What's ahead in state government this week
Dem debate in NH, Baker rings the bell
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Capped by Christmas on Friday, the week ahead will likely start with a flourish and grow progressively quieter despite the official arrival of winter. Traumatized from last winter's fury, Bay State residents have so far enjoyed a mild December and repeated assurances from Gov. Charlie Baker and his team that the MBTA is much better prepared this year.
Next week brings a key deadline as candidates for open House seats in Brockton, Fitchburg and Peabody must file nomination signatures by Tuesday. On Beacon Hill, legislative wish lists likely feature future considerations, such as early 2016 agreements on opioid and energy bills, common ground on transgender rights and public records legislation, and solutions to the financial woes facing the MBTA and the Green Line Extension project. Officials would also welcome a little more cash under the tree to pay for all of the demands being made upon the state's $38.4 billion budget.
Administration and Finance Secretary Kristen Lepore is working on midyear fixes to the budget that could include spending cuts while also assembling Gov. Charlie Baker's fiscal 2017 spending bill, which will be unveiled in January. Baker in July used his veto pen to shave $163 million from the spending bill and lawmakers subsequently put $98 million in spending back in by overriding certain vetoes. Spending exposures and underperforming non-tax revenues appear to be on the verge of forcing Lepore to reopen the budget for more work.
Lepore and House and Senate budget chiefs this week heard from experts who said lawmakers could expect state tax collections to grow by roughly 3 to 5 percent next fiscal year. State law calls for administration and legislative leaders to reach a consensus on expected revenues before the 2016 budget debate commences. That consensus carries additional weight this year since Baker on the 2014 campaign trail pledged to boost total local aid at the same rate as growth in state revenues. Governors over the years have often made their plans for local aid known in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, which next year is scheduled to occur on Jan. 22 in Boston. It's unclear whether a consensus revenue accord will be struck before that date.
SATURDAY, DEC. 19, 2015
DEMOCRATIC DEBATE: Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley take the stage at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. for the third and final Democratic presidential debate of 2015. ABC will broadcast the debate and stream it live online. The moderators are ABC World News Tonight Anchor David Muir and CNN Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz. Manchester TV station WMUR was slated to co-sponsor the debate, but the Democratic National Committee and the New Hampshire Democratic Party decided to drop WMUR following a labor dispute between the station's employees and its owner, the Hearst Corporation. Team Hillary will be holding a debate watch party at Naga in Cambridge, with RSVP open at hillaryclinton.com/events. (Saturday, 8 p.m.)
RALLY FOR CHELSEA MANNING: Peace groups will call for the release of Chelsea Manning, who was given a 35-year sentence for disclosing classified government information through WikiLeaks, will gather for a vigil to celebrate her 28th birthday. (Saturday, 1 p.m, Park Street MBTA Station, Boston Common, Boston)
SUNDAY, DEC. 20, 2015
NEWTON DIVERSITY RECEPTION: The Newton Interfaith Clergy Association and the Mass. Immigrant Refugee Advocacy Coalition are sponsoring a free public reception to celebrate the community's diversity and inclusivity. Attendees include Newton Mayor Setti Warren, religious leaders, advocates who work with immigrants and refugees, and representatives from Newton Police and Newton Public Schools. There will be a short speaking program and refreshments. (Sunday, 1 p.m., Newton City Hall, second floor, 1000 Commonwealth Ave., Newton)
WALSH ON KELLER: Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will be a guest on Keller at Large with WBZ's Jon Keller. Walsh will discuss his proudest achievement, biggest blunder of 2015 and preview his 2016 agenda. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
CASINO TALK "ON THE RECORD": "On the Record" moderators Ed Harding and Janet Wu welcome Wynn Resorts Development Senior Vice President Robert DeSalvio to discuss the status of talks between Wynn Resorts and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh. A judge recently rejected a Boston lawsuit to halt construction of a casino in Everett, but Walsh has vowed to keep up the fight. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch.5)
MONDAY, DEC. 21, 2015
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches meet in informal sessions at 11 a.m.
