A bill in the Massachusetts legislature (H.604/S.1391) filed by state Representative Andy Vargas (D-Lawrence) and state Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Lowell) would remove religious exemptions for vaccines to attend all kindergarten-through-12 schools in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health advanced the bill last week and referred it to the Health Care Financing Committee.
Beacon Hill's Republican leadership may see its first shake-up in more than 15 years, as state Representative Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) announced Wednesday that he plans to challenge his colleague Brad Jones (R-North Reading) for the House Minority Leader position.
"Massachusetts is at a crossroads," Lombardo said in a press release sent to NewBostonPost. "For too long, the voices of our communities have been overshadowed by the Democratic Party's monopoly on power. Our Republican Caucus has a duty to provide a real alternative, one that champions fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and the values that make Massachusetts a great place to live and work. To do this, we need leadership that is dynamic, collaborative, and unafraid to chart a new course."
