Franklin, State House, and Beyond

Above, after taking a handful of votes late Sunday morning into the early afternoon, the Senate broke for recess at 12:24 p.m. with an announcement that free food was available outside for senators and staff. A Roxy's food truck was slinging grilled cheeses, trailed by a line that stretched down the Bowdoin Street sidewalk. The impromptu cheese caucus included Sens. Will Brownsberger, Becca Rausch, and Marc Pacheco, aides, and court officers.

FRANKLIN WEEK AHEAD

Monday, Aug. 8

School Committee Policy Subcommittee agenda

6:00pm

Planning Board Meeting

7:00pm

Tuesday, Aug. 9

COA Meeting

10:00am

Design Review Commission Meeting

7:00pm

Wednesday, Aug. 10

Charles River Pollution Control agenda

3:00pm

EDC Meeting

6:00pm

Thursday, Aug. 11

Cultural District Committee Meeting

7:00pm

ZBA Meeting

7:30pm

STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND

By Thursday, Gov. Charlie Baker will for the last time have cleared his desk of the deluge of bills that lawmakers sent him before wrapping up formal sessions, which they did for 2022 on the morning of Aug. 1. The governor signs the vast majority of bills sent his way, but drops vetoes and amendments here and there, and they can be impactful. Democratic legislative leaders misplayed their hands in the way they chose to wrap up formal session business. They were seemingly blindsided by a tax policy already on the books, which caused them to derail their own carefully crafted and sweeping tax relief and economic development spending plans. House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka got their respective sports betting and mental health bills to the governor, but dragged their feet on a host of other issues -- no-cost prison phone calls, a moratorium on new prison construction, and an effort to stop prescription drug policies that lawmakers say hurt patients -- that remain in legislative limbo. Now, the Legislature is in what Republican Sen. Ryan Fattman recently described as "unanimous consent operations," when an objection from any lawmaker can sideline any proposal for the rest of the session. By waiting until the eleventh hour to pass bills and once again approving a new annual budget weeks after their July 1 deadline, Democrats have effectively ceded some of their power to the Republican super-minority on Beacon Hill, and now have no way of dealing with any vetoes handed down by Baker or taking up his budget amendments if they are controversial in any way. As Baker makes his final calls on the bills they sent him, lawmakers are mostly away from Beacon Hill doing summer things and checking their phones to find out the final outcome of their work.

Storylines In Progress: ... The Federal Transit Administration expects that its final report about safety problems at the MBTA -- which already prompted a string of orders to fix issues serious enough that they could not wait until the investigation's conclusion -- will be completed some time in August ... Most elected officials have a free ride in the Sept. 6 primary elections, but those who don't are engaged in some contests that are heating up ... Beacon Hill, which has been on the receiving end of lots of federal aid over the past two years, once again has its eyes on Washington to see which policies end up in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and whether they will hurt or help Massachusetts ...

Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022

HEALEY AND CAMPBELL CANVASS: Gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey and attorney general candidate Andrea Campbell kick off a canvass effort in Mattapan. (Saturday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m., Mattapan Square, 1624 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan)

HEALEY AT OPEN STREETS: Gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey joins attorney general candidate Andrea Campbell and Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune for a Boston Open Streets event on Blue Hill Avenue. The event, which entails the city shutting down a major thoroughfare to allow pedestrians to enjoy it for the day, runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Saturday, Aug. 6, 10:45 a.m., Blue Hill Avenue at Moreland Street, Boston)

HEALEY IN NEW BEDFORD: Capping off a day of campaign events, gubernatorial hopeful Maura Healey heads south to New Bedford, where she and Mayor Jon Mitchell will attend the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, an annual parade and festival. (Saturday, Aug. 6, 3 p.m., 50 Madeira Ave., New Bedford)

"E" BRANCH CLOSURE BEGINS: A 16-day shutdown of trolley service on the MBTA's E Branch begins Saturday. Crews plan to use the diversion to perform major maintenance work, including replacement of about 2,000 feet of track and installation of wayside equipment for the Green Line Train Protection System. The T will enhance Route 39 bus service, which will run from the Heath Street terminus to Copley Station, with accessible vehicles during the trolley shutdown. More Info (Saturday, Aug. 6)

Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022

BUMP ON 4: Auditor Bump talks with Jon Keller about her lessons learned in state government and politics as she prepares to retire after 12 years in the auditor's office. Bump also served in the House, and as secretary of labor and workforce development under Gov. Patrick. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)

