Franklin, State House, and Beyond

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Gov. Charlie Baker had to overcome reservations but ultimately signed a massive climate bill. Under the bill lawmakers returned to his desk, 10 cities and towns would have the ability to restrict or prohibit the use of fossil fuels in most construction or major renovation projects.

FRANKLIN WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday, Aug. 16.

COA Meeting (POSTPONED ONE WEEK)

10:00am

COA Meeting (POSTPONED ONE WEEK)

10:00am

Planning Board Meeting

7:00pm

Wednesday, Aug. 17

Town Council Meeting

7:00pm

Thursday, Aug. 18

Town Council Office Hours

8:30am

Senior Coffee Hour w/ State & Local Officials

8:30am

Conservation Commission Meeting

7:00pm

STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
As lawmakers vacation or campaign ahead of the Sept. 6 primaries, the August sales tax holiday weekend is the only form of tax relief they've made available to Massachusetts residents who are feeling numb from the higher costs of everything. The 6.25 percent sales tax will be suspended for two days (Aug. 13 and 14) while the state sits on a massive fiscal 2022 surplus and a record rainy day fund account balance. House and Senate Democrats intended to pass $1 billion in tax relief to go along with more than $3 billion in spending, but shelved their economic development bill at the start of this month and haven't returned to it, at least publicly. Lawmakers said they wanted to explore the 1986 tax cap law that is poised to deliver nearly $3 billion in income tax relief this year, but House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka have not scheduled any public events to dissect that law, which crept up on them in late July and wrecked their plans for what in past years has been a celebratory jobs bill that incumbents then use on the campaign trail to show off their accomplishments.

Storylines In Progress ... The week ahead gets started with an early Sunday morning WBZ-TV debate between state auditor candidates Chris Dempsey and Diana DiZoglio ... That's followed by a Monday morning WBUR debate between the two Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, Leah Cole Allen and Kate Campanale ... The state Board of Education also meets Monday, ahead of the state of another school year ... 'BUR on Tuesday then brings together Kim Driscoll, Tami Gouveia and Eric Lesser, the Democrats running for the statewide office with the least specific job responsibilities ... Mike Pence visits New Hampshire Wednesday for a "Politics & Eggs" event ... Gov. Baker's controversial pick for reappointment to the Parole Board is once again up for a vote on Wednesday, after her first scheduled vote was delayed ... The week ends with the beginning of the controversial Orange Line closure that comes as the federal government closes in on its final report on safety and other problems at the MBTA ...

Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022

AUDITOR'S RACE - DiZOGLIO/DEMPSEY DEBATE: Jon Keller moderates a debate between Chris Dempsey and Sen. Diana DiZoglio, who are facing off in the Democratic primary for the open auditor's seat. Debate topics include DiZoglio's voting record in the Senate, Dempsey's voting record at the polls, how each would handle privatization proposals, views on Medicaid reform, and personal frugality. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)

GALVIN ON 5: Secretary of State Bill Galvin, who faces a primary challenge from Tanisha Sullivan, is the guest on "On The Record" followed by a roundtable discussion with analysts Mary Anne Marsh and Virginia Buckingham. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)

DOUGHTY IN BOLTON: Gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty attends Bolton Fair to meet with voters. (Sunday, 11 a.m., 318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster)

Monday, Aug. 15, 2022

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE - WRITTEN TESTIMONY: Joint Committee on Public Service accepts written testimony through Tuesday at 5 p.m. on late-filed bills dealing with civil service law (H 5171), residency limits for Acton police and firefighters (H 5172) and a fire department employee in Bernardston (S 3098). (Monday, 9 a.m., More Info)

BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER SWEARING-IN: New Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox takes the oath of office at a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall Plaza. Mayor Michelle Wu last month tapped Cox, a 30-year Boston Police Department veteran who most recently served as police chief in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to take over the department effective Aug. 15. Wu's office said press must RSVP due to construction. (Monday, 10 a.m., City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Square, Boston | Livestream)

