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Even as the kerfuffle continued over the illegal immigrants transported to Martha’s Vineyard, the State House's Great Hall of Flags was the setting for dozens of new U.S. citizens, legal immigrants, to swear their oath of allegiance during a U.S. District Court naturalization ceremony on Friday morning. [Sam Doran/SHNS]
FRANKLIN WEEK AHEAD
Monday, Sept 19.
7:00pm
Tuesday, Sept 20
COA Meeting (POSTPONED ONE WEEK)
10:00am
4:30pm
7:30pm
Wednesday, Sept. 21.
1:00pm
6:00pm
Thursday, Sept. 15
7:30pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Amid the anticipation over subway line reopenings planned for next week, the Baker administration announced plans Friday to move forward this fall with nearly $3 billion in tax relief even though the Legislature has yet to act on a request by Gov. Charlie Baker to set aside the surplus money "to ensure that it is easily available" to return to taxpayers. Section 63 of Baker's $1.6 billion spending bill to close the books on fiscal 2022 calls for the state to treat the funds needed for tax relief under a 1986 voter law as a "reserved balance." House and Senate Democrats are still weighing their options for the so-called closeout supplemental budget (H 5260), which also dumps $200 million more in emergency aid to the MBTA (on top of $666 million in T aid approved in recent months), as well as a more than $4 billion economic development bill (H 5034 / S 3030) that itself includes another $1 billion in tax relief. While somewhat reluctantly, Democrats appear resigned to the massive amounts of tax relief due under Chapter 62F, which Baker says will flow this fall as checks or direct deposits, with larger refunds arriving for taxpayers who paid more in income taxes, and vice versa. That approach contrasts with the more progressive and targeted approach to tax relief that lawmakers built into their economic development bills. Legislative leaders who just two months ago froze action on those bills now appear interested in reviving them in some form. The closeout supplemental budget and the economic development bills are set up as major to-do items during upcoming informal sessions, where all bills need buy-in from everyone in order to advance. House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka haven't given any indication of when or even if they will be able to agree on an economic development bill, but Comptroller William McNamara has appealed to the Legislature to pass the closeout budget this month so that he can meet his deadline to present the state's annual financial report. The economic development bill could shrink in size because lawmakers need to back bond funding out of that proposal since bond bills require recorded roll call votes that can't be taken during informal sessions. But doing so would mean slashing planned investments, a path lawmakers haven't taken often in recent years. To keep the bill's investments roughly intact, legislators could also pull more American Rescue Plan Act funding into the bill's revenue column.
Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022
SURTAX DEBATE: WBZ political analyst and MASSterList columnist Jon Keller moderates a "mini-debate" between Steve Crawford of Fair Share Massachusetts and Jim Stergios of the Pioneer Institute on the merits of Question 1, which would impose a 4 percent surtax on income over $1 million. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
BOSTON SERVICE FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH: Old North Church holds a "Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance" for the late Queen Elizabeth II. The queen worshiped at Old North during her 1976 visit. The church tolls its historic bells following the service. (Sunday, 10 a.m., 193 Salem St., North End | RSVP Required)
CAMPBELL ON 5: Attorney general candidate Andrea Campbell is the guest on "On The Record" with Janet Wu and Ed Harding, followed by a roundtable discussion with analysts Mary Anne Marsh and Rob Gray. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
NAST CONFERENCE: Treasurer Deborah Goldberg travels to Philadelphia for the 2022 annual conference of the National Association of State Treasurers. Goldberg attends through Wednesday. (Sunday)
Monday, Sept. 19, 2022
QUEEN ELIZABETH FUNERAL: World leaders including President Biden gather at Westminster Abbey in London for the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II. United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss and Commonwealth of Nations Secretary General Patricia Scotland read the lessons, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby gives the sermon. "Last Post," equivalent to the American "Taps," is scheduled to sound at approximately 6:55 a.m. Eastern Time followed by two minutes of silence "observed in the Abbey, and throughout the United Kingdom." A committal service is held at 11 a.m. ET at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, followed by a private service later in the evening when the queen will be buried with her late husband, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh. In accordance with a presidential proclamation, Gov. Baker has ordered state and U.S. flags to remain at half-staff in Massachusetts until sunset Monday in memory of the late monarch. (Monday, 6 a.m. ET, Westminster Abbey, London | More Info)
