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The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill: Baker Meets Trump, SJC Nomination Up For Hearing

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker met with President Donald Trump Monday morning in Washington D.C., along with other governors who are in the nation’s capital for the winter meeting of the National Governor’s Association. Governor Baker and President Trump are both Republicans, but Baker has kept his political distance from Trump. He’s spoken out against some of the Trump Administration’s early actions, including the controversial travel ban.

For more, we spoke with Matt Murphy, reporter with the State House News Service. He’s been covering the Governor’s Association meetings in Washington.

Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp interview Matt Murphy of the State House News Service.

 

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill: Pay Raise Fallout, House Meets To Respond To Trump

Many legislators, elected officials and judges in Massachusetts are now in line for much bigger paychecks. That’s after the legislature last week overrode Governor Charlie Baker’s veto of a pay raise bill. It’s estimated to cost the state an extra $18 million each year.

For more, we checked in with reporter Matt Murphy of the State House News Service, as we do most Mondays. He said the bill took effect immediately, so state officials should see the extra money very soon.

Also this week, House Democrats will meet to discuss how they might respond to recent actions by the Trump Administration. Last week, the state senate took up a resolution to oppose President Trump’s executive action on immigration and refugees.

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

Baker’s Budget Cuts Hit Western Mass. Tourism; Lawmakers Consider Restoring Funding

Some tourist attractions and agencies in Western Massachusetts are facing tough budget choices after Governor Charlie Baker announced spending cuts this week.

Among the cuts: $100,000 for the Western Massachusetts Sports Commission, which works to attract sporting events to the region. It’s part of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. President Mary Kay Wydra said the commission will cut back on advertising, and its members will have to skip a national trade show.

“We’ll make the necessary cuts,” Wydra said. “Is it going to hurt? Yeah. We’re not going to fold up the tent and go away, but…it’s going to make our job that much harder to attract people here.”

Earmarks were also cut for other Springfield-area organizations, including $200,000 for the planned Dr. Seuss Museum, $400,000 for the city’s Urban League and $50,000 for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The governor’s cuts total nearly $100 million. They include reductions in spending on health care, the State Police, parks and recreation, senior care, and eliminated funding for a postpartum depression pilot program, a Down Syndrome clinic and a suicide prevention account.

Update at 4:51 p.m.: In tweets on Wednesday, Massachusetts’ legislative leaders said they may move to restore some of funding.

The State House News Service contributed to this story.

Editor’s note for full disclosure: New England Public Radio was also affected by the cuts.

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

Monday is a big day for anyone with a stake in the Massachusetts state budget. On Beacon Hill, lawmakers in charge of writing the next budget hear how much revenue they’ll likely have to work with.

For more, we turned to Matt Murphy, a reporter with the State House News Service. Murphy said state revenue estimates have been on the optimistic side in recent years.

Click the audio player above to hear NEPR’s Henry Epp speak with Matt Murphy of the State House News Service.

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

The deadline has passed to register to vote or change party affiliation ahead of the Massachusetts primary election. That’s only two-and-a-half weeks away, and it’s made for quiet times in the legislature. But there’s still quite a bit of action going on outside the Statehouse.

Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy talk with the State House News Service’s Matt Murphy.

Governor’s Race In Vermont Highlights Today’s State Primary Races

Today, voters in Vermont and Connecticut go to the polls for state primary elections. In Connecticut, twelve state legislative districts are contested. In Vermont, both Republicans and Democrats will make their picks to replace outgoing Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin.

RESULTS: Vermont Public Radio

We check in with Vermont Public Radio political reporter Peter Hirschfeld. He says on the GOP side, Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott – the most prominent elected Republican in a very blue state – is looking to take Vermont’s corner office, and hoping to beat out a challenge by former Wall Street Executive Bruce Lisman.

Five Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination: Matt Dunne, Cris Ericson, Peter Galbraith, Sue Minter and H. Brooke Paige.

Click the audio player above to hear VPR’s Peter Hirschfeld talk with NEPR’s Henry Epp about the Vermont primary races.