Governor Charlie Baker last Thursday night broadly outlined a limited non-budgetary agenda focused on shoring up the state’s energy future, expanding educational opportunities and fighting drug addiction. This week the governor will get into details, filing a fiscal 2017 budget bill on Wednesday that will reflect his vision for government after having spent a year with access to its inner workings. House Speaker Robert DeLeo, on the same day that Baker files his budget, plans to address the full House about his priorities for the year ahead.
On Thursday, Baker plans to file an economic development bill and the Senate is set to gavel in to take up pay equity legislation and a bill to keep the state on track towards its air pollution reduction goals while prepping Massachusetts for the dangers of climate change, along with a bill increasing the type of lobster parts that can be processed for sale in the state. Between the budget and the jobs bill, it would not be surprising to see Baker’s team leak out some of his plans bit by bit next week.
Click the audio player above to hear Matt Murphy of the State House News Service speak with NEPR’s Henry Epp about the week ahead on Beacon Hill.