Happening Today
Buttigieg on the air, Clintons in Boston, and more
— Pension Reserves Investment Management Board‘s Investment Committee meets with Treasurer Deborah Goldberg chairing, 84 State St., Room 250, Boston, 9:30 a.m.
— The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities holds a hearing on about a dozen bills, including legislation to establish a registry of caretakers found to have substantiated abuse against persons with intellectual disability or developmental disability, Room A-2, 10 a.m.
— The Higher Education Committee holds a public hearing on bills calling for investments in public higher education and addressing the safety of college campuses, Room A-1, 10 a.m.
— Members of the Joint Committee on Housing will take up the topic of public housing at a Tuesday hearing, Room B-2, 11 a.m.
— Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who is in town for an evening fundraiser, is a guest on ‘Boston Public Radio,’ WGBH-FM 89.7, 11:15 a.m.
— Judiciary Committee holds a public hearing featuring more than five dozen bills covering hazing, sexual assault, school safety, child enticement, assaults of public employees and emergency responders, Room A-1, 1 p.m.
— Hillary and Bill Clinton will speak as part of the couple’s headlining arena tour, discussing their careers, achievements and the world today (paid admission), Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston, 7:30 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
Latest NH poll: Biden takes command after his announcement
From the Globe’s James Pindell: “In the unwieldy field of more than two dozen Democrats, Joe Biden leads in the New Hampshire primary with support from 20 percent of likely voters, according to the first poll of the state since the former vice president officially entered the 2020 contest last week. A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll released Tuesday showed Biden followed by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who pulled support from 12 percent of those likely to cast Democratic ballots in the first-in-the-nation primary.”
And where’s U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren? Running fourth at 8 percent, just behind Pete Buttigieg’s 12 percent. And U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton? 0.23 percent. Here are the full results from the Globe.
Speaking of Buttigieg, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Michael Rodrigues is throwing his support behind the South Bend, Indiana mayor, reports SHNS (pay wall).
ICE showdown escalates, as DAs sue feds over courtroom detentions
Only days after the feds charged a state judge with helping an immigrant escape detention by an ICE agent, along comes this, via the AP’s Alanna Durkin Richer at WGBH: “Prosecutors in Massachusetts sued Monday to block federal authorities from making arrests at courthouses of people suspected of being in the country illegally, arguing the practice is making it harder for them to hold defendants accountable and get justice for victims.”
The prosecutors are, in case you haven’t heard, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan and Suffolk County DA Rachael Rollins, who stated “it would be my honor” to be arrested for challenging ICE, reports Steph Solis at MassLive.
Ryan said her actions had nothing to do with last week’s federal charges against state Judge Shelley Joseph, saying she’s repeatedly asked ICE to stop detaining immigrants at courthouses, reports Sarah Betancourt at CommonWealth magazine. But the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld isn’t buying her argument, saying yesterday’s lawsuit has everything to do with the judge controversy. Meanwhile, Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is blasting the move by the two DAs, reports Solis in a separate piece at MassLive.
Baker: Prosecution of judge not politically motivated
Attention, Maura Healey: Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday weighed in on the controversy over the federal indictment of a state judge accused of helping an immigrant escape ICE detention, saying he believed the fed charges were not politically motivated, reports Shira Schoenberg at MassLive and SHNS’s Matt Murphy (pay wall).
The Republican governor’s remarks put him distinctly at odds with Healey, the attorney general who last week called the fed action “a radical and politically-motivated attack on our state and the independence of our courts.” Meanwhile, the debate over the charges against District Judge Shelley Joseph continue to rage on the newspaper editorial pages. From a Globe editorial: “Judge’s prosecution a case of federal over reach.” From a Herald editorial: “A blow to activist judges.”
Meanwhile, Tedf over at Blue Mass Group urges caution about jumping to conclusions in general. He makes some good legal points.
Immigrants march to State House to demand driver’s licenses
Speaking of immigration-related matters, Steph Solis at MassLive reports on a 25-mile march, followed by a State House rally, by dozens of immigrants and supporters calling for issuance of state driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.
Governor eyes carbon pricing to raise revenues – just don’t call it a tax
While once again expressing his reservations about broad-based tax increases to help pay for transportation (SHNS– pay wall), Gov. Charlie Baker is indeed looking at, and even touting, a possibly new transportation carbon-pricing scheme as a way to raise revenues to pay for various programs. Just don’t call it a gas tax. It’s, well, gas “pricing.” Andy Metzger has the details at CommonWealth magazine.
Re genuine transportation taxes (as opposed to genuine carbon pricing), Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth reports that the Republican governor is finding himself increasingly isolated on the issue at the Democratic-controlled State House. The Herald’s Michael Graham is blasting all the talk of more taxes for transportation, saying the state already spends far more in taxes per roadway mile than the vast majority of other states.
