POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: What to say on TURKEY DAY — What will WU do next? — Cumberland Farms versus packies

What to say on TURKEY DAY — What will WU do next? — Cumberland Farms versus packies

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. PROGRAMMING NOTE: This is your final newsletter before Thanksgiving! Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Thursday Nov. 28 and Friday Nov. 29. I'll be back in your inbox on Monday Dec. 2. In the meantime, have an excellent holiday. I am especially grateful for you, wonderful Playbookers. It's the day before Thanksgiving. In between last-minute trips to Market Basket or on your long journey home to see family, you might be thinking about the inevitable. Experts advise against it. Others explain how to avoid it. But if you do decide to broach the topic of politics at the dinner table, here are some Turkey Day talking points, #mapoli style. — How many 2020 presidential candidates from Massachusetts can you name? The first three are easy: Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Gov. Deval Patrick are vying for the Democratic nomination, and former Gov. Bill Weld is running against President Donald Trump. But keep in mind Rep. Seth Moulton bowed out of the race a few months ago. Late entrant and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hails from Medford, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio , who dropped out of the race, graduated from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. That's six -- seven if you count South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg's days at Harvard. Boston.com's Nik DeCosta-Klipa has been all over this for weeks. - The blockbuster Senate race: Who will come out on top in the three-way contest between Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Joe Kennedy III and attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan? The trio have challenged one another to a number of pledges and events since Kennedy entered the race. Markey called for a climate debate, Kennedy is still waiting for an answer on a pledge to limit outside spending in the race, and now Liss-Riordan is calling for a $6 million spending cap. This race has generational divides, insiders and outsiders, big-name endorsements, and the potential to divide state's political class. And there are still 10 months to go until the primary in September! - Is Michelle Wu going to run for mayor? Now that this year's Boston municipal election is over -- sort of -- political-watchers are wondering whether Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu will challenge Mayor Marty Walsh for his seat in 2021. Boston elected its most diverse council ever this month, and sent Rep. Ayanna Pressley to Congress over a longtime incumbent in 2018. Wu said on election night that the face of Boston politics is changing. Could that change include the mayor's office in two years? The Boston Globe took a look at Wu's chances if she does run. - Stop using your phone while driving — Gov. Charlie Baker signed a long-awaited bill that bans using handheld devices at the wheel this week. The bill expands on the state's texting-while-driving ban to curb activities like phone calls and social media scrolling. The bill will go into effect in February, with a grace period that lasts until March. Beacon Hill lawmakers took a long time to find a compromise on this bill, though some are still concerned that enforcement of the ban could result in racial profiling. - Does Deval Patrick have a shot? The former governor is staffing up after a very late entry into the presidential race. He's toured the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, and will hold a big fundraiser with Boston-based allies next week. It's not clear whether Patrick can raise the kind of money or rack up the kind of poll numbers that would qualify him for the December Democratic debate. But Patrick told reporters on Monday that he views the Democratic primary as a "wide open" contest. There's some truth to that —new polls show there's no clear frontrunner in the race, even after months of campaigning, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren's poll numbers dipped this week. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh awards Neighborhood Jobs Trust funds to 23 community-based organizations at an event in the South End. Walsh speaks at Goodwill's Thanks-for-Giving lunch in Roxbury. DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Gov. Charlie Baker signs $1.5 billion education funding bill into law," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Massachusetts' public schools will receive their largest influx of new money since the state first established its school funding formula in 1993, under a bill signed by Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday. "If there's one thing I've learned in 63 years, it's that talent is evenly distributed," Baker said after signing the bill. "What's not evenly distributed is opportunity." Baker signed the bill at The English High School of Boston, the first public high school founded in the U.S., which today serves a large number of poor students, students of color and English language learners." - "Former Mass. Speaker Sal DiMasi: 'I've Paid My Debt to Society,'" by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said Tuesday he thinks he deserves a "second chance" to professionally advocate on issues like homelessness and prison reform, opening up about why he's fighting to return to Beacon Hill and why he thinks Secretary of State William Galvin was wrong to deny his registration as a lobbyist. DiMasi is appealing Galvin's decision, which was based on the fact that DiMasi was convicted, and served time in prison, in federal court of accepting kickbacks in exchange for steering lucrative state contracts to a Burlington software company." - "DeLeo and Spilka on different pages," by Andy Metzger, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE HOUSE AND Senate are circulating proposals for a compromise on an overdue spending bill, and the one idea that has had a public airing would leave out a $50 million infusion to the MBTA that both chambers have already agreed to. House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who five months ago said the T was in "crisis," recently indicated his willingness to set aside that supplemental transit funding and all other discretionary spending from the must-pass legislation. In addition to shoring up accounts that have fallen into deficiency, the competing spending bills passed by the House and Senate would also carve up the roughly $1 billion surplus, and finally close the books on fiscal 2019." - "Rep. Straus: Recently Released RMV Investigation Documents To Be Made Public," by Mark Herz, WGBH News: "The co-chair of the state committee tasked with investigating the Registry of Motor Vehicles said on Tuesday that just under 300 pages of records released to legislators