What’s happening this week in State Government
WOLF EXEMPTION: On Friday the state Ethics Commission plans a public hearing on a proposed regulatory exemption that would allow business owners with pre-existing, non-negotiable contracts with the state to seek and hold public office without violating conflict of interest laws. The proposed rule change was prompted by Sen. Dan Wolf, who challenged an advisory opinion from the commission that he should step down from his seat because of Cape Air’s contracts with Massport. Wolf proposed a new rule that would allow him and other business owners like him to enter politics without giving up their businesses. The commission drafted its own regulatory proposal, and is currently holding hearings to gather public input. (Friday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Barnstable County First District Court House, 3195 Main Street, Route 6A, Barnstable)
ASIA ANYONE? Gov. Deval Patrick and members of his administration will be traveling in Asia next week as lawmakers sit down with administration officials to get a grip on economic and revenue trends ahead of the fiscal 2015 budget season. House Speaker Robert DeLeo is also out of the country, on a trade trip to Israel through Friday with nine other members of the Legislature. Closer to home, Sen. Katherine Clark of Melrose faces three competitors Tuesday in her bid to keep for the Democrats the U.S. House seat formerly held by Sen. Edward Markey. Capping his final month in office, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is set to address Boston business executives at a breakfast on Tuesday. And executive branch officials readying details to include in Patrick’s final state budget proposal next month will host hearings to hear feedback on state spending choices. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission wades deeper into its decision-making, with a key vote planned Tuesday on a Revere casino proposal, while the Department of Public Health, overseeing its own novel licensing process, inches closer to picking medical marijuana dispensaries. Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett is expected within days to name selection committee members to evaluate 100 applications. Under a 2012 voter law, the department is permitted to register up to 35 non-profit registered marijuana dispensaries, with at least one but no more than five per county.
PATRICK TRADE TRIP TO ASIA
Gov. Patrick and members of his Cabinet are traveling in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore with industry officials on a trip packed with meetings that they hope will lead to expanded economic opportunities for Massachusetts life sciences, financial services, clean tech and transportation businesses. The delegation includes Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki, Transportation Secretary Richard Davey, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan, Mass. Clean Energy Center CEO Alicia Barton, Mass. Office of International Trade and Investment Executive Director C. Richard Elam, Pamela Goldberg, CEO, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative CEO Pamela Goldberg, Mass. Life Sciences Center President Susan Windham-Bannister and board member Josh Boger, EnerNOC President David Brewster, Globespan Capital Executive Managing Director/Co-Founder Andy Goldfarb, Foundation Medical Partners General Partner Michael Greeley, Cambridge Innovation Center Founder and CEO Tim Rowe and Mass. Competitive Partnership Executive Vice President Bryan Jamele. The trip runs from Saturday, Dec. 7 through Tuesday, Dec. 17.
HOUSE CONTINGENT IN ISRAEL
House Speaker Robert DeLeo will spend next week touring Israel with nine other state representatives and an aide. Joining DeLeo on the trip are Reps. Denise Garlick, Paul McMurtry, Louis Kafka, Paul Donato, Patricia Haddad, John Fernandes and John Mahoney. Sens. Mark Montigny and James Welch are also accompanying the speaker, as is chief of staff James Eisenberg. The full roster of attendees was not announced by DeLeo’s office in a press release earlier in the week about the trip.
SATURDAY, DEC. 7, 2013
5TH CONGRESSIONAL SPECIAL DEBATE: A debate between Sen. Katherine Clark and Republican Frank Addivinola, two of the four candidates on the ballot in Tuesday’s Congressional special election, is scheduled to air Saturday on New England Cable News at 11:30 a.m. The special election to fill the seat formerly held by Sen. Edward Markey is on Tuesday.
MARKEY CAMPAIGNS FOR CLARK: Sen. Edward Markey plans to join Congressional candidate and state Sen. Katherine Clark for a campaign event. Clark is one of four candidates on the ballot Tuesday in the race to fill the U.S. House seat formerly held by Markey. (Saturday, 10 a.m., Danish Pastry House, 330 Boston Ave., Medford)
AVELLONE IN SUDBURY: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Avellone attends the Sudbury Democratic Town Committee Holiday Party. (Saturday, 7 p.m. Sudbury)
KAYYEM EVENTS: Democrat Juliette Kayyem plans an 11 a.m. stop with the Brewster Democratic Town Committee (1673 Main Street), a 2 p.m. house party in Barnstable Village (115 Rendezvous Lane) and a 5 p.m. holiday party stop in Franklin (18 Dover Circle) as part of her campaign for governor.
