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What's ahead in state government this week
Polito on Cape Tuesday, So. MA Econ Dev. Roundtable at CCCC; Off-Cape: Opioids, Ebola and solar-powered street lights
ARTICLE | POLITICS | JUNE 20, 2015 06:00 AM | BY STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
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Pro-gambling forces for years have argued that Massachusetts is losing out in the casino sweepstakes and forcing its residents to travel outside the state's borders to place their wagers. On Wednesday, the tide will begin to turn as the first facility to serve gamblers under the state's 2011 casino law is set to throw open its doors in Plainville, a day after New Bedford voters go to the polls and decide whether that city will compete against Brockton for the last remaining commercial casino license. House Speaker Robert DeLeo's ascension in 2009 cracked the door wide open for casino proponents and Massachusetts is now about to begin learning about the advantages and disadvantages of expanded gaming. While proponents have touted new jobs and tax revenues, critics of casinos have warned that gambling addiction problems will grow and take their toll on families. Plainridge Park Casino's opening comes two days after Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey lay out plans to address another type of addiction - recommendations from an opioid working group are due out on Monday.
The milestone in the state's casino era headlines the upcoming week, as pressure mounts on a six-member conference committee working on a $38.1 billion budget. There are just 11 days remaining before the dawn of the fiscal year that they're budgeting for. An interim budget is in the works to keep the state's bills paid while talks continue. Last year, when Gov. Deval Patrick saw that negotiators might not strike a deal on time, he filed a one-month, $4.6 billion budget on June 23 and lawmakers promptly passed it. Administration and Finance Secretary Kristen Lepore said Friday the administration likely plans to file a two-week interim budget on Monday and hopes that it will be passed and signed into law by June 29.
An early retirement program sought by Gov. Charlie Baker drew far fewer applicants than expected and Baker this week wouldn't say whether layoffs are likely, saying only that "we're in pretty good shape." He added, "We still have some work to do to figure out the close of fiscal '15 and the opening of fiscal '16 and by the way you know we don't have a budget yet from the House and Senate. They're still in a conference committee so we don't know exactly what the sort of entirety of this thing is going to look like until they conference that out and send it to us." Baker will have ten days to review the budget, expected to authorize about $38.1 billion in spending, before signing it and announcing any amendments and vetoes.
Other storylines for the week ahead:
-- Gov. Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey are working together to participate in the unveiling of the governor's opioid task force findings. They plan an 11 a.m. press conference Monday in Room 157. The report focuses on four areas, according to Baker. They are prevention and education, intervention, treatment, and recovery. "There's a bunch of stuff . . . we believe we can do right now without any new statutes and there are a number of initiatives that are going to require some support from the Legislature and I think you are going to see us move pretty quickly to see if we can get the Legislature to buy off on some of the stuff we'd like to seem them do," Baker said Thursday. "But the really good thing about this is there's a lot of agreement across a lot of folks about a whole series of things in prevention and in in intervention and in treatment and recovery that we can do right away."
-- Boston 2024 officials continue to roll out their "2.0" plans. Officials leading the push for a Boston-based Olympics have recently announced their plans include venues in New Bedford, Billerica, and Quincy, as well as tennis in Dorchester and basketball and gymnastics at the TD Garden in Boston. Additional venues announcements are being planned through June. "It's very hard to draw conclusions about this one bite at a time," Baker said Thursday. The Brattle Group, hired by top state officials, is looking at risks associated with hosting the 2024 summer Olympics in Massachusetts. Baker says public guarantees are likely to become a major issue, and he's counting on the state's private consultants to ask the right questions. "It's critical that we have enough time as a Commonwealth and as a community to digest whatever it is that comes out of this planning activity and to ask all the questions and to get clarity and some level of detail about what this is all about," the governor said, calling the "consequences of getting it wrong . . . really big."
