MASSterList: A 'subversive' Pioneer | The China factor at local colleges | Lessig is in the race, Kinder Morgan pumps up lobbying, MGC may amend rules for Southeast license

 
Tuesday, September 8, 2015

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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Keith Regan

The action today: Back to school, plus preliminary elections - Mayor Walsh joins Superintendent Tommy Chang for a first-day-of-school tour at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, Hernandez Dual-Language K-8 school, Boston Teacher's Union Pilot K1-8 school and Mattahunt Elementary K1-5 school. - Then there is the little matter of picking the next Convention Center Authority executive director: The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Selection Committee plans to meet in an executive session to have a preliminary screening committee interview applicants for the position of executive director of the convention center authority, noon, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Room 161, 415 Summer St., Boston. - Also today: The cities of Boston, Chicopee, Springfield, Worcester and the towns of Greenfield and West Springfield will hold preliminary elections for various elected positions... See the full political schedule at the State House News Service website here (subscription required):http://www.statehousenews.com/mlschedule    And happening this week: Rail link, Kinder Morgan hearing - Any time two former governors get together to talk substantive policy with the sitting governor, it's news. On Wednesday, Michael Dukakis and William Weld plan to meet at the State House Wednesday with Gov. Baker to pitch him on the need for an underground rail corridor to connect South Station with North Station. - The MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board will meet on Wednesday. At the last meeting, the board called for an outside entity to explore why the Green Line Extension estimates ballooned by 50 percent. - Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat, will host a comment session on the Kinder Morgan pipeline, which would traverse portions of western Massachusetts and bring Pennsylvania shale gas to New England. The event will be held at Greenfield Community College. - On Friday, Sept. 11, to honor and remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will participate in the lowering of a flag, a moment of silence and a reading of the names of some victims.    Unions take aim at 'subversive' Pioneer Institute One expects plenty of fiery pro-worker rhetoric at Labor Day events. And there was plenty of union animosity toward Gov. Baker at outside the Labor Day breakfast, as was reported by MassLive's Gintautus Dumcius. But one doesn't expect labor leaders to target a local think tank. The demonization was for the Pioneer Institute, considered conservative in Massachusetts because it believes in free enterprise, competition, charter schools, and limits on government spending. And, of course, some privatization of government services. During Monday morning's breakfast (pre-Obama) Tweets suddenly started popping up, this one from Boston magazine's Garrett Quinn: "(AFL-CIO regional director) Jim Snow is ripping the Pioneer Institute. Their agenda is 'subversive.' Their research is 'farcical.' " Snow likely was referring to Pioneer's claim that the Pacheco Law, the law that regulates privatization, has cost taxpayers $450 million since 1997. The unions are still smarting from the Legislature's decision to suspend the Pacheco Law for three years at the T, and the Baker administration recently has proposed privatizing some express, suburban and late-night bus service, a move that would not create layoffs. Asked to respond about being labeled a "right wing front group" -- that one came from AFL-CIO Massachusetts President Steven Tolman -- Pioneer's executive director said in an email: "From the start, Pioneers have come from different political backgrounds -- and the same is true today. The overblown reactions you saw are attributable to Pioneer's impact. Some labor leaders continue to think the status quo at the MBTA was good enough. I just don't think that's reasonable given how poor service disrupted the lives of millions of people and businesses this winter. I'm happy to side with the riding public even if that means a few speakers take jabs at us." In Worcester, Labor Day rallying cry  While the heavy political hitters breakfasted in Boston, Worcester's own Labor Day breakfast drew its share of politicians and seemed to carry a more aggressive message, according to the Telegram. U.S. Rep. James McGovern headlined -- saying he'd turned down an invitation to the Boston event along a ride on Air Force One -- with Attorney General Maura Healey. But it was Joseph P. Carlson, president of the Central Massachusetts AFL-CIO, who pounded the podium, noting that a so-called millionaire tax was headed to voters next year and saying the time had come to put "the 1 percent on the defensive," adding: "Dammit, it's time to push the envelope." http://bit.ly/1PYLAs5    Union Oyster House owner has no problem with some Republicans On his way out of town, President Obama swung by the Union Oyster House for some takeout, and he may not have been aware that its owner donated to his last opponent. The restaurant's longtime owner, Joe Milano, is from the North Shore and has spread donations across both sides of the aisle, according to the state's Campaign Finance website. Milano gave $500 each to candidates Baker and Polito down the election stretch last fall -- and also gave $500 to Martha Coakley. Milano also contributed to Baker's 2010 gubernatorial bid, and backed Richard Tisei's congressional races, Scott Brown's last Massachusetts senate race, and gave $1,000 to Mitt Romney for president, according to the InsideGov website.   