SUNDAY, DEC. 8, 2013
5TH CONGRESSIONAL SPECIAL DEBATE: A debate between Sen. Katherine Clark and Republican Frank Addivinola, two of the four candidates on the ballot in Tuesday’s Congressional special election, is scheduled to air Sunday on New England Cable News at 10:30 a.m. The special election to fill the seat formerly held by Sen. Edward Markey is on Tuesday.
WARREN ‘ON THE RECORD’: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren appears on WCVB’s On the Record program with hosts Ed Harding and Janet Wu. During the interview, Warren expresses support for an $11 minimum wage in the state and comments on Detroit’s fiscal problems, saying it would be a wrong move to cut the city’s public pension funds as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. Warren also reiterated, again, that she will not run for president in 2016. (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., WCVB)
TOYS FOR TROOPS: Treasurer Steven Grossman will co-host the 6th Annual Holiday Toys for Troops, which provides toys for the families of local soldiers. (Sunday, 12 p.m., Shaw’s Supermarket Parking Lot, 1 Feinberg Way, Brockton)
WARREN ON KELLER: U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren appears on WBZ’s Keller at Large program to discuss the persistent rumors that she will run for president in 2016, her impact on the national stage on behalf of Massachusetts and her battles within her own party to raise funding for Social Security. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV)
PATRICK IN JAPAN: Gov. Deval Patrick continues to travel in Asia and spends the day in Kyoto, Japan. Patrick will join US Consul General Patrick Linehan to view a traditional Shinto ceremony, meet with Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, speak about creating jobs and the life sciences, IT and clean energy sectors at a seminar on Massachusetts entrepreneurship and innovation and will meet with Dr. Kazou Inamori, former Chairman of Japan Airlines and founder of Kyocera Corporation. (Sunday, Kyoto, Japan)
MONDAY, DEC. 9, 2013
EOLWD BUDGET HEARING: The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development holds a public hearing to gather feedback as it develops a fiscal 2015 budget recommendation. (Monday, 10 a.m., Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square, Worcester)
DeLEO IN ISRAEL: Speaker Robert DeLeo is scheduled to meet Monday with members of Israel’s Knesset as well as officials of Israel’s Supreme Court. On Thursday, DeLeo reported on Facebook that the “delegation” he is with on the trip met with Haifa Mayor Yona Yohav who told them “he prays for the success of the Kerry initiative for peace with the Palestinians” and “asked us to extend to Mayor-Elect Walsh an invitation to come to Haifa.” DeLeo presented Yohav with a picture of JFK’s “City on the Hill” speech. Creating job growth in Massachusetts is the goal of DeLeo’s trip, which is coordinated by Boston’s Jewish Community Relations Council. Further details about DeLeo’s stops next week were not available Friday.
MBTA HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE: The MBTA kicks off its 13th annual Fill-A-Bus toy drive. The goal is to fill an MBTA bus with gifts for children and teens. The effort benefits the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Commonwealth Tenants Association. Organizers recommend gifts of blocks, Legos, dolls, sports equipment, board games, video games, bikes, gift cards, headphones, hats, gloves, scarves, art supplies and jewelry kits. The bus begins accepting gifts at the highway division’s District 3 office in Worcester Monday morning before traveling to Everett and Charlestown. (Monday, 9 a.m., 403 Belmont St., Worcester)
PATRICK IN JAPAN: Gov. Deval Patrick continues his trip to Japan and meets with a Japanese rail CEO to discuss public transportation, Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Ichita Yamamoto and CEO of Softbank Masayoshi Son. (Monday, Tokyo)
CANDLE SAFETY AWARENESS DAY: State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan is advising consumers to use candles safely during the holiday season and all year. Monday has been designated Candle Safety Awareness Day. “Candles should be blown out whenever you leave the room or go to sleep; and children should always be supervised, especially when around burning candles,” Coan said in a statement. In 2012, candles caused 126 fires, causing seven civilian injuries, eight firefighter injuries, and $4 million in damages. There were 116 candle fires in 2011.