Using your E-ZPass transponder to pay for gas: It’s begun
Speaking of gas pricing, Andy Rosen at the Globe reports a company given permission last year to build a non-toll payment system based on the E-ZPass network has taken its service live at a Westboro gas station and plans to roll out more locations and options soon. PayByCar allows users to pay for their gas with their transponders — and hopes to add fast-food and other options over time.
Could problems with the T’s anti-collision system lead to entire commuter line shutdowns?
Still on the subject of transportation, the T has one nasty problem on its hands: A faulty anti-collision system that needs to be fixed by December 2020 – or else commuter rail lines might have to be shut down for failing to meet the federal deadline for compliance, reports Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth magazine. So far, a subcontractor working on the system can’t figure out what’s causing hardware and software malfunctions, Mohl writes.
Tom Ellis, longtime Boston news anchor, RIP
The Herald’s Mark Perigard reports on the sad death of long-time Boston news anchor Tom Ellis, who performed ratings wonders at every broadcast station where he worked during his decades-long, Broadcasters Hall of Fame career here.
By all accounts, Ellis was a kind and old-fashioned TV newsman, though most fans will privately, without any disrespect intended, acknowledge that Tom was more than capable of cringe-worthy awkward chatter on air, in a lovable Ted Baxter sort of way. Tom Ellis, RIP.
Theoharides named new environmental secretary after Beaton announces he’s leaving for corporate gig
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton announced yesterday he’s leaving the Baker cabinet to take a job as senior vice president of renewable energy and emerging technology at TRC Companies, prompting Gov. Charlie Baker to name undersecretary of climate change Kathleen Theoharides as Beaton’s replacement, reports Shira Schoenberg at MassLive and SHNS’s Matt Murphy (pay wall).
Btw: The Herald’s Mary Markos reports that Beaton is headed to a very Baker-Polito friendly company, whose CEO and wife have contributed $10,000 to the Baker-Polito team over the past five years.
Lawmakers: Time to retire ‘So help me God’ in state oaths
We have a feeling we haven’t heard the last of this one. From Christian Wade at CNHI News: “Nearly every elected official in Massachusetts, from the governor to members of town boards, recite the phase ‘so help me, God’ when taking the oath of office. But a proposal to amend the Massachusetts Constitution and eliminate the phrase has gained favor with a key committee in the Democrat-controlled Legislature.”
The proposal was approved last week by a legislative committee, the same committee that’s also reviewed whether to amend the state constitution to make its language gender neutral. SHNS’s Katie Lannan (pay wall) has more on all the constitutional proposals before lawmakers.
Bill Weld’s insurgency campaign: Does it stand any chance of success?
Adam Hilton, a visiting lecturer on politics at Mount Holyoke College, isn’t dismissing the potential damage Bill Weld might inflict, as an insurgent GOP presidential candidate, on Donald Trump in 2020. But, as he notes at the Washington Post, the list of failed political insurgencies is longer than the list of successful political insurgencies in America.
Btw: Hilton makes an interesting point that most political insurgencies in America have come from the extreme wings of parties, but Weld’s insurgency is coming from the center, making it a somewhat unusual assault on an incumbent.
Why Bernie Sanders doesn’t talk much about Vermont’s very brief experiment with single-payer health
Another Washington Post piece, via Amy Goldstein, who dives deep into why Vermont, proud home of socialist senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, ultimately abandoned the dream of single-payer health care after Democratic leaders saw how much it would cost. From John McDonough, former senior aide to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy: “I see no evidence from the Medicare-for-all advocacy community of a serious effort to understand and learn from the lessons from Vermont’s failure. … Those who ignore history are cursed to repeat it.”
DeLeo defends Room 348 approach toward budget process
Speaker Robert DeLeo is defending the House budget process against charges that it’s a closed-door “joke” and “scam,” saying everyone has had the opportunity to debate and discuss the budget behind, well, a closed door, specifically the door to Room 348 at the State House. Mary Markos at the Herald has the private-discussion details.
Walsh to push transparency and pay equity at State House today
Speaking of transparency, Mayor Marty Walsh is expected to testify today on Beacon Hill in favor of a bill pushing pay transparency and equity at companies with more than 100 employees, reports Milton Valencia at the Globe. Maybe the mayor can put in a word about state budget-deliberations transparency? Just an idea.
Tufts professor to Tufts: Fess up on the Sackler ties
One more transparency-related item: Paul A. Hattis, associate professor at Tufts University Medical School, writes at CommonWealth magazine that the school should publicly release the findings of a forthcoming report on Tufts’ ties to Purdue Pharm and the Sackler family, saying that faculty members and students alike have been embarrassed enough by previous Oxycontin-Tufts disclosures.