Monday by an independent audit firm will be published online for public viewing "as soon as we can." Rep. William Straus, co-chair of the legislature's Transportation Committee, told WGBH News that after probable redaction of any references to individual drivers or violations, notes on 41 interviews conducted by Grant Thornton, the firm hired by the Baker administration to investigate the RMV, will be posted on the committee's website." WHAT CITY HALL IS READING - "Will Michelle Wu run for mayor of Boston? And can she win?" by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: " She rallied residents by the hundreds to protest the MBTA fare hikes earlier this year. She helped spearhead an ordinance regulating the city's short-term rental industry, sparking a public feud with the mammoth platform Airbnb. And, earlier this month, at-large city Councilor Michelle Wu once again topped the citywide ticket in the municipal election, far outpacing her opponents in a competitive field. Over the last several years, Wu has emerged as a flag-bearer of a progressive-minded movement in city politics, a position that, political analysts say, would make her a credible challenger to second-term Mayor Martin J. Walsh — who has suffered substantial setbacks in recent months, including the criminal convictions of three top aides." FROM THE HUB - "Here's what Michael Dukakis says it'll take to fix Boston's traffic crisis," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Michael Dukakis says Massachusetts doesn't need congestion pricing or any big tax increases. To improve the state's transportation system, the former Democratic governor and presidential nominee says it comes down to leadership. After reading The Boston Globe's recent Spotlight series on the region's traffic congestion, Dukakis called for a change in the current administration's priorities — and perhaps also personnel. "The answer is clear in my judgment: Don't spend any more money on highways," Dukakis told Boston.com in an interview Monday night, following a wide-ranging Brookline event during which he cautioned his preferred presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, against running too far to the left on health care and politely asked that neighbors resist the urge to leave Thanksgiving turkey carcasses at his house this year ("Please don't. No more turkey carcasses")." - "Boston restricts mint, menthol tobacco sales to adult-only tobacco retailers," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "The Boston Public Health Commission voted Monday to stop convenience stores from selling mint and menthol cigarettes and vaping products. Under the new regulation, all mint and menthol tobacco and nicotine products will only be allowed to be sold in Boston in adult-only tobacco retailers. The goal of the rule is to stop teenagers from vaping and smoking." - "ACLU wants oversight in police robotics," The Associated Press: "Some civil rights activists have raised questions on the oversight of police robotics programs after the Massachusetts State Police started testing the use of a dog-like robot. The ACLU's Kade Crockford says a robotic system like this provides an "almost limitless" set of possibilities for surveillance and weaponization. Boston Dynamics vice president Michael Perry says the company envisions Spot being utilized in situations too dangerous for humans." PRIMARY SOURCES - "'I'm hoping it draws attention,' Rep. Joe Kennedy visits the North Quabbin Catholic Community food bank in Athol," by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: "As Rep. Joe Kennedy III walked into the food bank, he was greeted by Father Edwin Montana of Our Lady Immaculate Church, who welcomed the congressman with warmth and a handshake. The North Quabbin Catholic Community food pantry in Athol was the first of the four stops Kennedy was taking part in to raise awareness of hunger and the importance of donations made to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts." DAY IN COURT - "Cumberland Farms's ballot question to expand alcohol sales faces legal fight — from the packies," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "Package store owners remember the price they paid to win the Great Booze Battle of 2006. They want to avoid another costly campaign to protect their turf. That's why the Massachusetts Package Stores Association filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Judicial Court on Monday. This latest challenge involves the state's archaic liquor license limits again. At issue this time: a ballot question pushed by Cumberland Farms that would create a new kind of beer-and-wine license for food sellers, to be made available at local authorities' discretion, with no limits on the amount any one company could control ." WARREN REPORT - "Warren nosedives in new nationwide poll," by Caitlin Oprysko, POLITICO: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren's support among Democratic primary voters nationwide plunged 50 percent over the past month, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll, signaling that the shake-ups in the primary field are far from over. Former Vice President Joe Biden has retaken the lead in the poll after an autumn that saw him surrender his solid frontrunner status, climbing 3 points to earn 24 percent in the poll. Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., surged into second, rising 6 points to 16 percent, with Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders not far behind at 14 and 13 percent, respectively." - "Can Warren Win The 2020 Mass. Primary By 50 Percent?" by David Bernstein, WGBH News: "Massachusetts voters will have familiar names on their Presidential primary ballots, on March 3rd. If they take a Democratic ballot, they'll see their U.S. Senator, Elizabeth Warren, and former governor, Deval Patrick. If they vote in the Republican primary, former governor William Weld's name will appear as a challenger to Donald Trump. Those marquee figures of Bay State politics give added cache to the proceedings, which are part of the so-called Super Tuesday vote-o-rama. This time around, Massachusetts joins 13 other states with primaries that day. They include huge delegate prizes in California and Texas, and key states such as Colorado and Virginia. Those states will get more national attention. But, the Commonwealth's primaries are shaping up to be fascinating in their own right." - "Warren Has No Plans to Release Older Tax Files: Campaign Update," by Misyrlena Egkolfopoulou, Bloomberg: "Elizabeth Warren said Monday that she has no plans to release her tax returns covering her work as a law professor and bankruptcy lawyer before she entered public service in 2008. The Massachusetts senator said she has disclosed 11 years of tax returns on her website, exceeding what she said was President Barack Obama's practice of making eight years of records available. The returns cover her work on the congressional oversight panel in charge