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Minority Leader Bruce Tarr uses burlap moneybags to illustrate components of the Senate's nearly $50 billion budget proposal during debate Wednesday. Tarr's "taxpayer sack" was nearly empty, save for an IOU representing Democratic leadership's promise of a future debate on tax relief. When asked about tax relief earlier in the week, House Speaker Mariano spoke instead about more taxes. "There's a whole gig economy issue and how we deal with some of those things, I think that's ripe for some examination. I think we'd be silly to just give them a free pass without looking at it." [Senate Broadcast]
FRANKLIN WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday, June 1
10:00am
5:00pm to 6:00pm
Thursday, June 2
School Committee Relations Sub Comm. Agenda
5:00pm
7:30pm
Saturday, June 4
SC Communications Sub Comm at Birchwood
1:00 PM
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Gov. Charlie Baker's veto of illegal immigrant driver’s license bill (H 4805) puts the issue back in the Legislature's lap, chronic problems in the state's largest school district are suddenly a top priority, and Democrats are set to hold their election-year convention in Worcester and hope to take advantage of Republican Party discord to seize total control of Beacon Hill. Party insiders, who often skew to the left of the Democrats who run the Legislature, will choose their nominees in the contested statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, and secretary of state. There's also a good possibility that delegates will toss out of the field at least one of the five Democrats running for lieutenant governor, since they each need support from at least 15 percent of delegates to stay alive. It will be a big day for Attorney General Maura Healey, a still-rising star within the party who many are counting on to take back the governor's office. As the party emphasizes the importance of diversity, delegates also have a seasoned candidate of color in the governor's race in Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, who believes she's a better alternative to Healey. Healey's departure from her current office and Auditor Suzanne Bump's decision to leave office create opportunities for Republicans to compete for rare open statewide seats. On Beacon Hill, the annual state budget is set to move to conference committee, but other pressing and time-sensitive matters, like tax relief, an economic development bill, and a massive infrastructure bill, are still hung up in committees with nine weeks left for formal sessions.
Sunday, May 29, 2022
LYNCH ON 4: Congressman Lynch talks with Jon Keller about the future of gun control in Congress, proposals for federal and state gas tax moratoriums, inflation, and noise pollution from Logan Airport flights. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
Monday, May 30, 2022
SPILKA AT NATICK MEMORIAL DAY: Senate President Spilka speaks at Natick's Memorial Day ceremony. (Monday, 9 a.m., Grand Army of the Republic Memorial, Natick Common)
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE - WRITTEN TESTIMONY: Joint Committee on Public Service accepts written testimony on a late-filed bill (S 2876) authorizing appointment of retired police officers as special police in Rowley. Testimony can be submitted through Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., More Info)
LOTTERY COMMISSION: Mass. Lottery Commission holds a remote meeting to hear a sales and revenue report from the interim executive director, to get a presentation from advertising partner Full Contact and to take votes that would authorize a cumulative $29 million in expenditures and give the executive director the authority to enter into a series of contracts for things like Lottery terminal parts and repair, the purchase of thermal ticket paper and more. Treasurer Goldberg chairs the meeting. For access, email jgoggin@masslottery.com. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., More Info)
HOUSE AND SENATE: House and Senate both hold livestreamed informal sessions. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers)
CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE: Lawmakers on the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee gather virtually for a hearing on four bills dealing with alcohol licenses. A Sen. Eldridge and Rep. Sena bill (S 2867) seeks to remove language requiring citizenship to acquire several types of alcohol licenses. The other bills deal with local licenses in Chelsea (H 4788), Avon (S 2885) and Westford (H 4704). (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Agenda and Access Info)
HOUSE, SENATE NOMINATION PAPERS DUE: Deadline for candidates for House, Senate, Governor's Council, and other county and district offices to file nomination papers with Secretary Galvin's Elections Division. Other county and district offices up for election in 2022 include district attorneys, sheriffs, county commissioners (Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties), and register of deeds for Bristol County's Southern District. (Tuesday, 5 p.m. | Candidate Deadline Calendar)
MASSDOT CAPITAL PLAN HEARING - BOSTON: MassDOT staff host a virtual public hearing to gather feedback from Boston residents on the department's draft $14.7 billion 2023-2027 capital investment plan. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Zoom)
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - SUPERIOR COURT: Governor's Council holds two hearings Wednesday on Gov. Baker's latest Superior Court nominees. Councilors question criminal defense lawyer Christopher Belezos at 9 a.m. followed by Middlesex County prosecutor Elizabeth Dunigan at 10:30 a.m. Belezos is a 1990 Northeastern Law grad whose current practice concentrates in criminal defense with "a small amount of immigration work and business law," according to his resume. Dunigan graduated from New England School of Law in 1996 and has worked since then for the Middlesex County DA's office, according to her resume, most recently as chief of the office's Superior Court operations in the Malden region. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
MARIJUANA RETAIL TAXES: Department of Revenue holds a public hearing to accept testimony on a proposal to amend a regulation related to marijuana taxes that apply to retailers to "explain the application of the marijuana retail taxes to delivery transactions conducted by marijuana delivery businesses." Home delivery of legal cannabis began last year in Massachusetts. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., More Info and Access)
GAMING AGENDA-SETTING: Mass. Gaming Commission meets to select the topics the commission will consider at full business meetings in June. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access)
SHAW 54th REGIMENT MEMORIAL: Marking completion of a $3 million, three-year restoration project, a "national rededication ceremony" is held for the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial across the street from the State House, hosted by the National Park Service, City of Boston, Friends of the Public Garden, and Museum of African American History. The monument honors one of the first Black regiments and its "heroic, yet tragic assault" on Fort Wagner, S.C. in 1863, where many of the soldiers, including commander Col. Robert Gould Shaw, were killed. Even those who do not study Civil War history are likely familiar with the 54th Regiment from its depiction in the movie "Glory." The monument was sculpted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a world-renowned artist who also sculpted "The Puritan" at the Quadrangle in Springfield. Ceremony starts "promptly" at 10:55 a.m. with 54th Regiment reenactors marching up Beacon Street.