50 YEARS OF NEWBORN SCREENING: Health and Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz and Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett offer remarks at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of newborn screenings in Massachusetts with UMass Medical and Department of Public Health. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., Nurses Hall, State House)
AF BUDGET HEARING: Ahead of a hearing on Wednesday when legislative and administration officials will begin the process of setting a revenue estimate for next year’s state budget, Administration and Finance Secretary Glen Shor will lead a public hearing in Natick to “present the context” for the fiscal 2015 budget and gather testimony from the public and stakeholders on spending priorities. (Monday, 7 p.m., Natick Community Senior Center, 117 East Central Street, Natick)
HOUSE AND SENATE MEET: Both branches meet in informal sessions at 11 a.m. The Senate on Thursday appointed insisted on its version of mercury legislation (S 1758) and named Sens. Stephen Brewer, Jennifer Flanagan and Robert Hedlund to a conference that will likely be charged with hammering out a consensus bill with House negotiators – the House mercury bill is H 3601. The House could name its conferees on Monday. Bills dealing with veterans benefits, welfare reform, and compounding pharmacy regulation all received ringing votes of approval in both branches, but remain pending before conference committees, which close their deliberations to outsiders. The Senate on Thursday also approved House-passed legislation sponsored by Rep. John Fernandes (D-Milford) dealing with inspections of fluid storage tanks (H 699). That bill needs only enactment votes in both branches to reach the governor. Both branches are also on board with legislation aimed at preventing the release of bodies to individuals charged in connection with a person’s death, with the House now in receipt of the Senate’s latest proposal (S 1950).
STUDENT LOANS AND DEBT: A subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Higher Education meets Monday to take testimony as it examines the current landscape and the impacts of student debt while exploring solutions to alleviate financing burdens on students and their families. (Monday, 11 a.m., Berkshire Community College, Boland Theater, 1350 West St., Pittsfield)
READBOSTON HONORS LOCAL AUTHORS: The Dropkick Murphys will play an acoustic set during a ReadBoston reception where Boston authors will be recognized. Mayor Thomas Menino will honor local authors: Jack Beatty, Nicole Bernier, Daniel Bruce, Kevin Cullen, Shelley Murphy, Joe Finder, Meredith Goldstein, Paul Harding, Susan Hood, Eve LaPlante, Bill Littlefield, Pat Lowery Collins, Jackie MacMullan, William Martin, Brian McGrory, Claire Messud, Jason Landry, Robert Pinsky, Jim Ring, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Susan A. Shea, Casey Sherman, Courtney Sullivan, Larry Summers, Phil Vitti, and Jo Jo White. ReadBoston was founded by Menino in 1995 to address low literacy levels among Boston youth. The goal is to have Boston children reading on grade level by the time they complete third grade. Tickets are $35. (Monday, 6 to 8 p.m., Hotel Commonwealth, 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston)
WALSH ADMIN – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Boston Mayor-Elect Marty Walsh’s transition committee working group on economic development meets to hear from Boston residents about ways to improve Boston. Donna Cupelo, Regional President, Verizon, and Pat Moscaritolo, President CEO, Greater Boston Convention Visitors Bureau, are the Walsh team leaders on economic development. (Monday, 5 p.m., English High School, 144 McBride St., Jamaica Plain)
LYNN, SALEM, REVERE MAYORS PROMOTE REVERE CASINO: North Shore municipal officials and business executives will gather Monday to talk up the benefits of a proposed casino in Revere, including Lynn Mayor Judith Kennedy, Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo, Chelsea City Manager Jay Ash, Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll. (Monday, noon, Lynn City Hall)
TUESDAY, DEC. 10, 2013
MASS. GAMING COMMISSION: On the heels of its chairman’s surprise announcement that he’s recusing himself due to the appearance of a conflict of interest from review a land use aspect of one of the few remaining casino proposals, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is scheduled to meet Tuesday to take a vote on whether a revised Mohegan Sun-Suffolk Downs casino proposal can move forward and submit a final application as a Revere-only project. The chief competitor to the Mohegan-Suffolk plan is one in nearby Everett.
