Happening Today
Gaming Commission, Veterans Day events, Bank of America CEO
— Massachusetts Senior Care Association holds its annual meeting and plans to award U.S. Rep. Richard Neal with its ‘A Better Life’ award, DCU Center, Worcester, 9:30 a.m.
— Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders chairs a meeting of the Health Connector Board, 50 Milk St. – 8th floor, Boston, 9 a.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker participates in the Veterans Day celebration at Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, St. Michael the Archangel Chapel, Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, 91 Crest Ave., Chelsea, 10 a.m.
— Gaming Commission meets with an agenda that includes the Plainridge Park Casino quarterly report, western Mass. workforce training update, hospitality sector training RFP, 2019 racing application decisions, and Division of Racing administrative updates, 101 Federal Street, 12th Floor, Boston, 10 a.m.
— Greater Boston Food Bank holds its 13th annual Chain of Giving event, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, Attorney General Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh planning to attend, Greater Boston Food Bank, 70 South Bay Ave., Boston, 10 a.m.
— The board of directors of MassDevelopment will meet for its monthly meeting, with Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash attending, 99 High St., Boston, 10 a.m.
— Ahead of Veterans Day, Massachusetts building trades unions and union contractors donate $50,000 to Helmets to Hardhats, a career pathways program, Grand Staircase, 12 p.m.
— The Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society performs at the State House as part of a U.S. tour, Great Hall, 12 p.m.
— Bank of America chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan is the featured speaker at the Boston College Chief Executives Club luncheon, Wharf Room, Boston Harbor Hotel, 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, 12 p.m.
— Massachusetts Lottery Commission meets and is expected to hear from executive director Michael Sweeney about the impact that October’s near-record Mega Millions jackpot had on finances, One Ashburton Place, 12th floor, Boston, 1 p.m.
— The Public’s Radio, the National Public Radio affiliate serving southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, hosts a post-election analysis panel featuring John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School, Public’s Radio political analyst Scott Mackay, and others, UMass Dartmouth, Robert F. Stoico Grand Reading Room, Claire T. Carney Library, 285 Old Westport Rd, North Dartmouth, 4 p.m.
— The Suffolk University Center for Law and Social Policy hosts Attorney General Maura Healey as the keynote speaker at a welcome reception for an annual law-enforcement conference, Suffolk University School of Law, 120 Tremont St., Boston, 5 p.m.
For more calendar listings, check out State House News Service’s Daily Advances (pay wall – free trial subscriptions available) and MassterList’s Beacon Hill Town Square below.
Today’s Stories
They’re already going at it: Local Dems warn of ‘constitutional crisis’ if Trump moves against Mueller
Following yesterday’s post-election firing of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions by President Trump, local Democrats are warning that the president may be risking a “constitutional crisis” if his next move is to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, the Globe’s Danny McDonald reports. The Herald’s Kimberly Atkins reports that Dems are definitely bracing for a fight. But the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld writes that Dems better pick their battles well on this and other issues.
Fyi I: U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling heaped praise on Sessions yesterday, reports SHNS’s Matt Murphy (pay wall). Fyi II: Universal Hub reports that MoveOn has activated its emergency-protest system and is calling for a defend-Robert-Mueller rally today in Boston.
They’re already going at it, Part II: Neal to request Trump’s tax returns
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, now in line to head the U.S. House’s powerful Ways and Means Committee after Dems on Tuesday captured control of the chamber, said yesterday he’s planning to request the release of President Trump’s tax returns, an action likely to spark partisan bickering, as Shannon Young at MassLive reports.
So is the sparring over tax-records and the Mueller investigation (see above post) a sign of non-stop controversies to come between Mass. pols and the Trump administration? Not necessarily. The Globe’s Liz Goodwin and Libby Berry report that state political leaders are actually showing a willingness to work with Trump. Well, seeing is believing, and so far we’re seeing battle lines forming.
