New England Public Radio

New To The Massachusetts Governor’s Council, Mary Hurley Calls For Rules

A meeting of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council got heated this week. The council is an eight-member panel, elected by voters, which primarily approves judicial nominees from the governor.

The council is a fairly obscure branch of government, and on Wednesday, it devolved into a shouting match, complete with fist-pounding. The argument stemmed from a vote on a nominee for a Superior Court seat. Some councilors said the decision to hold a vote was rushed.

Democrat Mary Hurley is the newly elected governor’s councilor representing the four western counties of the state. She’s a former judge and mayor of Springfield. She says there’s one key problem on the council that she intends to fix: a lack of rules.

Click the audio player above to hear Henry Epp’s interview with Governor’s Councilor Mary Hurley.

 

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

Massachusetts lawmakers facing primary elections are getting in serious campaign mode; they face voters exactly a month from today. Governor Charlie Baker (who’s not on the ballot) still has a pile of work on his desk: bills the legislature passed at the last minute before adjourning a week ago. Among the bills is one that would make the state’s utilities purchase more hydro and wind power.

As we do most Mondays, we check in with reporter Matt Murphy of the State House News Service, and asked him how soon utilities have to start bringing in more renewable power.

Click the audio player above to hear Henry Epp and Matt Murphy’s conversation about the week ahead in Massachusetts politics and government.

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

The state budget is officially in secret conference talks, the House continues to mostly ignore the ambitious legislative agenda shipped over from the Senate, and the Senate, which faces pressure to produce a big energy bill and legislation regulating ride-hailing companies, plans on Thursday to take up bills affecting veterans’ benefits. The House on Wednesday plans to take up a bill modernizing municipal government operations.

Meantime, another big bill expected to reach Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk by the end of July is beginning to move. A new version of Baker’s nearly $1 billion job creation bill has been drafted by the Economic Development Committee, according to chairwoman Sen. Eileen Donoghue of Lowell. That bill could emerge early next week and the Education Committee by next Friday hopes to find common ground on an early education bill. Baker is closing in on his three nominees for upcoming Supreme Judicial Court vacancies. They will likely be introduced at a press conference, which could come next week.

Click the audio link above to hear New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp discuss what lawmakers will be focused on this week in Boston with State House News reporter Matt Murphy.

The Week Ahead on Beacon Hill

Along with most schools across the state, Beacon Hill is a bit sleepy this week. Most committees are taking a break – and neither the House nor the Senate are holding formal sessions.  But there is some work going on. As we do most Mondays, this week, NEPR’s Carrie Healy checks in with State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy for a look at the week ahead.

Click on the audio link above to hear a conversation between State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy and NEPR’s Carrie Healy.

Western Mass Lawyers Offer Governor Advice On High Court Nominations

As Governor Charlie Baker prepares to fill five vacancies on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, lawyers in Western Mass are offering their advice.

Hampden County Bar Association President Jeffrey Morneau says Governor Baker has a chance to reshape the seven-member court entirely.

“It’s an unprecedented opportunity for Governor Baker to appoint that many Supreme Court Justices during his term,” says Morneau. “Really I think it’s going to potentially define his legacy.”

Among those retiring is Justice Francis Spina of Pittsfield — the only member of the Supreme Judicial Court from the western part of the state.

Marissa Elkins, president of the Hampshire County Bar Association, says Governor Baker should “absolutely” appoint at least one justice from Western Mass.

“Lack of representation of Western Mass in the Appeals Court and on the [Supreme Judicial Court] has always been a bit of an issue,” says Elkins.

However, Elkins says she believes the governor is committed to more regional balance on the Supreme Judicial Court.

The Baker administration says in a statement “it also hopes to recruit applicants who represent not only the geographically diverse parts of the Commonwealth, but also the diversity of our citizens.”

In the last couple weeks, three justices announced their retirement. Two more will reach the mandatory retirement age next year.  

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

Education and animal welfare advocates are ready to visit Beacon Hill to warn lawmakers that they’re on track to circumvent the Legislature and pass ballot laws in November unless lawmakers decide to take action before then. Both sides of the charter school expansion debate are scheduled to testify Monday on a proposed initiative petition that will be paired before the Education Committee with a ballot plan to roll back the state’s adoption of Common Core education standards. On Thursday, activists plan to press lawmakers to phase out the use of certain confinement practices on farm animals.

Tuesday’s New Hampshire presidential primaries are dominating attention, accentuated Friday by Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to endorse New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. But Beacon Hill officials also have a full agenda for the week, including hearings on Baker’s budget in Amherst and Methuen and a hearing on bills calling for a $15 an hour wage for Logan Airport workers and underground economy whistleblower protections.  There’s also always the potential for breakthroughs on opioid abuse, solar energy and driver’s license suspension bills that have cleared both branches and await resolution before conference committees.  But it appears any major bills will have to wait a while to see action in the House, which does not plan to hold its next formal session until Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Click on the audio link above to hear a conversation between State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy and NEPR’s Henry Epp.