Chairman Stephen Crosby on Thursday recused himself from consideration of a land use piece of the Everett proposal, citing his longstanding relationship with an individual who has a land interest involved and his hope that by distancing himself from the Everett proposal it will ensure the integrity of the review process.
The Crosby controversy adds to an already fierce debate over the Mohegan-Suffolk proposal. Stung by the rejection of voters in East Boston, Suffolk Downs over the past month overhauled its casino plan to shift the facility onto its land in Revere, where voters approved the racetrack owner’s original plans.
Given the application schedule, there’s no time under current rules for a new vote in Revere on the redesigned casino proposal and backers of the new plans say the early November vote is legally sufficient. Casino opponents are crying foul and urging the commission to halt the Revere project, arguing the law is on their side and that the casino plans are now substantially different, with the gambling complex now untethered from the East Boston racetrack, for example. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Room 151, Boston)
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION: Sen. Katherine Clark is the presumed frontrunner in a race to fill the congressional office previously held by U.S. Sen. Ed Markey for 37 years. The Fifth District, which holds its special election Tuesday, comprises the Democratic Party-dominated suburbs to the north and west of Boston. She faces Republican Frank Addivinola Jr., independent James Aulenti and Arlington resident James Hall, of the Justice Peace Security party. During Markey’s Senate run earlier in the year, Clark and others launched federal campaigns. In the primary, Clark beat Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, Medford Rep. Carl Sciortino, Ashland Sen. Karen Spilka, Belmont Sen. William Brownsberger, and two lesser known, novice candidates from Melrose and Arlington. A Clark victory would touch off a special election to replace the Melrose Democrat in the 40-member Senate. Before Clark, the seat was held by Richard Tisei, a Wakefield Republican who narrowly lost an attempt to unseat Congressman John Tierney last year. The district now includes the cities of Malden and Melrose, and the towns of Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester, precincts 1- 3, and 8. (Tuesday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., Fifth District)
CLARK PARTY: Sen. Katherine Clark, the frontrunner to win Tuesday’s special Congressional election to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Sen. Edward Markey in the 5th District, will hold an Election Night party at Montvale Plaza. (Tuesday, 8 p.m., Montvale Plaza, 54 Montvale Ave., Stoneham)
PATRICK STILL IN JAPAN: Gov. Deval Patrick visits a market, discusses the clean energy sector, the innovation economy and meets with Masayo Tada, President and CEO of Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma. (Tuesday, Tokyo, Japan)
TRANSPORTATION HEARING: The Transportation Committee hears bills on planning, finance and other issues at a public hearing. Treasurer Steven Grossman plans to testify before the committee on H 19, which would eliminate the vehicle “self-insurance” program presently administered by Treasury. H 3142 from Reps. Carl Sciortino and Tricia Farley-Bouvier would establish of a vehicle mileage user fee pilot program to be run by MassDOT. Sen. Katherine Clark’s S 1645, filed on behalf of a constituent, would ban all vehicles passing on the left side of a road divided by solid lines unless the vehicle being passed is farm equipment or pulled over. Other bills deal with specific roads and highways. Sen. Brian Joyce offers S 1665 which would eliminate the use of capital funds for operating and personnel expenses. (Tuesday, 12 p.m., A-2)
FINAL CHAMBER SPEECH FOR MENINO: Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who will leave office after 20 years in January, speaks at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Forum. (Tuesday, 7:45 a.m., Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer Street, Boston)
MASSHOUSING: Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein attends the monthly meeting of the MassHousing Board of Directors. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., One Beacon St., Boston)
HIGHER ED: The Higher Education Department’s Board of Directors meets. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Northern Essex Community College, Hartleb Technology Center, Room TC 103 AB, 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill)
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE: The Committee on Public Service will hear bills concerning collective bargaining, striking and arbitration. Some of the bills concern what “inherent management rights” public employers have, which are excluded from collective bargaining. Other laws concern court action in strikes. Public employees are barred by statute from striking and unions are prohibited from encouraging strikes by public employees. Boston parents were surprised to learn bus drivers for the private school bus operator Veolia had gone on a “wildcat” strike on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Other bills would make public employee arbitration awards binding decisions, removing the ability for local governments to reject them. Binding arbitration was raised as an issue during the mayoral election in Boston, because Mayor-elect Marty Walsh has filed bills over the years calling for such finality through the arbitration process. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room B-1)
