What's happening in state government this week
Off Cape: Sen. Kennedy funeral, first cargo ship arrive at New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal;
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After their leaders outlined ambitious plans in January, Massachusetts lawmakers completed the first six months of the 2015-2016 session with one signature achievement - they passed a version of Gov. Charlie Baker's bill to balance the state budget they passed at this time a year ago. On Wednesday, those same lawmakers awoke to a new fiscal year mindful that the only other major bill to clear either branch this session - the $38.1 billion fiscal 2016 budget - wasn't ready on time, with disappointed negotiators saying they were still working on complex issues but declining to say what exactly is holding things up. It could be controversial Senate tax law changes, MBTA reforms or one of the many special budget initiatives tucked into the massive bills following backroom talks. The people who know won't talk about it, and everyone else doesn't really know for sure.
The good news for Gov. Charlie Baker is that he won't have to spend the Fourth of July reviewing the sweeping budget bill. "I have no plans for the Fourth other than to hang out with my family," Baker told WATD-FM this week. "This is one of the few weekends where we're going to have all three of our kids around and I plan to do what I can to try to spend some time with them." It's the Legislature's turn - or at least six members of the General Court - to spend the summer holiday trying to resolve differences in budgets that branch leaders have maintained all along are pretty similar. The bad news for Baker is that after this winter's record snowfall diverted the governor's focus and his administration's momentum, the governor isn't getting an on-time budget. While he's upbeat about the odds for a budget deal next week, this year's budget drama is proof that while Baker may have run the budget for former Gov. William Weld and led a major health insurance company he's not completely in charge in the shared leadership structure of state government.
But even critics of the slow pace of legislating aren't too worried about the budget. "No, things are moving at a slow pace all-around this year," veteran Sen. Robert Hedlund of Weymouth told the News Service. "You know, I've always said a full-time legislature should be able to meet its deadlines and things. But I think if they get things right, and if they're being very deliberative and not wasting time, then that's fine if we have to do the [interim budget] like we've already done."
Other storylines for the week ahead:
-- CARGO DELIVERY AT NEW TERMINAL: The first ship to haul cargo into the new $113 million marine terminal in New Bedford is scheduled to arrive on Monday.
-- BUDGET VIGIL: Futile efforts to determine exactly when Rep. Brian Dempsey and Sen. Karen Spilka will file their fiscal 2016 budget conference committee report will continue. Everyone with a stake in the bill's outcome has been trying to get a handle on the timeline, in part to determine how it might play into their Fourth of July plans. As the week ended, House Speaker Robert DeLeo gave House members some breathing room by serving notice that the earliest lawmakers would be called to Beacon Hill to approve the budget would be Wednesday.
-- MBTA LEGISLATION: After all of this year's hemming and hawing about how the MBTA needs emergency fixes, legislation aimed at addressing agency problems exposed this winter remains stuck in committee. The Transportation Committee endorsed a bill that its House chair emphasized will be altered, probably significantly, and which underwhelmed the governor. That bill is now in the House Ways and Means Committee, and Speaker DeLeo accurately pointed out recently that Rep. Brian Dempsey, the panel's chairman, is working on the annual budget bill. So while the legislative to-do list is pretty short, there's a logjam there until the budget wraps up.
-- BAKER MINI-BUDGET, OPIOID BILLS: Under the administration's own timelines, the governor next week could file legislation implementing some of the recommendations of a task force he convened to examine the state's opioid addiction crisis. A bill authorizing new spending to address public accounts that were not adequately funded in the fiscal 2015 budget is also expected this month from the Corner Office, with implications for the fiscal 2015 surplus.
-- KENNEDY MEMORIAL SERVICES: Many members of the Legislature plan to pay their respects to the late Sen. Thomas Kennedy, a Brockton Democrat who passed away on Sunday. Kennedy's wake is Sunday and Monday and a funeral is scheduled forTuesday.