Longing for rent control in Cambridge … well, maybe not everyone
As a number of lawmakers call for a return of rent control to help deal with the housing crisis in Massachusetts, the Globe’s Tim Logan takes a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of rent control when it was once legal in Cambridge – and, not surprisingly, housing activists miss it and landlords dread its possible return.
SJC to hear lawsuit challenging upfront fees at assisted living center
The Supreme Judicial Court says it will hear a lawsuit that challenges a Framingham assisted living center’s upfront fees — and the decision could have implications for seniors across the state as well as the nursing home industry, Jim Haddadin reports at the MetroWest Daily News. The lawsuit claims the move-in fees charged by Framingham’s Heritage are illegal because no other tenants have to pay them.
Federal judge orders State Police to let black recruit attend academy
From the Globe’s Joshua Miller: “A federal judge has ordered the Massachusetts State Police to admit a black recruit to the training academy after a jury found the agency had denied him entrance because of his race. Orlando Riley, a New Bedford police officer, had asked the judge to force the department’s hand after the jury in December returned a $130,000 discrimination award.”
The Stop & Shop strike: The latest example of unions pushing back against inequality
The Globe’s Katie Johnston reports that the recent Stop & Shop strike by workers wasn’t an isolated incident of corporate types and unions members facing off over wages and benefit. Increasingly, unions here and elsewhere are pushing back – and oftentimes successfully – against further givebacks to companies.
Green for Green Island: Polar Park neighbors to get cash infusion from Worcester
The city of Worcester is making good on a promise to help the Green Island neighborhood adapt to its new neighbor Polar Park, pledging $3 million worth of federal block grants for housing upgrades over the next five years, Bill Shaner reports at Worcester Magazine.
Excellence in the Law
Excellence in the Law celebrates achievement throughout the legal community. Individuals are honored in the following categories: Excellence in Firm Administration/Operations, Marketing, Paralegal Work, Legal Journalism, and Pro Bono. We also honor our Up & Coming Lawyers.
Banned in Boston
Banned in Boston, the annual comedy and music revue hosted by WGBH’s Margery Eagan and Jim Braude, is Rehearsal for Life’s signature fundraising event. For one-night-only, local Boston celebrities, media personalities, politicians, and business, arts and community leaders rally together to put on a show of hilarity, musical satire and skits.
BAA Honors
Boston Arts Academy (BAA), Boston’s only public school for the visual and performing arts, will host its annual BAA Honors celebration at the Rose Kennedy Ballroom, InterContinental Boston, featuring an array of arts dignitaries from Boston and beyond. The celebratory, creative black-tie event honors prominent leaders across industries, including arts, entertainment and education.
Offshore Wind Panel
YPE is excited to announce that we will be hosting a panel discussion on offshore wind energy at WilmerHale later this spring! Our panelists and moderator represent a diverse group of stakeholder interests from the growing offshore wind industry here in Boston, from finance and development to engineering and manufacturing.
NETWORK Conference
The Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education (MCAE) brings together over 500 adult educators, counselors, administrators, volunteers, and activists for its annual NETWORK Conference, the largest gathering of its kind in New England.
Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education (MCAE)
Intro to Construction Management Onsite Course
This is a two-part course that will be held on May 10, 2019, and May 17, 2019. Introduction to Construction Management will provide students with a practical understanding of the planning, design and construction processes from project initiation to closeout.
A Conversation With Bill Cummings
Young professionals are invited to hear from Cummings Properties founder Bill Cummings as he discusses his career, dedication to philanthropy and new self-written memoir.
Poverty and Inequality in Boston: A Tale of Two Cities?
Join us for a discussion about what we can do about income inequality in Boston.
JALSA 2019 Annual Meeting
The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action is devoted to engaging the community in promoting civil rights, protecting civil liberties and achieving social, economic, racial, and environmental justice.
Massachusetts Clean Community Awards Gala
The Massachusetts Clean Community Awards Gala recognize volunteers, nonprofit leaders, government leaders, businesses, and educators for exceptional environmental protection and community improvement efforts. This celebration will be chock full of inspiring stories, good food, drink, and entertainment! WCVB news anchors Emily Riemer and Ben Simmoneau will emcee the event.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Massport CEO search almost done, rivals line up – Boston Herald
Lynn’s Masonic Hall could become boutique hotel – Lynn Item
Massachusetts
Methuen hires financial officer to oversee spending – Eagle-Tribune
Court hearing on UMass Israel-Palestine panel delayed – Daily Hampshire Gazette
Trahan seeking federal funds for Merrimack River – Lowell Sun
Nation
Poll: 55 percent say they won’t vote for Trump in 2020 – The Hill
‘I Want Him on Everything’: Meet the Woman Behind the Buttigieg Media Frenzy – Politico
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