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Strange Bedfellows...A progressive group plans to push Massachusetts Democrats at their party convention Saturday to support Auditor Diana DiZoglio's effort to conduct regular audits of the Legislature, a move that could require party insiders to take sides in the auditor's battle with Democratic legislative leaders. DiZoglio (pictured above in July) told the News Service Friday that Our Revolution Massachusetts intends to bring forward a resolution at the convention in Lowell that would back the new auditor's efforts which so far have run into resistance from House and Senate Democrats. Some of the group's members are convention delegates, she said. Meanwhile, MassGOP Chair, Amy Carnevale, is pushing her members to support DiZoglio's ballot initiative that aims to back her effort to audit the legislature.
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Monday, Sept. 25
7:00pm
Library Board of Directors Meeting
7:00pm to 8:00pm
7:00pm
Tuesday, Sept 26
Design Review Meeting Date - Canceled
7:00pm
OSR and NCH Subcommittee Meeting
7:00pm
Franklin School Committee Meeting
7:00pm
Wednesday, Sept, 27
2:00pm to 5:00pm
6:30pm
Thursday, Sept. 28
7:30pm
Saturday, Sept 30
Community Relations Sub Committee-Harvest Festival
12:00pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Legislators are set to end a seven-week stretch without any major business, and a roughly 20-month debate about whether to overhaul the state's tax code, when they take up a compromise tax relief package top Democrats negotiated in secret. House and Senate leaders plan to ship the accord to the desk of Gov. Maura Healey, who made it a campaign promise to push some kind of package across the finish line. Contents of the package remain unclear to the public, but it's expected to deliver relief to seniors, parents and renters, among many others. Less clear is where the accord will land on reforms that supporters say would boost the state's competitiveness, including a cut to the short-term capital gains tax rate and a change in the way multi-state corporations are taxed. Acceptance and approval of the deal is sure to come with a heaping serving of self-congratulations from lawmakers, and it will also represent the opening salvo for the fall return to action. The House and Senate have not met in formal sessions since July 31, and they're now basically halfway to Nov. 15, the last day on which they can hold formal sessions in 2023 under legislative rules. Legislators have cited an assortment of topics that need attention, yet legislative leaders have given only a few broadstrokes indications about what exactly they want to accomplish in the next seven weeks. House Speaker Ron Mariano has said he plans to bring a controversial gun control bill to the floor this autumn, while Senate President Karen Spilka has voiced a desire to tackle bills reforming the early education and child care and rein in prescription drug prices.
One mandatory item for the fall is a spending bill to close the state's books on fiscal year 2023, though lawmakers have made a habit in recent years of blowing past a timeline that allows the comptroller to file a year-end financial report on time. Budget-writers will need to resolve a shortfall in fiscal 2023 tax collections in their closeout bill, and Healey also wants to use it as a vehicle to pump $250 million more into ballooning emergency shelter costs -- an idea that drew an uncertain response from Mariano. The shelter crisis is all but certain to remain on center stage next week amid a record, and still growing, level of demand on the system, and the MBTA appears to many riders to be in an unofficial state of emergency. Near miss incidents continue to pile up despite multiple warnings from federal safety regulators, a trend Healey -- who since taking office in January is now responsible for the T -- called "unacceptable."
Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023
KERRIGAN ON 4: Mass. Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan talks with Jon Keller about tax relief, potential statewide ballot questions, and President Biden's reelection campaign. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
CAMPBELL ON 5: Attorney General Campbell is the guest on "On The Record," talking about her preliminary approval of potential ballot questions, including a petition to explicitly allow Auditor DiZoglio to audit the Legislature and another aimed at ending the MCAS graduation requirement. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
Monday, Sept. 25, 2023
COASTAL CAUCUS HOSTS SEAPORT COUNCIL: Lt. Gov. Driscoll and the Seaport Economic Council are scheduled to attend a presentation with the Legislature's Coastal Caucus, co-chaired by Rep. Cutler of Duxbury and Sen. Tarr of Gloucester. Discussion centers around available grant programs to support economic growth and climate resiliency in coastal communities. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., Zoom)
HOUSE: House holds an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)
SENATE: Senate meets without a calendar. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)
CANNABIS SOCIAL EQUITY: Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board meets virtually. Agenda includes an update on Gov. Healey's proposed closeout supplemental budget and an overview of draft trust fund regulations, which aim to boost participation in the state's legal marijuana industry. (Monday, 4 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
CONSUMER PROTECTION, PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure accepts written testimony on alcohol license bills affecting Chatham, Weston, Hanover, Marshfield, Greenfield, Wrentham, and Topsfield. (Monday, 1 p.m. | More Info)
NEW BEDFORD HAZARDOUS MITIGATION PLANNING: New Bedford emergency management and public infrastructure officials hold a meeting as part of city plans to update its All Hazard Mitigation Plan (AHMP). Hazard mitigation planning "enables municipalities to identify risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural hazards and to develop long-term strategies for protecting people and property from future hazard events," according to organizers. Three similar events are planned in October and two in November. (Monday, 6 p.m., Wilks Library, 1911 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford)
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023
CAMPBELL TALKS TO BIZ LEADERS: Attorney General Campbell delivers the keynote address at an Associated Industries of Massachusetts Executive Forum. The business group says it expects Campbell to discuss "economic mobility and empowerment; the intersection of public safety and public health; and protecting youth and elders." AIM President Brooke Thomson will host a conversation with Campbell after the prepared remarks. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Point32Health, 1 Wellness Way, Canton)
GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT: Edward M. Kennedy Institute hosts an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which quelled decades of unrest in Northern Ireland. Speeches and discussions will focus on "opportunities to building peace and economic prosperity for the next 25 years and beyond," organizers say. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joseph Kennedy III will give the keynote address, followed by a fireside chat with Lord Jonathan Caine from the United Kingdom and Minister Darragh O'Brien from Ireland. Other attendees include Congressman Neal, representatives of Northern Irish political parties and international business leaders. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate, 210 Morrissey Blvd., Boston)
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Financial Services holds a hybrid public hearing on about 20 bills tied to health insurance matters. Proposals deal with expanding insurance for mitochondrial disease, craniofacial disorders, and scalp and facial hair prosthetics. Insurance companies would be required to reimburse licensed athletic trainers under legislation before the committee. Also on the agenda is a bill tasking the Office of Health Equity to examine resources available to LGBTQ individuals and couples looking to have children, as well as make recommendations on boosting access to parentage resources, including adoption, surrogacy and assistive reproductive technology. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Livestream)
STATE RETIREMENT BOARD: Mass. State Retirement Board meets virtually. Access available by emailing MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us. Treasurer Goldberg chairs. (Thursday, 10 a.m.)
ASSISTED LIVING COUNCIL: Assisted Living Advisory Council meets virtually. Agenda includes industry updates, plus an update from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities holds a hybrid public hearing on about 30 bills, including proposals to establish the Harmony Commission that would study and make welfare recommendations for children who are in care and protection cases. Other legislation would establish a bill of rights for children in foster care that encompasses safety and security; connections to family, community and identity; health care and accessibility; transition out of care; resources and supports; and remedies for when rights are violated. Also on the agenda are bills that deal with caring for infants with prenatal substance exposure, creating a foster care review office, and protecting benefits that are owed to foster children. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Gardner Auditorium | Agenda and Livestream)
