State of increased alert: Mass. reaction after Paris terror
From the Globe after yesterday's local press conference on the precautions following the Paris attacks: "Massachusetts State Police have increased security around the State House and other key places in Boston, [Gov. Charlie] Baker said. At Logan Airport, state police are monitoring intelligence and have increased patrols inside terminals and outside, using police dogs to detect explosives..."
"Je suis Paris" was one of many signs at yesterday's vigil on the Boston Common to mourn the victims of Friday night's terrorism attacks in Paris. Approximately 200 reportedly came, including Mayor Walsh, Gov. Baker, Sen. Warren and French General Consulate Valéry Freland. Reaction from some attendees who came to show support for Paris in this Globe story:http://bit.ly/1kznlHT
It's the "new paradigm," says Congressman Bill Keating in a column by the Herald's Peter Gelzinis. Keating is referring to jihadists returning to their home countries to plan terrorist acts. "Keating said Americans, watching the events of these past two days, will ultimately have to come to grips with how much privacy we are willing to give up in exchange for a bigger, better security blanket," writes Gelzinis. http://bit.ly/1Qq0xa9
There's visual support for France on display in Central Square in Cambridge, as a local artist rendered a version of the French flag in the square's Graffiti Alley, Boston.com reports. It's worth checking out. http://bit.ly/1Qq5srE
Weak tea at the Democratic debate?
Presidential candidate Martin O'Malley called Hillary Clinton's prescriptions for reining in Wall Street "weak tea" at Saturday night's debate. Those looking for an aggressive response to the terrorist attacks, such as France's bombings of ISIS training camps yesterday, instead were served more weak tea at the debate, none less bracing than from candidate Clinton: "This cannot be an American fight, although American leadership is essential." Countered O'Malley: "This actually is America's fight." Here's a summary of the debate from the AP via MassLive. http://bit.ly/1kZ7dyZ
Globe op-ed: France's attack is 'yet more fuel on the fire'
France's bombing in Syria in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris is wrong-headed, writes Andrew J. Bacevich, professor emeritus at Boston University and a retired US Army colonel. "In proposing to pour yet more fuel on that fire, Hollande demonstrates a crippling absence of imagination, one that has characterized recent Western statesmanship more generally when it comes to the Islamic world. There, simply trying harder will not suffice as a basis of policy."http://bit.ly/1H4kb8X
Big deadlines Beacon Hill deadlines have groups scrambling
This Wednesday looms as the last day before the Legislature's holiday break, and House and Senate leaders are hoping to wrap up a few bills that have been lingering in committee. Among them, a public records reform bill, which may emerge from the House Ways and Means Committee today or tomorrow. The question, however, is what the bill will - and won't - contain. The concern is the bill will be, well, weak tea, lacking mechanisms to compel bureaucracies to comply with records requests. If the public records bill delay has Secretary of State William Galvin in a bind, as he committed to launching a ballot initiative should the Legislature fail to act. He needs some 64,000 signatures by Wednesday to get his question on the ballot. Andy Metzger of the State House News Service explains the deadline crunch here:http://bit.ly/1lqN6Kk (paywall)
Social media privacy bill to be weighed
The Senate is expected to weigh a social media privacy bill on Wednesday that would protect employees and students from being compelled to share access to their social media accounts. "We now are in a world of social media. People don't have diaries. People don't have private letters. It's all done on the internet and that should have the same privacy that somebody had when they had a diary in their drawer. It shouldn't be any different," Creem told the State House News Services Katie Lannan in this story.http://bit.ly/1H4hDYj (paywall)
Any hope for solar bill before the break?
There also was hope that efforts to expand solar power subsidies would receive consideration before the holiday break. Solar power advocates will be pressuring legislators to take action on the bill to lift the net metering cap (which would provide more economic incentives for solar projects). Advocates say they will gather outside the State House steps for a rally at 10:30 am today.
Today's main event: Baker to testify on opioid bill
Gov. Baker will testify before the Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse his bill to combat the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts, which was unveiled on Oct. 15. Along with Baker, Boston Mayor Walsh is expected to express support for the bill. Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and Auditor Suzanne Bump are also scheduled to testify. It's at the Gardner Auditorium, 10 am. Here's a preview from MassLive's Gintautus Dumcius: http://bit.ly/1kZ2Rrn
Big night for AIM
The Associated Industries of Massachusetts holds its 100th anniversary gala tonight at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. One of the primary organizations advancing business interests on Beacon Hill and throughout the state, AIM is drawing big names to its centennial, including Gov. Baker, along with three former governors: Dukakis, Swift and Weld. AIM will honor iRobot Corp., Bentley University President Gloria Larson, and Crane and Co. of Dalton, Mass.
Baker economic plan is released
Amid the legislative hubbub, the Baker administration released its first economic development plan, titled "Opportunities for All." The plan, 59 pages, is available for a look-see here: http://1.usa.gov/1H4o1ie. Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash will testify before theCommittee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies at 9:30 am in Room A-1.
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More want Gateway Cities perks
Legislators are seeking to expand the criteria for communities to be designated Gateway Cities and access grant funds originally set aside for economically disadvantaged communities, the Globe reports. Lawmakers have filed bills that would allow Waltham, Framingham and the small town of Warren into the program - which currently includes 26 cities - by expanding the qualifications to go beyond income levels. http://bit.ly/1kzVUxn
Baker sought exemption for tax chief
Gov. Charlie Baker sought a change to state law that would allow Revenue Commissioner Mark E. Nunnelly to earn up to $300,000 a year sitting on private boards without giving up his government position, the Globe's Frank Phillips reports. Baker's proposal - rapped by some watchdog groups - quietly made its way into supplemental budget language before it was blocked by the Senate. Nunnelly plans to step down form the board seats he holds through his work as a venture capitalist. http://bit.ly/1Obigih
Healey defends charter cap
Attorney General Maura Healey forcefully defended the state's charter school cap limit in a legal filing Friday, arguing in support of the existing limit on behalf of the Baker administration, which favors expanding student access to charters. According to the Globe, Healey called the link between the cap on charters and poor performance of schools in some urban districts is "highly speculative" and pointed out that "not all charter schools in Massachusetts are high-performing." http://bit.ly/1H49d3e
Judge busts Aquinnah gaming bid
On Friday, the Wampanoag tribe of Gay Head learned it will not be opening a small-scale gaming parlor on Martha's Vineyard any time soon, the Cape Cod Times reports. A Federal judge issued a long-awaited ruling that said the tribe must comply with state laws because of agreements signed in 1983 when the tribe took control of 485 acres on the island. The tribe is expected to appeal. http://bit.ly/1ObrgnN
Wu in as next City Council President?
City Councilor Michelle Wu said she has enough votes to become the City Council President. "Wu told the Globe that she has at least seven of the 13 councilors' votes, which would ensure her the position when councilors are expected to vote in January. If Wu wins, she'll be the first Asian-American and woman of color to ever lead Boston City Council, and, at 30 years old, she is also its youngest member," Boston.com reports. Wu told the Boston Globe that she makes an excellent leader. "Leadership comes in many different forms," Wu said. "Even though people say I can be soft spoken or [of] smaller stature physically, I am very conscious it is my role to encourage young people to step up and see themselves in these positions ofleadership." http://bit.ly/1MR4spH
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TODAY'S DAY: It's National Fast Food Day.
REMEMBER: To send your tips to me at gdonnelly@massterlist.com. Op-eds and other commentary invited for publication on Massterlist.
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