MASSterList: Now we have Kitchengate | Regs on filming police? | Clinton floats student loan plan

 



Monday, August 10, 2015

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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Sara Brown

Happening today Gov. Baker with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Treasurer Deb Goldberg, state Auditor Suzanne Bump, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash, and members of the legislature join Pete Frates and his family to participate in the ALS "Every August Until a Cure" Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness and support a cure for ALS, front steps, State House 2 pm. Here's more on the event in the Herald: http://bit.ly/1DGiigC The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Selection Committee will meet in executive session to "consider or interview" applicants for the position of executive director. The authority's longtime leader James Rooney left the post to become president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boardroom 201, 12 pm. Organizers of the marijuana ballot questions, including campaign manager at Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, Will Luzier, and McLean Hospital Doctor Kevin Hill, MD, MHS are scheduled to appear as guests on Great Boston along with Governor's Councilor Robert Jubinville, WGBH-TV Ch. 2, 7 pm.   The week ahead: All eyes turn to a New York City courtroom Wednesday morning, where a federal judge will preside over a settlement conference between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The Globe's Ben Volin sets the stage. http://bit.ly/1MfyGGg Expect more photos of President Obama on the links of Martha's Vineyard at the first family takes a two-week vacation. Also expect a flood of ads for the upcoming sales tax holiday, Aug. 15-16.   The mayor won't let go of his iPhones It's a political quandary: Once texts are easily retrievable by Freedom of Information Act requests, how on earth will government officials communicate? Mayor Marty Walsh, just like No. 12, doesn't want to share his text messages, although no one is suggesting that Walsh had an assistant destroy his phone. The city has denied the request of Fox Investigative Report Mike Beaudet, who also teaches at Northeastern University, looking for text messages from the mayor over a month period as part of an effort with his journalism class. The texts would seem to be public records, just like email. The city lacks the "technical capacity," so it claims, to retrieve them. Andrew Ryan has the story:http://bit.ly/1Pfrh9V Now we have Kitchengate Mayor Walsh refurbished his City Hall office kitchen with materials from (who else?) Joe Fallon, one of Boston's most successful developers (and a close friend of the late Thomas Menino). A granite countertop was among a few other kitchen materials that apparently came from space Vertex vacated in one of Fallon's buildings. Is this smart recycling or an even smarter attempt by Fallon to ingratiate himself with the mayor? Or an obvious conflict of interest to take the stuff, even if it's not worth that much? Andrew Ryan breaks Kitchengate in the Globe. http://bit.ly/1PfAOhh Police Commish wants regs on filming police The Boston Herald reports BPD Commissioner William Evans is "calling for laws to regulate theproliferation of cellphone-toting citizens and so-called cop watchers dedicated to recording potential police misconduct -- a trend that has given rise to new challenges and risks for officers at crime scenes." http://bit.ly/1MkiGog Liberally yours, Massachusetts Massachusetts has the second most liberal legislature in the country, and not just because of the superabundance of Democrats. Our Republicans in office are moderate (and to the left of Democrats in at least one state.) The Globe's Evan Horowitz breaks down the numbers (assembled by two political scientists), along with a nifty chart of the leanings of legislatures across the country.http://bit.ly/1gWRZZP   Political ingredients for the sales tax holiday Some laws have a special momentum of their own, notes the blogger who goes by the name HesterPrynne and writes regularly on Massachusetts politics with liberal grace. It wasn't just the lethargy of the legislature or the efforts of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts' Jon Hurst. The Mass Fiscal Alliance (a bête noire among liberals) zeroed in on the effort with a July 17 letter to legislators. http://hesterprynne.net/ Polls: The divide is wide over voting process Recent polls show that many voters are out of UMass Lowell show voters are divided along party lines about the voting process. In two national polls released by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion, 78 percent of Democrats believe that access to voting was a main problem as opposed to 22 percent of Republicans. However, Republicans seem to be more concerned over voter fraud thanDemocrats. "The parties have clearly staked out grounds with Democrats expressing concern about the free and available use of the franchise and Republicans expressing concern about voter fraud; this concern is now readily apparent in our surveys of elections," said Professor Joshua Dyck, co-director of the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion, according to The Eagle-Tribune.http://bit.ly/1J5LH6g  Common Core repeal ready to rumble Education activists in Central Mass. are poised to roll out a concerted campaign to repeal Common Core, the Worcester Telegram reports. If the group, led by Worcester's Donna Colorio, receives approval from the Attorney General's office on the language, it can start collecting signatures and advocates for the measure believe they'll find a lot of support. "Anti-Common Core advocates often point to the new standards' seemingly diminished focus on content compared to critical thinkingskills. Some parts of the math standards have also been made less ambitious than what Massachusetts students used to be required to do, said Jim Stergios, executive director of the Boston-based Pioneer Institute, which has published a series of reports critical of the Common Core over the past five years," the Telegram reports. http://bit.ly/1f3dGpg  Warren: I will miss Jon Stewart Along with many, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she is going to miss Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. She said her first appearance on the show changed her life but it also made her sick with nerves. "I threw up backstage," Warren wrote on Facebook according to the Herald. "I had gut-wrenching, stomach-turning stage fright." She said it was that appearance on the show that got people noticing her. "I'm grateful for every single time someone has come up to me and asked: 'Hey, aren't you that lady I saw on Jon Stewart?' Because almost every time I've told someone, 'Yup, that's me,' they've followed it up with: 'Keep fighting!' That's what Jon has done for 16 years: with passion and humor, he skewered the people who needed skewering, called out the big guys who rig the system, and prodded us all to fight back," she wrote. http://bit.ly/1ISS2f6  Clinton reveals student loan plan Hillary Clinton is set to unveil her student loans plan to which would allow students to earn a four-year degree without taking any loans. Community college would also be free, and those with student loanswouldn't be required to pay more than 10 percent of their income in debt payments, according to the Globe. "The plan would be paid for by limiting the value of itemized tax deductions for the wealthiesttaxpayers, and increasing unspecified taxes. The overall cost: $350 billion over 10 years," the Globe reports. Other serious Democrat contenders released their student debt plans months ago. http://bit.ly/1ISRxBz  How to reach me and MASSterList Nothing makes me happier than comments, tips, suggestions. Also, opinion articles also will be considered. Please don't hesitate to weigh in on what we're missing and where we should look. Reach me at gdonnelly@massterlist.com or on Twitter @geodonnelly. TODAY'S TOP STORIES National: Hillary Clinton hits N.H. as grumbles grow Vacancies spur nationwide hiring scramble for school teachers Obama sees chance for improved relations between US, Iran - The Boston Globe Clinton to unveil student debt plan at New Hampshire event - The Boston Globe Polls still show concerns in voting process State: Baker, Polito will be doused by ice water New GOP state committeewoman from Westport says her focus is local Commish calls for filming laws: Cops face risks of citizens on patrol Smoke shop owner is organizing state referendum to end tobacco sales tax Local: Springfield mayoral candidate Sal Circosta suggests WMass Alcohol Center be relocated to Ludlow Council vote could open door for Fuller sale Health director resigns, to take job in North Reading Danvers creates new position of finance director