AVELLONE AT SEIU: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Avellone attends the SEIU 509 Holiday Party. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., SEIU 509 Headquarters, 100 Talcott Ave., Watertown)
HOUSE BONDING COMMITTEE: The House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets will take up the transportation bond bill (H 3763) and a general government bond bill (H 3690), which was rewritten by the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The Transportation Committee rewrote the transportation bond bill, adding new increased fines for MBTA fare evasion. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Room B-1)
WINSLOW SEAT PRIMARY: Voters in Norfolk, Wrentham, Millis, Medfield, Walpole and Plainville will be one step closer to selecting their next state representative on Tuesday evening, the night of the primary to replace former Rep. Dan Winslow, who resigned for a private sector job. The only names to appear on the ballot will be Democrat Edward McCormick and Republican Shawn Dooley, who is the town clerk and a member of the school committee. According to the Attleboro Sun Chronicle, Dooley is also married to the town moderator, Cici Van Tine, and was the campaign manager for Winslow and Sen. Richard Ross. McCormick previously ran as a Republican against then-Congressman Barney Frank in 1992. The Newton Democrat beat McCormick 67.7 percent to 26.2 percent, as McCormick picked up 70,666 votes throughout the district. McCormick reported raising and spending no money in his pre-primary campaign finance report. Dooley reported raising $21,376. (Tuesday, Ninth Norfolk District)
WALSH ADMIN – EDUCATION: Boston Mayor-Elect Marty Walsh’s transition committee working group on education meets to hear from Boston residents about ways to improve Boston. George Perry, Executive Director, Perry and Associates, Inc., and Jeri Robinson, Vice President of Early Childhood Education, Boston Children’s Museum, are the team leaders on education. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., English High School, 144 McBride St., Jamaica Plain)
DIRECT SERVICES: Health and Human Services Secretary Polanowicz gives welcome remarks at the second annual Stephanie Moulton Symposium to help direct service staff work in safe and respectful environments. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., JFK Library, 220 Morrissey Blvd, Columbia Point, Dorchester)
KAPRIELIAN ON WGBH: MassDOT Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian is a scheduled guest on WGBH’s Boston Public Radio hosted by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. (Tuesday, 12:30 p m, WGBH)
EOLWD BUDGET HEARING: The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development holds a public hearing to gather feedback as it develops a fiscal 2015 budget recommendation. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., Hurley Building, Minehan Hall, 19 Staniford St., Boston)
EXPORT CENTER WORKSHOP: Undersecretary Eric Hirschhorn of the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security will be the keynote speaker during the Massachusetts Export Center workshop series. Hirschhorn was appointed in 2010 to the Commerce Department where he oversees export control and treaty compliance. He will give an update and provide insights on the Export Control Reform Initiative. Others speakers include Brian Amero, director of compliance and ethics at Teradyne Inc.; Amanda Barlow, director of marketing at the U.S. Council for International Business; Kelley Brady, export development manager at Reed Exhibitions; and Wayne Canty, president and chief executive officer at Heat Trace Products. Some of the workshops will explore managing global trade credit risk and finance, essentials of export compliance, and the mechanics of exporting. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, 2nd floor conference center, Boston)
PROTECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES DURING AN ATTACK: The group South Shore Progressive Mass holds a lecture discussing how traumatic experiences can present a challenge to protecting civil liberties in a forum entitled “Fear and the Challenge to Civil Liberties: From the Japanese American Internment to 9/11 to the Boston Marathon.” UMass Boston professor Paul Watanabe will give the lecture. Watanabe will look at the World War II internment camps, the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombings. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Hingham Library, 66 Leavitt St., Hingham)
