Happening Today
House takes up transgender bill
The House will meet to consider the transgender anti-discrimination bill and other items, House Chamber, 11 a.m.
Hillary, Bon Jovi in Boston for fundraiser
Democratic candidate for president Hillary Clinton, Attorney General Maura Healey and Jon Bon Jovi are among the planned attendees at a “Hillary Victory Fund” event, Westin Waterfront, Seaport District, 5:30 p.m.
Digital health-care lab opening
Gov. Charlie Baker, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speak at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for MassChallenge’s new digital health care lab, Hatch Fenway Landmark Center 401 Park Drive, Boston, 3:30 p.m.
Baker at Newburyport chamber
Gov. Baker delivers remarks at the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce 50th anniversary dinner, Blue Ocean Music Hall, 4 Ocean Front N, Salisbury, 6:30 p.m .
Today’s Stories
Despite the California race hanging in the balance, Hillary heads to Boston
Hillary Clinton hits town today for a star-studded, sold-out fundraising event that includes an appearance by rock star Jon Bon Jovi, even though her California primary race against Bernie Sanders is now a statistical dead heat and a loss there would be a humiliating setback for her. But the bottom line is: She needs money. The bottom line reason she needs money at this very moment: Bernie Sanders, as the Herald’s Chris Cassidy reports. He’s draining her campaign coffers, even though mathematically he doesn’t stand a chance of winning the Dem nomination at this point. What a guy.
What the Baker administration really wants to say about emissions
Last week, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton was saying that he expected “a long process to figure out what we’re going to do” when it comes to a recent Supreme Judicial Court ruling that all but ordered the state to make further cuts in carbon emissions. But yesterday, Martin Suuberg, the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, was talking to lawmakers about an “expeditious schedule” to comply with the ruling, reports Katie Lannan of the State House New Service (pay wall). Then again, Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine notes how Suuberg said it was too early to speculate on how emission reductions would be accomplished. In other words, the message is confusing.
This is what we think the Baker administration is trying to convey and wants to say but can’t: Of course we’re going to dutifully and constitutionally comply with the decision of the Supreme Judicial Court, but we ain’t going to let no fancy, black-robed judges push us around and adopt a pie-in-the-sky environmental agenda dictated to us by the Conservation Law Foundation.
We could be a little wrong in that analysis, but not by much.
House takes up transgender bill that everyone has long known will pass
Finally, the House will vote on a transgender anti-discrimination bill that most everyone has long known would eventually pass and that most people are now sick of hearing about at this point. There. We said it: We’re sick of hearing about this bill. And we’ll bet you are too.
For the past month or so, the only question in this legislative faux-drama has been whether there would be enough House votes to override a possible veto by Gov. Charlie Baker, who yesterday not-so-shockingly said he could support the House version of the bill, as reported by WBUR. So after today’s expected House approval, the legislation will head to conference committee. The Senate will likely cave on its minor differences with the House. A bill will be sent to the governor’s desk. The governor will then likely sign it. Any remaining drama or questions?
Milton rivals line up for Sen. Joyce’s seat
For a while there, it looked like Rep. Walter Timilty might not face a primary rival for the state Senate seat being vacated by embattled Sen. Brian Joyce. “But now the conservative Democrat will have a primary challenge from his left from a fellow Miltonian,” reports State House New Service’s Matt Murphy. “Nora Harrington, the chief operating officer of a behavioral health group practice she helped start in 2004, announced her campaign kickoff on Tuesday ahead of a controversial vote looming for the House on Wednesday on a transgender rights bill.”
Sorry, cash-strapped MBTA can’t accept your money this morning
Of all things to happen to the cash-strapped MBTA: Its electronic payment system apparently malfunctioned yesterday morning, preventing riders from paying for service with their debit and credit cards. The Boston Business Journal’s David Harris has a quick tick-tock account of yesterday’s mishap, which was resolved by early afternoon.
America’s Milk Street Kitchen?
Christopher Kimball, who has left the highly successful “America’s Test Kitchen” and other holdings associated with the popular PBS television show, is starting a new multimedia company in Boston called “Milk Street Kitchen,” the Globe’s Beth Healy and Janelle Nanos report. Even though the business model and very name of his new company has the same ring it (he just had to put the word “kitchen” in there), Kimball swears the new firm won’t be like the old one. Something about how ingredients are used in recipes, he says.