CCT: SHNS: Weekly round-up: Rethinking greatness

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Weekly round-up: Rethinking greatness

Constituents pitch some ideas for how Massachusetts can be great

ARTICLE | POLITICS | AUGUST 9, 2015 06:00 AM | BY MATT MURPHY, STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

- See more at: http://www.capecodtoday.com/article/2015/08/09/225724-Weekly-round-Rethinking-greatness#sthash.9eBb8R5Z.dpuf

Nine months ago voters put their faith in now Governor Charlie Baker to follow through on promises to make government more efficient, to increase school choice and to bring jobs back to struggling urban neighborhoods.

"Let's be great, Massachusetts," Baker challenged the electorate, and in response it replied, "Yes, please."

After this week, however, it became clear that pockets of Massachusetts residents, including presumably some of the 48 percent that elected Baker as governor, have some additional suggestions for what might make Massachusetts great again, and for which they have little confidence in Beacon Hill pols to do on their own.

In this reimagined Massachusetts, whales and sea turtles will no longer get caught in fishing nets, business will no longer be considered people (for campaign finance purposes), Common Core education standards will be ditched, charter schools will multiply, hospital revenues will be reapportioned, and smoking pot and lighting off fireworks in your backyard will be as legal as puffing a cigar around a camp fire.