A LOOK AT ADULT ED AROUND THE WORLD: The Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education holds an event to showcase programs. The organization will also give a short briefing of a new study on adult skills that compares the United States to other countries. Students in adult ed programs will speak about their experiences. Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) and Rep. Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) are scheduled to speak. Established in 1992, MCAE is a statewide organization that supports equal opportunities for adult education. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Grand Staircase, Statehouse)
AFTER-SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL: Ten teams of Boston-area students from the fifth through the eighth grade will take part in a mock appellate program sponsored by Discovering Justice to argue simulated cases before panels of federal and state judges and veteran attorneys. The event, titled “An Evening to Stand Up for Your Rights,” will be hosted at the Moakley U.S. Courthouse in South Boston. Students from six Boston schools, including Orchard Gardens, and one Chelsea middle school, will interact with attorneys from Boston’s top law firms as well as justices on the state and federal bench, including Supreme Judicial Court Justice Robert Cordy. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Moakley Courthouse, One Courthouse Way, Second Floor Atrium, Boston)
DPU WEIGHS SALEM POWER PLANT, BONDING: The Department of Public Utilities will consider a Footprint Power Salem Harbor override petition for a composite of all state and local permits to construct and operate a 630 megawatt natural gas power plant on the site of a soon-to-be-shuttered coal plant. Rep. John Keenan, a Salem Democrat, has sought to award approval to the company through state law, and said the full approval is tied up from legal appeals filed by the Conservation Law Foundation. Rep. Lori Ehrlich, a Marblehead Democrat, has opposed Keenan’s effort. The DPU will also consider a petition of the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company to issue debt to fund a $400 million pooled loan program. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., One South Station, Boston, fifth floor)
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 11, 2013
REVENUE FORECAST HEARING: Lawmakers plan to begin preparations for the fiscal 2015 budget with a hearing Wednesday featuring experts who will talk about the state’s economic and revenue outlooks. Members of the House and Senate Ways and Means committees will gather with the goal of eventually developing a consensus revenue estimate upon which the House, Senate and Gov. Deval Patrick can base their spending plans. Among those expected to testify are Department of Revenue Commissioner Amy Pitter, Treasurer Steven Grossman, Mass. Taxpayers Foundation President Michael Widmer, Dr. Michael Goodman of UMass-Dartmouth, Dr. Karl Case of Wellesley College, three officials from the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission, Dr. David Tuerck of the Beacon Hill Institute, Dr. Alan Clayton-Matthews of Northeastern University, Dr. Christian Weller of UMass Boston, Dr. Barry Bluestone of Northeastern University, and Dr. Yolanda Kodrzycki of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Most of the scheduled speakers have been called to testify at previous revenue projection hearings. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Gardner Auditorium, State House)
PATRICK MEETS WITH JAPANESE PM AND CAROLINE KENNEDY: Gov. Deval Patrick meets with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and later with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy on his trip to Japan. Patrick will also meet with Kanagawa Governor Prefecture Yuji Kuroiwa, discuss connections between the Commonwealth’s and Japan’s eHealth sectors, and sit down with the Chairman and CEO of Mitsubishi Corporation. (CLOSED PRESS) (Wednesday, Tokyo, Japan)
MASSDOT BOARD: The MassDOT Board of Directors holds its December meeting. The board is expected to take up a motion to reduce the price of fares for the RIDE paratransit service from $4 to $3. At a meeting of the Board’s Finance and Audit earlier this month, the panel discussed the current budget cycle and the agency’s preparations for the fiscal year 2015 budget. Committee members were informed at the meeting that the T is facing a $25 million deficit that officials said was due to an arbitrator’s award to an employee union. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., MassDOT Boardroom,10 Park Plaza, Suite 3830, Boston)
MASSPORT BOARD: Massport holds a board of directors meeting and takes up three staff appointments in the security and maritime divisions. The panel will also hear an update on ground transportation, including details on HOV, parking garages and parking rates. The board will name a new chief security officer at the meeting as well as an acting security chief to fill the role until the new hire begins next year. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., One Harborside Drive, East Boston)