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2015
FOURTH OF JULY PROCESSION: Boston Mayor Martin Walsh attends a flag raising to kick off the Fourth of July celebration and then joins a procession to the Old Granary Burial Ground, the Old State House and Faneuil Hall. (Saturday, 9 a.m., Boston City Hall Plaza)
SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015
BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT ON KELLER: Jon Keller will talk with body language expert Don Khoury, who will analyze recent video of Steve Pagliuca, Mayor Martin Walsh, Donald Trump, Roger Goodell, and more. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
SEN. KENNEDY WAKE: A wake for Sen. Thomas Kennedy, the Brockton Democrat who died last Sunday, will be held at the Russell Pica Funeral Home. The wake will be continued Monday. (Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., 165 Belmont St., Brockton)
WORLD CUP PARTY: Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and the Boston Breakers will host a viewing party as the U.S. Women's Soccer team plays Japan in the World Cup Final. Breakers goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher will be representing the city. The Breakers are Boston's professional women's soccer team. (Sunday, 7 p.m., City Hall Plaza, Boston)
MONDAY, JULY 6, 2015
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches plan informal sessions at 11 a.m.
WEEKLY LEADERSHIP MEETING: Gov. Charles Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr meet for a weekly leadership meeting. CLOSED PRESS. (Monday, 2 p.m., Senate President's office, Room 332)
FIRST CARGO SHIP ARRIVES AT NEW BEDFORD MARINE TERMINAL: MV Thorco Svenborg, the first vessel to offload cargo at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, is scheduled to arrive at the terminal on Monday. Mayor Jon Mitchell plans an event to mark the occasion. The vessel is scheduled to bring wind turbine components into the new $113 million terminal for a project in Plymouth. (Monday, noon, boat launch on Gifford Street, New Bedford Harbor)
VIETAID AFFORDABLE HOUSING GROUNDBREAKING: A VietAid groundbreaking ceremony is planned and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay and MassDevelopment CEO Marty Jones plan to deliver remarks. (Monday, 12:15 p.m., Upper Washington Housing Development, 326 Washington St., Dorchester)
STRIKE PLANS AT PITTSFIELD HEALTH CENTER: More than 350 clinicians at the Brien Center, Berkshire County's largest mental health and substance abuse treatment agency, plan to launch a strike, following the breakdown of mediated negotiations, according to SEIU 509. (Monday, 8 a.m., 333 East St, Pittsfield)
MBTA ENDS PARKING-LOT "HONOR BOXES" | Effective Monday, the "honor box" payment system at MBTA parking lots will no longer exist. The T is encouraging commuters to sign up for its PayByPhone service at www.paybyphone.com and either make payments over the phone or in the service's app. Those who do not use the phone service will be sent a monthly invoice, mailed to the address listed on vehicle registration, with a 50-cent surcharge. (Monday)
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENTION CENTERS: Participants in the International Association of Convention Centers Annual Conference will hear from Boston Mayor Martin Walsh. (Monday, 9 a.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St., Boston)
SEN. KENNEDY WAKE: A wake for Sen. Thomas Kennedy, the Brockton Democrat who died last Sunday, will be held at the Russell Pica Funeral Home. (Monday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., 165 Belmont St., Brockton)
ROSENBERG ON WATD: Senate President Stan Rosenberg is scheduled to be interviewed on Monday Night Talk with Kevin Tocci and Joe Rossi. (Monday, 6:20 p.m., WATD Radio 95.9)
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015
STATE BUDGET? | If legislative leaders hope to put a fiscal 2016 budget conference committee report up for votes on Wednesday, legislative rules call for that report to be filed on Tuesday.