Whether the groups behind these ideas represent the majority of residents or just niche interests, only time will tell. But as of Wednesday at 5 p.m., 35 initiative petitions proposing 26 new laws and nine constitutional amendments (some of which were duplicates) had been placed on file with Attorney General Maura Healey's office. It's the most since 1994 when 42 petitions were filed and seven actually made it to the ballot.

Constitutional amendments take longer to make it to the ballot - the last ones that made it were in 2000 (redistricting and prisoner voting rights) - and face more hurdles given the fact that the Legislature must vote twice over the next four years to advance the questions to voters in 2018.

Still, one such effort to tax the wealthy on income over $1 million at a higher rate - 4 percentage points above the income tax rate - got a boost from Senate President Stanley Rosenberg. The Amherst Democrat has gone on record saying the issue should be debated, which is more of an opening than tax reform advocates have had in the recent past.

Marijuana advocates, predictably, grabbed the lion share of headlines and attention when two groups with one common goal, but very different approaches, filed a total of four proposals to legalize recreational marijuana use in Massachusetts.

It's the next step in what has been an eight-year slow burn toward legalization starting in 2008 with the decriminalization of small amounts of pot. Baker, Healey and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh all hate the idea, but the lack of significant political support hasn't slowed down marijuana activists in the past, and they don't think it will stop them now.

It's entirely possible that a little over a year from now in Walsh's Boston it will be legal to light up a joint, but a fineable offense to pack a lip with chewing tobacco, even if you're David Ortiz.

The differences between the pot proposals boil down to whether supporters think marijuana should be taxed above the state's 6.25 percent sales tax and put under the thumb of a new regulatory division, or whether it should just be legalized and treated as any other crop with the issue of regulation left up to the Legislature.

Baker's disdain for marijuana did not extend to other populist recommendations from the peanut gallery. The governor has long been a fan of the idea of expanding access to charter schools, even though he plans to file his own legislation in the fall.

After hitting a roadblock in the Senate last year, the charter school group filed a petition that would keep existing statutory caps on charter seats, but allow the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to skirt those caps if they see fit. Massachusetts Teachers Association President Barbara Madeloni called it "equally as dangerous" to traditional public schools as eliminating the caps altogether, proving that the issue still burns hot.

Secretary of State William Galvin is counting himself among the aggrieved and those frustrated by inaction on Beacon Hill pertaining to public records reform.

House leaders delayed action last week on a public records bill until after the August recess, prompting Galvin to follow through with filing his own petition seeking to compel government to comply with requests for records without being dilatory or cost-prohibitive.

Galvin said his desire is still for the Legislature to pass a bill so he can pull his petition, and reform advocates, such as the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, are hopeful that will happen too. They were less than impressed by Galvin's recommendations, and see Rep. Peter Kocot's bill as a stronger alternative.

The deadline for filing possible 2016 ballot questions dominated the news cycle this, but Baker also signed legislation establishing a sales tax holiday on Aug. 16-17 and another bill sealing the expansion of the earned income tax credit that had been negotiated in the budget.

A Superior Court judge heard arguments for why unions should not be able to donate $15,000 to a candidate for public office when businesses are prohibited from giving.

As that plays out in a lower court with the potential to rise to the U.S. Supreme Court, the state's highest court - the Supreme Judicial Court - settled a complaint that arose during Rep. Brian Mannal's campaign last fall invalidating a nearly 70-year-old law that criminalized false statements designed to help or hurt a candidate for office.

The court, in its ruling against Mannal, found that the law was "antagonistic to the fundamental right of free speech."

The first week of the August recess started with joint news from the Big Three that Gov. Baker had signed off on a letter with Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo asking the Council of State Governments and the Pew Center of the States to come to Massachusetts and help them examine criminal justice policy.

Baker's interest seems to lie more in finding ways to reduce recidivism rather than scrapping mandatory minimum sentencing, which some would like to see happen through this process. But it's a start on an issue where policymakers haven't been able to find common ground, and Rosenberg said the Senate may have more to say on this topic in the fall.

STORY OF THE WEEK: What do whales, pot, fireworks and charter schools have in common? They all have champions hoping to take their cause to the ballot in 2016.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Legalization is not for stoners. It's for parents." - Dick Evans, an attorney with the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. Evans said the ballot drive is about creating a "new culture of responsible use."

About the Author  »

Matt Murphy, State House News Service

Matt Murphy covers major media, lobbying firms, government agencies, political junkies as well as towns Statewide. He likes to cover politics and campaigns.