HIGHER ED COMMITTEE: The Higher Education Committee hears five bills, including legislation with opposing views of in-state tuition for students in the country illegally. Two Republican bills – H 1073 from Reps. James Lyons and Marc Lombardo, and S 589 from Minority Leader Bruce Tarr – deal with restricting tuition waivers and reductions for students not legally residing in the state. Bills from Rep. Denise Provost and Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry (H 1078) and Sen. Sonia Chang Diaz (S 577) seek to expand access to in-state tuition for most students. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2)
HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS REPORT: The U.S. Conference of Mayors will release its 2013 Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness Report in a conference call with mayors from around the country. Public benefits have been targeted for funding cuts on the federal level and are under more scrutiny on the state level. Participating in the call will be Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton and Santa Barbara, Calif., Mayor Helene Schneider, who are both chairpersons of the USCM Hunger and Homelessness Task Force. USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran and United States Interagency Council On Homelessness Deputy Director Laura Zelinger will participate. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Call-In Number: 1-888-455-2263 | Passcode: 5382795)
LAKE CAMPAIGN KICKOFF: Candidate for lieutenant governor Mike Lake of Boston kicks off his campaign at an event featuring former Gov. Michael Dukakis and his wife Kitty. Lake is one of only two Democratic candidates currently seeking the party’s nomination, along with Lancaster’s Steve Kerrigan. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, 41 Berkeley Street, Boston)
HOMELESSNESS RECOGNITION: Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein attends a Citizens Bank-sponsored event to recognize local leaders addressing homelessness in the state. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Pine Street Inn, 444 Harrison Ave., Boston)
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING: The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative’s Board of Directors hosts their monthly board meeting. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 99 High St., Boston)
REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE: The Republican mayor-elect of Amesbury, Ken Gray, will be among those featured at a Republican State Committee meeting Wednesday. Committee members will also hear an update on the gas tax from Steven Aylward, who is leading the initiative petition effort to repeal a law indexing the gas tax to an inflation indicator. Reports are also expected on bylaw changes and regional issues, the platform and budget committees, along with updates from party chair Kirsten Hughes and national committee members Ron Kaufman and Chanel Prunier. (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Newton Marriott Hotel, 2345 Commonwealth Ave., Newton)
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HOLDS HEARING: Health and Human Service Secretary John Polanowicz and EOHHS officials will hold a public hearing to gather input as they draft the fiscal year 2015 budget. The hearing is tentatively divided into four one-hour segments. Discussion related to disabilities and community service will begin the hearing, followed by health services, veterans, elder affairs and soldiers’ homes, and finally children, youth and families. (Wednesday, 2 to 6 p.m., UMass Boston Campus Center, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston)
FASTING FOR REFORM: With its annual meeting planned for Wednesday, staff and members of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition will begin a 24-hour fast starting at sunrise. The group is fasting in solidarity with protestors in Washington, D.C. who are seeking to draw attention to Congress’s inaction on immigration reform. Earlier this week, Congressman Joseph Kennedy also joined the fast for 24-hours before handing off to a colleague in the House to continue the effort in support. The fast will coincide with MIRA’s annual meeting. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., SEIU 1199, 150 Mt. Vernon St, Dorchester)
DPU WEIGHS SALEM POWER PLANT, WIND CONTRACTS: The Department of Public Utilities will consider a Footprint Power Salem Harbor override petition for a composite of all state and local permits to construct and operate a 630 megawatt natural gas power plant on the site of a soon-to-be-shuttered coal plant. The DPU will also consider petitions for state electric utilities to procure energy and renewable energy credits from six individual wind projects. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., One South Station Boston, fifth floor)
GREEN LINE WORK MEETING: Green Line Extension general contractor White Skanska Kiewet, JV will hold its first outreach event for the public and companies interested in receiving subcontracts on the project, which is estimated to cost a total of $1.3 billion. The general contractor noted the project will include the construction of six new stations, a maintenance facility, viaduct and bridge construction, drainage and utility work, signals and communication. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., 10 Park Plaza)
THURSDAY, DEC. 12, 2013
HOUSE AND SENATE MEET: Both branches meet in informal sessions at 11 a.m.