HEALEY ON GREATER BOSTON: Attorney General Maura Healey is a scheduled guest on Greater Boston for a year-in-review interview with host Jim Braude. (Monday, 7 p.m., WGBH-TV Ch. 2)
BAKER AS CELEBRITY BELL RINGER: Gov. Charlie Baker takes over the Salvation Army's iconic red kettle in Downtown Crossing as "celebrity bell ringers," soliciting donations for the charity's annual holiday campaign. Walsh, the 2014 celebrity bell ringer 2014 champion, will seek to defend his title as the top fundraiser. The Salvation Army has set a statewide red kettle campaign goal of $3.4 million, and as of Friday has collected $1.87 million. Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr will also ring the Salvation Army bellon Monday. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., outside Macy's in Downtown Crossing, Boston)
AG ON AIR: Attorney General Maura Healey will appear as a guest on Boston Herald Radio's "Morning Meeting" with co-hosts Hillary Chabot and Jaclyn Cashman. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Boston Herald Radio, 70 Fargo St., Boston)
REP. COLLINS FUNDRAISER: The Committee to Elect Nick Collins holds a breakfast reception for Rep. Collins hosted by Speaker Robert DeLeo. The suggested donation is $100, $250, $500, or $1,000. Collins represents the Fourth Suffolk District, which covers South Boston and part of Dorchester, and is the vice chair of the House Committee on Personnel and Administration. (Monday, 8:30 a.m., UMass Club, One Beacon St., 32nd floor, Boston)
BOARD OF ED ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE: The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education holds a meeting of its assessment committee, with an agenda to include an update on testing plans for spring 2016 and a review of a proposed working group process for the so-called "MCAS 2.0." In November, the board voted on a new standardized assessment program for the state, choosing to develop a hybrid of the existing MCAS test and consortium-developed PARCC exam. Massachusetts will remain a member of the PARCC consortium and award a new MCAS contract to a test developer for English and math exams. Also on the committee's meeting agenda are a contractor procurement process overview and an update on PARCC consortium governance. (Monday, 3 p.m., 75 Pleasant St., Malden)
NATION BRANDING TALK: Israeli American Council Advocacy, an initiative to help Israeli natives deal with the challenges of advocating for Israel, hosts a talk on nation branding. There will be a presentation from Amir Grinstein, a marketing professor at Northeastern University. The lecture and discussion will be in Hebrew. The event is free and open to the public, with registration required on Eventbrite. (Monday, 8 p.m., 1320 Centre St., Newton)
DPU HEARING - EXELON: The Department of Public Utilities will hold an evidentiary hearing on a petition of Exelon West Medway to construct and operate a 200-megawatt, duel-fuel oil, simple-cycle, quick-start generating facility at the existing West Medway generating station site in Medway. (Monday, 10 a.m., 19 Staniford St., 6th floor, Boston)
EDUCATION FOR PEACEBUILDING: Education Development Center and Search for Common Ground hold a webinar on education for peacebuilding programs. Gustavo Payan, international development specialist at EDC, will share findings from the Center's Honduras Cross-Sectional Youth Violence Prevention Assessment. Rebecca Herrington of Common Ground will present a guide on emerging practices in design, monitoring and evaluation of education for peacebuilding programming. Registration is available on Eventbrite, and there are 25 spots for people who wish to attend the panel in person. (Monday, 12 p.m., EDC Headquarters Office, Wickes Room, 43 Foundry Ave., Waltham)
MBTA CONTROL BOARD MEETING: The MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board holds a public meeting. State transportation officials are facing challenges balancing the MBTA's budget, exploring potential fare strategies, examining a path forward for the Green Line Extension, and gearing up for the potential for weeks of foul weather. (Monday, 1 p.m., MassDOT Board Room, 10 Park Plaza, second floor conference rooms, Boston)
MBTA RIDER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING: The MBTA holds a public meeting of its Rider Oversight Committee. The ROC was created in 2004 to facilitate communication between riders, advocates and MBTA employees. At its monthly public meetings, the ROC invites members of the public to present information of interest and comment on MBTA-related topics. (Monday, 5 p.m., 10 Park Plaza, Conference Rooms 1-3, Boston)