ALLEN, CAMPANALE DEBATE: Republican lieutenant governor candidates Leah Cole Allen and Kate Campanale, both former state representatives, meet for a debate hosted by WBUR, The Boston Globe and WCVB ahead of the Sept. 6 primary election. WBUR reporter Steve Brown and "Consider This" host Darryl C. Murphy moderate. (Monday, 11 a.m., WBUR CitySpace, 890 Commonwealth Ave., Boston | Register & Livestream)

HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches hold informal sessions. (Monday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers | House Livestream | Senate Livestream)

BOARD OF ED MEETS: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education convenes a special meeting. The agenda calls for discussion and vote on new competency determination standards for the classes of 2026 through 2029 and, potentially, additional standards for the classes of 2030 and beyond. Other topics include updated bullying or retaliation regulations, district and school accountability, four charter school contracts, and the education budget. The meeting will likely be the board's last before the 2022-2023 school year begins. (Monday, 12 p.m., 75 Pleasant St., Malden | Livestream | Agenda)

CAMPBELL AT CABBYSHACK: Republican secretary of state candidate Rayla Campbell holds "campaign kickoff" fundraiser at the CabbyShack. Special guest is Joe Imperatrice, founder of the organization Blue Lives Matter NYC. (Monday, 6 p.m., The CabbyShack, 30 Town Wharf, Plymouth | More Info)

GAMING REVENUE: Mass. Gaming Commission is due to report July gross gaming revenue (and the state's revenue take for the month) from Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor. (Monday)

Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022

DOUGHTY, CAMPANALE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty and lieutenant governor candidate Kate Campanale plan several campaign events. They will tour Gloucester with Sen. Tarr at 10 a.m. and sit for an interview with Quincy Access TV at 5 p.m. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Location TBD)

DEM LG CANDIDATES DEBATE: The three Democrats running for lieutenant governor -- Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Rep. Tami Gouveia and Sen. Eric Lesser -- meet for a debate hosted by WBUR, The Boston Globe and WCVB ahead of the Sept. 6 primary election. WBUR reporter Steve Brown, WCVB reporter Sharman Sacchetti and Boston Globe reporter Taylor Dolven moderate. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., WBUR CitySpace, 890 Commonwealth Ave., Boston | Registration and Livestream)

SEAL AND MOTTO COMMISSION: A special legislative commission tasked with recommending updates to the state seal and motto meets virtually. The panel's chairs plan to give an update that will "review meeting norms and media policy," according to the agenda, as well as a status update on the group's funding, schedule and deadline extension. Lawmakers have already granted the commission two extensions beyond its original October 2021 due date, and the Senate voted as part of an economic development bill to push the deadline back again from Dec. 31, 2022 to March 31, 2023, but that legislation wound up on the shelf at the end of formal sessions. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022

PENCE AT POLITICS & EGGS: Former Vice President Mike Pence headlines the latest "Politics & Eggs" event hosted by the New England Council and Saint Anselm College's New Hampshire Institute of Politics. The event is a frequent stop for candidates on or eyeing the presidential campaign trail and other political leaders visiting New Hampshire, which votes first in presidential primaries every cycle. Media RSVP (Wednesday, 8 a.m., New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Road, Manchester, N.H.)

PRIM BOARD: Massachusetts Pension Reserve Investment Management Board of Directors meets with Treasurer Deb Goldberg as chair. At a recent meeting of the board's Investment Committee, Executive Director Michael Trotsky said fiscal year 2022's negative 3.4 percent return net of fees dropped the Pension Reserves Investment Trust fund from its record-high value of $95.7 billion at the end of fiscal year 2021 to $92.4 billion, but it outperformed the fund's benchmark by 1.5 percent. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Agenda and Access Info TBA)