- See more at: http://www.capecodtoday.com/article/2015/08/09/225724-Weekly-round-Rethinking-greatness#sthash.9eBb8R5Z.dpuf

CapeCodToday: SHNS: What's ahead in state government this week

What's ahead in state government this week

Local: Cape Cod Commission on the Wellfleet tower project; Herring grant announcement in Wellfleet

ARTICLE | POLITICS | AUGUST 1, 2015 06:00 AM | BY STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

- See more at: http://www.capecodtoday.com/article/2015/08/01/225658-Whats-ahead-state-government-week#sthash.mGH9NHZz.dpuf

Initiative petition sponsors have until Thursday to file the language of their proposed ballot laws along with signatures from 10 sponsors of their measures if they wish to be in the running for a slot on the November 2016 ballot.  It's the first in a series of deadlines that ballot campaigns must meet if they wish to put proposals before voters.   Activists have been talking up measures to legalize marijuana, authorize more charter schools, end the state's participation in Common Core education standards, tax millionaires at a higher rate and overhaul the public records laws.  After Thursday, Attorney General Maura Healey faces the next deadline in the process.   By Sept. 2, Healey must decide whether the proposals meet constitutional requirements for ballot questions.   Sponsors of questions that clear that hurdle then face a two-step signature-gathering requirement, with 64,750 required in the first round and another 10,792 in the second round.   If the Legislature hasn't approved a law that satisfies ballot activists by next July, they can proceed to the ballot if they've met the requirements.

-- After busy formal sessions Wednesday and Thursday informal sessions resume in the Legislature on Monday when lawmakers are free to pass almost any bill as long as no one objects.  The House and Senate are likely to use informal sessions to re-enact sections of the budget sent back by Gov. Baker with amendments, including the section authorizing an expansion of the earned income tax credit.

-- Gov. Charlie Baker's signature is all that's needed to green-light the suspension of the state's 6.25 percent sales tax on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16. The Legislature this week passed the sales tax holiday bill, which has become an annual event in recent years.  

-- Congressman Joe Kennedy III, who has stepped up his political activity this year, is scheduled to address progressive business officials Monday night in Boston.

-- The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees meets Monday with plans to confirm Jacqueline Moloney, executive vice chancellor of UMass-Lowell, to succeed Martin Meehan as chancellor of that campus.  The job opened up when the UMass Board in May picked Meehan to succeed former UMass President Robert Caret.

-- Republican presidential candidates plan to gather Monday in New Hampshire and Thursday in Cleveland as voters screen the large field of contenders ahead of next year's election to choose a successor to President Barack Obama.

-- The Senate this month passed legislation aimed at vastly expanding the state's solar power capacity and Gov. Baker next week plans to file his own "net metering" bill to boost solar's role in the state's energy mix while attempting to minimize impacts on ratepayers.

SATURDAY, AUG. 1, 2015

FEAST OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT:  Gov. Charles Baker plans to attend the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament at Madeira Field in New Bedford.  Now proclaimed by organizers to be the largest Portuguese feast in the world, and the largest ethnic festival in New England, the feast was founded in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants.  (Saturday, 2 p.m., 50 Madeira Ave., New Bedford)

'JOE DAY' DAY:  Members of Boston's news community will gather to celebrate the life of longtime Boston political reporter Joe Day, who died in March at age 78.  He reported politics for WGBH-TV Ch. 2, WCVB-TV Ch. 5, and WHDH-TV Ch. 7, covering local and national affairs, presidential campaigns, gubernatorial races, and Boston mayoral campaigns.  Day was known to Ch. 7 colleagues as "The Doctor" for "nearly-surgical precision" to "cut to the heart of a story."  7News alumnus Mark Wile has spent months organizing the celebration, which has been dubbed "Joe Day" Day.  Day's wife Nancy and sons Peter and Matt will join in the event, along with colleagues, friends, and fans.  (Saturday, 12 p.m., Joe's American Bar & Grill, Rte. 1, Dedham)

STAN LEE DAY: Boston Mayor Martin Walsh will honor comic book icon Stan Lee, the 92-year-old former president of Marvel Comics who co-created Spider-Man, The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, X-Men and others, by proclaiming Aug. 1, 2015 "Stan Lee Day" in Boston. Walsh will present Lee with a proclamation and offer brief remarks at the 8th annual Boston Comic Con, where Lee will be greeting fans and signing autographs. (Saturday, 11:30 a.m., Cityview Ballroom, Third Floor, Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd., Boston)