Free furniture for the mayor Following his story about a developer donating materials to refurbish Mayor Walsh's City Hall kitchen, Globe reporter Andrew Ryan has a follow-up today. The same developer, Joseph Fallon, also donated furniture to Walsh's City Hall office, about $2,000 worth, putting the total to $3,000.http://bit.ly/1i9HdQD   China sneezes -- will Boston colleges catch a cold? It's an open secret that local colleges and universities are increasingly dependent on foreign students, who almost always pay full price. There are some 13,000 Chinese students in Boston alone, making the recent collapse of the Chinese stock market a cause for concern both with students and college administrators, the Boston Globe reports today. "I think it's one of those wells that will dry up earlier than people anticipate," said one education expert. http://bit.ly/1PYPwZN   Chiofaro may be looking for tax break Boston has its own Donald, but he goes by Don, the well-known developer Don Chiofaro. Foiled for years in trying to develop the Boston Harbor Garage area, he he's under pressure to scale down his 1.3 million-square-foot development -- but needs a tax break to make the numbers work, the Globe's Dan Adams uncovered after receiving a batch of BRA email. http://bit.ly/1OtO6Gj Walsh's endorsement quandary  Even as he prepared to host President Obama at Monday's breakfast, Mayor Marty Walsh was facing a difficult decision on whether to endorse a candidate to succeed him, the Globe reports. Walsh has long had a close relationship with Vice President Joe Biden, which could complicate his endorsement calculus should he enter the race and take on Hillary Clinton. http://bit.ly/1QjCaIx    Lee wants local gas tax  The town of Lee wants authority to enact a local gas tax, and its pursuit of the option could have statewide repercussions, the Berkshire Eagle reports. At the behest of Lee officials, Rep. William Pignatelli, D-Lenox, has filed a home-rule petition that would allow the town to tack a 3-cent tax on every gallon of gas sold at the eight stations in the community. Pignatelli tells the Eagle he would also file a bill that would authorize all communities statewide to follow suit if they chose. http://bit.ly/1JP5iCQ    South Shore lawmakers have doubts on pot  With two ballot questions that would legalize recreational marijuana heading to the 2016 ballot, the Enterprise reached out to Brockton-area lawmakers on the topic and found a fair amount of uncertainty and caution. Some said the push to legalize pot seems to fly in the face of efforts to curb opiate use, while others want more information on how the medical marijuana experiment is going. And one lawmaker -- Rep. Michelle DuBois, a Brockton Democrat -- said she follow the will of the voters, but raised the prospect of lawmakers taking additional time for implementation after the vote.  http://bit.ly/1VKHYh4    Kinder Morgan pumps up lobbying  Kinder Morgan, which is proposing a controversial natural gas pipeline expansion, is revving up its lobbying and public relations efforts, the Salem News' Christian Wade reports. Kinder Morgan has spent $300,000 on Beacon Hill lobbyists and is backing efforts by the Coalition to Lower Energy Costs to blitz the airwaves with positive television commercials that some critics say are misleading. http://bit.ly/1itVZBB    Lessig hits goal, enters race  Harvard Professor Lawrence Lessig officially became a candidate for president over the weekend, after backers hit a $1 million crowdfunding goal he had set. According to WGBH, Lessig appeared on ABC Sunday and reiterated his plans to seek election solely to pass the Citizens Equality Act -- a revamp of how elections are financed.  http://bit.ly/1Oa5ge5    MGC may amend rules for Southeast license  From Friday (remember Friday?) CommonWealth has the story of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission considering a rule change that would enable it to review the proposed Brockton casino without worrying about whether Federal authorities clear the way for a tribal casino in Taunton. When questioned by MGC Chairman Steve Crosby about whether backers of the project were getting "a little hinky," over the potential competition in the southeast region, an attorney for Mass Gaming and Entertainment LLC said "financing is not an issue." http://bit.ly/1hQNf82 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 headlines Obama, In Boston, Mandates Paid Sick Leave For Up To 300,000 Workers Harvard Law Professor Crowdfunds $1 Million, Launches Presidential Bid Clinton or Biden? What's a mayor to do? - The Boston Globe On Labor