Around New England

Rigged Democratic Primary? That’s How Elizabeth Warren Became A Senator in the First Place

John Cronin

There were six other candidates for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate back in 2012, notes Lowell Sun columnist Peter Lucas, but then-governor Deval Patrick "persuaded" five of them to drop out. The other one, Marisa DeFranco, a tough-talking progressive who would have given Warren a tough time in a debate, stayed in the race through the state party convention, where Patrick strong-armed delegates into denying DeFranco the 15 percent she needed to make it onto the party's primary election ballot.

Around New England

Expansive School Choice Bill Passes New Hampshire House Committee, 10-9

John Cronin

The bill would provide "education freedom savings accounts" for parents to be able to get 95 percent of New Hampshire's per-pupil state grant of $3,636 to use for tuition to private schools (including religious schools), transportation or other costs for the school of the parents' choice, and homeschooling supplies. As currently drafted, it would apply to families with income at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level, though it could also be used by special-education students who have a so-called individual education plan or by students who apply to a public charter school but couldn't get in.

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