THE MASS BRIEF

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Healey and Minogue actually agree on something: suspend the gas tax. They just disagree on how much.

Governor Maura Healey proposed suspending the state's 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax for two months on Tuesday, as prices at the pump hit $4.40 a gallon — the highest for this time of year on record, according to AAA. She's pitching it as relief from a crisis she squarely blames on President Trump and the war with Iran, which has kept oil prices above $100 a barrel. The plan would be funded using surplus revenue from the state's millionaires' surtax, and needs sign-off from the Legislature.

Here's the political wrinkle: her Republican challenger, Mike Minogue, got there first. He called for a gas tax "holiday" whenever prices top $4 a gallon days before Healey's announcement, and he wants to make it permanent — not just two months. Standing outside the State House Tuesday, Minogue needled Healey for stealing his idea but only half-committing to it: "After the election, it will be back to business as normal." It's also a notable reversal for Healey, who as attorney general in 2022 opposed a similar Republican-led gas tax holiday, arguing the state needed "real solutions," not gimmicks.

What happens next is the real story. The gas tax brings in roughly $600 million a year for road and bridge repair — money that doesn't just reappear. Legislative Democrats who've resisted this idea before now have to decide whether to hand Healey a win heading into her reelection fight, or let Minogue keep hammering her as all talk. Watch Beacon Hill leadership's response in the coming days; that's where this actually lives or dies. Full story at Boston Globe →

The MBTA is off federal probation. Four years after a man was dragged to his death on the Red Line, the Federal Transit Administration has formally ended its safety oversight of the T, handing supervision back to the state's Department of Public Utilities. Healey is touting eliminated slow zones and new safety tech as proof the system has turned a corner — though anyone who rode the Orange Line last week might have their own opinion. Boston.com →

A state audit says the unemployment agency was failing people even before things got worse. Auditor Diana DiZoglio's review found the Department of Unemployment Assistance mismanaged its call centers and was slow to pay claims between 2022 and 2024 — years before a botched 2025 system upgrade made Massachusetts the slowest state in the country at paying jobless benefits. Lawmakers say they're flooded with constituent complaints, but a proposed special commission to investigate appears stalled. CommonWealth Beacon →

Roughly 7,300 immigrants lose full MassHealth coverage October 1. The change stems from the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill" signed last year, and will shift many enrollees to more limited coverage or the Health Safety Net, according to Health Law Advocates. Advocates are urging affected residents to check their coverage now, before the switch takes effect. GBH News →

A New Bedford ICE operation swept up at least eight people, most working in fish houses. Reporters for the New Bedford Light witnessed an arrest near the waterfront and spotted agents staging out of the Dartmouth Mall parking lot. Community organizers held a meeting to connect affected families with legal resources. New Bedford Light →

Massachusetts residents love living here and can't afford it — both at once. New MassINC polling found 63% of residents rate the state as one of the best places to live, but only 19% think it's affordable. People close to finishing their education are nearly twice as likely to consider leaving in the next five years — a red flag for a state that depends on its university pipeline to fuel its economy. CommonWealth Beacon →

Hingham High's entire ventilation system is dying, and the fix is years away. All 13 rooftop units, five HVAC units, and every exhaust fan are near total failure, the district's facilities director told the School Committee — with a full replacement project still at least three years out. Boilers are being patched in the meantime, but rooftop units already failed once last winter. South Shore Times / South Shore News →

Wednesday: The Boston Licensing Board holds a hearing on the sale of the beloved West Roxbury "packie" Blanchard's, which could get a new owner and a new name — Kappy's. Universal Hub →

Thursday: Cummington hosts a public hearing on its Hazard Mitigation Plan — a chance for Hampshire County residents to weigh in on flood and storm preparedness. WWLP →

Ongoing: Hanover's Select Board is weighing whether to shelve a long-planned North Hanover fire substation in favor of a $5 million headquarters expansion, with a debt vote expected at May's town meeting. South Shore News →

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Yesterday's Biggest Contributions

Big Spending This Week

Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance

Full hearing schedule →

Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance:

Candidates

• Marcus Coward (Democratic) — City Councilor, New Bedford — Filed: 9/21/2026

PACs

• Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Political Action Committee — N/A, No office — Filed: 9/17/2026

OCPF →

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