SUNDAY, AUG. 2, 2015

PAN-MASS CHALLENGE:  Gov. Charles Baker and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh will ride in the 36th Pan-Mass Challenge, starting at Babson College.  They will be among thousands of cyclists traversing the state to raise money for cancer research and treatment.  (Sunday,6:30 a.m., 231 Forest St., Babson Park, Wellesley)

SUNUNU ON KELLER:  Former N.H. Governor John Sununu talks with Jon Keller about his new book "The Quiet Man: The Indispensable Presidency of George H.W. Bush."  They will discuss the difference between Bush's generation and baby boomer political leadership; how the media covers politics; and Trump, for whom Sununu has little use.  (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)

WALSH "ON THE RECORD": Boston Mayor Marty Walsh talks to "On the Record" hosts Janet Wu and Ed Harding on several topics including the Olympics.  (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)

NECN: THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS | Shirley Leung of the Boston Globe, Chris Dempsey of No Boston Olympics and Peter Howe of NECN talk about the USOC's decision to pull Boston's 2024 Olympic bid. (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., NECN)

FALCHUK ON URBAN UPDATE: Evan Falchuk will talk with host Byron Barnett about the end of "Boston 2024." Barnett will also host Boston Herald columnist Kevin Peterson and Beverly Morgan-Welch, executive director of the Museum of African American History, to discuss the 1965 Voting Rights Act. He will also discuss El Sistema, a musical program created in Venezuela, and its Summer Academy in Massachusett (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., WHDH-TV Ch. 7)

MONDAY, AUG. 3, 2015

HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches plan to meet in informal sessions at 11 a.m.

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 plan to meet in a weekly leadership meeting.  This will be their first meeting since the legislature voted to override 87 of Gov. Baker's line-item vetoes, restoring around $97 million in spending to the fiscal 2016 budget.  (CLOSED PRESS)  (Monday, 2 p.m., House Speaker's Office, Room 356)

TRANSPO PROJECT AMENDMENTS: The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization will release a draft of an amendment of the federal fiscal years (FFYs) 2015-18 Transportation Improvement Program and an amendment to the FFY 2015 Unified Planning Work Program for a 30-day public review process. The TIP amendment addresses a cost increase to the improvements on Dedham Street/Canton Street project in Canton and reflects that the project will be funded with federal aid instead of non-federal aid. The UPWP amendment removes a mapping study and transfers the funding for it to another study, which is focused on improving bicycle and pedestrian access to MBTA stations on the Fairmount commuter rail line. (Monday, no specific time, online at the MPO's website, www.bostonmpo.org.)

GOP PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS ON STAGE, ON AIR: Further cementing its "first in the nation" status, New Hampshire will be the site of the Voters First Presidential Forum as 14 Republican presidential candidates are expected to discuss the issues at Saint Anselm College. The event is jointly sponsored by the New Hampshire Union Leader, the Charleston Post & Courier (SC), the Cedar Rapids Gazette (IA), and WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC. The forum was organized in response to the criteria Fox News established to limit participation in the first GOP-sanctioned debate, scheduled for later in the week, the Union Leader said. Tickets for the event are no longer available. (Monday, 7 p.m., The Dana Center, Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Dr., Manchester, NH, also airing live on C-SPAN.)

UMASS TRUSTEES: The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees holds a special meeting to vote on the appointment of a new chancellor for UMass-Lowell. The UMass Lowell Chancellor Search Committee will present its report to the board, and UMass President Marty Meehan will make his recommendation to the board before the vote. If the board approves UMass-Lowell executive vice chancellor Jacqueline Moloney for the position, she will become the first female chancellor in the 121-year history of UMass-Lowell and its preceding institutions, the university said. In the just-completed state budget deliberations, UMass secured a long-sought tuition retention law and convinced the Legislature to restore $5.25 million in university funds that had been vetoed by Gov. Charlie Baker.  (Monday, 4 p.m., Amherst Room, 33rd Floor, 225 Franklin St., Boston)