of overseeing the bank bailout of 2008, her time setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in the Obama administration and her tenure as a senator, starting in 2013." PATRICK PRIMARY - "Deval Patrick adds a half-dozen staffers to his campaign," by Matt Viser, Washington Post: "Deval Patrick has hired a half-dozen new campaign staffers in his attempt to build an organization almost overnight for what remains a long-shot presidential bid that has yet to demonstrate any evident enthusiasm among Democrats. Nearly two weeks after entering the race, the former Massachusetts governor is beginning to fill key positions, but he is doing so at a much later stage than his rivals and without the vast personal wealth that the other recent entrant, former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, brings to the race." MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS - "Walsh Signs Ordinance That Aims To Create More Equitable Marijuana Industry In Boston," by Quincy Walters, WBUR: "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Tuesday signed a city ordinance aimed at boosting the number of marijuana retail shops that are owned by people of color. The ordinance would require that half of the city's cannabis licenses go to businesses in neighborhoods that have been greatly impacted by the war on drugs. In Boston, those neighborhoods, as designated by the Cannabis Control Commission, include census tracts in South Boston, Dorchester, and Roxbury." - "Officials demand more vaping data after Minnesota points to black market products," by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Business Journal: "Early data from Minnesota health officials are pointing to black market vapes as the source of the outbreak of vaping illnesses, details that Massachusetts cannabis regulators say should encourage local public health officials to release more information on the crisis. According to a weekly report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Minnesota Department of Public Health has interviewed 58 of the 96 patients in the state who were classified as having a vaping-related lung injury. Of those interviewed, 53 (91%) reported receiving the cannabis vapes from informal sources such as friends, family members, in-person informal dealers or online dealers." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "NEW START," "GIVING SPIRIT," — Globe: "Wu's strong showing has some thinking bigger," "Climate outlook is 'bleak' says U.N. report." FROM THE 413 - "Sabadosa meets with constituents on the bus," by Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Every fourth Monday of the month at 11:50, Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, hosts office hours for constituents in an unusual location: the 44 route of the PVTA bus. On Monday morning, she stood on the sidewalk near the Academy of Music counting coins to pay the $1.50 bus fare. "I've got dimes," she said, pulling coins out of her wallet. After stepping on the bus, she started talking to passenger Tom Burton, who asked her questions about transportation and taxes before he got off the bus about a mile down the road near Stop & Shop on King Street. Sabadosa got the idea from another state legislator from Pittsburgh whom she met at a conference, and started doing office hours on the PVTA this fall." - "The Berkshires Are Reliving Their Gilded Glory Days," by Amy Gamerman, Wall Street Journal: "The Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts had a major moment during the Gilded Age when Vanderbilts and Morgans built palatial estates there, known as Berkshire cottages. Now, after decades of decline during which many grand cottages were converted into ashrams, summer camps, spas and nursing homes, the Berkshires seem ready for a fresh turn in the spotlight as a new breed of homeowners snatch up historic homes and restore them as weekend retreats and primary residences." THE LOCAL ANGLE - "Columbia Gas finishes inspecting thousands of abandoned lines," by Bill Kirk, Eagle-Tribune: "An announcement that Columbia Gas has finished inspecting the last of nearly 5,000 abandoned gas service lines throughout the Merrimack Valley was greeted with a mix of relief and trepidation by town officials Tuesday. The work was required after Columbia Gas finished replacing the destroyed gas system following the Sept. 13, 2018 gas disaster, which led to one death, mass evacuations, and millions of dollars in losses for hundreds of small- and medium-sized businesses." - "Flu vaccines are easier than ever to get, but many in Mass. still don't," by Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News: "It's free and available everywhere, yet most Americans today still skip the annual flu shot despite government efforts to remove cost and access obstacles. Even in Massachusetts, which has much higher vaccination rates than the nation on average, only 54 percent of adults got the flu vaccine in 2018 and '19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's up about 5 percent since 2010 and '11." TRANSITIONS - Attorney General Maura Healey joins Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum as co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to the Boston Business Journal's Catherine Carlock. HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY - to Thursday birthday-ers Sarina Tracy and Doug Rubin of Northwind Strategies, Deloitte's John Kim, state Rep. Louis Kafka, Boston Globe investigative reporter Nicole Dungca, Gov. Charlie Baker's digital and deputy communications director Terry MacCormack, Erin Forry, and former State Dept. globetrotter and Globe and AP alum Glen Johnson. And to House Speaker Robert DeLeo's chief of staff Seth Gitell, Katherine Forde, Dominique Manuel, Trent Spiner and Maddie Kilgannon, who all celebrate Friday. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to state Sen. Mike Rush, Ben Josephson , public affairs strategist at O'Neill and Associates; and Larry Summers, who all celebrate Saturday. And to Sunday birthday-ers Jennifer Jordan and occasional Mass. Playbook headline writer/my awesome dad John Murray. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Bruins beat the Canadiens 8-1. FOR YOUR COMMUTE: DEVAL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL - On this week's Horse Race, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray discuss Boston's traffic problem, in light of a recent Boston Globe Spotlight report. Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell talks about her work on the council as her term wraps up, and her endorsement of Sen. Kamala Harris in the 2020 race. Former Gov. Deval Patrick aide Alex Goldstein gives his take on Patrick's last-minute entry into the presidential race. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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CapeCodToday: SHNS: What's ahead in state government this week Back to school; Baker in Canada; Healey and McGovern canvass for Hillary