-- Amidst a growing debate over standardized testing, the state Board of Education visits Lynn to hear more testimony about whether the state should switch from the MCAS exam to an exam aligned with national Common Core standards and known as PARCC (Partnership for the Assessment of College and Careers). State officials estimate 54 percent of districts in Massachusetts administered PARCC tests to students in grades 3-8. This year's school year was extended due to the many winter snow days taken and students are still in class in many communities during the upcoming week.
-- Gaming Commission Chair Steve Crosby, who is leading the agency's efforts to introduce a new level of gambling in Massachusetts, is the featured speaker Tuesday at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast. The speech comes days after Crosby was cleared by the State Ethics Commission after it looked into conflict of interest allegations, and a day before the state's first slot machine venue opens in Plainville.
-- Legislative committee hearings are planned next week on bills dealing with independent contractors and non-compete agreements, medical records and health information technology, trash management and recycling, and probate and family court matters.
-- Overnight on Saturday, June 27, the MBTA will begin implementing its scaled back late-night service schedule.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2015
HEALEY AT KENNEDY CENTER BBQ: Attorney General Maura Healey will be the keynote speaker at the 50th anniversary benefit and barbecue for the Kennedy Center which provides education, advocacy and opportunity in Charlestown. (Saturday, 7 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 545 Medford St., Charlestown)
MOULTON NARRATES "LINCOLN PORTRAIT" | Congressman Seth Moulton is set to narrate Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" as part of Symphony by the Sea's final performance of its 34th season. (Saturday, 8 p.m., Cabot Theater, 286 Cabot St., Beverly)
BEATON AT STATE PARK CLEANUP: Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton and Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Carol Sanchez will participate in the Massasoit State Park Cleanup Event hosted by the Friends of Massasoit Park. (Saturday, 11 a.m., Massasoit State Park, 1361 Middleboro Ave., East Taunton)
CURBING YOUTH DRINKING IN NEW BEDFORD: The effort to curb underage drinking will take shape with two messaging events at liquor stores in the north and south ends of New Bedford on Saturday. Participating youth will place stickers on beverage packages with the reminder: "Know the Law! It is illegal to purchase or provide alcohol for anyone under 21!" Project Sticker Shock is part of the city's Partners Reducing Underage Drinking, which goes by PROUD. PROUD Coordinator Samantha Caravana said three quarters of youth drinkers in New Bedford get alcohol from family, friends or by taking it from their homes. (Saturday, 12 p.m. at Freitas Package Store at 1295 Cove Road, New Bedford, and 2 p.m. at Douglas Wine and Spirits located on Kings Highway, New Bedford)
SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2015
ROSENBERG 'ON THE RECORD': Senate President Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) sits down with hosts Ed Harding and Janet Wu on this week's edition of the political chat show, "On the Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB)
LYNCH ON KELLER: Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) appears on WBZ's "Keller at Large" to talk to host Jon Keller about his opposition to the Pacific trade deal (TPP), his vote to repeal the medical devices tax, and his opposition to the proposed U.S. Olympic stadium at Widett Circle. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ)
NEAL AT BASEBALL TEAM ANNIVERSARY: Congressman Richard Neal will attend the Post 21 Baseball Team's 81st anniversary. A game against Gastonia, N.C., will follow the event. (Sunday, 1:30 p.m., Sumner Ave., Forest Park, Springfield)
FATHER'S DAY 2015: The Commonwealth along with the rest of the country will be celebrating Father's Day this Sunday. Signed into law by Richard Nixon, Father's Day has been celebrated annually since 1972. Its origins lie much earlier, stemming from Spokane, Washington resident Sonora Dodd's desire to honor her father, William Smart. The mayor of Spokane proclaimed June 17 in 1910 the first Father's Day as the month of William Smart's birth. A census report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce shows that there are approximately 70.1 million fathers across the nation as of 2008, with 211,000 stay-at-home dads in 2014. Census reports from the same year found that 16 percent of single parents are men, numbering 1.9 million across the country. Included in the report are other dad-related statistics, such as the number of men's clothing stores around the country (7,157).