SULLIVAN ON 5: Democrat candidate for secretary of state Tanisha Sullivan is the guest on "On The Record," followed by a roundtable with analysts Mary Anne Marsh and Virginia Buckingham. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)

BOSTON GOSPELFEST: Gospel musician Travis Greene headlines Boston's 22nd GospelFest concert, with other performances by Angela Elizabeth, Chris Bender, Kymberli Joye, and the Mayor's Community Gospel Choir. The annual concert is produced by the Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment in partnership with the Faith Collective, and showcases both local and national talents. Bishop Bobby Perry, founder and pastor of Kingdom Builders' Worship Center in Dorchester, hosts. Attendees can bring chairs or blankets. Water provided by a Boston Water and Sewer Commission truck, and food and drinks available from Suya Joint food truck. (Sunday, 5 p.m., Playstead Field, Franklin Park, Boston)

Monday, Aug. 8, 2022

MOULTON AT LYNN GROUNDBREAKING: Congressman Moulton attends groundbreaking ceremony for Lynn Community Health Center's new pharmacy. The project would be supported by $1 million in federal community project funding that has been approved by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and now awaits action in the House, according to Moulton's office. Event also marks start of National Health Center Week. (Monday, 10 a.m., 269 Union St., Lynn)

HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches start the week with 11 a.m. sessions. The House and Senate are restricted by their own rules from holding formal sessions for the remainder of the year. Noncontroversial matters, or unfinished business from July's formal sessions, can spill over into these quieter times but it requires unanimous consent from all the members present in the chamber. (Monday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers | House Livestream | Senate Livestream)

SECRETARY OF STATE DEBATE - DEMS: Voting access and redistricting are among the topics planned for a debate between the Democrats running for secretary of state -- incumbent Bill Galvin and challenger Tanisha Sullivan -- moderated by WBUR's Tiziana Dearing. Debate is hosted by 'BUR, the Globe, and Channel 5. (Monday, 11 a.m., WBUR-FM 90.9 | Livestream)

HEALEY FARM TO TABLE: Maura Healey, the attorney general and a candidate for governor, participates in a farm tour and informational session with two youth employees who are members of the "Root Crew" at The Food Project's urban farm at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute. Root Crew members help grow and distribute food through low-cost farmer's markets. (Monday, 11 a.m., Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, 80 Neptune Blvd., Lynn)

MOULTON AT SALEM HEALTH CENTER: Congressman Moulton visits North Shore Community Health's Salem Family Health Center, highlighting $1 million he secured for the new center in fiscal 2022 community project funding. Media availability planned for around 11:30 a.m. followed by site visit. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., 47 Congress St., Salem)

DROUGHT TASK FORCE: With more than 95 percent of the state in at least a moderate drought, the state's Drought Management Task Force meets. After its last meeting, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card declared a "Level 3-Critical Drought" for the northeast and central regions of the state. The southeast and Connecticut River Valley regions are at Level 2-Significant Drought status, and Cape Cod and the Berkshires are at Level 1-Mild Drought. Agenda (Monday, 1 p.m., Register)

LESSER VISITS SENIOR HOUSING: Sen. Lesser, candidate for lieutenant governor, visits 2Life Communities Golda Meir House senior housing to meet with the center's leaders and residents over outdoor refreshments. (Monday, 2 p.m., 160 Stanton Ave., Auburndale)

ARTS & CULTURE COALITION: Mass. Cultural Council and SouthCoast Community Foundation are guests at a meeting of the Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition to provide information on upcoming grant opportunities. (Monday, 5 p.m., One SouthCoast Chamber conference room, 200 Pocasset St., Fall River)

AUDITOR DEBATE - DEMS: Diana DiZoglio and Chris Dempsey, the two Democrat candidates for state auditor, meet for a debate hosted by GBH News and moderated by Jim Braude. A public transportation advocate who helped lead the grassroots movement to prevent the Olympics from coming to Boston in 2024, Dempsey narrowly edged out DiZoglio for the party's convention endorsement in June. DiZoglio served three terms in the House before winning election to the Senate in 2018. She has long been a vocal advocate for restricting the use of non-disclosure agreements on Beacon Hill and has criticized lawmakers for not offering more pandemic relief to restaurants and other small businesses. The debate streams on YouTube at 6:30 p.m. and then on WGBH-TV Ch. 2 at 7 p.m. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., YouTube)

Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022

SPILKA AT YMCA: Senate President Karen Spilka attends Advocacy Day at the MetroWest YMCA to check out and discuss summer programs for young people. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. 45 East St., Hopkinton)

MOULTON IN GLOUCESTER: Congressman Moulton plans to visit The Open Door food pantry at 11 a.m. (28 Emerson Ave.) followed by a tour of Gloucester's wastewater treatment plant with Gloucester Mayor Verga at 1:15 p.m. (50 Essex Ave.). Media availability around 1:15 p.m. before the treatment plant tour begins. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Gloucester)

MOULTON AT NEWBURYPORT BULKHEAD: Congressman Moulton and Newburyport Mayor Reardon visit the site of a waterfront bulkhead renovation supported by $2.25 million in fiscal 2022 federal community project funding. Media availability planned for around 3:30 p.m. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Market Landing Park, Newburyport)

REPUBLICAN GUV PRIMARY INTERVIEWS: Instead of an actual debate, the Republican candidates for governor will make their cases to voters in "previously recorded back-to-back interviews" as part of GBH News' primary election debate series. Geoff Diehl won the MassGOP's convention endorsement in May and faces Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty in the party's primary. The candidate statements, along with analysis from GBH's Adam Reilly, will stream on YouTube at 6:30 p.m. and then air on WGBH-TV Ch. 2 at 7 p.m. Howie Carr was able to score a debate between the two candidates last month. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., YouTube)

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022

PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL: Public Health Council meets remotely, with an agenda that includes an overview of "serious reportable events" in health care facilities in 2021, updates from the COVID-19 Community Impact Survey, a report from Commissioner Margret Cooke, and votes on a request of Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital for a "substantial capital expenditure" and on a request by the Children’s Medical Center Corporation for a transfer of ownership. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - SUPERIOR COURT: Governor's Council interviews Brent Tingle, a partner at Morrison Mahoney LLP, who was nominated by Gov. Baker to a Superior Court judgeship. Tingle graduated Northeastern University School of Law in 1991 and clerked in the Superior Court for a year before starting with Morrison Mahoney, where he has been a partner since 1999. He "specializes in the defense of physicians, nurses and other medical professionals in professional liability cases" and "has tried more than 50 high exposure medical malpractice cases to verdict in state and federal court," according to the firm's website. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

HIGHER ED COMMISSIONER SEARCH: Department of Higher Education's Commissioner Search Advisory Council meets via Zoom on Wednesday and Thursday to conduct initial interviews and select candidates. A timeline on the department's website says that "due diligence, referencing, and deep background checks" will then take place over the weeks of Aug. 15 and Aug. 22, followed by interviews with the finalists on Aug. 25 and a Board of Higher Education vote on the appointment on Aug. 30. Commissioner Carlos Santiago announced his departure at the beginning of the year, though Board of Higher Education Chairman Chris Gabrieli has said Santiago "is amenable to providing us service for as long as we seek it, through at least the end of the year." (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Zoom)

ATTORNEY GENERAL DEBATE - DEMS: The three Democrat candidates for the open attorney general's seat -- Andrea Campbell, Shannon Liss-Riordan, and Quentin Palfrey -- debate at WBUR CitySpace moderated by WBUR-FM's Tiziana Dearing and WCVB-TV's Sharman Sacchetti. Debate is hosted by 'BUR, the Globe, and Channel 5. Attendance open to outside media and the general public. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., WBUR CitySpace, 890 Commonwealth Ave., Boston | General Public Attendance Registration | Livestream)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - SALEM MAGISTRATE: Governor's Council interviews Brian Costa, acting clerk magistrate of Salem District Court, who was nominated by Gov. Baker to fill the top clerk position permanently. Costa has worked in the Trial Court system for more than 20 years and started in 2013 as an assistant clerk magistrate in Salem. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - PAROLE BOARD, DISTRICT COURT: Governor's Council meets and could vote on whether to confirm Colette Santa to a second five-year term on the Parole Board. Santa faced a number of criticisms at her hearing Aug. 3. Council could also vote on whether to confirm Jon Revelli, the first assistant clerk magistrate in Fitchburg District Court, to a District Court judgeship. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

