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Downing Bids Farewell To Mass. Senate

After a decade in office, a state senator representing a large chunk of Western Massachusetts bid farewell to the legislature Monday.

Ben Downing announced earlier this year he would not seek a sixth term. During his final speech to the Senate, he thanked his family, colleagues and constituents.

He said he’s proud of the Senate’s work in a number of areas, including renewable energy as a way to combat climate change.

“We’ve led the nation in energy efficiency five years running,” Downing said. “We’ve increased our solar output 800 times.”

And, in fact, Downing is moving on to a Boston-based solar firm, and will be replaced on Beacon Hill by fellow Democrat Adam Hinds.

Last week, state representatives Ellen Story of Amherst and Ben Swan of Springfield gave their farewell speeches. They’d each served more than two decades.

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

The Massachusetts unemployment rate is at its lowest level in 15 years according to the latest state numbers. Yet in the past few weeks, we’ve seen Governor Charlie Baker cut nearly $100 million from the current budget, and 900 state employees take early retirement offers.

All of that is due to under-whelming revenue coming into state government, according to Matt Murphy of the State House News Service. In our weekly check in with Murphy on all things Beacon Hill, he said revenue growth is expected to remain slow. Democrats in the legislature are not counting out tax increases in the new year. Murphy says Governor Baker is not particularly interested in doing that, but could be open to some tax changes.

Also, a look at the legislature’s priorities in the new year. Murphy said lawmakers could pursue criminal justice reform and changes to the new marijuana legalization law. Plus, three outgoing state Senators say goodbye this week.

Click the audio player above to hear Henry Epp’s conversation with State House reporter Matt Murphy about the week ahead on Beacon Hill.

 

Canning, Hinds Have A Low-Key Debate Ahead Of State Senate Election

Candidates for a state Senate seat,which covers more than 50 towns spanning Massachusetts’ four western counties, debated Monday night in Pittsfield. Democrat Adam Hinds of Pittsfield and Republican Christine Canning of Lanesborough are vying for the seat currently held by Ben Downing, who is stepping down after a decade.

The debate at Berkshire Community College had a cordial tone, and neither candidate raised their voice at each other for the entire 45 minutes,

Canning, an educational consultant, and Hinds, who heads a social service agency in North Adams, were asked about Question 4, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Hinds said while he has no problem with adult use, he’s concerned the ballot question doesn’t do enough to take care of young adults.

“Does this ballot question create enough to insulate the developing brain of youth from the impacts of substance use, up to age 24 and 25?” Hinds said. “Right now, it’s legalization from 21 on.”

Canning agreed with Hinds on that, but thinks the marijuana business could mean a lot of green for the region.

“If you really want to re-purpose our area, look at our agriculture and make money, we have to look at it as both a vertical and horizontal model of integration where we are selling, and buying and reproducing,” Canning said.

And that was only the start of the conversation about how to grow the economy of Berkshire County, which makes up most of this district. Hinds said improving broadband internet service, public transportation and workforce development efforts are all important. He said education is key in attracting young adults to the Berkshires.

“It’s those 20-to-30-year-olds that are maybe about to start a family who are missing,” Hinds said. “And we better be able to point to the best schools around for that reason as well, if we’re going to keep them or attract them. And that means we better do all we can to bolster our schools.”

Canning said, in order to get more jobs in the area, state government needs to look at another way to attract new businesses.

“We need to lower our taxes so that we can increase small business, because we know, and you know, that small business attracts jobs,” Canning said.

And at the end of this forum, no dust needed to settle, as the Democrat and Republican, who both called for an inclusive, bi-partisan approach to the job, shook hands, chatted and smiled for a few minutes — a stark contrast to some debates at the national level this fall.

Democrat Hinds Takes State Senate Primary

Will Face Republican Canning in November

Democrat Adam Hinds won a three-way primary Thursday for the Massachusetts state Senate seat that covers parts of the four western-most counties. He defeated Andrea Harrington and Rinaldo Del Gallo with more than 50 percent of the vote to move on to the November general election. And all you had to do was follow the money to find the winner.