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2015
OPIOID WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS: Gov. Baker, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and Attorney General Maura Healey plan a press conference Monday to announce the recommendations of Baker's Opioid Working Group. The group was formed in February, held four public listening sessions, and its recommendations could lead to the drafting of legislation. Lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick last year passed a law extending the amount of time that substance abuse treatment services are covered by insurance. (Monday, 11 a.m. Room 157, State House)
BEACON HILL LEADERS MEET: Gov. Charlie Baker meets with legislative leaders, including Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo. (Monday, 2 p.m., Speaker's Office)
BAKER IN QUINCY: Gov. Baker plans to attend a Quincy Lodge of Elks Scholarship ceremony. (Monday, 7 p.m., 254 Quarry Street, West Quincy)
UNION STATION $$$ ANNOUNCEMENT IN SPRINGFIELD: State officials make an $88.5 million Springfield Union Station funding announcement in Springfield. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito joins Congressman Richard Neal and Mayor Domenic Sarno and officials from the Department of Transportation and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., Union Station, 66 Lyman St., Springfield)
NEAL AT PAPER INDUSTRY EVENT: Congressman Richard Neal will speak at The New England Paper Cluster event to promote the region's paper industry. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Student Prince (The Fort) Restaurant, 8 Fort St., Springfield)
PARCC FORUM: The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education holds a public forum to solicit feedback ahead of its decision this all on whether to sunset the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and adopt the Partnership for the Assessment of College and Careers (PARCC). Gov. Charlie Baker has said he wants the public to have an opportunity to express their preferences before the decision is made. Board of Education Chairman Paul Sagan recently testified against bills putting a moratorium on high-stakes testing and pausing the PARRC exam. In his testimony, Sagan, a recent Baker appointee, wrote that the bills would lead to the "dismantling of the world-leading system of public education across the Commonwealth. That system was carefully constructed by more than a generation of educators, legislators, business leaders, and other stakeholders who share a vision of educational excellence in Massachusetts, a vision that we have nurtured for more than two decades." Sagan added that he believes there is a "serious misconception" that teachers spend too much time preparing students to take state assessments and then administering the tests. In response to anecdotal reports, the board over the winter commissioned a study and found 43 percent of the state's school districts reported they spend less than two days per year while 40 percent reported spending between three and five days per year. In addition, 84 percent of educators surveyed said they "are using the state assessments to measure whether students have met specific and critical learning goals." (Monday, 4 p.m., North Shore Community College - Lynn Campus, Gymnasium)
STATEWIDE QUALITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The Center for Health Information and Analysis holds a meeting of the Statewide Quality Advisory Committee to review findings from stakeholder interviews, which were conducted to inform the development of statewide health care quality priorities. The meeting is also accessible using the call-in number 1-866-832-9294 with the passcode 7440105. CHIA on Thursday released a 2011-2013 report that the agency said "provides new insights into statewide, regional, and hospital-specific readmission rates, including data cuts by payer type, discharge setting, and hospital characteristics." The report concluded, "Most notably, a small minority of patients account for a large proportion of admissions and readmissions. By assessing both the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of frequently hospitalized patients, hospitals may be able to tailor readmission prevention initiatives to address the needs of this group." The report is available here: http://chiamass.gov/assets/docs/r/pubs/15/CHIA-Readmissions-Report-June-2015.pdf (Monday, 3 p.m., CHIA Office, 501 Boylston St., 5th Floor)
HOUSE AND SENATE: Both branches meet in informal sessions at 11 a.m.