DOUGHTY TOWN HALL: Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty hosts a town hall event to "educate voters on where he stands on the issues." Doughty, who has been trailing in polling and frustrated by his primary opponent Geoff Diehl's reluctance to debate, said he strongly believes "that an informed public is better for our state. To help the people make an educated choice, I will be holding these public forums while my opponent hides." Doughty and Diehl did square off July 20 on the Howie Carr Show. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Springfield Sheraton, One Monarch Place, Springfield)

AMP UP BOSTON: Interns from underserved Boston communities who are participating in the Music Forward pilot program to learn the behind-the-scenes aspects of the music industry put on Amp Up Boston, a concert with local artists, for their final project. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave., Allston)

CHELMSFORD BRIDGE MEETING: MassDOT staff host a virtual public meeting to present the design for a proposed replacement of the Route 3A and Westford Street bridges over Interstate 495 in Chelmsford. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., More Info)

SECRETARY OF STATE DEBATE - DEMS: Tanisha Sullivan and Bill Galvin, the two Democrat candidates for secretary of state, meet for a debate hosted by GBH News and moderated by Jim Braude. Sullivan, president of the Boston branch of the NAACP, an attorney and life sciences executive, earned a victory at the party convention over the incumbent Galvin. Sullivan said she was compelled to run for the office at "an inflection point in our democracy." Galvin is seeking his eighth four-year term as the secretary of state, having served since 1995. He could surpass former Secretary Frederic Cook's record 28-year tenure in the constitutional post if he wins this September and November. Galvin has lost at the party convention but then prevailed in the party primary three times previously -- in 1990 when he ran for treasurer, in 1994 when he first ran for secretary of state and in 2018. The debate streams on YouTube at 6:30 p.m. and then on WGBH-TV Ch. 2 at 7 p.m. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., YouTube)

Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022

HIGHER ED COMMISSIONER SEARCH: Department of Higher Education's Commissioner Search Advisory Council meets via Zoom for a second day of initial interviews to select candidates to move forward in the application process. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Zoom | More Info)

MBTA AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE: MBTA Board of Directors Audit and Finance Subcommittee holds a virtual public meeting. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)

GAMING REGULATION HEARING: Mass. Gaming Commission holds a public hearing as it contemplates amending its regulation related to waivers of required licenses or suitability determinations. The commission said the change would make the regulatory language consistent with statutory language. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., More Info and Access)

GAMING COMMISSION: Mass. Gaming Commission is expected to meet. If Gov. Baker signs it by then, commissioners could discuss the state's sports betting law in greater detail. The commission is also expected to get an update on the Play My Way responsible gaming program and to get quarterly reports from at least some licensees. (Thursday, 10 a.m., More Info TBA)

MBTA PLANNING AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE: MBTA Board of Directors Planning, Workforce, Development and Compensation Subcommittee holds a virtual public meeting. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)

CANNABIS COMMISSION: Cannabis Control Commission meets and is likely to process dozens of provisional licenses, final licenses, license renewals and changes of ownerships. Commissioners could also discuss legislation passed early Monday morning to promote greater diversity in the legal marijuana industry, ratchet up oversight on the host community agreements that marijuana businesses are required to enter into with municipalities, and to lay the groundwork for cities and towns to green light on-site cannabis consumption establishments within their borders. Many provisions of the bill, which was awaiting action from Gov. Baker as of Friday afternoon, were CCC priorities. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)

HOUSE AND SENATE: House and Senate are likely to hold sessions. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers)

MBTA SAFETY COMMITTEE: MBTA Board of Directors Safety, Health and Environment Subcommittee holds a virtual public meeting. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING: MassDOT holds a virtual public hearing to provide an opportunity for public feedback and questions on recent outdoor advertising applications. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Zoom)

Friday, Aug. 12, 2022

...No public events scheduled...

Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022

SALES TAX HOLIDAY STARTS: Saturday is the first day of the annual sales tax holiday, when shoppers can buy most items under $2,500 in value without having to pay the state's 6.25 percent sales tax. The annual sales-tax-free weekend was made permanent by a 2018 law and was set by the Legislature for Aug. 13 and 14 this year. The tax holiday does not apply to the purchase of motor vehicles, motorboats, meals, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, marijuana products, telecommunications services like prepaid calls, natural gas, steam, or electricity. Sales tax will not be due on items purchased online during the two-day holiday, even if the items are delivered after the weekend is over. More Info (Saturday, Aug. 13)