Separately, Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, said he’s glad that state Democrats, like Neal and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, are moving up the leadership ladder in Washington, saying it will be a net plus for Massachusetts, reports Shira Schoenberg at MassLive. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Josephy Kennedy III is also touting his role as Dems take back the House, reports SHNS’s Michael Norton (pay wall) .
For the record: A.) Baker staying put B.) Doesn’t rule out third-term run
What would a morning after an election be without speculation about the next election? Fresh off his huge re-election win on Tuesday, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker was peppered on Wednesday with lots of questions about his future plans, as in his political plans, not his policy plans, and, for the record, he pronounced: A.) He’s staying put for the next four years, i.e. he’s not running for president in 2020. B.) He didn’t rule out running for a third term in 2022, though he did get a laugh out of the third-term question lobbed at him. The Herald’s Mary Markos and MassLive’s Gintautas Dumcius have the details on all the will-he-or-won’t-he speculation.
As for boring public policy matters, the Globe’s Matt Stout reports that Baker yesterday “began laying the groundwork for a second term in the same technocratic style he fashioned his first,” focusing on issues such as housing, the opioid crisis and the MBTA. But he plans to be “humble” and yet “nonstop, pedal-to-the-metal, let it rock!” Shira Schoenberg at MassLive has more on the “collaboration, purpose, humility, respect” angle. The Globe’s Nestor Ramos is hoping Baker’s moderate approach towards things will rub off on fellow Republicans in Washington.
Sudders serves notice: Baker administration intends to pursue price controls on drugs
Speaking of the technocratic Baker administration, the dust has barely settled from Tuesday’s elections and Marylou Sudders, Baker’s secretary of health and human service, is already serving notice: The state needs better tools to control MassHealth drug prices – and the state plans to pursue those controls moving forward. She explains at CommonWealth magazine.
It was a Deval Patrick-type of night, not a Liz Warren-type of night
The Globe’s Annie Linskey and Liz Goodwin have a good story on how it was mostly pragmatic Democrats, not progressive Democrats, who were the driving force behind Dems’ semi-big blue wave across the country on Tuesday. Kicker graf: “From a Massachusetts perspective, it was a bad night for firebrand Elizabeth Warren-type candidates and a good one for the more practical-sounding Deval Patricks of the world who might run.”
Separately, the Globe’s Joan Vennochi writes that the “Kavanaugh-effect” mostly definitely played a role in Tuesday’s election – and it didn’t go Dems’ way. Or shall we say it didn’t go progressives’ way?
‘From a cheerful Texas stadium to an anxious Boston party …’
Speaking off the 2020 presidential race, the Washington Post has a preview of what could be an Elizabeth Warren-Beto O’Rourke showdown for the Dem nomination. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III says talk of O’Rourke running for president is not so far-fetched, even though O’Rourke lost his bid for the U.S. Senate in Texas on Tuesday, reports Joe Dwinell at the Herald.
From supermajorities to uber-majorities, Dems increase dominance on Beacon Hill
Tuesday’s blue wave washed away yet more GOP legislators at the State House – and now Democrats hold a beyond-commanding 127-32 edge in the House and a 34-6 lead in the Senate. Shira Schoenbergat MassLive and Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine have the wipeout details.
As for specific races, here’s some more returns that we didn’t catch yesterday morning (and they do include a few GOP victories): From Mina Corpuz at the Lowell Sun: ‘Tran holds off Chalifoux Zephir for Senate seat Mina Corpuz.’ … From Susan Spencerat the Telegram: “Republican Soter of Bellingham wins 8th Worcester District by slim margin.’ … Rick Sobey at the Lowell Sun: Democrat Kennedy beats MacDonald for open Donoghue seat.
A day for women to celebrate …
At MassLive, Shannon Young reports how Tuesday’s election results show the growing clout of women in Massachusetts and beyond. One of the biggest triumphs on Tuesday: Ayanna Pressley officially becoming the state’s first elected black female to Congress, as the AP reports at WBUR. Meanwhile, Jeneé Osterheldt at the Globe has more on the gains of women at the local and national levels.