Hinds raised almost $75,000, about four times as much as second place finisher Andrea Harrington, in the latest campaign finance reports. Hinds received contributions from more than 350 different donors. He said that was a great sign for his campaign.

“We’re proud of the fact that we have one of the largest numbers of individual contributions to a state Senate race and candidacy in this district, ever,” Hinds said. “To me, we’re very happy that it shows we put together a broad coalition with wide grassroots appeal.”

The three candidates agreed on many issues: an increased minimum wage, more green energy in Massachusetts and a higher tax for the wealthy. Harrington, a political newcomer, said she’s focused on party unity.

“I’m all in on helping make sure that a Democrat is elected in November,” Harrington said. “I’ve certainly let Adam know that and I’m proud of what we did and I’m really impressed by what he’s accomplished. He’ll be a great state senator.”

And Rinaldo Del Gallo, who came in third and raised just $500, says he too will back Hinds. He said he knew he was up against it going into the election, but decided to stick it out.

“One of the most difficult things to do is to have the political courage to stay in a race where you know you can’t win,” Del Gallo said. “I think I had a good effect on the race. I think I pushed everybody to the left.”

So the stage is set for the general election and Adam Hinds’ new opponent is Republican Christine Canning of Lanesborough. She says not having a contested GOP primary put her at a disadvantage since she hasn’t been able to spread her message. With Berkshire County’s strong Democratic roots, she says it’s like running against a machine. Canning said she agrees with her opponent on many issues, but called into question his campaign spending.

“When I look and see him spend $55,000 on a primary in Berkshire County…I think it sends a message, especially when we’re the poorest county,” Canning said.

The winner in November will replace Democrat Ben Downing, who is stepping down after a decade in office.

Several State Legislative Races On Mass. Primary Ballot

Thursday is state primary day across Massachusetts. And in western Mass., Democrats are competing in several legislative races.

In Pittsfield, incumbent State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier faces a challenge from Michael Bloomberg, the cousin of the former New York mayor.

Voters in parts of Springfield will choose among four candidates for the state representative seat currently held by Ben Swan, who is not running for re-election.

In Eastern Hampshire County, six Democrats are vying to replace Rep. Ellen Story, who is also stepping down.

The only state Senate primary is in the sprawling 52-town district that currently belongs to Ben Downing and covers parts of all four western counties. Rinaldo Del Gallo, Andrea Harrington and Adam Hinds are all looking to move on to November’s general election.

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

If the 2015-2016 legislative agenda were a bonfire, it’s now burning brightly, with a thick bed of embers, and Rep. Brian Dempsey is getting ready to hoist an oversized log onto the blaze. A session impaired out of the gate by the fierce early 2015 winter caught fire with last year’s major MBTA reform law and lawmakers recently fed the flames first with a law targeting opioid addiction and then with a new driving law statute to assist ex-offenders.

On deck is a law to spark the solar energy industry, with legislation to that end receiving Gov. Charlie Baker’s signature on Monday at a State House event with legislative leaders. With both branches hosting formal sessions on Wednesday, lawmakers may also send the governor a routine bill allocating $200 million for annual local road and bridge repairs, a cut from $300 million awarded by the state in 2015.

The lone conference committee still trying to reach compromise is focused on access to public records, with proponents hopeful for a resolution that will shine a light on more records and critics still trying to water that bill down.

Dempsey chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, which plans to unveil details Wednesday of its fiscal 2017 budget bill. Gov. Baker proposed a $39.55 billion budget bill (H 2) that calls for a 3.5 percent spending increase.

Ten years ago Tuesday, Gov. Mitt Romney, surrounded by Democrats, signed what came to be known as RomneyCare, a universal health care access law that became a model for the federal Affordable Care Act.

Click on the audio player above to hear State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy discuss Beacon Hill politics with NEPR’s Henry Epp.