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - ASSEMBLY: Governor's Council meets, and could vote on whether to give its consent to six Gov. Baker nominations: Erika Paula Reis, general counsel in Suffolk County DA Hayden's office, for a seat on the Boston Municipal Court bench; Mary Gallant-Cote, Springfield-based assistant regional legal counsel for the Department of Children and Families, to a lifetime appointment as clerk magistrate of Berkshire Juvenile Court; and reappointments of four judges at the Department of Industrial Accidents -- Catherine Watson Koziol, John Barrett III, Karen Fitzgerald, and Dennis Maher. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
INFRASTRUCTURE BOND BILL HEARING: Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets holds a hybrid in-person and virtual hearing on the infrastructure bond bill (H 4798) that Gov. Baker filed in March and that the Transportation Committee pumped up to $9.75 billion before giving it a favorable. The panel originally planned to hold its hearing on May 25 before postponing it. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Access Info)
CLEAN WATER TRUST: Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees will meet. More Info (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Zoom)
BUS NETWORK REDESIGN MEETING: MBTA staff host an in-person public meeting at Harvard Station to solicit feedback on a proposed new bus network map set to increase service 25 percent across the board over a multi-year rollout. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Harvard Station, 1400 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge)
MASSDOT CAPITAL PLAN HEARING - SE MASS: MassDOT staff host virtual public hearing to gather feedback from southeastern Massachuestts residents on the department's draft $14.7 billion 2023-2027 capital investment plan. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Zoom)
Thursday, June 2, 2022
MBTA AUDIT AND FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE: MBTA Board of Directors Audit and Finance Subcommittee holds its monthly meeting virtually. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
SECRETARY MIKES TALK TO MTF: Administration and Finance Secretary Mike Heffernan and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy will give Mass. Taxpayers Foundation members an overview of Gov. Baker's FORWARD Act, which would combine economic development investments and the state's remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds into a $3.5 billion jobs bill. (Thursday, 10 a.m., More Info and Registration)
COMMUNICATION, APOLOGY AND RESOLUTION FORUM: Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety virtually hosts the second part of its annual Communication, Apology and Resolution, or CARe, Forum, where attendees will hear from family members, board members and providers and discuss best options for communicating and resolving adverse medical events. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
HOUSE AND SENATE: House and Senate both hold livestreamed informal sessions. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers)
MASSDOT CAPITAL PLAN HEARING - CAPE AND ISLANDS: MassDOT staff host a virtual public hearing to gather feedback from Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket residents on the department's draft $14.7 billion 2023-2027 capital investment plan. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Zoom)
BUS NETWORK REDESIGN MEETING: MBTA staff host a virtual public meeting to solicit feedback on Boston impacts of a proposed new bus network map set to increase service 25 percent across the board over a multi-year rollout. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Zoom)
Friday, June 3, 2022
MCAS CHANGES - PUBLIC COMMENT DEADLINE: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education wraps up a public comment period on proposed amendments to the "competency determination," which refers to the MCAS scores students must achieve to graduate, for students in the classes of 2026 through 2029. The amendment would create new standards students must hit in English language arts, mathematics, and science and technology/engineering. State education officials earlier this year set their sights on a June 28 vote to increase the MCAS test scores high schoolers would need to graduate. (Friday, 5 p.m.)