What's ahead in state government this week

Back to school; Baker in Canada; Healey and McGovern canvass for Hillary

ARTICLE | POLITICS | AUGUST 29, 2015 06:00 AM | BY STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

- See more at: http://www.capecodtoday.com/article/2015/08/29/225992-Whats-ahead-state-government-week#sthash.YrRD4wUc.dpuf

Gov. Charlie Baker, who has placed before the Legislature bills to boost hydropower and solar electricity in Massachusetts, travels to Canada on Sunday to meet with New England governors and Canadian premiers where energy options will be on the agenda.  Legislative leaders this session are giving serious consideration to energy bills, weighing environmental benefits with implications for the economy and consumer costs.  

-- NEXT HURDLE FOR BALLOT QUESTIONS: As the governor heads to Newfoundland, Attorney General Maura Healey by Wednesday must rule on which of the many initiative petition proposals that activists hope to place on the 2016 ballot meet eligibility requirements under the state constitution.  Proponents of questions that survive Healey's review face a long road to the ballot that starts with a major signature gathering hurdle.

-- HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REPORT: Wednesday is also the release date for state government's annual assessment of the health care system's performance.   Massachusetts has been ground zero for policy experimentation in the areas of health care access, quality improvements and cost control and the Center for Health Information and Analysis report will shed insight into how the state is doing against some of its benchmarks.

-- HEARING ON PAROLE BOARD NOMINEE: Baker this year secured the confirmation of his first major judicial nominee, Appeals Court Chief Justice Scott Kafker, and the governor's pick to chair the Parole Board has so far earned some praise from members of the Governor's Council, which vets nominees. On Wednesday, the council is set to meet with veteran Suffolk County prosecutor Paul Treseler of West Roxbury. If confirmed, Treseler would take over as chair from Charlene Bonner, who was appointed to the top post on the board last year by Gov. Deval Patrick.  

-- RED AND ORANGE LINE ASSEMBLY GROUND-BREAKING: Gov. Charlie Baker and China Railway Stock Corp. executives will visit Springfield Thursday to celebrate the future construction of a 220,000 square-foot facility and 2,240 test track where 284 Red and Orange line cars will one day be assembled.

-- BACK TO SCHOOL: With Labor Day at the latest point it can be in the calendar and memories of snow days and late June school days lingering, it appears a majority of public schools around the state will open next week, if they haven't already. The Massachusetts Association of School Committees surveyed hundreds of school officials, including 177 superintendents and 232 school committee members. About 64 percent said school would open before Labor Day - Sept. 7. About 83 percent of those surveyed said school would open for faculty before Labor Day. Last year's successive snow storms left school districts scrambling to meet the required 180-day school year.

"They're very concerned about just avoiding what happened last year," said Glenn Koocher, executive director of the school committee association. He said, "No one thought we'd have 11 snow days." Koocher said the school year continuing deep into the summer - June 30 in some cases - "played out pretty intensely" with tests interfering with camps, vacation plans and summer jobs. Moving to a pre-Labor Day schedule was the most popular potential school calendar modification, with 76 percent saying they would "seriously" consider that. Next most popular was consolidating February and April vacations into one week as 34 percent said they would seriously consider that. Third most popular was eliminating cultural or religious holidays, with 28 percent open to seriously consider that. About 78 percent reported closing for cultural or religious holidays.