KENNEDY AT "PROGRESSIVE POWER HOUR":  Congressman Joseph Kennedy III is scheduled as the featured guest at the Alliance for Business Leadership's "Progressive Power Hour."  The series of hour-long events aims to bring together top public figures with the progressive business community for networking and Q&A.  The next power hour will feature Congresswoman Katherine Clark on Oct. 13.  (Monday, 6 p.m., MassChallenge, 21 Drydock Ave., Boston)

FEINBURG HOSTS NIGHTSIDE:  Boston talker Todd Feinburg will sit in for Dan Rea as guest-host on "NightSide."  (Monday, 8 p.m., WBZ NewsRadio 1030)

TUESDAY, AUG. 4, 2015

ROSENBERG ON HERALD RADIO:  Senate President Stanley Rosenberg plans to sit down for a monthly interview on Boston Herald Radio's "Morning Meeting."  (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 70 Fargo St., Boston, www.bostonheraldradio.com, WMEX-AM 1510, WCRN-AM 830)

DOI SESSION ON WORKERS' COMP: The Division of Insurance will hold a public listening session on workers compensation insurance. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., 1000 Washington Street, Hearing Room 1-E, Boston.

GROUNDBREAKING OF MALDEN POLICE STATION: Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash will deliver remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Malden Police Station. (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., Malden Police Station, 800 Eastern Ave, Malden)

T CONTROL BOARD: The MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board holds its third meeting and is expected to discuss Parcel 13,  approximately 54,500 square feet of air rights over the Massachusetts Turnpike and portions of the MBTA Green Line tunnel across the street from the Hynes Convention Center. Earlier this year, the MBTA and MassDOT selected a developer for a project at Parcel 13 that calls for 85 rental and 88 condominium residential units, a 156-key hotel, 26,000 square feet of retail space, and 138 accessory parking spaces, according to the MBTA. (Tuesday, 2:15 p.m., 10 Park Plaza, MassDOT Board Room, Suite 3830, Boston)

MASSDOT BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors will hold its first meeting since the recently-announced changes to the department's leadership structure. The board will receive a presentation on its Accelerated Bridge Project and the Central Artery-Tunnel Project Repair and Maintenance Trust Fund. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 10 Park Plaza, MassDOT Board Room, Suite 3830, Boston)

'HEROES AMONG US' AWARD CEREMONY: Treasurer Deb Goldberg will give remarks at the 17th Annual Heroes Among Us Award Ceremony presented by the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission in partnership with the Boston Celtics. Heroes Among Us is a community outreach program associated with professional sports. The award is presented to an individual or individuals who have made lasting contributions to the community. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Great Hall, State House)

AG ON BROADSIDE: Attorney General Maura Healey will be in studio for an interview on NECN's "Broadside" program. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., NECN)

D.A. RYAN ATTENDS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: District Attorney Marian Ryan plans to attend National Night Out Against Crime and Drugs community gatherings in Tewksbury and North Reading (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., 175 Chandler Street, Tewksbury) (6:45 p.m., Ipswich River Park, North Reading)

REVERE COMMUNITY COMPACT:  Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo will attend a community compact signing at Revere City Hall.  (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 281 Broadway, Revere)

ROSENBERG SPEAKS TO CAMPERS:  Senate President Stanley Rosenberg plans to speak to 30 campers from the Phillips Brooks House Association.  The association provides summer camps to families around Boston who live in low-income neighborhoods that leave them prime to gang violence and danger.  (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Senate Chamber)

HEARING ON CHALLENGE TO POLITICAL FINANCING LAW: The first hearing in a case challenging the state's ban on business contributions to parties, candidates and political committees will take place in Suffolk Superior Court. The Goldwater Institute is representing 1A Auto Inc., which sells auto parts in Pepperell, and 126 Self Storage Inc., which rents out self-storage units in Ashland. Rick Green is the president of 1A Auto Inc. and chairman of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, a conservative non-profit that targets Democrats on specific issues. The owner of 126 Self Storage is Michael Kane, who is also clerk and director for MassFiscal. The Goldwater Institute is named after former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, an Arizona Republican who was the party's presidential nominee in 1964. "Massachusetts law outright bans businesses from making political contributions to parties, candidates, and political committees," the Goldwater Institute wrote in an advisory. "But labor unions are allowed to directly contribute up to $15,000 to candidates, parties, and political committees with no disclosure requirements at all. On top of that, labor-directed political action committees are also allowed to contribute to candidates, parties, and other PACs. Business-directed PACs are banned from contributing altogether." (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Suffolk Superior Court, Three Pemberton Square, Boston)