N.H. ENERGY SUMMIT: The Dupont Group hosts the 10th annual New Hampshire Energy Summit, where attendees will hear from industry professionals and New Hampshire public officials on innovations in the energy market, regional market developments and sustainable energy initiatives. Speakers include Director of External Affairs for ISO New England Eric Johnson, who will talk about 2023 winter reliability; former Ambassador to Denmark Richard Swett, on the impact of the war in Ukraine on the U.S. and New Hampshire energy market; and Policy Principal for Advanced Energy Economy Tom Lewis, on energy impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act. (Monday, 8 a.m., Holiday Inn Concord Downtown, 172 North Main St., Concord, N.H. | Register)
GAMING COMMISSION: Mass. Gaming Commission meets with an agenda that includes updates on casino operations, discussion of and a possible vote on approval of certified independent testing labs for sports wagering, and potential votes related to the Community Mitigation Fund. (Monday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
MIDDLESEX RESTORATION: Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian join local leaders including Rep. Ken Gordon to highlight $1.65 million in federal funding that will be used to support the establishment of the Middlesex County Restoration Center. (Monday, 10 a.m., Billerica Town Hall, 365 Boston Road, Billerica)
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FORUM: Massachusetts Association for Community Action hosts an economic opportunity forum to discuss a new MassBudget report, "At A Crossroads Created by COVID: Families Moving Along the Road to Opportunity in Massachusetts." A moderated panel -- including Rep. Kerans, MASSCAP Executive Director Joe Diamond and Essex County Community Foundation President and CEO Beth Francis -- will look at the report findings and focus on challenges and opportunities in Essex County related to housing, food insecurity, social determinants of health and workforce development. (Monday, 10 a.m., Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School, 565 Maple Street, Hathorne | Register)
WARREN AT NEW ENGLAND COUNCIL: U.S. Sen. Warren addresses business leaders at the latest "Capitol Hill Report" breakfast hosted by the New England Council. Over 200 people are expected to attend. Media are asked to RSVP by email to eheisig@newenglandcouncil.com (Monday, 10 a.m., The Seaport Hotel, One Seaport Way, Boston)
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches hold informal sessions. (Monday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers | House Livestream | Senate Livestream)
LAWYER WELL-BEING: Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being meets virtually. Middlesex DA Ryan attends. (Monday, 3 p.m., More Info)
CANNABIS ADVISORY -- PUBLIC HEALTH: Cannabis Advisory Board's public health subcommittee meets to discuss and vote on unspecified recommendations. The CAB makes recommendations to the Cannabis Control Commission. (Monday, 3 p.m., Agenda and Access Info)
ORANGE LINE, PARTIAL GREEN LINE SHUTDOWNS END: If the final days of work go according to plan, riders will once again be able to hop aboard trains across the entire Orange Line and on the Green Line between Government Center and Union Square at the start of service Monday. MBTA officials have said all along the 30-day end-to-end Orange Line shutdown and the 28-day partial Green Line shutdown would wrap up Sunday, Sept. 18, and the MBTA tweeted on Friday that workers had completed "96% of planned work." The unprecedented Orange Line closure, prompted by a Federal Transit Administration investigation that linked deferred maintenance to safety issues, sought to complete as much work in 30 days as the T would have been able to complete in five years of weekend- and evening-only closures, officials say. While crews have replaced track and performed other maintenance aimed at lifting "slow zones" that drag trips out, Poftak said those areas will continue to operate at lower speeds until the MBTA ensures each area is "working properly." (Monday)
RAIL SAFETY WEEK: Rail safety education group Operation Lifesaver Inc. kicks off the latest annual Rail Safety Week with a focus on media outreach and rail safety week proclamations in states and localities. The group urges people to take a safety pledge calling for staying off railroad tracks, crossing railroads only at designated crossings, obeying warning signs and "always expecting a train." Citing federal data, OLI said a person or vehicle is struck by a train on average every three hours in the U.S. (Monday)
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022
POMPEO AT "POLITICS & EGGS": Mike Pompeo, former U.S. secretary of state under President Donald Trump, speaks at "Politics & Eggs," a forum for potential presidential contenders and others. Since 1995, The New England Council and The New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College have hosted the series leading up to the presidential primaries. In recent months, possible presidential contenders Vice President Mike Pence, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie have headlined the event. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Road, Manchester, N.H.)