-- LOW BRIDGE AHEAD: Ahead of Sept. 1, traditionally the busiest moving day of the year in Boston, the Department of Transportation, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the State Police urged returning college students to be mindful of vehicle height restrictions on Storrow Drive, Memorial Drive, and Soldiers Field Road. Since 2007, there have been 25 recorded height restriction based incidents on the three Charles River adjacent roads with a concentration around college move-in and move-out dates, according to DCR.

"Motorists driving box trucks or moving trucks are reminded to watch for signs on roadways indicating bridge height restrictions, especially on the river roads, and not to rely solely on electronic GPS devices," State Police Colonel Richard McKeon said in a statement. "As we welcome college students back to our state, we wish them an enjoyable semester, and ask them to be mindful of basic safety practices, both on the roadways and while on foot on and around campus."

In anticipation of the annual influx of college students, state officials said they have asked colleges and universities to alert their students to the restrictions and requested that box truck rental companies remind customers of them as well. All three agencies will coordinate additional signage in the Greater Boston area and social media outreach to remind the general public of the height restrictions as well.

SATURDAY, AUG. 29, 2015

AUBURN SCHOOL: Massachusetts School Building Authority Executive Director Jack McCarthy attends a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Auburn Middle School. The MSBA is contributing up to $20,715,999 of eligible expenses towards the new school.  (Saturday, 10 a.m., 9 West Street, Auburn)

CONGRESSMAN McGOVERN CANVASSES FOR HILLARY:  Congressman Jim McGovern will canvass for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. McGovern and supporters will go door-to-door in Manchester and Concord to speak with voters.  (Saturday, 10 a.m., 66 Hanover St., Suite 300, Manchester, NH, and 11 a.m., Concord Field Office, 107-109 North State St., Concord, NH)

AG HEALEY CANVASSES FOR CLINTON: Attorney General Maura Healey, a New Hampshire native who captured the attorney general's office with her maiden campaign, will canvass for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. The attorney general, who last week endorsed Clinton, will rally supporters and go door-to-door in Exeter, one town away from her hometown of Hampton Falls.(Saturday, 10 a.m., 53 Park St., Exeter, NH)

BLACK LIVES MATTER DOOR KNOCKING - SAVIN HILL: Members of Black Lives Matter plan to go door-to-door in Savin Hill, a neighborhood they describe as "white dominated," to discuss racial justice efforts happening in the Boston area. They will also distribute lawn signs with the logo: "#BlackLivesMatter." Registriation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19iBin0qDDlVnIWdfRR1a3kQsYEoV2gYsYaFy5GOMA90/viewform?c=0&w=1 (Saturday, 1 p.m., McConnell Park, Playstead Road, Boston)

SUNDAY, AUG. 30, 2015

WARREN 'ON THE RECORD' | A previously recorded interview with Sen. Elizabeth Warren will air "On The Record." The senator will discuss Iran, the 2016 election and who she plans to bring as a guest to next month's Papal address to congress. Sen. Warren taped the interview last week with OTR. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)

RECEPTION IN NEWFOUNDLAND: On Sunday, Gov. Charlie Baker will travel to the island of Newfoundland, in Canada, to attend the annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. The trip will be the Swampscott Republican's first visit outside the country as governor. The group plans to discuss "solutions for the region's energy needs." Efforts are afoot both to wire hydroelectricity from Quebec to Massachusetts and to pipe in more natural gas to the region through the Bay State. The first event of the three-day trip is a welcome reception at the Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre, a nature center outside the city of St. John's and nearby Conception Bay. The 5 p.m. reception is closed-press. The governor will be two hours ahead of East Coast Standard Time and visiting the area during its most rainy months, according to St. John's website.

MONDAY, AUG. 31, 2015

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

BAKER MEETS QUEBEC PREMIER: Gov. Charlie Baker will meet with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard at a hotel in the capital of Newfoundland. Couillard is a member of the Liberal Party. (CLOSED PRESS) (Monday, 5:30 a.m. EST, Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)

BAKER AT ENERGY MEETING: Gov. Charlie Baker will attend a private meeting between the governors and premiers with U.S. Energy Information Administrator Adam Sieminski, who has previously worked for Deutsche Bank. (Monday, 7:30 a.m. EST, The Narrows, Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)

BAKER TALKS CHANGING ENERGY LANDSCAPE: Gov. Charlie Baker attends a plenary session roundtable on "the Region's Changing Energy Landscape." (CLOSED PRESS) (Monday, 10:45 a.m., Fort William Salon A/B, Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)