MASSDEVELOPMENT: The proposed issuance of about $13.3 million in bonds for the financing, refinancing or reimbursement of a project at the Berkshire School in Sheffield will be considered at a public hearing of the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 1350 Main St., Suite 1110, Springfield)

POLITO ATTENDS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT:  Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will attend National Night Out at Fuller Park in Worcester.  (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., 104 Murray Ave., Worcester)

CAHILL HOSTS NIGHTSIDE:  Former Treasurer Timothy Cahill will sit in for Dan Rea as guest-host on "NightSide."  (Tuesday, 8 p.m., WBZ NewsRadio 1030)

AUDITOR ON THE MOUND: State Auditor Suzanne Bump will throw out the first pitch at the Brockton Rox home game against the Worcester Bravehearts. (Tuesday, 6:35 p.m., Campanelli Stadium, 1 Feinberg Way, Brockton)

LASELL COLLEGE IN NEWTON: The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency will accept testimony on the proposed issuance of $10 million in bonds for a $24 million project at Lasell College in Newton at a public hearing. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. 99 High St. 11th Floor, Boston)

TREASURER GOLDBERG MEETS WITH GUV: Treasurer Deb Goldberg will have her monthly meeting with Gov. Charlie Baker. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Governor's Office,Room 360, State House)

HERRING GRANT: Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton and Department of Fish and Game Commissioner George Peterson announce a grant for the Herring River Estuary Restoration. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Herring River Bridge, adjacent to 1065 Chequessett Neck Road, Wellfleet)

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5, 2015

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: The Governor's Council meets for its weekly assembly. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito presides. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Governor's Office, Room 360)

BAKER, ASH IN WORCESTER:  Gov. Charles Baker and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash plan to visit City Square in Worcester.  (Wednesday, 4 p.m., City Square, Worcester)

D.A. RYAN ATTENDS PICNIC: Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan attends Somerville Mayor Joseph Curatone's Annual "Old Time" Senior Picnic ( Wednesday, 11 a.m., Powderhouse Park, Somerville)

POLICE COMMISSIONER EVANS ON RADIO BOSTON: Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans is scheduled to speak with the co-host of "Radio Boston," Anthony Brooks, and take listener calls. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., WBUR-FM 90.9)

TREASURER GOLDBERG SPEAKS AT MINUTEMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Treasurer Deb Goldberg will visit and speak to the Minuteman High School STEM summer exploratory program for the 7th and 8th grade girls. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Minuteman High School, 758 Marrett Road, Lexington)

DOI SESSION ON FINANCIAL REGULATIONS: Financial regulations will be the topic of a public comment session hosted by the Division of Insurance. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., 1000 Washington Street, Hearing Room 1-E, Boston)

MASSDEVELOPMENT: The issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds totaling no more than $39,235,000 for the Dexter School project in Brookline will be the subject of a public hearing of the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 99 High St. 11th Floor, Boston)

SUDDERS ADDRESSES INTERNS: Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders will be a guest speaker at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind's internship lunch. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Great Hall of Flags, State House)

NORWOTTUCK RIBBON CUTTING: Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton joins Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Carol Sanchez and Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Norwottuck Rail Trail Rehabilitation project. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Elwell Recreation Area Parking Lot, 446 Damon Road, Northampton)

THURSDAY, AUG. 6, 2015

HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches plan to meet in informal sessions at 11 a.m.

SUDDERS ON BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO: Marylou Sudders, secretary of health and human services, will be a guest on "Boston Public Radio" with hosts Margery Eagan and Jim Braude. (Thursday, 12 p.m., WGBH-FM 89.7)

MASS GAMING MEETING: The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will hold a public meeting. Topics at the meeting will include Suffolk Downs racing application, Wynn Resort's Second Supplemental Final Environmental Notification Form, MGM schedule and historical commission MOA, Region C and an update from the Access and Opportunity Committee. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Hynes Convention Center, Boston)

ROSENBERG ON WHMP:  Senate President Stanley Rosenberg plans to sit down for a monthly interview with Bill Newman.  (Thursday, 9:15 a.m., 15 Hampton Ave., Northampton, www.whmp.com, WHMP-AM 1400 Northampton, 1600 East Longmeadow, 1240 Greenfield, FM 96.9 Amherst)