Day visit, Obama praises Boston, US workers - The Boston Globe State headlines House Speaker Robert DeLeo reveals decision to undergo weight-loss surgery - The Boston Globe Mass. Auditor Suzanne Bump: 2014 report warned of state foster care problems Before President Obama's visit, MBTA union lashes into Gov. Charlie Baker Competing 'pot' questions cause confusion: Editorial Local lawmakers skeptical about marijuana ballot questions MBTA union, taxi drivers hold protests Local headlines Lee seeks state OK to enact local gas tax to fund road repairs Middle-income population falling in Boston - The Boston Globe Company lobbying for gas pipeline - Salem News: Local News Plymouth approves deal with medical marijuana dispensary Attention shifts to historic Quincy election as summer winds down Longtime Acushnet farm is closed and slated for development Spinners' fans hope team stays in Lowell Stun-gun use declines on Cape, Islands Hopkinton: Lawyers ask for CVS appeal to be thrown out Preliminary election Tuesday will trim Worcester ballot Worcester's Labor Day breakfast: Fight for working families, push to go after '1 percent' Mayor Walsh vows to curb violence through schooling Mayor Walsh also accepted office furniture from developer - The Boston Globe Developer proposes tax break for waterfront skyscrapers, fights city on size restrictions - The Boston Globe Springfield mayoral candidates make final push for votes before Tuesday's election

MASSterlist: Pot: Dems all over the map | Deval does an equity deal | Pollack: 'The T is like a bathtub full of holes'

 

Thursday, September 3, 2015

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By George Donnelly (@geodonnelly) with Keith Regan

Today: Baker, Ash in Springfield for rail car assembly plant; Kennedy at MIT Gov. Baker and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, among other officials, attend a groundbreaking for a CNR MA's facility that will assemble Red and Orange line cars, 655 Page Boulevard, Springfield, 11:30am... Congressman Joseph Kennedy III joins Massachusetts Institute of Technology President L. Rafael Reif to host a discussion with education experts examining how technology can provide opportunities to expand science, tech, engineering and mathematics education for all K-16 students at the MIT Media Lab (Building E14), 6th floor, 75 Amherst St., Cambridge, 3pm.   Is legalizing pot the next wedge issue -- among Democrats? Two questions to legalize marijuana cleared the next hurdle to get on the ballot in 2016, setting for an intense debate about the merits and risks of decriminalizing recreational use. This will be one issue where there is no Massachusetts Democratic orthodoxy. Just yesterday Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in her chat with Globe political reporter Joshua Miller, said she was "open" to legalization of marijuana, a reversal from her 2012 campaign position. Congressman Mike Capuano, in an interview with Jim Braude on 'Greater Boston' last night, said: "Conceptually I've always been in favor of (legalization). I think it's ridiculous to criminalize it." Marty Walsh, whose previous alcohol struggles are well-known, has vowed to lead the charge against legalization. "I've seen too many lives ruined by starting to smoke weed and then, eventually, going to other types of drugs," he told the Globe in June. Maura Healey, one of the brightest lights among the Massachusetts Dems, clearly is opposed, as one would expect from the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth. You can expect to hear plenty about the experiences of Washington state and Colorado, where legalization has been a mixed bag, to say the least. Two marijuana petitions move forward, among 20 others Speaking of pot, Bay State voters very well may face two questions on its legalization, if advocates are able to obtain the requisite number of signatures. The two questions are destined to cause a haze of confusion, as Shira Schoenberg's story on MassLive suggests. The story is one of many that are sure to come to explain the dueling efforts, which now have to gather 64,750 signatures. "The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is better funded and has more powerful backing, including from those within the marijuana industry, than Bay State Repeal. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol raised $30,000 by the end of 2014, compared to just $3,000 by Bay State Repeal."http://bit.ly/1JPIwK8     For a fuller scorecard of the ballot questions that cleared the AG's constitutional hurdle, see Schoenberg's overview here: http://bit.ly/1ijSbmm Meanwhile, at the North Shore dispensary... The state's first medical marijuana dispensary served as many customers in two months -- 1,500 -- as it projected it would handle in its first full year of operation, the Globe reports. Alternative Therapies in Salem was also granted permission to expand its product offerings and a second dispensary, in Brockton, was given permission to begin selling its wares despite delays at a state lab certifying the safety of the weed being peddled. http://bit.ly/1JDjDEA    Breaking: Shroud of secrecy lifts on search for state's life sciences chief The State House News Service is about to post this