April 18, 2024

This week begins year 9 of the American Friends’ Service Committee’s State House Watch Newsletter, year 7 of the State House Watch Radio show, and year 3 of welcoming Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky as the first guest of the year.

Arnie Alpert and Maggie Fogarty preview the legislative year, with concerns over immigrant rights, voting rights, labor rates, the death penalty. This is a budget year so we’ll be watching the House and Senate Finance Committees and paying attention to disability rights and the Secure Psychiatric Unit. We’ll be watching the nuclear “Back From the Brink” and “No First Use” resolutions.

-Rights and Democracy position statements
-Bound for Glory, Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Andru Volinsky: legislative and exec council Democratic majority; executive council first established during colonial times; review of contracts and executive and judicial nominations; I’m the only attorney on the council; others have different variety of experience; very little support infrastructure for exec. council. “Volinsky Agenda”: education, health care, climate action, income equality. Looking for state contractors to pay their employees on state contracts +/- $15./hr. “little davis-bacon acts”. Expecting nomination of new Chief Justice. Governor has added the word “bipartisanship” to his statements. Future of Family Medical Leave?

-Come and Go With Me, Bernice Johnson Reagon

With John Tobin, travelling seminar on education funding; 4 steps to education funding; Medicaid Work requirement rules, implementation.

-closing announcements