DOT CAPITAL PLAN MEETING - WORCESTER: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation holds a public meeting seeking feedback on draft capital investment plans for the agency and the MBTA. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, 2 Washington Square, Union Station, 2nd Floor, Worcester)
DOT CAPITAL PLAN MEETING - GLOUCESTER: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation holds a public meeting seeking feedback on draft capital investment plans for the agency and the MBTA. (Monday, 6 p.m., Gloucester City Hall, Council Chambers, 9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester)
SOCCER VIEWING PARTY: Boston Mayor Martin Walsh will host a USA Women's Soccer viewing party with members of the Boston Breakers, the city's professional women's soccer team. The team is slated to play against Colombia. (Monday, 8 p.m., City Hall Plaza, One City Hall Square)
SOLAR-POWERED STREETLIGHTS: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Alicia Barton joins Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone and local officials to celebrate the installation of solar-powered streetlights along Somerville's Community Path. (Monday, 2 p.m., Lexington Park, 50 Lexington Ave., Somerville)
ASH AT MMA EVENT: Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash speaks at the Massachusetts Municipal Association Commencement. (Monday, Sargent Hall, Suffolk University, 120 Tremont St, Boston)
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015
LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Bills dealing with non-compete clauses and the independent contractor law are up for a public hearing Tuesday before the Labor and Workforce Development Committee. Both issues have riled the labor and employment communities in the past, stirring concerns over the fairness of laws to both employees and employers. Pleasing the business community, the Legislature last year turned aside a push by Gov. Deval Patrick to eliminate non-compete agreements, which the governor said were an impediment to innovation. Tuesday's agenda also includes a Rep. Rodrigues bill (S 1000) dealing with transparency in public construction, bills pertaining to the creative economy (S 992, H 1776) and a Sen. DiDomenico bill addressing enhanced enforcement of civil penalties (S 967). The committee is co-chaired by Sen. Dan Wolf and Rep. John Scibak. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2146&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True(Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room 437)
ASK THE AG: Attorney General Maura Healey will participate in her monthly "Ask the AG" radio segment with Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., WGBH 89.7 FM)
BELLOTTI GIVES HEALEY AWARD: Attorney General Maura Healey will attend an annual event marking the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Healey will be presented with the Francis X. Bellotti Civil Rights Award which will be presented to her by Bellotti, the former attorney general. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Royal Sonesta Hotel, 40 Edward H. Land Blvd., Cambridge)
WALMART LOBBY DAY: Walmart executives, store managers, associates, and nonprofit organizations will meet with Gov. Baker to discuss economic development and job creation, according to event organizers. Gov. Baker will also give a speech during the program at 12:30 p.m. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Great Hall)
COMCAST FOUNDATION AWARDS CEREMONY: House Speaker Robert DeLeo plans to offer remarks at the Comcast Foundation's Leaders & Achievers Scholarship Program award ceremony (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Grand Staircase, State House)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONFERENCE: Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton is the keynote speaker at the 7th Annual New England Energy Efficiency Conference & Expo. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Westin Copley Hotel - Essex Room, 10 Huntington Ave., Boston)
NSTAR RATES: The Department of Public Utilities holds an evidentiary hearing on the petition of NSTAR Gas Company for approval by the DPU of an increase in rates. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., One South Station - 5th floor, HR A, Boston)
HEALTH CARE FINANCING: The Legislature's Joint Committee on Health Care Financing takes up 18 bills dealing with behavioral health and substance abuse. The docket includes a Sen. Flanagan bill requiring equitable access to behavioral health services for MassHealth consumers (S 585); a Rep. Golden bill relative to parity of treatment with substance abuse (H 991); a Rep. Bradley proposal promoting accessible substance abuse treatment (H 970); and a Sen. Lesser bill seeking to improve accessibility and affordability of naloxone and other pharmaceutical drugs (S 603). Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2104&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room B-2)
GAMING COMMISSION CHAIR AT CHAMBER: Gaming Commission chair Stephen Crosby speaks to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce as part of the organization's government affairs forum. (Tuesday, 8:10 a.m., Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston)
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE: Bills dealing with birth and death certificates, health care and patient medical records, and the burial and cremation of pets are before the Public Health Committee for a public hearing. Rep. Nick Collins is sponsoring a bill (H 3272) okaying the designation of portions of cemeteries or burial places for the co-internment of human and animal remains. Collins is also backing a bill (H 3273) requiring that providers of cremation services for non-human animal remains be registered with the Department of Public Health. Rep. Cantwell has a bill (H 1900) before the committee aimed at ensuring patient privacy in connection with health information exchanges, and Rep. Bradley is sponsoring a bill (H 1891) addressing parental access to medical records. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2149&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2)
