New England Public Radio

The Short List: Rintala Trial Reaction, Lawsuit Over Transgender Law, Mascot Debate

NEPR'S WEEK IN REVIEW

What made The Short List this week?

  • Cara Rintala, the western Massachusetts woman convicted of killing her wife, was sentenced this week to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This came in the third trial; two previous juries could not reach a verdict.
  • An organization representing four churches in Massachusetts has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s new law that prohibits discrimination against transgender people in public accommodations, such as restrooms. Meantime, several faith leaders have come out in support of the law.
  • Later this month, the Gill-Montague Regional School Committee will hold a public meeting about the ongoing issue of whether or not to keep or get rid of the “Indian” as the Turners Falls High School mascot.

Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Susan Kaplan explore these issues with Greenfield Recorder columnist Chris Collins and Matt Szafranski of Western Mass Politics & Insight.

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

Debates over four ballot questions in Massachusetts are heating up before the November election. But there’s another ballot campaign gaining traction for a much more distant contest: an activist group says they have enough signatures to meet a deadline this week to repeal the state’s new law on transgender public accommodations. That law allows transgender individuals to use public spaces without discrimination. It took effect October 1st.

For our weekly look at Beacon Hill politics, we turn to State House reporter Shira Schoenberg of the Springfield Republican newspaper, and asked her why this group wants the new law repealed.

For more on the effort to repeal the state’s transgender accommodations law, click the audio player above to hear Schoenberg’s conversation with New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp.

Transgender Anti-Discrimination Law Goes Into Effect In Massachusetts

A new Massachusetts law goes into effect October 1st that protects the rights of transgender people in public places, like restaurants and movie theaters.

Under the law no one can be refused service and people can use a public bathroom consistent with their gender identity.

Some places are already in compliance, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with 32,000 people on campus.

Spokesperson Edward Blaguszewski said people can choose restrooms marked ‘Men’ or ‘Women’  — or one of the 200 bathrooms on campus that accommodate one person and are gender-neutral. More bathrooms like this are being constructed on campus.

“We think it’s important in a university community to provide a climate, an atmosphere, that welcomes people,” said Blaguszewski.  “And makes them feel comfortable as a member of our community.”

Massachusetts is one of 18 states that have public accommodation laws that ban discrimination based on gender identity, according to the ACLU.

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

Today is the annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. The event alternates between the U.S. and Canada, and this year it’s taking place in Boston. All six New England governors and five premiers of eastern Canadian provinces are in attendance.

We spoke to Matt Murphy, a reporter with the State House News Service in Boston, as we do most Mondays. Murphy says state and provincial leaders arrived for a reception last night and today they’ll get down to business.

Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp speak with Matt Murphy about the week ahead on Beacon Hill.

Springfield NAACP Leader Questions Need For Transgender Accommodations Bill

This week, we’re hearing two opinions on a Massachusetts bill to expand public accommodation rights to the transgender community.

The law would allow transgender individuals to use all public spaces without discrimination.  Bishop Talbert Swan, president of the Springfield branch of the NAACP has some criticisms of the bill. When we talked, he began by clarifying that he does not believe anyone should be discriminated against for any activity, including using a bathroom. But Swan questions whether this legislation is necessary.

To hear the full interview with Bishop Talbert Swan, click the audio player above.

RELATED: Activist Tynan Power: Transgender Accommodations Bill Is About Day-To-Day Interactions

 

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

Lawmakers appear poised to potentially cash in on the raging national debate over income inequality. Debate over a proposed 4 percent surtax on incomes above $1 million is scheduled on Wednesday before House and Senate members meeting jointly in a Constitutional Convention.

If advanced to the 2017-2018 Legislature, the proposal would then be one key vote shy of reaching a binding vote on the November 2018 statewide ballot. Public opinion polling shows the measure, which would not affect most taxpayers but could generate $1.9 billion a year in new government revenues, has overwhelming support. State Senate leaders, unlike Gov. Charlie Baker and House leaders, have expressed an openness to considering new taxes to feed government investments.

On Tuesday, senators are set to roll out their fiscal 2017 budget bill (S 4), which is not expected to feature new taxes since the House didn’t initiate any in its final budget bill (H 3401). Baker and legislative leaders are counting on tax revenues rising 4.3 percent next fiscal year but receipts have trickled in at a less robust pace, creating concerns over balancing the $38.4 billion fiscal 2016 budget and the revenue base in the budget for fiscal 2017, which begins on July 1. Amendments to the Senate budget are due by Thursday. The Senate plans to debate its budget beginning Tuesday, May 24 and a conference committee will likely be named after Memorial Day to deliver a consensus budget.

Click the audio player to hear Matt Murphy of the State House News Service talk about the week ahead in Massachusetts politics with NEPR’s Henry Epp.