Fiscal year 2019 went out like a lion in Massachusetts with resignations and fiery politics. But without that full-year budget, does that mean we're in like a lamb for fiscal year 2020?
Governor Charlie Baker was out of the country for much of last week. The task of running state affairs was left, as usual, to Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.
Polito signed a stopgap budget. She also dealt with a resignation at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. And she kept relative peace at a Governor's Council meeting.
Carrie Healy, NEPR: Was last week's volume and profile of work common for Polito as acting governor?
Matt Murphy, State House News Service: Certainly not. Profile-wise, the lieutenant governor had a lot on her plate, with Governor Baker heading to London on Tuesday evening, where he was set to give a major keynote address at a U.K. offshore wind conference. And he spent the rest of the week there with meetings.
Actually, Baker even took in the Red Sox-Yankees game at London Stadium on Saturday.
Honored to deliver a keynote address here at the Global Offshore Wind Conference in London on Massachusetts’ leadership in advancing #offshorewind. The Commonwealth is focused on expanding the economic + environmental benefits associated with this growing sector. #RUKGOW19 pic.twitter.com/Lq6rsdIpxN
— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) June 26, 2019
While he was gone, the lieutenant governor had to preside over a Governor's Council hearing, where the governor's nominee for the parole board, Karen McCarthy, a Springfield prosecutor, was confirmed on a 5-3 vote.
But that vote was very much in doubt.
Heading into that meeting, emotions were running high on the Governor's Council, and the lieutenant governor had to preside over that meeting and allow everyone basically to have their say, and also to try and make sure that she could shepherd through the administration nominee, which she was able to do at the same time.
The governors council meets to vote on Springfield prosecutor Karen McCarthy’s nomination to the parole board. pic.twitter.com/QB5PLl5WLE
— Jodi Reed WWLP (@JReedTV) June 26, 2019
RMV registrar Erin Deveney had just quit, regarding that fatal crash in New Hampshire over the weekend before, where seven motorcyclists were killed by a man driving a truck who was driving on a Massachusetts license that it turned out he should not have had.
Erin Deveney, who's been with the administration, submitted her resignation. That was accepted by the administration.
Polito was there to give the administration's response, and at the same time, monitor budget negotiations, which continue to go on as we talk now for the fiscal year that begins this morning.
It's not often that the lieutenant governor has to sign legislation while the governor is out of town. But he did have to sign a temporary $5 billion budgetto keep government operating beginning this morning. It should carry through the month of July, should that money be needed in the budget, should a deal not be reached.
We've got the Fourth of July holiday this week. Besides showing up for local parades and fireworks, what's ahead for lawmakers this week?
It is pretty much a light week on the Fourth, except for that budget that we were talking about.
The leadership in both the House and Senate would very much like to get this done before the July 4 break. They've kept open sessions, or least told members to be ready for a session, either today, tomorrow or Wednesday.
Tuesday or Wednesday are probably more likely at this point, since the deal does not appear to have been reached over the weekend. But they would very much like to see a compromise struck on this budget and voted to the governor's desk before they go away for the weekend.
For the last time the field made their way around the turn at @suffolkdowns! Thank you for the last 84 years! pic.twitter.com/KJ0FIfoxeh
— TVG (@TVG) June 30, 2019
Suffolk Downs, the state's last thoroughbred horse racetrack, held its final two days of racing over the weekend. When the Consumer Protection Committee meets this week, one of the items they are set to take up is taking the annual approval of horse racing out of the hands of the legislature. Why? And why now?
Horse racing in Massachusetts has been on the decline. And now with these races, the future is very much uncertain.
Obviously, people are still looking to perhaps bring live thoroughbred racing back to Great Barrington at the fairgrounds. But the idea of moving this oversight from the legislature to the Gaming Commission has a lot to do with the situation with horse racing being uncertain moving forward.
There is gaming revenue from casino license fees that goes into a fund to support a horse racing. But with no horse racing left to support, the question is: what is going to be done with those funds? Some people feel that the Gaming Commission, because of the connection to gaming — and that's where the revenue source is — should have a role, or direct oversight, of how this future industry plays out.
Keep up here with Beacon Hill In 5.