MEETING ON SWATTING HOAXES: U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark meets with Framingham Police Chief Kenneth Ferguson to discuss the Interstate Swatting Hoax Act of 2015, legislation Clark introduced with Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Meehan. Swatting is the intentional misleading of emergency responders to incite a S.W.A.T. response, and a string of these situations have been reported in the Metrowest area. Federal law prohibits falsely reporting a bomb threat hoax or terrorist attack - but not other emergency situations - through the telecommunications system. The Interstate Swatting Hoax Act would close this loophole. The FBI estimates that 400 swatting attacks occur yearly, according to Clark's office. In his conversation with Clark, Ferguson plans to demonstrate the Framingham Police Department's emergency response and discuss the impacts of such hoaxes on the community. There will be a media availability before the meeting, from 12:30 to 1 p.m. (Monday, 1:15 p.m., 1 William H Welch Way, Framingham)
DPU HEARING - HARBOR ELECTRIC: The Department of Public Utilities will hold a public hearing on the petition of Harbor Electric Energy Company for approval of initial rates, charges, rules and regulations. (Monday, 2 p.m., One South Station, 5th floor, hearing room B, Boston)
TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015
SPECIAL ELECTION PAPERS DEADLINE: Tuesday is the deadline to file nomination papers for the March 1 special election to fill three open Massachusetts House seats in Brockton, Peabody and Fitchburg. Rep. Michael Brady left his Ninth Plymouth District seat in Brockton empty after winning a special election to fill the late Sen. Thomas Kennedy's Brockton Senate seat. The 12th Essex District, which covers most of Peabody, is vacant after Leah Cole decided in September to step down from her House seat to focus on her nursing career. Stephen DiNatale is leaving his Third Worcester District seat in Fitchburg to succeed Lisa Wong as mayor of Fitchburg. Those seeking to run in one of the districts must submit voter signatures - at least 150 certified signatures are required - with the local registrar of voters or election commissioners. A voter must be enrolled in the same party as the candidate, not enrolled in any party, or enrolled in a political designation for his or her signature to be certified, a process that must be completed by Dec. 28. The signatures must also be legible and include the names of voter addresses. The primary election will be held Feb. 2. (Tuesday, 5 p.m.)
DPU HEARING - WESTERN MASS. ELECTRIC: The Department of Public Utilities holds a public hearing on a petition of Western Massachusetts Electric Company seeking to recover actual and projected costs associated with its solar program. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., One South Station, Boston)
RETURN OF THE COLORS: Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco Urena will join state and veterans organization officials for a reenactment of the "Return of the Colors" ceremony to commemorate the end of the Civil War. On Dec. 22, 1865, the battle flags of Massachusetts Civil War regiments were returned to the commonwealth and presented to the governor. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Civil War reenactors will begin a parade of replica Civil War battle flags through Boston Common. The parade will end at the front steps of the State House, where Urena will represent the governor in a recreation of the 1865 exchange between General Darius Couch and Gov. John Andrew. After the exchange, the color bearers will proceed up the front steps, through Doric Hall and into Memorial Hall, where the flags will be displayed. At 11:45 a.m., Urena and others will offer remarks to mark the end of the state's four-year sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War. (Tuesday, Parade begins at 11 a.m., remarks at 11:45 a.m., Front steps, State House)
BERKSHIRE COUNTY COMMUNITY COMPACT: Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito meet with local officials from Berkshire County to sign a community compact. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Great Barrington Town Hall, 334 Main St., Great Barrington)
BAKER VISITS CHARTER SCHOOL: Gov. Charlie Baker, a charter school supporter, plans to visit Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter School. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 1 Commercial St., Adams)
LOTTERY COMMISSION: The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission meets, with Treasurer Deb Goldberg as chair. (Tuesday,10:30 a.m., One Ashburton Place, 12th floor, Boston)
HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION: Health Policy Commission staff will join executives from Lawrence General Hospital to launch the hospital's Phase 2 initiative for the Community Hospital Acceleration, Revitalization, and Transformation (CHART) Investment Program. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 1 General Street, Lawrence)