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE: Eighteen bills dealing primarily with pension benefits for veterans are up for a public hearing before the Committee on Public Service. Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2156&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room B-1)
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE: The Joint Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources meets to consider two dozen bills dealing with waste management. Bills on the docket include a Sen. Joyce proposals prohibiting plastic carryout bags by 2019 (S 434) and prohibiting polystyrene packaging by the same year (S 435); a Rep. Garballey proposal regulating the incineration of solid waste (H 676); a Sen. Fattman proposal requiring registration of recycling contractors (S 407); and a Rep. Timilty proposal relative to waste removal plans for transfer stations (H 768). Full agenda: https://malegislature.gov/Events/EventCurrentDetail?eventId=2154&eventDataSource=Hearings&isCurrent=True (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-1)
PUBLIC POLICY AUTHOR TO SPEAK ON NEW BOOK: Robert Putnam, Harvard University public policy professor and author of "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community," is scheduled to speak at the Boston Foundation Tuesday at an Understanding Boston forum. Putnam will discuss his new book, "Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis," which is about the growing inequality gap in America. Following his talk, Putnam and Boston Foundation President and CEO Paul Grogan will discuss possible solutions to the inequality gap. Putnam will also field questions from audience members and later sign copies of "Our Kids." (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., The Boston Foundation, 75 Arlington St., 10th Floor, Boston)
"SAFE BABIES SAFE KIDS" EVENT: Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan will speak with health care professionals to build awareness about infant safety and sleep practices for infants and young children. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 41 Highland Ave., CC3 Conference Room, Winchester)
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR HOLBROOK SCHOOL: Massachusetts School Building Authority Executive Director Jack McCarthy attends a groundbreaking ceremony for the new K-12 school in Holbrook. The MSBA is contributing up to $55,751,400 towards the new school. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., 245 South Franklin St., Holbrook)
NEW BEDFORD CASINO VOTE: The polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. in New Bedford, the latest community to take up a referendum to decide whether to continue down a path that might lead to a casino. Developers are eyeing 43 acres of land off MacArthur Drive, including the site of the former Cannon Street power station, for the resort casino. City officials and KG Urban entered into a host community agreement in March. City voters will pass judgment on the plan before the applicant completes a suitability review before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION: The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets, with an agenda that includes discussion of a new metric for education data, discussion of Lawrence schools that are in their third year of receivership, a discussion of receivership progress in Holyoke (Dr. Stephen Zrike starts as receiver there on July 6), end-of-year reports on Level 5 schools, a discussion of ways to strengthen civic learning, and a vote on Commissioner Mitchell Chester's job performance. Votes are also planned on regulations on "autism endorsement for educator licensure" and delegation of authority to to the commissioner "to take necessary action between board meetings." (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 75 Pleasant Street, Malden)
POLITO IN SANDWICH: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito meets with town officials from Sandwich, Falmouth, Barnstable, Mashpee and Bourne as part of her "Building Stronger Communities" tour of the state. A press availability will follow 90 minutes after the meeting starts. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Sandwich Town Hall, 130 Main St., Sandwich)
POLITO IN SOUTH YARMOUTH: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito meets with town officials from Barnstable, Dennis, Brewster, and Yarmouth as part of her "Building Stronger Communities" tour of the state. A press availability is scheduled to follow the meeting. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, 210 Station Ave., South Yarmouth)
MASS. CLEAN ENERGY CENTER: The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Board meets. The agenda includes an update from chair Matt Beaton, the center's fiscal 2016 budget, and a compensation policies recommendation. Agenda:http://www.masscec.com/events/masscec-board-directors-meeting-7 (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., 63 Franklin St., Third Floor, Boston)
DOT CAPITAL PLAN MEETING - ROXBURY: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation holds a public meeting seeking feedback on draft capital investment plans for the agency and the MBTA. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Roxbury Community College, Student Center, Room 200, 1234 Columbus Avenue, Roxbury)
CSG WEBCAST ON RIDESHARING SERVICES: The Council of State Governments and The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation are collaborating to provide policymakers with educational programming examining the insurance-related regulatory and legislative landscape surrounding ridesharing services. Register for the first webcast here. (Tuesday, 2 p.m.)
