home Rule:
Some See County Government as Solution to Budget Problems
As legislators and municipal officials struggle to balance state and local budgets, policy experts are proposing a new way to cut the state’s deficit: increase the political power of county and regional government.
CORI Changes:
Advocates, Lawmakers Urge Change in Criminal Record System
Even before Manuel Jesus Rodriguez came to America in 1977, a man with a similar name and birth date had established himself as a career criminal in Massachusetts. The confusion over the names placed Rodriguez on
the state's Criminal Offender Record Information system, making it hard for him to work. The story is one of many anecdotes cited by those who want to change the CORI system.
Emergency Notification:
Bill to Require Towns Call Systems
There was no way to warn Spencer residents when excessive amounts of lye were accidentally released into the town water supply last month. As a result, about one hundred unsuspecting people suffered minor burns or skin
rashes when they turned on their taps. The question of public warning systems, highlighted by the Virginia Tech shootings, has led to a drive for public notification systems in the state’s cities and towns.
Legislative Report Card:
Only A Fraction of Lawmakers Get Bills Passed
Some people are lucky. When asked what they do all day, they give the name of their profession: baker, builder, cook, judge, salesman, editor. Well, what about lawmakers? Every session, thousands of laws are proposed by the state legislature’s 200 lawmakers. But only a small fraction are enacted.
More Cops:
Patrick Pledge for 1,000 New Police Hits Political Realities
As a candidate, Deval Patrick pledged he would add 1,000 officers to the ranks of police across the state. As a new governor, he trimmed the number to 250. But the Legislature had different ideas.
Outmigration:
State Faced Exodus of Valued Workers
Burdened with student loans, many young professionals move several times early in their careers in search of the location that pays them the most and costs them the least. This means 20-somethings who are trying to establish themselves financially are forced to make serious decisions about what state they live in. Why is it so hard for this demographic to strike a balance? What solutions have they found?
Sudan Divestment:
Legislature Action Part of a Massachusetts Tradition
Within the next few weeks, Massachusetts is likely to become the 12th state to remove investments in the country of Sudan from its state's pension fund. Although largely symbolic - the action involves just $103 million out of the pension fund's $47 billion portfolio - it is part of a
tradition of state involvement in international affairs.