SEN. KENNEDY FUNERAL: A funeral for Sen. Thomas Kennedy will be held at St. Edith Stein Parish. Gov. Baker has ordered all flags at state buildings be lowered in honor of Kennedy until his interment. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., 71 E. Main St., Brockton)
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CONFERENCE: Gov. Charles Baker and three astronauts will be among the speakers at the International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISS R&D). Baker plans to deliver his remarks Tuesday at 1 p.m.The conference runs Tuesday through Thursday. The active NASA astronauts speaking will be Cady Coleman, Karen Nyberg, and Sunita Williams. More information, and some live-streamed sessions, at www.issconference.org. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 110 Huntington Ave., Boston)
GOLDBERG, BAKER MEET: Treasurer Goldberg and Gov. Baker hold monthly meeting. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Room 227, State House)
BAKER MEETS WITH DUTCH AMBASSADOR: Gov. Charles Baker plans to meet with Netherlands Ambassador Rudolf Bekink. CLOSED PRESS. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Governor's office, Room 360)
AMHERST SCHOOL DESIGNER INTERVIEWS: The Mass. School Building Authority will hold a meeting of its Designer Selection Panel to conduct finalist interviews for Wildwood Elementary School in Amherst. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 40 Broad St., Boston)
QUINCY HEIGHTS RIBBON-CUTTING: A Quincy Heights ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned and Housing and Economic Development Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay plans to attend. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Quincy Heights housing development, 193 Magnolia Street, Dorchester)
WORCESTER VISITORS CENTER: An announcement regarding the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitors Center is planned. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton plans to attend. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., intersection of McKeon Road and Dryden Access Road, Worcester)
RENEWABLES CHIEF ON PANEL IN CALIFORNIA: Department of Energy Resources' Renewable Energy Division Director Dwayne Breger will be in California to participate on a plenary panel: "Looking Beyond California - Energy Storage Growth in Other States" at the Energy Storage USA Conference (Tuesday, 11:50 a.m. PDT, Hilton San Diego Mission Valley, San Diego)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015
STATE BUDGET? | Legislative leaders have circled Wednesday as a possible day to consider a conference committee report on the fiscal 2016 budget, if negotiators can agree on a bill.
HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION: The Health Policy Commission's Care Delivery and Payment System Transformation Committee and Quality Improvement and Patient Protection Committee will hold a joint meeting. Committee members will hear from the public on proposed updates to Office of Patient Protection regulations, receive an update on Nurse Staffing Quality Measures, discuss the recommendations from the Governor's Opioid Task Force Report, and discuss the HPC's upcoming substance use disorder report. Representatives from the attorney general's office will talk about their recent report, "Examination of Health Care Cost Trends and Cost Drivers." (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 50 Milk St., Boston)
CONVERSATION ON TRANSGENDER PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS: Speaker Robert DeLeo, Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing, and Rep. Denise Provost will host a members-only event titled "Transgender Public Accommodations: A Conversation." Organizers expect presentations by Attorney General Maura Healey, Massachusetts Trans Political Coalition Executive Director Mason Dunn and Mayor Marty Walsh's Chief of Policy Joyce Linehan. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., House Members' Lounge)
BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY GROUP: The Brownfields Advisory Group meets. The group was established through the 1998 Brownfields Act to oversee the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund and meets quarterly.(Wednesday, noon, MassDevelopment, 99 High St., 11th floor, Boston)
SCHOOL BUILDING PRESENTATIONS: The Mass. School Building Authority will hold a meeting of its Facilities Assessment Subcommittee. District presentations will be made by the towns of Billerica, Granby, and Provincetown. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 40 Broad St., Boston)
"HEALTH AFFAIRS" MEDICAID BRIEFING: In Medicaid's 50th anniversary year, authors featured in the July issue of "Health Affairs" will discuss how Medicaid is shaped by and has reshaped care delivery. Keynote remarks will be delivered by Victoria Wachino, director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services. The panels will cover primary care, complex populations, payment, and coverage. The briefing will be live-Tweeted at @Health_Affairs. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.)
EXPORT COMPLIANCE BRIEFING: David Mills, assistant U.S. secretary of commerce for export enforcement, will speak at a briefing on export compliance and enforcement. Mills oversees the only federal law enforcement agency exclusively dedicated to enforcement of export control laws. Others joining the conversation on best practices for disclosures and compliance will include trade compliance attorney Jim Bartlett and Brian Amero, Teradyne's director of global compliance and ethics. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Teradyne, 600 Riverpark Dr., North Reading)
GREEN COMMUNITIES - NATICK COMMUNITY CENTER EVENT: The Natick Community Center is the location of a Green Communities designation and grant program announcement. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton and Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson plan to attend. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 117 East Central Street, Natick)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: The Energy Efficiency Advisory Council Executive Committee meets, with plans to discuss the draft EEAC resolution on the program administrators' draft energy efficiency plans for 2016-2018. Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson plans to chair the meeting. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020, Boston)
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015
STATE BUDGET? | Formal sessions are possible in the House and Senate, in case a fiscal 2016 budget accord is ready for a vote.