BAKER AT LOW CARBON TALK: Gov. Charlie Baker attends a plenary session on "Energy Innovation for a Low Carbon Economy." (CLOSED PRESS) (Monday, 1:50 p.m., Fort William Salon A/B, Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)

GUV-PREMIER PRESSER: Following a day of private hearings with Canadian premiers and New England governors on energy issues, Gov. Charlie Baker will attend a press conference at the hotel where the conference was held. (Monday, 4 p.m., Fort William Salon C/D, Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)

FINANCE OFFICERS: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis will speak at the New England States Government Finance Officers Association's annual conference opening session. Davis is delivering the keynote address. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has been invited. Braintree Mayor Joe Sullivan, a member of the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board, is listed in a catalogue of speakers at the three-day conference. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton St., Boston)

MBTA CONTROL BOARD: The MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board will hear an update on the state of good repair backlog, a financial report, an accessibility overview and the board will be presented with an action item on diesel fuel procurement. (Monday, 1 p.m., MassDOT Board Room, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 3830,Boston)

LOTTERY COMMISSION: Treasurer Deb Goldberg will chair a meeting of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission meeting. (Monday, 10 a.m., One Ashburton Place, 12th Floor Conference Room, Boston)

BETSY LEHMAN BOARD MEETING: Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders attends the Betsy Lehman Center board meeting. (Monday, 2 p.m., 501 Boylston St., 5th floor, Boston)

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2015

MEEHAN AT UMASS DARTMOUTH CONVOCATION:  UMass President Martin Meehan plans to join UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman at the Dartmouth campus' annual convocation breakfast and ceremony.  The event welcoming the Class of 2019 will be Meehan's first visit to the Dartmouth campus since he was selected to lead the university system in May.  Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in Lawrence Hall, ceremony at 11 a.m. in the Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial Amphitheater.  (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Lawrence Hall, Woodland Commons, UMass Dartmouth)

OPIOID DATA PRESS CONFERENCE: According to Middlesex DA Marian Ryan, a press conference is planned for Tuesday to "provide current data on the opioid epidemic and to inform the public about the Greater Lowell Health Alliance's Substance Use and Prevention Task Force efforts."    In addition to Ryan, scheduled speakers include Lowell City Manager Kevin Murphy, Lowell Police Superintendent William Taylor, Middlesex Community College Program on Homeland Security Executive Director Terrence Downes, and Greater Lowell Health Alliance Executive Director Kerrie D'Entremont.  (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Lowell General Hospital, Saints Campus, 1st Floor Conference Room, One Hospital Drive, Lowell)

WEBSTER RIBBON CUTTING: Treasurer Deb Goldberg and Massachusetts School Building Authority Executive Director Jack McCarthy will join state and local officials for the Park Avenue Elementary school ribbon cutting ceremony. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 58 Park Avenue, Webster)

STUDENT DEBT RELIEF: Attorney General Maura Healey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren will attend an event at Boston University to help former Everest Institute students with student loan debt relief. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Boston University, Questrom School of Business, 595 Commonwealth Avenue, 4th Floor, Boston)

GOLDBERG REMARKS: Treasurer Deb Goldberg will give the welcoming remarks at the New England States' Government Finance Officers Association Annual Conference. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Sheraton Boston, 39 Dalton Street, Boston)

PHARMACY BOARD: The Board of Registration in Pharmacy will meet to review the files of nine pharmacists or pharmacies, and to consider amendments to state regulations governing pharmacies. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 239 Causeway St., Room 417, Boston)

MANSFIELD COMMUNITY COMPACT SIGNING: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will join with Mansfield Town Manager William Ross for a Community Compact signing event. (Tuesday, 9:15 a.m., Mansfield Town Hall , Third Floor, 6 Park Row, Mansfield)

BAKER-GOLDBERG MEET: Treasurer Deb Goldberg will have her monthly meeting with Gov. Charles Baker. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Treasury Office, Room 227, Boston)

BRIDGEWATER STATE - CLARK INAUGURAL: Gov. Charlie Baker and State Auditor Suzanne Bump plan to attend the inauguration ceremony of Bridgewater State University President Frederick Clark, Jr., a Bridgewater State alumnus who had been appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to serve as chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and also served as Bridgewater State's executive vice president. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Bridgewater State University, Boyden Quadrangle, 131 Summer St., Bridgewater)

BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN PHARMACY:  The Board of Registration in Pharmacy is scheduled to meet.  (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 239 Causeway St., Room 417, Boston)

BOSTON FED PREZ TALKS ECONOMY IN NEW YORK:  Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren will be the guest speaker at a luncheon meeting of the Forecasters Club of New York.  He is slated to provide an economic outlook for the U.S. economy and take questions from the floor.  Reception atnoon, lunch at 12:30, followed by Rosengren's remarks after 1.  Press registration: samantha@haver.com, (212) 986-9300.  (Tuesday, 12 p.m., Cornell Club, 6 East 44th St., Fourth floor, New York City)