Tuesday’s blue wave included the bluest blue lobster you ever did see
Check out the photos and video of a rare blue lobster (“bluest #bluelobster I ever saw”) at Good Morning Gloucester. Pretty amazing. Via UH.
Let them eat turkey: Gas-deprived residents to get free Thanksgiving meals
Speaking of culinary matters, Columbia Gas plans to foot the bill for thousands of Thanksgiving Day meals — made by a New Hampshire restaurant, it should be noted — for residents of the Merrimack Valley still without gas-line service, Kiera Blessing reports at the Eagle-Tribune. Meanwhile, Blessing reports separately that the governor and mayor are warning that the “frustration” confronting residents will continue for a while longer.
Former Worcester councilor’s lawsuit against Turtleboy Sports tossed out
A judge has thrown out a libel and fraud lawsuit brought by former Worcester City Councilor Michael Gaffney against the Turtleboy Sports blog, saying the inflammatory posts in questions were statements of opinion and therefore protected by the First Amendment, Brian Lee reports in the Telegram.
The countdown begins: Recreational marijuana sales may start in a matter of days
It’s sort of like falling dominoes. From SHNS’s Colin Young at the Sentinel & Enterprise: “The two laboratories that have been licensed to test non-medical marijuana have been cleared to begin testing, putting in place another crucial link in the supply chain as the Cannabis Control Commission waits to give retail stores the go-ahead to begin sales.” The Globe’s Dan Adams reports on how the CCC action will likely lead to the opening of pot shops in a matter of days.
Packy store owners want their piece of the pot pie too
Speaking of recreational marijuana, the Massachusetts Package Stores Association plans to lobby lawmakers and the Cannabis Control Commission to make sure liquor-store owners are allowed to compete for pot-shop licenses too, though they’re not pushing for pot sales at their packy stores, Mike Plaisance reports at MassLive.
State to Fall River mayor: No, you can’t dip into your defense slush fund to pay for scandal legal bills
Jo C. Goode at the Herald News reports that the state’s campaign finance office is making it pretty clear that Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia, now facing federal wire and fraud charges, can’t use his separate defense fund to pay for his legal bills because the fed allegations involve his personal company, not his official duties as mayor.
Convict is first to go home under ‘compassionate release’ program
A 31-year-old Centerville man serving time for manslaughter is back home, the first prisoner set free under the so-called “compassionate release” program approved by lawmakers as part of a criminal justice reform package earlier this year. Alexander Phillips is one of seven prisoners who have requested release under the program, Jenifer McKim reports at WGBH.
It’s déjà vu all over again in western Massachusetts
The more things change, the more they stay the same in western Massachusetts, sort of, when it comes to politics and elections, according to Western Massachusetts Politics & Insight, which has a regional analysis of Tuesday’s election results.
Now this: ‘MIT study proposes shooting high-powered laser into space to attract aliens’
Did Harvard and MIT get matching MIB grants or something? Earlier this week, Harvard researchers suggested an interstellar object might have been from an alien civilization. Now a new MIT study outlines a plan to fire a megawatt laser into space with the goal of attracting the attention of faraway alien lifeforms, if they’re out there, according to a report at CBS Boston.
City approves final designs for Kenmore Square’s Citgo sign and new building
Check out the design sketches accompanying the story. From Catherine Carlock at the BBJ: “Boston-based Related Beal has received design approval for its proposed Kenmore Square redevelopment — which includes the city’s famed Citgo sign — following months of discussion and at least seven revised design schemes for the project.”
So why did voters vote the way they did on Questions 1, 2 and 3?