LOTTERY COMMISSION: Mass. State Lottery Commission meets virtually. Agenda topics include a report from Executive Director Mark William Bracken and vendor contracts. Treasurer Goldberg chairs. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
REVENUE COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Revenue holds a hybrid public hearing on nearly 60 bills focused on veterans and local taxes. Proposals look to establish certain tax exemptions for veterans, including providing property tax relief for those with disabilities, and for veterans organizations. Other legislation would allow cities or towns to impose a local gas tax, provide a real estate tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians, raise the local tax rate on meals, and implement a vacant residential unit tax on certain units that have been empty for at least 90 days. Also before the committee is a bill letting municipalities, through a successful ballot question, impose a tax surcharge on a "single subject of taxation" -- like the sales tax -- that would steer revenues to transportation projects. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room B-1 | Agenda and Access Info)
MMA COMMUNICATION WEBINAR: Massachusetts Municipal Association holds a free 75-minute webinar on constituent communication and targeted outreach. Panelists include Sean Dugan, Easton's assistant town administrator, and Jeremy Warnick, Cambridge's director of media relations and content strategy. (Tuesday, 12 p.m., Virtual | More Info and Registration)
WOMEN'S HEALTH CHALLENGE: Massachusetts eHealth Institute holds its second Digital Health Sandbox Challenge, focused on digital solutions surrounding women's health, including maternal health, mental health, reproductive equity, disease control, nutrition and community connections. Undersecretary of Economic Strategies Sarah Stanton gives the keynote address, and there's also a panel discussion called "How Digital Health Can Improve Maternal Health Outcomes." Attendees include Sen. Friedman; Keely Benson of the Mass. eHealth Institute; Dr. Hafsatou Diop of the Department of Public Health; and Karen Tseng of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., Great Hall)
MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS: Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government holds a hybrid public hearing on about 30 bills focused on the environment, animals and local matters. On the agenda is "Ollie's Law," proposed by Rep. Ashe and Sen. Montigny, that would provide stronger oversight of kennels and daycare facilities; the legislation is named after a Labradoodle puppy named Ollie who died of injuries suffered at an East Longmeadow doggy daycare. Other proposals deal with increasing fines for animal cruelty and allowing for cemeteries where people and their pets are buried together. Also on the agenda is legislation to create a Municipal Building Assistance Program and Building Authority that stems from construction costs which are "increasing at an unsustainable rate." (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room B-1 | Agenda and Livestream)
LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development holds a hybrid public hearing on three dozen bills surrounding wages, tips and overtime pay. Proposals would block mandatory overtime for health care workers except in emergency situations, establish a minimum wage for certain hospital and community health center workers that's at least 150 percent of the statewide hourly minimum wage, and annually adjust the minimum wage among public and private employers to reflect inflation. Other bills would establish a youth training wage, of at least $10 per hour, for their first 120 hours of employment. Also on the agenda is a bill that aims to protect the wages of deceased employees. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room B-2 | Agenda and Livestream)
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on the Judiciary holds a hybrid public hearing on more than 50 bills tied to criminal procedures. A Rep. Lipper-Garabedian bill (H 3922) would prevent law enforcement from "knowingly or recklessly" deceiving people during interrogations, including sharing false or misleading facts and making unauthorized offers of leniency; people are more likely to give false confessions when police lie, according to a spokesperson for the New England Innocence Project, which is slated to testify on the legislation. Other proposals look to update the criteria for dangerousness hearings and pretrial detentions, which was a priority of former Gov. Baker but failed to win legislative approval. There are also bills dealing with suicide risks while people are in court custody, a task force for bail reform, pretrial diversions for defendants who are primary caretakers, and the health of public safety officers exposed to hypodermic needles. Sen. Creem plans to testify in support of her bills dealing with juvenile diversion, data collection requirements for the juvenile justice system, and raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Livestream)
MASSHEALTH IN BROCKTON: MassHealth officials join Health Care for All for a press conference to discuss the year-long redetermination campaign and efforts in Brockton to help members remain covered. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., Brockton Public Library, Lingos Auditorium, 304 Main St., Brockton)
PCA WORKFORCE COUNCIL: Personal Care Attendant Workforce Council meets virtually. Agenda include executive session to vote on a collective bargaining agreement. (Tuesday, 3 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