Staples chief steps down after failed Office Depot merger
During his early years as chief executive of Framingham’s Staples Inc., Ron Sargent could do no wrong, as the office supplies chain grew across the country. Then online sales started eating into revenues and Staples was suddenly reeling. Sargent tried to slap together a last-ditch takeover of Office Depot – but the idea was recently rejected by the courts. Now Sargent plans to step down after 14 years at the helm. Unfortunately, the failed merger may well be one of his not-so-welcome lasting legacies, as the Globe’s Jon Chesto reports.
Weld gives up lucrative lobbying for one last campaign (maybe)
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld is temporarily giving up his lucrative lobbying job at Boston’s ML Strategies so he can devote all his time to run for vice president on the Libertarian Party ticket. Stephen Tocco, the president and chief executive of ML Strategies, told the State House News Service’s Andy Metzger that Weld’s nomination on Sunday was “the triggering event” that began his period of unpaid leave.
Tribe holds out hope for gambling on Martha’s Vineyard
The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head was back in court on Tuesday, hoping to convince a federal court that it has the right to open a gambling facility on Martha’s Vineyard, George Brennan of the Cape Cod Times reports. The tribe, which began work to convert a community center into a bingo hall before being shut down, is seen as having low odds of prevailing in the case.
City Hall emails were about more than just Boston Calling
Emails obtained by WGBH through a public records request show that it wasn’t just the Boston Calling event that was the subject of communications regarding union employment, Isaiah Thompson reports. An Australian company that wanted to stage a lighting show during First Night received an email from Kenneth Brissette about local employment plans. City Hall says it is looking into the way the tourism office conducted itself overall. Needless to say, federal prosecutors are looking into it too.
Ashland transit-oriented project draws fire
Several years after it was initially approved, a group of residents continue to fight a plan to build 400 apartments adjacent to the Ashland MBTA commuter rail stop, Bill Shaner of the MetroWest Daily News reports. Residents say the project can’t be completed safely because of its proximity to the former Nyanza plant that’s now an EPA Superfund cleanup site, but developers are looking for permission to continue with work that had already begun.
Of all people, Michael Dukakis knows: Ignore early polls
Plenty of pundits and talking heads have cautioned against reading too much into presidential polls published months before votes are cast, but now the voice with a lot of modern authority on the matter has weighed in as well: Former Gov. Michael Dukakis, who enjoyed strong double-digit leads in polls taken as late as July of 1988 before being soundly defeated in that year’s presidential race. “Unfortunately,” said Dukakis, in a report by Boston.com’s Nik DeCosta-Klipa, “mine was a classic case of where in fact (polls) proved to be way off.”
Republican enters Marlborough representative race
Former Marlborough City Council member Paul Ferro plans to run as a Republican for the Fourth Middlesex District state representative seat, the MetroWest Daily News reports. Ferro, who will face the winner of the Democratic primary between incumbent Danielle Gregoire and challenger Michael Ossing, says he’ll run on a lower-taxes platform and as an ally of Gov. Baker.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
City emails about union hiring went beyond Boston Calling – WGBH
Keating praises report calling for security to be added around airports – Brockton Enterprise
Trump donates $75,000 to Boston veterans charity – Boston Globe
Symbolism key to Walsh’s community college plan – CommonWealth Magazine
Massachusetts
Charlie Baker says he would sign transgender bill – Boston Globe
Mass. renews vow to curb carbon output – Boston Globe
Aquinnah Tribe won’t give up fight for island gaming – Cape Cod Times
Ferro enters fray in Marlborough rep. race – MetroWest Daily News
Ashland rail transit apartments under fire – MetroWest Daily News
Tempers boil over at Townsend selectmen’s meeting – Lowell Sun
Gov. Charlie Baker signs hospital pricing compromise into law – MassLive
Nation
Documents show aggressive sales tactics at Trump University – Boston Globe
Clinton scores prized endorsement from Gov. Jerry Brown – Berkshire Eagle
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