MBTA CHEMICAL RELEASE DRILL:  The MBTA will be conducting a drill for public safety officials to train and exercise response plans, policies and procedures for a chemical incident inside a subway station. Dozens of volunteers are expected to participate in the exercise in the role of subway customers. Surrounding neighborhoods can expect to see heightened activity in the area starting as early as 8 a.m. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Paul S. MacMillan MBTA Emergency Training Center, 20 Foundry Street, South Boston)

LT. GOV. ATTENDS EXECUTIVE WOMEN'S DAY FORUM: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito is scheduled to attend the Executive Women's Day Forum. The event at this year's Honda Classic will feature a series of speakers and is aimed at expanding "ways of connecting female business leaders with the tournament and the PGA TOUR".(Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Deutsche Bank Hospitality Pavilion at TPC Boston, 400 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton)

BAKER RETURNS TO MASS: Gov. Charlie Baker will return to Massachusetts early Tuesday morning following an energy conference in Newfoundland. (Tuesday)

REAL ESTATE REGULATIONS: The Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons will hold a public listening session to solicit idea and suggestions regarding potential revisions to real estate regulations. (Tuesday, noon, 1000 Washington St., Room 1A, Boston)

SUDDERS ON WBZ RADIO: Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders spends an hour talking with Dan Rea on WBZ radio. (Tuesday, 9 p.m., WBZ Radio AM 1030)

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2, 2015

POLITO CHAIR'S GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL MEETING: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito chairs a meeting of the Governor's Council. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Room 360, State House)  

BALLOT QUESTIONS: Attorney General Maura Healey's office will issue rulings Wednesday on the host of the proposed ballot questions and constitutional amendments submitted to her office. The state constitution rules out of bounds certain ballot questions, such as measures that make a specific appropriation or relate to the powers, creation or abolition of courts.  It is the attorney general's duty to certify petitions that are in accordance with the constitution. If certified petitions are not passed by the Legislature and backers gather enough signatures, ballot questions would appear on the 2016 ballot and proposed constitutional amendments could appear before voters in 2018, pending necessary legislative approvals. There are 32 petitions pending at the attorney general's office related to fishing, work schedules, and marijuana, among other subjects. The petitions are listed here: http://www.mass.gov/ago/government-resources/initiatives-and-other-ballot-questions/current-petitions-filed.html (Wednesday)

CLEAN WATER TRUST: Treasurer Deb Goldberg will chair the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Board meeting. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 3 Center Plaza, Suite 430, Boston)

UMASS COMMITTEE: The University of Massachusetts Committee on Academic and Student Affairs meets.  (Wednesday, 10 a.m., UMass president's office, Amherst Room, 33rd floor, 225 Franklin St., Boston)

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REPORT: State government's annual report on the performance of the state's health care system is set for release on Wednesday.  The report was assembled by the Center for Health Information and Analysis.   Aides say it will include an update on statewide, per capita spending on health care, as measure against the health care cost growth benchmark, which has held at 3.6 percent since it was established under a 2012 cost control law.   

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - PAROLE BOARD NOMINEE:  The Governor's Council plans to hold a confirmation hearing on Paul Treseler, Gov. Baker's nominee to the Parole Board.  If confirmed, Treseler, a veteran Suffolk County prosecutor, would serve as chair of the seven-member board that grants parole and supervises parolees.  (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Governor's Office, Room 360)

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT UMASS AMHERST: Senate President Stanley Rosenberg on Wednesday welcomes international students to UMass Amherst during an event hosted by the Amherst Town Committee for International Students and the International Program Office at UMass-Amherst.  (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., Amherst Women's Club, 35 Triangle St., Amherst)

CHELSEA CLOCK: Gov. Charlie Baker and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash plan to attend the opening of the new Chelsea Clock building. The company is moving to a renovated more-than-100-year-old brick building after about 117 years in its previous location, according to the company's website. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 101 2nd Street, Chelsea)

SUDDERS TO WASHINGTON: Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders travels to Washington D.C. for a meeting with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., 200 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C.)