story with this lead-in: "After months of stonewalling, the Baker administration agreed this week to release some information about the search for the state's top life science official, helping the News Service to learn that the process has been so secretive that even members of the search committee didn't know they were on it." See the State House News site: http://statehousenews.com/ Rubin signs on with hourly worker initiative Doug Rubin, the founding partner of Northwind Strategies, has one certified potential ballot question this cycle -- a bid to give fast food and retail workers benefits when their hours are adjusted. Like some other ballot question proponents, Rubin said he hopes the proposed referendum will spur action in the Legislature. Rubin spoke to MASSterList at a Boston Globe/Suffolk University event featuring an interview with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who backs different but similar federal legislation that would also give hourly workers more rights around scheduling. Drawn to the stream of consumers coming in and out, initiative petition proponents often set up shop outside supermarkets to gather the signatures needed to place a question before voters. In this case, supermarkets and other large retailers could be directly affected by the petition Northwind is backing. "We'll go where people want us to go," Rubin said. He said strategy about gathering signatures, including the potential of paying signature gatherers, has not yet been worked out. -Andy Metzger, SHNS.   Walsh prefers legislative solution on charters Charter school, business, and education advocates are pressing ahead with a 2016 ballot question to allow the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to authorize up to 12 new public charter schools or existing school expansions each year. But it appears top public officials will press for a legislative alternative. Gov. Charlie Baker still plans to file his own charter school bill and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, a potentially critical player in the charter school movement given his union background, said Wednesday he'd prefer that the issue be handled by his old friends in the Legislature.  Walsh reiterated his support for charter schools to reporters at Boston City Hall and said he had discussed the issue a couple of weeks ago during a meeting with Gov. Charlie Baker. "I would much rather increase the cap through the legislative process and not through the ballot question initiative," Walsh said, suggesting a bill crafted on Beacon Hill would be a more precise way to make sure cap increases occur in communities that need them. -Mike Norton, SHNS.   Crosby: Faith in Wynn to fix traffic woes Former Department of Transportation chief Fred Salvucci is predicting traffic disaster for Route 93, and his recent quote to that effect was put to Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Steve Crosby last night by Jim Braude. Here's Crosby's the glass-is-half-full answer: "I love Fred Salvucci but the DOT engineers, our traffic engineers, Wynn's traffic engineers, everybody has looked at it and said yes there will be an impact, it will tend to be off peak, it will not be its worst at the peak hours, and the impact that there are, Wynn will put up the money to ameliorate them. "   Baker to greet Obama When President Obama arrives in Boston to speak at Greater Boston Labor Council Labor Day Breakfast Monday, Gov. Baker will be at the airport to greet him. It's not only the right thing to do, said Baker. "...Any time the president comes to visit Massachusetts, if I can get there and greet him or her when they arrive, I want to be there." http://bit.ly/1fWaAng Yes, there is technology west of 495 The Commonwealth's first assistant secretary of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship Katie Stebbins commutes to Boston from Springfield every day, a jaunt that connects her to two very different economies. But as WGBH's Mike Deehan makes clear in his profile, Stebbins's Western Mass. cred is important, because part of the job is to help migrate innovation and the jobs that come with it to more of the state. And there's much more tech activity outside of 495 than most people realize. "There are these amazing things going on in Worcester and in New Bedford and we're doing this out in Springfield, and how can we connect the dots?" http://bit.ly/1EAMuKu  Stephanie Pollack, it is decided, is not a 'turncoat' The dynamic Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack is the subject of Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham. Pollack has changed her tune about the need for immediate, additional public transportation funding, and the secretary now says she has learned a lot more on the inside in the past six months. Here's the money quote (and today's quote of the day): "The T is like a bathtub full of holes. Turning the spigot to let more water in is not going to fill up the bathtub. We need to fix the holes."http://bit.ly/1L6AuO3 Warren cashes in, a little  Money from political action committee is "trickling in" to the campaign coffers of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Herald reports, despite her railing against the scourge of big money while running for office. PACs representing Bay State companies such as Raytheon and Ocean Spray have donated $5,000 each, while lesser amounts from groups representing Amgen and Genzyme also made its way into Warren's war chest.  