HAMPDEN SHERIFF'S COOKOUT: Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, who is seeking reelection to a second term, hosts a golf tournament and cookout fundraiser. The tournament will take place at Veteran's Golf Course at 8 a.m., where slots are still open, and Franconia Golf Course at 8:45 a.m., where slots are already filled. The cookout festivities will run over the course of the day, with lunch featuring "Italian sausage grinders with peppers and onions, hotdogs, hamburgers and clam chowder" and dinner including "BBQ ribs or grilled chicken, baked beans, and salad," according to Cocchi's office. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Springfield Elks Lodge #61, 440 Tiffany St., Springfield)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: Governor's Council meets and could vote on four pending nominations from Gov. Charlie Baker, including the reappointment of Parole Board member Colette Santa. A council session scheduled for Aug. 10, where members were to vote on Santa and on District Court nominee Jon Revelli, was abruptly cancelled because not enough councilors were present to form a quorum. Wednesday's session calendar includes votes on Santa, Revelli, Superior Court nominee Brent Tingle, and Salem District Court clerk magistrate nominee Brian Costa. There are no council hearings scheduled Wednesday. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

DOUGHTY, CAMPANALE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty and lieutenant governor candidate Kate Campanale plan separate campaign events. Campanale will attend Worcester County Women's Group (5 p.m., Yee's Village, 350 Main St., Townsend) and Doughty will speak at Simpson Spring (5:30 p.m., 719 Washington St., South Easton). (Wednesday)

SECOND SUFFOLK CANDIDATE FORUM: Democrats running for the open Second Suffolk Senate seat meet in a virtual forum hosted by MassVOTE. Rep. Nika Elugardo and Rev. Miniard Culpepper will speak from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., and Rep. Liz Miranda and former Sen. Dianne Wilkerson will speak from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. Armani White of Reclaim Roxbury moderates. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Register)

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022

SPORTS BETTING ROUNDTABLE: Mass. Gaming Commission is expected to hold a roundtable discussion with the five entities that it already licenses that are eligible for sports betting licenses -- Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor, Suffolk Downs and Raynham Park. The first in a series of roundtable discussions, commissioners said they want to get more information about what the casinos, slots parlor and simulcast centers have in mind for their own sports betting offerings and to talk more about the sports betting implementation process moving forward. (Thursday, 10 a.m., More Info TBA)

SENATE AND HOUSE: House and Senate meet in informal sessions. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers)

DOUGHTY, CAMPANALE AT BOSTON "LOG CABIN": Gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty and lieutenant governor candidate Kate Campanale attend a "log cabin event." (Thursday, 7 p.m., Boston Park Plaza, 50 Park Plaza, Boston)

Friday, Aug. 19, 2022

ORANGE LINE SHUTDOWN BEGINS: MBTA riders venture into uncharted territory as the transit authority begins a 30-day shutdown of the entire Orange Line, the first time the T has ever shuttered a full subway line for repairs. Train service will end at 9 p.m. Friday and remain offline until the morning of Sept. 19. The first few days will give riders, employers and government officials a glimpse at the scale of upheaval caused by closing a subway line that in the spring provided more than 100,000 trips on an average weekday stretching from Malden through Medford, Somerville, downtown Boston and Jamaica Plain. Expectations leading up to the closure have ranged from Boston Mayor Wu's forecast of "chaos" to Gov. Baker's contention on past shutdowns, "generally speaking, it works out." The T plans to run free shuttle buses, with a northern leg from Oak Grove to Haymarket and a southern leg from Forest Hills to Back Bay. Shuttles will not run through downtown Boston, and the MBTA urged commuters to switch to Green Line service for downtown stops or to get from one end of the shuttle bus to the other. Riders will also be able to use the commuter rail -- which stops at several Orange Line stations -- in Zones 1, 1A and 2 free of charge by flashing a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket. Feeling the pressure of a federal safety investigation that flagged deferred maintenance as a major problem, officials say they expect crews to be able to complete about as much work in the single month of full shutdown as they would in five years of weekend- and evening-only closures. Workers will replace more than 3,500 feet of track that dates back 38 years, install upgraded signals, replace two crossovers, and fix concrete, track and ties along the Southwest Corridor. Official Guide for Commuters (Friday, 9 p.m., More Info)

DOUGHTY IN MARSHFIELD: Gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty attends Marshfield Fair. (Friday, 5:30 p.m., Marshfield Fairgrounds)

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