MASSDEMS CONVENTION - DAY ONE: Massachusetts Democrats gather at Worcester's DCU Center and virtually to kick off day one of their two-day 2022 MassDems Convention. Delegates selected by local Democratic caucuses in recent months on Saturday will weigh candidates for statewide offices, all but one of which will be contested with more than one Democrat seeking the party's endorsement. Candidates will need to secure the support of at least 15 percent of delegates to qualify for the Sept. 6 primary ballot, and anyone who wins a majority will earn the party's official endorsement. Four of the contested races will be for open offices: Attorney General Maura Healey and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz for governor; Sen. Eric Lesser, Sen. Adam Hinds, Rep. Tami Gouveia, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and businessman Bret Bero for lieutenant governor; former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell, attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan and former assistant attorney general Quentin Palfrey for attorney general; and Sen. Diana DiZoglio and transportation advocate Chris Dempsey for auditor. Seven-term Secretary of State William Galvin faces a challenge from NAACP Boston President Tanisha Sullivan. The lone uncontested race is for treasurer with Deborah Goldberg seeking a third term. The party's convention rules call for welcome ceremonies, followed by party endorsement votes and then announcement of any charter amendments. Friday's tentative list of speakers includes MassDems Chair Gus Bickford, Vice Chair Leon Brathwaite, 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jay Gonzalez, Sen. Edwards, Treasurer Goldberg, Auditor Bump, Congresswoman Trahan, Plymouth District Attorney candidate Rahsaan Hall, and Sen. Gomez. Everyone attending in person, including press, must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and must wear a mask inside the DCU Center; masks were not required at the Republican convention in Springfield on May 21. Press should register for credentials and can check in starting at 3 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. Saturday. (Friday, 7 p.m., DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester)
MAY REVENUES: Department of Revenue is due to report on May tax collections. Halfway through the month, DOR said it had collected $1.027 billion, down $168 million or 14 percent compared to the same period in May 2021. The decrease, the agency said, "is mostly due to decreases in income returns payments, income estimated payments, and corporate and business tax, partially offset by increases in withholding, sales and use tax, all other tax, and a favorable decrease in income tax refunds." (Friday)
ELECTION CONFERENCE ANNIVERSARY: House and Senate Democrats mark the four-month anniversary of their assignment to overhaul how Massachusetts conducts elections. The conference committee -- Sens. Finegold, Creem and Fattman and Reps. Michael Moran, Ryan and Dooley -- waited more than two months to convene its first official meeting and so far has been unable to reach consensus on divergent House-Senate bills (H 4367 / S 2554) that seek to make mail-in voting and expanded early voting permanent options in the Bay State. Those options proved popular and mostly successful during the pandemic, but lawmakers allowed their temporary authorization to expire. The Senate bill also calls for prospective voters to register and cast a ballot on Election Day, an idea the House sought to send to study rather than legalize. Negotiators who are working in private haven't identified the hangup or hangups. Deb O'Malley, a spokesperson for Secretary Galvin, said the state's elections office typically begins printing ballots and other election materials as soon as the list of candidates -- who have until June 7 to finish filing paperwork -- is finalized. "The Secretary is certainly concerned. As he says, 'the one thing the conference committee can't do is extend the calendar,'" O'Malley said. "The longer this process goes on, the less time our office will have to prepare materials, including envelopes and application mailers." (Friday)
Saturday, June 4, 2022
MASSDEMS CONVENTION - DAY TWO: Massachusetts Democrats gather at Worcester's DCU Center and virtually for the second day of their two-day 2022 MassDems Convention. Delegates selected by local Democratic caucuses in recent months will weigh candidates for statewide offices, all but one of which will be contested with more than one Democrat seeking the party's endorsement. Candidates will need to secure the support of at least 15 percent of delegates to qualify for the Sept. 6 primary ballot, and anyone who wins a majority will earn the party's official endorsement. Four of the contested races will be for open offices: Attorney General Maura Healey and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz for governor; Sen. Eric Lesser, Sen. Adam Hinds, Rep. Tami Gouveia, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and businessman Bret Bero for lieutenant governor; former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell, attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan and former assistant attorney general Quentin Palfrey for attorney general; and Sen. Diana DiZoglio and transportation advocate Chris Dempsey for auditor. Seven-term Secretary of State William Galvin faces a challenge from NAACP Boston President Tanisha Sullivan. The lone uncontested race is for treasurer with Deborah Goldberg seeking a third term. The party's convention rules call for welcome ceremonies, followed by party endorsement votes and then announcement of any charter amendments. Tentative speakers for Saturday are DNC member Karen Payne, Senate President Spilka, Boston Mayor Wu, MassDems Treasurer Kathy Gasperine, Congressman McGovern, Sen. Chandler, Rep. O'Day, U.S. Sens. Warren and Markey, AFL-CIO President Steve Tolman, Auditor Bump, Reproductive Equity Now Executive Director Rebecca Hart Holder, JFK Scholarship Committee Co-chairs Brenda Brathwaite and Charlotte Golar-Richie, and candidates for auditor, attorney general, secretary of state, lieutenant governor and governor. Everyone attending in person, including press, must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and must wear a mask inside the DCU Center.