MASSRECONNECT: Northern Essex Community College holds an information session on MassReconnect, the new state program to make community college free for residents ages 25 and older who have not yet earned a college degree. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Lawrence campus, 45 Franklin St., Lawrence | Registration)
AI IN ADVERTISING: Boston Interactive Media Association, a network of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, hosts panel discussion and networking event focused on how artificial intelligence is "revolutionizing the advertising industry." Speakers include Noor Naseer, vice president of media and technology at Basis Technologies; Fluency co-founder Eric Mayhew; and Gogi Gupta of Gupta Media. "As the digital ad industry confronts the exponential growth of data, complex consumer behavior, and a world increasingly focused on privacy, AI has never been better positioned to revolutionize advertising," organizers wrote. Drinks and passed appetizers. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Hill Holliday, 2 Dry Dock Ave., Boston | Tickets)
BOSTON DESEGREGATION, BUSING INITIATIVE FORUM: Boston Desegregation and Busing Initiative holds its first forum exploring what desegregation and busing look liked for Boston Public Schools from 1960 to 1973. Discussion will surround community efforts that tackled "terrible education conditions" for Black students. A panel, moderated by former Boston Mayor Janey, features Hubie Jones, formerly of Roxbury Multi-Services Center; Zebulon Miletsky of Stony Brook University and a BPS graduate; Jean McGuire, formerly of METCO; Lyda Peters, an equity and desegregation organizer; Gloria Lee, a former student during a 1964 school boycott; Charles Glenn, who coordinated a school boycott in 1963; and Vernita Carter-Waller, daughter of Rev. Vernon Carter, who protested at Boston School Committee headquarters. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Roxbury Community College, Media Arts Building, 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury | Registration)
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
CHILD, FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH FORUM: Rep. Madaro and Sen. Velis, co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, hold a forum with Mass General Brigham on child and family mental health in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. MGB's approach for behavioral health bed placements will be discussed. Attendees include Dr. Daniel Dickstein, of McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins, of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Room 428)
SENATE DEMS CAUCUS: Senate's 36 Democrats meet in a private caucus, a day before the branch potentially takes up a yet-to-be-released tax relief compromise. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Senate President's Office)
HOUSE FORMAL: House plans to meet in a formal session, where representatives will likely be asked to accept a compromise tax relief bill Democrats ironed out in private. Roll calls are set to begin at 1 p.m. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)
PFIZER CEO AT BC CLUB: Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla is the featured speaker at the latest Boston College Chief Executives Club luncheon. Bourla, who has worked for Pfizer for more than 30 years and has been CEO since 2019, plans to discuss leading with purpose, innovation, equity, and more in a conversation with CVS Health President and CEO Karen Lynch. Pfizer employs 83,000 people worldwide (including more than 3,000 people in Massachusetts), operates 35 manufacturing sites, and sells its products in more than 185 countries. The company reported annual revenue of $31 billion as of Aug. 1, 2023. Speaking program starts at 1 p.m. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Boston Harbor Hotel, 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston)
TUE HEARING: Senators on the Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy meet in a public hearing to consider bills that would affect municipalities. Most of the proposals focus on energy infrastructure at the city and town level, such as municipal light plants and load aggregation programs. Officials are working to transition to clean energy sources across the state to help achieve a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 enshrined in law. Amid a procedural feud between its chairs, the committee continues to host bifurcated House-only and Senate-only hearings, which in many cases requires attendees to testify at two separate events for all lawmakers to receive their message. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Room A-1 | Agenda and Access Info)
HOUSING COMMITTEE: Housing Committee convenes a hearing focused on bills dealing with manufactured housing, the newly reorganized Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and other miscellaneous topics. The hearing could feature discussion of providing legal representation to tenants facing eviction, an idea that has been floated in previous sessions but failed to gain traction among lawmakers. The Massachusetts Right to Counsel Coalition estimated last year that nine out of 10 tenants involved in eviction proceedings do not have any counsel. While Massachusetts continues to grapple with an affordable housing crisis, supporters could also push at the hearing for reforms to the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program and housing vouchers designed to keep lower-income residents safely housed. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Room B-1 | Agenda)