COAKLEY FUNDRAISER: Attorney General Martha Coakley holds her annual fundraiser Thursday evening as she pursues the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Union Oyster House, Boston)
EAST INDIA TO HALLIBURTON: House Revenue Committee Chairman Jay Kaufman, a Lexington Democrat, will discuss the role corporations play in society in a televised talk titled “The Tea Party: East India Company to Halliburton,” referencing the 18th and 21st century corporate juggernauts. “Although not widely known, Lexington citizens burned British tea in a protest three days before the better-known Boston Tea Party,” and advisory stated. (Thursday, 7 p.m., 13 Depot Square, Lexington Center)
GBREB DINNER: The Greater Boston Real Estate Board hosts its Rental Housing Division Presidents Awards Dinner Thursday. Housing and Economic Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein is set to receive the 2013 Excellence in Public Service Award. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Renaissance Boston Waterfront)
KAPRIELIAN ON WBZ: MassDOT Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian is a scheduled guest on NightSide with Dan Rea on WBZ. (Thursday, 8 p.m., WBZ, 1030AM)
WOMEN OF INFLUENCE AWARDS: The Boston Business Journal hosts “Women Up,” their local awards honoring women. MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones is one of the honorees. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel, 425 Summer St., Boston)
PATRICK GOES TO CHINA: Gov. Deval Patrick travels to Hong Kong and meets with Clifford Hart, US Consul General in Hong Kong. (PHOTO ONLY) (Thursday, Hong Kong)
INVESTOR CONFERENCE: State Treasurer and Democratic candidate for Governor Steven Grossman will give the opening remarks at the 3rd annual Massachusetts Investor Conference. (Thursday, 8:30 a..m., Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, Boston)
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: The Community Development and Small Businesses Committee holds a hearing on franchises, “smart growth” and livable communities. H 171 from Medford Rep. Carl Sciortino would establish language on car sharing as a principle for land development in smart growth planning. S 67 from Sen. Harriette Chandler would establish a smart growth housing trust fund. (Thursday, 1 p.m., A-2)
MASSDEVELOPMENT: The MassDevelopment Board of Directors hold its monthly board meeting. (Thursday, 10 a.m., 99 High St., 11th Floor, Boston)
DPU WEIGHS SALEM POWER PLANT, WIND CONTRACTS: The Department of Public Utilities will consider a Footprint Power Salem Harbor override petition for a composite of all state and local permits to construct and operate a 630 megawatt natural gas power plant on the site of a soon-to-be-shuttered coal plant. The DPU will also consider petitions for state electric utilities to procure energy and renewable energy credits from six individual wind projects. (Thursday, 10 a.m., One South Station Boston, fifth floor)
FRIDAY, DEC. 13, 2013
AF BUDGET HEARING: Administration and Finance Secretary Glen Shor will lead a public hearing to “present the context” for the fiscal 2015 budget and gather testimony from the public and stakeholders on spending priorities. The hearing in Boston will be the second held by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance next week following a similar event Monday in Natick. (Friday, 7 p.m., 1 Ashburton Place, 21st floor, Boston)
AVELLONE IN MANSFIELD: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Avellone attends the Mansfield Democratic Committee Holiday Party. (Friday, 6 p.m., Mansfield)
MBTA – ACCESSIBILITY AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE: Judge Patrick King offers on update on his assessment of the MBTA’s progress complying with the MBTA/BCIL settlement agreement. The MBTA entered into a settlement with the Boston Center for Independent Living in 2006, agreeing to make major accessibility improvements to facilities and services. (Friday, 1 p.m., 10 Park Pl, Boston, MA Rooms 1, 2 3)
PATRICK MEETS WITH AMERICAN CHAMBER IN CHINA: Gov. Deval Patrick discusses the financial sector and railway transit at meetings while in China and meets with leaders from the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong to discuss collaboration in the global economy. (Friday, Hong Kong, China)
GUN TASK FORCE MEETING: Speaker DeLeo’s gun task force will hold its final meeting with selected members of the public, Friday. The meetings are open only to selected individuals. (Friday)
THE WOLF EXEMPTION: The state Ethics Commission plans a public hearing on a proposed regulatory exemption that would allow business owners with pre-existing, non-negotiable contracts with the state to seek and hold public office without violating conflict of interest laws. The proposed rule change was prompted by Sen. Dan Wolf, who challenged an advisory opinion from the commission that he should step down from his seat because of Cape Air’s contracts with Massport. Wolf proposed a new rule that would allow him and other business owners like him to enter politics without giving up their businesses. The commission drafted its own regulatory proposal, and is currently holding hearings to gather public input. (Friday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Barnstable County First District Court House, 3195 Main Street, Route 6A, Barnstable)
SATURDAY, DEC. 14, 2013
PATRICK TO SINGAPORE: Gov. Deval Patrick travels to Singapore, the third stop on his Asian tour. (Saturday, Singapore)
What Beacon Hill has in store for you this week
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