BOARD OF ED MEETS: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education convenes its monthly meeting, where members are set to vote on new standards for the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award, given to high academic achievers, and for the State Seal of Biliteracy. Other agenda topics include amended regulations on early literacy screening, a discussion of supporting student mental health and wellness, and an education budget update. The meeting will take place in-person and will also be livestreamed. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 75 Pleasant St., Malden | Agenda)
CLEAN ENERGY BOARD: The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center Board meets to discuss a host of high-priority issues on their agenda, especially since legislation signed last month has given the center additional powers. In August, Gov. Baker signed an act that allows MassCEC to create a "clean energy equity workforce and market development program" to provide workforce training, educational and professional development, grants and job placement opportunities to individuals from communities historically underrepresented in the clean energy sector, and minority-owned and women-owned small businesses. Tuesday's meeting will include presentations on workforce development and clean transportation, as well as an update on the Mass Solar Loan program. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card and MassCEC CEO Jennifer Daloisio are on the agenda to speak at the meeting. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., MassCEC, 294 Washington St. Suite 1150, Boston | Agenda)
SOUTH STATION REDEVELOPMENT: Hines Real Estate project executives celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony as the South Station redevelopment in downtown Boston kicks into high gear. The project represents over four decades of planning and collaboration among city, state and federal agencies to remodel the transportation infrastructure, and facilitate the private development for the air rights above for a 51-story mixed-use tower. The project will expand the bus terminal and remodel the train station platform, efforts scheduled to be completed in October 2023 and 2025, respectively. "We haven't been able to celebrate the project yet due to COVID restrictions, so this is really just an opportunity to do that," said a press representative for project partners, Maddy Berry. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 700 Atlantic Ave., Boston)
CHELSEA SOLDIERS' HOME: Chelsea Soldiers' Home Board of Trustees meets. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Trustees Conference Room, 1st floor, QMLTC Building, 100 Summit Ave., Chelsea)
WOMEN IN POLITICS: Following Democratic primaries where women won five out of six statewide races, the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus joins GBH host Callie Crossley in hosting "In-Person Momentum: Remaking the Women's Political Contract." Leaders of women's organizations will meet for a conversation on using power on Beacon Hill to create a more equitable state. The panelists are: Celia Johnston Blue, President and CEO, MA Women of Color Coalition; Sasha Goodfriend, Executive Director of MassNOW; Diana Hwang, Founder and Executive Director of the Asian American Women's Political Initiative; Melissa Ferretti, Chair, Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe; Dr. Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson, Director of the UMass-Boston Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy; and Eneida Roman, Chair, Amplify Latinx. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Yawkey Theater, 1 Guest Street, Boston, Register)
MILLBURY STREET RECONSTRUCTION MEETING: MassDOT hosts a virtual public hearing to present the design for a proposed reconstruction of Millbury Street in Grafton from Sean Mikeal Way to Crosby Road. The work calls for new sidewalks, curb ramps, bicycle lanes and milling. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., More Info)
AMAL CLOONEY AT SALEM STATE: Award-winning journalist and Salem State alumna Anne Driscoll interviews international Human Rights lawyer Amal Clooney as part of the Salem State University Foundation Inc. speaker series. (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Twohig Gymnasium, Salem State University O'Keefe Complex, 225 Canal St., Salem)
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022
MASSDOT BOARD MEETS: Department of Transportation Board of Directors convenes its monthly meeting virtually. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Agenda and Livestream)