DOT CAPITAL PLAN MEETING - ARLINGTON: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation holds a public meeting seeking feedback on draft capital investment plans for the agency and the MBTA. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Arlington Town Hall Auditorium, 730 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington)
JUVENILE JUSTICE FORUM: A Juvenile Justice Forum co-sponsored by Citizens for Juvenile Justice and the Boston Bar Association will allow attendees to meet Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Amy Nechtem. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Boston Bar Association, 16 Beacon St.)
WOMEN SHAPING ENERGY AGENDA: Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson will speak on a panel on "Women Shaping the Agenda in Energy and the Environment: Public Sector" sponsored by New England Women in Energy and Environment (NEWIEE). (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., MIT Sloan School of Management, 100 Main St. - Building E62, First floor, Executive Education Suite - Cambridge)
MEL KING BREAKFAST: Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay speaks at the Mel King Institute Breakfast. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley Street, Boston)
ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE: The Economic Assistance Coordinating Council will meet. The council's chairwoman is Deputy Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Carolyn Kirk. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, 2nd Floor, Boston)
ASH IN FITCHBURG: Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash speaks at the Fitchburg Rotary Club. (Tuesday, 12:15 p.m., Oak Hill Country Club, 840 Oak Hill Rd, Fitchburg)
DeLEO HONOREE AT DISABILITY LAW CENTER: House Speaker Robert DeLeo is scheduled to receive an award and offer remarks at the Disability Law Center's Annual Benefit. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Royal Sonesta, 40 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge)
LABOR SECRETARY AT HAMILTON PROJECT FORUM: The Hamilton Project at Brookings will host a policy forum on promoting financial well-being in retirement, with U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez delivering remarks at the event. The first panel will discuss a new paper by Professor Wesley Yin of UCLA addressing challenges in the private long-term care insurance market. He will be joined by Howard Gleckman, Resident Fellow at the Urban Institute; Thomas McInerney, President and CEO of Genworth Financial; and Alice Rivlin, Director of the Center for Health Policy at the Brookings Institute. Benjamin Harris, Chief Economic and Economic Advisor to Vice President Joseph Biden, will moderate the discussion. The second panel will discuss a paper by Professor John Friedman of Brown University, proposing reforms to the landscape of retirement savings accounts. He will be joined by James Poterba, Professor of Economics at MIT and President of the National Bureau of Economic Research; Debra Whitman, Chief Public Policy Office at AARP. Melissa Kearney, Director of The Hamilton Project, will moderate the discussion. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., The Falk Auditorium, The Brookings Institute, 1775 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.)
FOUNDATION BUDGET REVIEW: The Foundation Budget Review Commission, weighing the calculation of state education spending, plans to discuss its preliminary report. The commission, led by Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Jamaica Plain) and Rep. Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley), plans to issue its final report in November. The agenda for Tuesday includes edits to the preliminary report and discussion of the methodology for analyzing other topics to cover. The agenda also includes a presentation on school-based data collection. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Room 428)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015
HOUSE FORMAL SESSION: House Speaker Robert DeLeo has advised members to plan for a formal session on Wednesday, with roll calls starting at 1 p.m. and a Democratic caucus at noon.
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