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: Environmental justice, air pollution and water quality are on the agenda at a Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Legislators have proposed a range of ways to limit the presence of contaminants in drinking water, especially in schools, where the presence of lead has been highlighted as a significant problem. Another area of focus at the hearing could be landfills and solid waste as the state works to cut down on waste disposal. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Access Info)
ENTERPRISE RESEARCH CAMPUS: NAIOP hosts an event to highlight development plans for Harvard University's Enterprise Research Campus in Allston. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 150 Western Ave., Boston | Register)
DDS RESOURCES: Department of Developmental Services holds an online information session about self-directed resources, including the Participant Directed Program and Agency with Choice. (Wednesday, 4 p.m. | Registration)
CANNABIS CAREER EXPO: Northern Essex Community College hosts a cannabis industry career expo, featuring panel discussions with "local cannabis pioneers," job opportunity presentations from local businesses, and networking opportunities. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 100 Elliot St., Haverhill)
MASSRECONNECT: Northern Essex Community College holds an information session on MassReconnect, the new state program to make community college free for residents ages 25 and older who have not yet earned a college degree. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., Haverhill campus, 100 Elliot St., Haverhill | Registration)
MBTA RED LINE MEETING: MBTA staff hosts a virtual public meeting to discuss a planned 16-day closure of the Red Line's Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line for track repairs. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., More Info)
JCRC GALA: Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston hosts its annual gala, JCRC Celebrates. This year's event, the organization said, is meant to celebrate "everyone who says YES and acts on what matters." The event is at capacity, organizers said. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton)
GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: Candidates hoping to secure the Republican nomination for U.S. president meet in the second debate of the cycle. Six candidates have qualified for the debate so far, according to CNN: former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The debate will be hosted by Fox Business. (Wednesday, 9 p.m. EST, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Dr., Simi Valley, California)
Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
MUNICIPAL LAW SEMINAR: Division of Local Services holds a "What's New in Municipal Law" seminar that outlines new legislation and court decisions that affect local government. There are also three workshops, with topics including paperless billing and abatement applications, health insurance, and affordable housing. Registration required. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke | More Info)
MBTA BOARD MEETS: MBTA Board of Directors meets. (Thursday, 9 a.m., State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | Agenda and Livestream)
GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY: Massachusetts Task Force to End Loneliness hosts its fourth annual "Good Neighbor Day Summit." The theme is "Let's Talk, Massachusetts: Embracing Conversations to Build Community." Organizers say the goal of the virtual event is to connect people to their community in a bid to end loneliness, which can cause negative health issues. Speakers include Sandra Harris of AARP Massachusetts, Caitlin Coyle of UMass Boston's Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, and Nikki Schulz of the Boston chapter of Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, among others. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Registration)
SENATE FORMAL: Senate leaders plan to hold the branch's first formal session since July 31. Top Democrats announced Sept. 21 that an inter-branch agreement had been reached on competing tax relief bills, and they expect the compromise to hit the floor this week. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
HOUSE SESSION: House plans to meet in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)
RECOVERY FUNDS WEBINAR: Office of the Inspector General holds a webinar on rules and "best practices" on using recovery funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, with the goal of preventing and detecting waste, fraud and abuse of public resources. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Virtual | More Info)
OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS: JSI Research and Training Institute, through a contract with the Department of Public Health, holds a Northeast regional meeting outlining resources for municipalities as they use opioid settlement funds. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Virtual | Registration)
Friday, Sept. 29, 2023
WOMEN MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS: Former Gov. Jane Swift is the keynote speaker at the fifth annual Women Elected Municipal Officials' leadership conference. This year's theme is "Communicating with Confidence." There will also be workshops on communication and skill-building. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Courtyard Marriott, 75 Felton St., Marlborough | More Info and Registration)
CARE FORUM: Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety hosts the 10th annual Communication, Apology and Resolution (CARe) forum on the initiative that it describes as an "alternative to costly, lengthy and emotionally difficult lawsuits after a medical injury." In-Person Registration | Virtual Registration (Friday, 10 a.m., 501 Boylston Street, 5th Floor, Boston)