MASS. HEALTH CONNECTOR: The Massachusetts Health Connector Authority Board meets. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 21st floor, One Ashburton Place, Boston)
DPU CONFERENCE ON ENERGY STORAGE: The Department of Public Utilities Stakeholder Conference on Energy Storage is scheduled. Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson and renewable energy division director Dwayne Berger plan to participate. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Federal Reserve Building, 600 Atlantic Ave., Boston)
GOLDBERG AT WOMEN'S BAR RECEPTION: Treasurer Deborah Goldberg addresses the Women's Bar Association's Annual Summer Associate Reception. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Duane Morris, 470 Atlantic Ave. #500, Boston)
VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL TRAVELS TO GLOUCESTER: "The Wall That Heals," an aluminum replica of the Vietnam War Memorial, will travel to Gloucester and stay through Sunday. The exhibition's opening ceremony Thursday morning will feature Gov. Charlie Baker and other dignitaries. It is the wall's only visit to Massachusetts this year, which marks the 50th anniversary of the war's escalation by President Johnson. The event is sponsored by the city and the United Veterans Council of Gloucester. (Thursday,10 a.m., Four Schoolhouse Road, Gloucester)
DPU HEARING - COLUMBIA GAS: The Department of Public Utilities holds a public hearing on the petition of Bay State Gas Company d/b/a Columbia Gas of Massachusetts for approval of its 2015 targeted infrastructure reinvestment factor compliance filing, for effect November 1, 2015. (Thursday, 2 p.m., One South Station, Boston - 5th Floor, HR B)
PAY EQUITY BROWN-BAG: Rep. Jay Livingstone and Evelyn Murphy, president of the WAGE Project and a former lieutenant governor, plan to attend the ABL Think Tank Brown Bag Lunch. The one-hour policy session will focus on pay equity. (Thursday, 12 p.m., Hollister Staffing, 75 State St. - 9th floor, Boston)
DRACUT COMMUNITY COMPACT: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito plans to join Dracut Town Manager James Duggan at a community compact signing. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 62 Arlington St., Dracut)
MASSDEVELOPMENT: The MassDevelopment Board of Directors meets. (Thursday, 10 a.m., 99 High St., 11th floor, Boston)
NEWBURYPORT COMMUNITY COMPACT: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito plans to join Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday at a community compact signing. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., 60 Pleasant St., Newburyport)
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015
ROSENBERG IN FRANKLIN: Senate President Stanley Rosenberg tours New England Treatment Access. (Friday, 11 a.m., 5 Forge Parkway, Franklin)
NATICK - KANSAS STREET REDEVELOPMENT: A Kansas Street rededication ceremony is planned and MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones plans to deliver remarks. (Friday, 10:30 a.m., corner of Kansas Street and N Main Street, Natick)
TREASURY SECRETARY DISCUSSES ECONOMY: POLITICO economic correspondent Ben White and Us Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew discuss issues facing the US economy at an event presented by Nasdaq. (Friday, 8 a.m., Nasdaq MarketSite, 4 Times Square, NYC)
REVERE FARMER'S MARKET: The Revere Farmer's Market will have a grand opening in a new location, under new management, and with new offerings. (Friday, 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., American Legion Hall - front lawn, Revere)
SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015
REPLICA LAFAYETTE SHIP DOCKS IN BOSTON: The HERMIONE, a replica of the ship that the Marquis de Lafayette sailed into Boston Harbor in 1780, will dock at Rowes Wharf. A parade of state militia and reenactors will march from Faneuil Hall to the wharf at 9:15 a.m.; bells will ring at Faneuil Hall, Old North Church, and Old South Church at 9:50 a.m.; the official welcome ceremony on the wharf starts at 10 a.m. The vessel will be open for first-come public tours in the afternoon Saturday and on Sunday. (Saturday thru Sunday, Rowes Wharf, Boston)
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