DOC REGS - INMATE MAIL: Department of Correction holds public hearing on proposed amendments to the state regulation (103 CMR 481) governing inmate mail. The amendments deal with mail monitoring, attorney verification systems, and the photocopying of incoming, non-privileged inmate mail, according to a hearing notice. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Zoom - Meeting ID 819 1566 0348, Passcode 488792, Dial-in Telephone Number (646) 558-8656 | More Info)
DISABILITIES COMMISSION: Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets virtually to get an update on a hiring process, to hear a legislative and budget overview, and to discuss the formation of subcommittees. The commission was created by a late 2020 law with a mandate to "advance the cause of persons with disabilities," including the improvement of access to transportation, food, housing and work. Rep. Garlick of Needham was elected as chair. The commission said that American Sign Language interpreters will be present for the virtual hearing and that CART services will be available. For accessibility requests and questions, contact Collin.Fedor@mahouse.gov. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Virtual)
OPIOID TASK FORCE: Middlesex DA Ryan hosts a virtual Opioid Task Force meeting. Contact Sarah.Lamson@mass.gov for access information. (Wednesday, 10 a.m.)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: Governor's Council meets, and could vote on whether to confirm three Gov. Baker appointees. Alex Valderrama, who has worked the past four years in the Eastern Division Housing Court as a chief housing specialist, is up for clerk magistrate of that court. Diana Velez Harris, a West Springfield attorney specializing in divorce and family law, is pending appointment as a Probate and Family Court judge. And 15-year Trial Court employee Elizabeth Cerda, currently the court's senior manager for access to justice, is up for clerk magistrate of the Waltham District Court. The council has no other hearings or meetings scheduled Wednesday. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022
MOBILE BETTING ROUNDTABLE: Regulators of the Mass. Gaming Commission hold a roundtable discussion with companies interested in applying for a mobile-only sports betting license in Massachusetts. Commissioners are planning to ask the mobile-only operators about the problem they wrestled with for nearly two hours this week: How to treat a temporary licensure provision of the state's new law that could result in more than three-quarters of the interested companies being allowed to operate for a brief period of time before being forced to shut down if they don't secure one of just seven final mobile-only licenses. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Gardner Auditorium, State House)
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches likely hold livestreamed informal sessions. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers)
CANNABIS ADVISORY -- RESEARCH: Cannabis Advisory Board's research subcommittee is expected to meet. (Thursday, 2 p.m., More Info TBA)
GARDEN OF PEACE: Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance hosts the 2022 Honor Program to commemorate victims of homicide, whose names are added to the Garden of Peace each year. Speakers include Chaplain Clementina Chery and Jody Marchand. Middlesex DA Ryan attends. More Info (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., 64-98 Somerset St., Boston)
FENTANYL CRISIS LECTURE: Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research focuses its 15th annual Hewitt Healthcare Lecture on America's fentanyl crisis. John Walters, president and CEO of Hudson Institute and former Drug Czar and Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, will deliver a lecture, followed by a conversation between Walters and Bill Smith, director of the Pioneer Life Sciences Initiative. Fentanyl overdoses in Massachusetts have risen from 8 per 100,000 residents in 2010 to an estimated 30.2 in 2020. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner found that fentanyl was present in 92 percent of the 1,937 opioid-related deaths in the state in 2020. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteaur, Boston, Register)
ROUTE 30 RECONSTRUCTION MEETING: MassDOT hosts a virtual public hearing to present the design for a proposed reconstruction of Route 30 in Weston, which will include signal improvements, resurfacing and box widening, construction of a shared use path, intersection improvements, new signage and drainage improvements. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., More Info)
ROUTE 16 RESURFACING MEETING: MassDOT hosts a virtual public hearing to present the design for resurfacing work on Route 16 in Mendon. (Thursday, 7 p.m., More Info)
Friday, Sept. 23, 2022
