Wednesday, January 27, 2016
By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) and Sara Brown
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Today: Here comes the Baker budget
Gov. Baker already has made one thing clear: Expect a lot of level funding. The governor unveils his 2017 budget today at 2:00 pm, having already set out spending parameters in various areas, including local aid, school aid, job training and vocational education. He also has vowed to add to the Rainy Day Fund. But there simply isn't a lot of new funding to go around after covering various fixed costs, including health care. Baker also has indicated he wants this budget to be the last to depend on onetime revenue sources, and it remains to be seen what rabbits he pulls out of the hat. The State House News Service's Matt Murphy has been closely following the emerging contours of the budget plan, and here's his latest take:http://bit.ly/1UpuiGY (paywall)
The budget gap, as it turns out, is $635 million -- not quite as large as anticipated. Joshua Miller of the Globe lays out the math behind the gap: About $900 million in additional revenue, but about $1.5 billion in mandatory spending. Administration and Finance Secretary Kristen Lepore on the budget: "It's a lot of belt-tightening."http://bit.ly/1QrIHBD
Level funding, even with very modest inflation, means less money in real dollars and we can expect to hear from budget recipients across the Commonwealth about how they feel about it.
DeLeo to voice priorities
The Speaker speaks on his legislative priorities just an hour before Baker's 2:00 pm budget event. Among DeLeo's top issues: early childhood education, charter schools, energy legislation, and regulating Uber (and other ride sharing companies). The Globe's David Scharfenberg previews his remarks: http://bit.ly/1ZRG3aO
Also today: Green Budget goals, homeless census
Members of the fiscal 2017 Green Budget Coalition, corporate leaders, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts hold a Green Budget briefing. They plan to address fiscal 2017 funding priorities endorsed by local businesspeople and 75 of the state's environmental groups. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee chairs Sen. Anne Gobi and Rep. Paul Schmid will host in Room 437, 11:00 am.
Congressman Mike Capuano is a scheduled guest on Boston Public Radio with co-hosts Margery Eagan and Jim Braude, WGBH-FM 89.7, 12:00 pm.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh joins approximately 375 volunteers and special guests for the 36th annual City of Boston Homeless Census, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, 8:30 pm.
Staples layoffs and the misguided FTC
Staples reportedly is laying off hundreds at its Framingham headquarters, a move that reflects the struggles of the big box retailer and also an overdose of federal regulation. Staples' attempt to merge with rival Office Depot is being challenged by the Federal Trade Commission, which claims the deal would be anticompetitive. Someone at the FTC should go on Amazon or visit Walmart if it wants a look at the competition. Staples is "streamlining" in anticipation of not being able to pull of the Office Depot deal, analysts say. Megan Woolhouse of the Globe has more:http://bit.ly/1KELYJ7
The polls often get it wrong in NH
The Iowa caucuses are just around the corner, and New Hampshire primary is becoming a spring. But what about accuracy of the polls, which are recited ad nauseam? Don't count on them, reports Christian Wade, State House Bureau Chief for Community Newspaper Holdings. "Anyone who has watched New Hampshire's presidential primaries for any length of time knows that the polls are largely meaningless," Andy Smith, a political science professor who oversees the University of New Hampshire's polling operation, told Wade. "Even the polls done the week before the election are wrong more often than they are right." http://bit.ly/1VqUgKB
Will rich people flee a millionaire's tax? Some data say no
Advocates for the millionaire's tax, a ballot initiative that would impose a surtax on incomes over $1 million, helpfully tried to answer my question about the flight risk of millionaires were the tax to become law. When this issue eventually makes it to the front stage of Massachusetts politics, a pivotal question will be how those targeted by the tax, which would raise their state income tax rate to about 9 percent, will react. MassBudget already is on the issue, saying: "For the overwhelming majority of households, both rich and poor, state tax levels are not a significant factor in deciding where they will live. U.S. Census surveys reveal that most people who move do so for job or family reasons; few do so to reduce their state tax obligations." More here from MassBudget: http://bit.ly/20pQC74
The New Yorker goes deep into DCF
Brilliant Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer Jill Lepore takes an in-depth look at Massachusetts' and others' attempts to protect children against abuse, pivoting off the Baby Doe case in the New Yorker. One of her conclusions: "Child protection is trapped in a cycle of scandal and reform." http://bit.ly/1Py57Oj
Repeal license suspension for drug offenses stalls
A common-sense criminal justice reform -- repealing a statute that automatically suspended drivers licenses from those convicted on drug offense -- has stalled, reports CommonWealth magazine's Michael Jonas. And the reason for the delay stems from a disagreement between the House and Senate about whether those convicted of drug trafficking should still have their licenses suspended.http://bit.ly/1nx5Byh
Gloucester chosen for federal food initiative
The White House's Rural Council has chosen Gloucester as one of 27 communities nationwide to participate in the Local Foods, Local Places initiative designed to help transform locally harvested food into local economic development, the Gloucester Times Reports. "Gloucester is the only Massachusetts community included in the initiative, as well as the only city in the Northeast that will receive the technical support and advice from a bevy of experts on the best methods for developing local food projects specific to Gloucester and Cape Ann, according to Gloucester Economic Development Director Sal Di Stefano."
GE deal safe, despite objections
Even as lawmakers and others raise objections to the details of the relocation package given to GE to bring its headquarters to South Boston, experts say even vehement public opposition is unlikely to derail the agreement, the Herald's Jordan Graham and Owen Boss report. In fact, they say, even a groundswell comparable to the one that stopped Boston 2024 in its tracks would not be enough to deter GE from moving. http://bit.ly/1PSfqgF
Treasurer's office fixes tax form snafu
The office of Treasurer Deb Goldberg says it will cost $35,000 to repair a clerical error that led to 50,000 retired state workers being sent the wrong tax form, Gerry Tuoti reports in the Brockton Enterprise. Retirees who used the incorrect forms could have ended up paying more in federal taxes than they actually owe. http://bit.ly/1WNE1sc
Brother, can you spare a plow?
The Mass. Department of Transportation is sending an 80-ton snow melter and five front-end loaders to Washington D.C. today to help with recovery efforts, MassLive's Shira Schoenberg reports. Gov. Baker notes that other states helped Massachusetts dig out from its near-historic snowfall last winter. "If we can be in a position to help somebody who's dealing with the stuff we were dealing with last year, we would jump on that opportunity," he said. http://bit.ly/1nnnY83
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