HOOP DREAMS: Gov. Charlie Baker will attend Action for Boston Community Development's Hoop Dreams fundraiser. The basketball fundraising event benefits ABCD's programs and services. Ten teams from Boston corporations have the opportunity to play one another in a series of basketball games on the Boston Celtics legendary parquet floor. Teams will be coached by Attorney General Maura Healey, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, former Celtics coach Doc Rivers and Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston)

DENTISTRY REGISTRATION BOARD: The Board of Registration in Dentistry meets to "discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against an individual, and to discuss strategy with respect to litigation" in an executive session. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., 239 Causeway St., Room 417, Boston)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, 2015

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

RED & ORANGE LINE FACILITY: Gov. Charlie Baker and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash will attend a groundbreaking that could provide some stimulus for Springfield and ease the commutes of straphangers from Arlington to Braintree and Melrose to Forest Hills. A planned $95 million facility across the interstate from Smith & Wesson will assemble Red and Orange line cars, part of a $566 million contract won by the Chinese railroad manufacturing subsidiary CNR MA. In December, state-owned CNR announced it would merge with China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation to form China Railway Stock Corp. (CRRC), valued at $26 billion, according to an article in China Business Review, the publishing arm of a trade association for American companies doing business in China. According to an advisory, CRRC purchased a 40-acre parcel that once housed the Stevens-Duryea automobile plant, "the first mass produced auto plant in the United States." Next year the company plans to build a "first phase" 220,000 square-foot assembly facility and 2,240-foot test track. Rival manufacturers sought to use the courts to block the contract, but those efforts have been unsuccessful. CRRC is required to deliver 152 Orange Line vehicles and 132 Red Line vehicles. In attendance at the groundbreaking will be CRRC Vice President Weiping Yu, CRRC USA Rail Corp. President & Chairman Chuanhe Zhou, New York Chinese Consulate General Commercial Counselor Liu Yi, as well as Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, MBTA Interim General Manager Frank DePaola and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., 655 Page Boulevard, Springfield)

JKIII TO TALK STEM EDU: Congressman Joseph Kennedy III will join 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. The event, which will take place at MIT's Media Lab, will feature demonstrations of new projects and technologies, presentations by leading education experts, and a panel discussion. (Thursday, 3 p.m., MIT Media Lab (Building E14), 6th floor, 75 Amherst St., Cambridge)

ROSENBERG MEETS WITH VIETNAM OFFICIAL: Senate President Stanley Rosenberg meets with National Assembly of Vietnam President Nguyen Sinh Hung. It's closed press. (Thursday, 1:45 p.m., Sen. Rosenberg's third floor State House office)

LT. GOV. CONTINUES THE "BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES" TOUR: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will take part in a "Building Stronger Communities" Tour in Shirley to meet with local officials and discuss ways to strengthen partnerships in communities across the Commonwealth. Meeting is closed to press. Media availability to immediately follow. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Town Hall, 7 Keady Way, Shirley)

POLITO SIGNS COMPACT WITH TOWNSEND: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will join with Townsend Board of Selectman Chair Colin McNabb to sign a Community Compact. (Thursday, 12:45, Town Hall, 272 Main Street, Townsend)

POLITO MEETS ATTEND REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER SIGNING: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will join officials from Acton, Boxborough, Littleton, Maynard, and Westford for a Regional Community Center signing. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Littleton Police Station, 500 Great Road, Littleton)

STATE BAR PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION: Attorney General Maura Healey will attend a reception honoring the new Massachusetts Bar Association President Robert Harnais. Harnais, of Braintree, is the first Hispanic attorney to serve as president of the MBA in its 105-year history. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Fenway Park, State Street Pavilion, Yawkey Way, Boston)

WARREN AT BROCKTON HEALTH CENTER OPENING: Sen. Elizabeth Warren will deliver remarks at the opening of the new Brockton Neighborhood Health Center. The facility was part of a $22 million investment project to bring the health center and the adjacent Vicente's Tropical Supermarket to Brockton to help low-income residents improve their health, according to a release. Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter is among a group of guests who also plan to attend. The event program includes a press conference, site tour, and nutrition counseling demonstration. (Thursday, 11 a.m., 160 Pleasant Street at Warren Street, Brockton)

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4, 2015

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

DPH HEARING ON LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES: Proposed regulatory amendments dealing with the licensing procedure and suitability requirements for long-term care facilities are up for a public hearing on Friday.   According to the Department of Public Health, the regulations would "implement a hearing process that would precede approval of, and allow for public input on, any application for a license, notice of intent to transfer ownership or notice of intent to sell or close any skilled nursing facility."  (Friday, 10 a.m., 250 Washington St., Boston)

ROSENBERG IN SPRINGFIELD: Senate President Stanley Rosenberg on Friday plans to tour Springfield Technical Community College.  (Friday, 2:15 p.m., president's office, Garvey Hall, Building 16, Room 237, Springfield)

BOSTON - ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE: The deadline to complete and submit an absentee ballot application in the City of Boston is Friday at 5 p.m.  Preliminary elections are scheduled this year in City Council Districts 4 and 7 on Sept. 8.  Absentee voters are required to fill out a new application each year.   Applications may be obtained by calling the election department at 617 635 3767 and are available online at boston.gov/elections.  Absentee ballots are also available at the election department's offices in Room 241 of Boston City Hall.

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