Commonwealth Politics

Commonwealth Politics is a televised round table discussion on politics and policy issues with state and federal legislators and other government officials. The program is moderated by Dr. Mark Kemper and Dr. Michael Kryzanek; Dr. George Serra is a frequent guest moderator.

The show has brought numerous high profile legislators to campus, focusing on issues such as higher education, K-12 education, criminal justice, business investment and taxation, elections, welfare reform, health care, urban development, government oversight, gun control, HMO reform, environmental policy, and physician assisted suicide. 

Commonwealth Politics currently airs in over 171 communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month on Comcast (Channel 68). The estimated number of subscribers in these communities is well over 800,000. 

Recent Episodes:

• Gaming and Casinos in Massachusetts with Representative Robert Koczera (D) (published 5/30/12)

• Human Trafficking Law with Senator Mark Montigny (D) (published 4/24/12)

• Green Communities Act with Senator Marc Pacheco (D) (published 2/6/12)

• Recession and Economic Recover in Massachusetts with Senators Richard Moore (D) and Richard Ross (R) (published 1/3/12)

• State of the Economy with Former Congressmen Robert Simmons (R)- Connecticut and Sam Coppersmith (D)- Arizona (published 10/28/12)

• Redistricting: Politics and Procedures with Senators Brian A. Joyce (D) and Bruce Tarr (R) (published 9/29/11)

• Commercial Fishing Industry with Representative John Quinn (D) and Senator Bruce Tarr (R) (published 9/23/11)

Additional Commonwealth Politics episodes available through TVBSC on youtube.com.  For a complete list of all episodes aired in past years, please see "Commonwealth Politics Programs List" (pdf file).

2005 Telly Award Recipient

Commonwealth Politics is the recipient of a 2005 Telly Award. The 26^th Annual Telly Awards recognized the Center for Legislative Studies for its post-2004 election analysis program with Senators Robert Hedlund and Brian A. Joyce.

The Telly Awards were founded in 1978 and they are the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as video and film productions. The Telly Awards showcase the best of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. It is a widely known and highly respected national and international competition and receives over 10,000 entries annually from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Based on the ratio of winners over the past several years, approximately seven to ten percent of entrants are chosen as award winners.

Last Modified: September 13, 2012