DPU HEARING - NATIONAL GRID: The Department of Public Utilities holds an evidentiary hearing on a petition from the Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid, for authorization and approval to issue-long term debt of up to $784 million, for an exemption from competitive solicitation and advertising requirements, and for an exemption from par value requirements. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., One South Station, 5th floor, hearing room C, Boston)
DeLEO AS CELEBRITY BELL RINGER: House Speaker Robert DeLeo will man the Salvation Army's red kettle as he seeks to defend his title as the champion "celebrity bell ringer," after collecting the most donations in 2014. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., outside Macy's in Downtown Crossing, Boston)
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23, 2015
SHNS EARLY ADVANCES DEADLINE: Newsmakers and others should aim to submit information about planned events during the week of Dec. 17 by noon on Wednesday since the Advances will be published earlier due to the Christmas holiday.
RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING: The Massachusetts State Retirement Board holds a board meeting. The board will enter into executive session to review applications for disability retirement and associated benefits. The meeting agenda also includes - in open session - a report from the executive director, group classification requests and miscellaneous requests. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., One Winter St., 8th floor, Boston)
BAKER ON GREATER BOSTON: Gov. Charlie Baker is a scheduled guest on Greater Boston where he will reflect on his first year in office as well as his agenda moving forward with host Jim Braude. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., WGBH-TV Ch. 2)
GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT IN ASHFIELD: Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton makes a grant announcement relative to the Schools and Public Housing Integrating Renewables and Efficiency (SAPHIRE) program. (Wednesday,10 a.m., Sanderson Academy Elementary School, 808 Cape St., Ashfield)
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS - COMMENT DEADLINE: Wednesday is the deadline to provide public comment to the Department of Environmental Protection on the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level baseline and projections. The Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act passed in 2008 required MassDEP to determine the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 and reasonably project what the emissions will be in 2020. A review is underway of the emissions determinations, originally published in 2009, because "significant new data has become available," according to the department. Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. by email to climate.strategies@state.ma.us or by mail to: MassDEP Bureau of Air & Waste, One Winter Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02108, Attn: Sue Ann Richardson. Emissions level update: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/air/climate/gwsa-update-15.pdf (Wednesday, 5 p.m.)
Boston, MA 02108, Attn: Sue Ann Richardson. Emissions level update: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/air/climate/gwsa-update-15.pdf (Wednesday, 5 p.m.)
WALSH AS CELEBRITY BELL RINGER: Boston Mayor Marty Walsh takes a turn at the Salvation Army's Downtown Crossing red kettle, collecting donations as part of the charity's "celebrity bell ringers" series. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., outside Macy's in Downtown Crossing, Boston)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: The Governor's Council meets, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito presiding. The council is expected to vote on the confirmation of Springfield District Court nominee Patrick Sabbs, an assistant attorney general who oversees the criminal bureau of the Western Massachusetts Regional Office. Sabbs, who spent over 18 years working in various capacities with the Hampden County District Attorney's Office and 12 years as a television director and producer with WWLP-22News in Chicopee, was interviewed by the council on Dec. 16. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Room 360)
THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2015
SENATE: The Senate plans to meet in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
SHREWSBURY XMAS BREAKFAST: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attends the Shrewsbury Town Hall Christmas Breakfast in her hometown. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., 100 Maple Ave., Shrewsbury)
FRIDAY, DEC. 25, 2015
CHRISTMAS DAY
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