ROSENBERG VISITS SEEDS OF SOLIDARITY:  Senate President Stanley Rosenberg plans to visit Seeds of Solidarity's 30-acre site, a farm and education center established "in the spirit of New Alchemy and in honor of those around the world helping to feed the people."  (Thursday, 11 a.m., 165 Chestnut Hill Rd., Orange)

REPUBLICAN FIELD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: Ten GOP presidential candidates will go toe-to-toe on Fox News as the cable network hosts the first GOP-sanctioned debate of the 2016 presidential campaign. The debate will take place at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, and will feature the top 10 candidates in national polls, as determined by Fox News. The debate will include "Facebook data illustrating how the issues of the day are resonating with people on today's largest platform for political conversation," the cable network said. Anchors Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace will moderate. (Thursday, 9 p.m., Fox News)

MASSDEVELOPMENT: The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency will consider a proposal of the Advent School Corporation related to the financing of the renovation of two buildings on Brimmer Street in Boston. (Thursday, 10 a.m., 99 High St. 11th Floor, Boston)

HEARING TO INVESTIGATE TIME WARNER CABLE:  The Department of Telecommunications and Cable will hold a public and evidentiary hearing to investigate Time Warner Cable's proposed basic service tier programming, equipment and installation rates for Western Massachusetts. (Thursday, 11 a.m., 1000 Washington Street, Hearing Room 1-E, Boston)

CONVERSATION ON VOTING RIGHTS ACT: The Museum of African American History will host a program titled 'The Struggle Continues: 2015 Millennium Conversation on the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act in Boston.' (Thursday, 6 p.m., Museum of African American History, 46 Joy Street, Boston)  

LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS: The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners holds its monthly business meeting and will receive an address from the director of the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library. The board will also discuss its strategic planning process. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Grousbeck Center for Students and Technology, Perkins School, 175 North Beacon St., Watertown)

WOMEN2WOMEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:  The Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus will co-host a 10th anniversary celebration for Women2Women (W2W), an international leadership program for young women.  Launched in 2006, W2W builds a network of promising young women ages 15 to 19 from around the world, providing them with tools, relationships, and opportunities to lead, according to organizers.  The program has impacted over 800 young women from nearly 60 different countries.  (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., The Hampshire House, 84 Beacon St., Boston)

VOTING RIGHTS ACT CELEBRATION: Massachusetts Democratic Party officials celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. The event will honor the achievements of the movement and the law, which was passed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965.  Tickets for the event are $25. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Hanover Theater, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester)

SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY: The Massachusetts School Building Authority's Board of Directors, chaired by Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, meets to discuss MSBA finances, audit status updates and school construction projects. (Thursday, 10 a.m., 40 Broad Street, 2nd floor conference room, Boston)

LAVENDER LAW CONFERENCE: Attorney General Maura Healey will discuss her office's efforts around equality and civil rights and what more must be done nationally on these fronts in a keynote address at the Annual Lavender Law Conference hosted by the National LGBTQ Bar Association. (Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT, Chicago Marriott Downtown, Chicago)

FRIDAY, AUG. 7, 2015

DOI PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION: Health insurance will be the topic of a public comment session hosted by the Division of Insurance. (Friday, 10:30 a.m., 1000 Washington Street, Hearing Room 1-E, Boston)

CABINET MEETING:  Gov. Charles Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and members of the governor's cabinet meet.  (CLOSED PRESS)  (Friday, 10 a.m., Governor's Office, Room 360)

WELLFLEET TOWER PROJECT: A hearing officer from the Cape Cod Commission will open a pro-forma Development of Regional Impact hearing for procedural purposes related to a 90-foot communications tower project in Wellfleet. No substantive presentations will be made, no testimony will be taken and no substantive action will be taken regarding the project at the hearing, according to the Cape Cod Commission. (Friday, 10 a.m., Cape Cod Commission, 3225 Main St., Route 6A, Barnstable)

BAKER AT CHARTER SCHOOL:  Gov. Charles Baker plans to deliver remarks at the UP Summit at UP Academy Dorchester.  (Friday, 3:15 p.m., 35 Westville St., Dorchester)

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State House News Service

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