HOME CARE RATES: The Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a virtual public hearing on the emergency regulation of rates for certain home and community-based services related to Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan. The rates established in 101 CMR 447.00 were repealed effective July 1, replaced with emergency regulation 101 CMR 453.00 to increase rates for certain services, until the next review of the rates in their "parent" regulations. (Friday, 9 a.m. | Access Info)
YOUTH STABILIZATION RATES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a virtual public hearing on increasing rates for youth short-term stabilization and emergency placement services (101 CMR 418.00), specific to staffing support and youth detoxification and stabilization program rates, by a cost adjustment factor of 1.88 percent. The total annual cost to state government from the increase in rates is $723,084, which represents an increase of 12.32 percent over fiscal year 2022 projected spending of approximately $5.8 million. (Friday, 9:30 a.m. | Access Info)
PAROLE BOARD REGS: Parole Board holds hearing to solicit feedback on a proposed regulation (120 CMR 700.00) that would lay out the process by which the board can issue a "certificate of termination of parole." "The proposed regulation serves to provide clarity and consistency in the application of practices as it relates to the termination of parole," the board wrote in a notice. Written comments are also accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, and can be emailed to Courtney.E.Doherty@mass.gov. (Friday, 10 a.m., Microsoft Teams, or Dial-in: (857) 327-9245, Conference ID 104 031 537# | More Info)
PFAS / TOXIC SUBSTANCE LIST: The Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs holds a public hearing on a proposed amendment to revise the Toxic Use Reduction Act Toxic or Hazardous Substance List to include eight per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS.) (Friday, 1 p.m. | Zoom)
BOARD OF ED REGS - BULLYING: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education accepts public comment through 5 p.m. on proposed regulatory amendments (to 603 CMR 49.00) that would "conform the regulatory definition of bullying to the statutory definition." Amendments would also make minor formatting and numbering changes, according to a notice. The board advised that it expects to vote on the amendments Oct. 25. Comments can be faxed to (781) 338-3090 or emailed to achievement@doe.mass.edu. (Friday, 5 p.m. | More Info)
BLOCKCHAIN WEEK IN QUINCY: "Boston Blockchain Week" moves out of Boston this year, traveling a few stops south on the Red Line to Quincy Center, for the annual tech event. The summit will welcome over 500 attendees, from blockchain technology leaders and Web3 innovators to cryptocurrency enthusiasts, for three days of panels, symposiums and a 36-hour hackathon. The event is hosted by QUBIC Labs, a blockchain technology startup incubator based in Quincy, founded by Quincy City Councilor Ian Cain and QUBIC CEO John O'Keefe. The Baker administration awarded a $2 million grant to QUBIC Labs in June, as the first grant in the state's Technology & Innovation Ecosystem Awards program to spur economic growth in Massachusetts' technology industry. "This is the moment. Right now, there's a great deal of enthusiasm and opportunity at the center of Boston's growing blockchain technology ecosystem," O'Keefe said. "We are harnessing this energy and applying it to every detail of Boston Blockchain Week." (Friday through Sunday | Schedule | Register)
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022
GREEN LINE "D" BRANCH CLOSES: Another large-scale shutdown on the MBTA begins at the start of service Saturday when the agency takes the Green Line's D Branch offline from Kenmore to its endpoint of Riverside. Trains will be offline along the branch for three different nine-day periods: Saturday, Sept. 24 through Sunday, Oct. 2; Saturday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 16; and Saturday, Oct. 22 through Sunday, Oct. 30. Shuttle buses will replace trains across the branch at every stop except Beaconsfield. The MBTA plans to replace more than 6,000 feet of track, upgrade six station crossings, and install wayside equipment for the Green Line Train Protection System, an anti-collision safety system. The closure begins less than a week after the end of an unprecedented, end-to-end 30-day shutdown of the Orange Line and a Green Line segment between Government Center and Union Square, though there is precedent for the branch-only diversion: the MBTA already conducted maintenance shutdowns on the Green Line's B, C and E branches earlier this year. More information (Saturday, Sept. 24)