Gabrielle Emanuel at WGBH has a good breakdown of what propelled the outcomes in Questions 1 (nurse staffing), 2 (corporate money in politics) and 3 (transgender rights). We couldn’t agree more with this point about why Question 1 was defeated: “First and foremost, an independent state agency tasked with implementing the staffing ratios — the Health Policy Commission — did its own analysis. The agency calculated that the proposed measure would cost between $676 million and $949 million a year, if not more.”
Ex-Sen. Dan Wolf’s dream is closer to coming true: Boston-to-NY seaplane service
The Globe’s Jon Chesto reports that Cape Air, headed by former state senator and gubernatorial-wannabe Dan Wolf, has secured a key “letter of agreement” from the feds that might one day soon lead to his dream of seaplanes flying to and from Boston Harbor.
Starr Forum: The Rise of Populism
Experts discuss the growing political trend in US, Turkey, and India.
MIT Center for International Studies (CIS)
Workplace Innovation Summit
Design your workplace strategy. Join us for our 4th annual Workplace Innovation Summit, our special event focused on a holistic view of the workplace that transcends disciplines.
The Midterm Elections: What Might They Mean?
Panelists including Mara Liasson, NPR national political correspondent, Mark Preston, CNN executive director of political programming and senior political analyst, and Kate Zernike, political reporter for The New York Times, interpret the results of the 2018 midterm elections. Nancy Cordes, chief congressional correspondent for CBS News, moderates.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Listening Across the Political Divide
There’s a lot of stress these days among family members and friends who are divided politically, and the current polarized public conversation doesn’t help. Please join us to learn skills for having respectful conversations that clarify differences, search for common ground, and affirm the importance of the relationship.
CONNECT Community Series at Park Avenue Congregational Church
A Nation of Immigrants Dinner & Reception
Join the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation for A Nation of Immigrants – Celebrating the Immigrant Experience in American Culture as we celebrate immigrants and their contributions to America’s culture and success.
Journalism And The First Amendment
Join the panel of experts and the New England First Amendment Coalition to discuss freedom of speech and freedom of the press in this era of “fake news”. They will help us to make sense of what is going on in our current political climate. Come get informed and bring your questions.
What’s Next? A Conversation with MA’s Up-and-Coming Political Leaders
Join the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, State Representative Joan Meschino, Author of POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook Stephanie Murray, and three up-and-coming political leaders to reflect on the fall 2018 midterm elections and discuss the future of Massachusetts politics.
Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus
Power 50
Join the Boston Business Journal to celebrate 2018’s Power50. These are the men and women who’ve made the biggest impact on Greater Boston’s business community and/or the region’s overall economy this past year.
Post Election Listening Cycle
Join Indivisible Mystic Valley for a special Listening Circle intended for anyone who has been working on the 2018 election!
2018 Distinguished Real Estate Awards Gala
Join NAIOP Massachusetts for the 2018 Distinguished Real Estate Awards Gala as we honor Related Beal for their achievements in real estate, charitable activities and community betterment. David Begelfer will be honored with this year’s Edward H. Linde Public Service Award in recognition of his 27 years of service to NAIOP.
TEDxBeaconStreet
On November 17, TEDxBeaconStreet will return to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for a second year! Some of the most inspiring minds and speakers in the world will come to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for the final day of TEDxBeaconStreet.
2018 Newman Civic Fellows National Conference
The Newman Civic Fellows National Conference is an annual conference exclusively for current Newman Civic Fellows that provides opportunities for networking, collaboration, and shared learning among Fellows. Only members of the 2018 Newman Civic Fellowship cohort may attend the 2018 Newman Civic Fellows National Conference.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
HUD Secretary Carson tours veterans center in Boston – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
UMass Amherst agricultural school launches student-run vineyard – MassLive
Worcester seeks greater control over ballpark constrution costs – Telegram & Gazette
Dual ballots slow student vote in town election – Daily Hampshire Gazette
Nation
A boatload of ballots: Midterm voter turnout hit 50-year high – NPR
White House pulls pass from CNN reporter – Politico
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