http://bit.ly/1LN4oJO  Council strikes out chew at Fenway  The Boston City Council has unanimously backed a proposal by Mayor Marty Walsh to ban the use of chewing tobacco at all ballparks in the city, including Fenway Park, the Globe reports. The ban -- the second nationally after San Francisco -- takes effect next April, just in time for the 2016 baseball season, and could cramp the style of some athletes: The Globe notes that of the 58 Sox players it surveyed during Spring training, 21 copped to using smokeless tobacco. http://bit.ly/1Qayb0F  Data drives Taser talk  With the use of stun guns on the rise in area police departments, two officials want police to be able to equip the devices with audio recording technology, according to the Herald. The bill filed by William C. Galvin and Louis Kafka is called a first step toward a more comprehensive approach to defining how the less-than-lethal weapon is deployed in the 200 departments across that state already using it.  http://bit.ly/1hWseJI  Deval does a deal  Former Gov. Deval Patrick has made his first deal as a partner at Bain Capital, the Globe reports. Patrick will join the board of Sundial Brands -- a maker of natural skin and health care products focusing on organic and ethically sourced ingredients -- following Bain's purchase of a minority stake in the New York company.  http://bit.ly/1ijPzoB  Rivera responds to recall  Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera responded to a recall effort seeking to remove him from office with a statement published by Commonwealth Magazine and others. A defiant Rivera argues that his efforts to battle crime, collect unpaid taxes, and change how the city is run has made him numerous enemies along the way who are now seeking to exact political revenge. "We were elected to do a job, we are focused on doing that job, and we fully plan to see that job through." http://bit.ly/1QawbWa Most recent headlines from the State House News Service: Warren "Open" To Marijuana Legalization, Coy On Vp  Medical Schools Leaders Commit To Pain Management Teaching After Meeting With Guv  Not "Supporting" Anyone, Goldberg Attended Clinton Event  Citing Connector, Baker Expects "Much Better" 2015 For Health Care Costs  Baker Wants To Be There For Presidents, "Him Or Her"  Baker On Pilgrim: "I Do Believe It's Safe, Yeah"  Pittsfield Man Convicted In Umass Rape Case  NRC Pledges More Oversight, Cites Weaknesses At Plymouth Nuclear Plant  Rosenberg: Prescription Drug Cost Escalation "Unsustainable"  Ice Bucket $$$ Fueling Gene, Dna Research At Umass Med School  Healey Rules Fireworks, Other Proposals Ineligible For Ballot  Hurdles Remain, But 2016 Ballot Question Landscape Is Taking Shape  In Awareness Bid, Walsh Discusses His Battle With Cancer  Suffolk Da Conley Expected To Support Parole Board Nominee 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 headlines  Clinton debuts plan to combat addiction epidemic President, Kerry's Iran deal win bad for security, hostages Draft Biden staff ramps up efforts Liz denounced big business money - but cashing in now State headlines  Lawmakers, police eye rules on Tasers Deval Patrick involved in his first Bain deal - The Boston Globe Ballot question to end Common Core in Massachusetts will move forward AG certifies proposed ballot questions on taxes, marijuana; rejects fireworks measure - The Boston Globe Gov. Charlie Baker blames health care cost hike on Health Connector failure State's first medical marijuana dispensary serves 1,500 patients in first two months - The Boston Globe Advocates push to help Massachusetts seniors who fall off 'health care cliff' Gov. Charlie Baker meets with Boston medical schools to develop best practices for opiate prescribing - Boston Business Journal State med schools to stress perils of painkillers Local headlines  With So Few Candidates, Only 2 Boston City Council Seats Up For Preliminary Vote Second Pittsfield officer files federal whistleblower lawsuit New Bedford city councilor Naomi Carney discusses bankruptcy Opiate epidemic's toll rises in Middlesex County Lowell board to explore return to neighborhood schools Rivera issues statement on recall efforts Easton officials to meet with proposed Brockton casino executives Sudbury town manager finalists named Framingham state Rep. Walsh diagnosed with cancer Worcester candidate: Michael Gaffney, eyeing mayoral bid, relishes maverick role Mayor Walsh reiterates opposition to six-figure salary for City Council - The Boston Globe Springfield Mayor Sarno, Bishop Talbert Swan engage in rhetorical firefight over issue of inner-city violence Boston City Council President Bill Linehan defends push for pay hike, hearing attendance (Video) State awards 3 Springfield schools total of $1.5 million to help turnaround efforts Boston bars charged with violating "pay to play" prohibitions - The Boston Globe Boston bans chewing tobacco in ballparks, including Fenway - The Boston Globe Lahey, Beth Israel Deaconess in merger talks - The Boston Globe