BOSTON (State House News Service) – In addition to the wildcard that is Donald Trump’s presidency, here’s a look at 1. Wednesday on Beacon Hill. CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMSmaller prison populations and lower costs, better re- entry programs and services, and reduced recidivism rates are among the goals of criminal justice reform advocates who have seen their policy proposals wither in past sessions. Legislative leaders told Gov. Deval Patrick in 2. Watch Inferno Dailymotion more.

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The 2. 01. 5- 2. 01. Gov. Charlie Baker punted the issues to outsiders to see if they could come up with a plan. Watch Love Never Dies Online. Heading into 2. 01.

Council of State Governments’ Justice Center. Activists pressing major reforms fear the CSG report — scheduled to be released in mid- January — and subsequent legislation will be narrow in scope, with a focus on probation, parole and other post- release services. Frustrated after years of being told to wait for broad reforms, advocates are gearing up to fight for other measures including bail changes, repeals of mandatory minimum sentencing and greater use of diversion programs. Some initiatives that cleared the Senate in 2. A new House chair of the Judiciary committee, to be appointed in January or February by Speaker Robert De. Leo, will play a role in determining how far those and other criminal justice issues make it through the legislative process. HEALTH CARETotal health care expenditures have outpaced the state’s economic growth rate for two straight years, a significant portion of the state’s population remains uninsured despite a mandatory health insurance law, and rising premiums and access to care, including oral care, are issues for many patients.

Massachusetts is also on the verge of having a staggering 2 million of its residents enrolled in Medicaid, the taxpayer- funded health insurance program for those who are income eligible and individuals with disabilities. Amid the rollout of health care access and cost control laws, the market itself has undergone dramatic consolidation in recent years and there’s continuing concern over the financial health of community hospitals. Medicaid is now experimenting with an accountable care payment model, with results due in 2. At the same time, there’s talk in the Trump administration about converting Medicaid to a block grant program in an attempt to limit the flow of federal funds to the state. And a special commission looking at variations in prices charged by hospitals is closing in on possible recommendations. If it sounds like a lot, it is.

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From taxes to criminal justice reform to lottery sales, here is a look at some issues that could be priorities over the next two years. · Watch Seahawks Vs Packers game live stream here and see Seattle take on Green Bay in week one of NFL action online. · ROY, Utah - A Roy teenager was charged Monday in Second District Court in Weber County in connection with a suspected scam to obtain images of child. The No. 21 Florida Gators enter Saturday afternoon’s showdown with the Vanderbilt Commodores feeling disrespected. They have to feel that way, right? How else do.

Per usual, the health care policy arena in Massachusetts is active, with plenty of uncertainty. ENERGYDiversification, costs and reliability remain the legs of the state’s three- legged energy policy stool. Heading into 2. 01. Gov. Charlie Baker and his administration are implementing a major renewable energy law to procure large- scale hydropower and develop offshore wind farms that will eventually help power homes and businesses around the state. A big hitch is that the fruits of that labor are several years from ripening. In the meantime, expect battles to be fought along familiar lines. As the administration works to finalize a new tariff- based solar renewable energy credit program, solar advocates are pressing the Department of Energy Resources to come up with a plan to bridge the gap between January and the summer, when the new program takes effect, to keep the subsidies flowing to the industry.

Caps on solar net metering are also being bumped up against in most utility territories, meaning that debate will perk up for another round early in the year. And while hydropower might eventually address some of the demand and reliability concerns in the grid, a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission investigation of the ongoing maintenance issues at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station will continue to fire up Pilgrim opponents who are pressing Baker to demand the plant’s shutdown before a scheduled refueling in 2.

Any adjustments to the state’s energy mix – including new gas pipeline capacity – must all be balanced against greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements and targets. Lawmakers like Rep.

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Jay Kaufman and Sen. Michael Barrett will undoubtedly continue to make the case for a carbon tax, but more likely is a more aggressive effort by the Baker administration to promote the purchase of electric vehicles. A boost in zero- emission vehicle sales would dovetail nicely with the aims of the new court- ordered emission regulations from the Department of Environmental Protection that are up for hearings in February. The Supreme Judicial Court ordered the state to spread its emission reduction efforts across all sectors, including transportation, but some critics would like to see stricter caps on power plants. INSTITUTIONAL RIVALRIESThe battles in the 2.

House and the Senate, both controlled by Democrats, rather than between the Legislature and the new Republican governor. In addition to famously disagreeing about rules governing the flow of bills, the more liberal Senate was often at odds with the more moderate House. While Gov. Baker’s working relationship with legislative leaders is not likely to entirely fizzle in 2. Democratic legislative leaders just in December bumped heads pretty hard with the Republican governor over spending cuts they viewed as hurtful to people and unnecessary. Democratic legislative leaders have settled their rules reform differences and have a new party chair, Gus Bickford, who is taking an aggressive posture toward Baker out of the gate. There are some Democrats who would probably be fine with Baker in the Corner Office for another four years – they can score points for bipartisanship when things are going well and have a convenient target when things are not. But many other Democrats are hoping a strong candidate will step forward to challenge the governor.

Another session featuring divided Democrats in the Legislature would bode well for Baker, who like his mentor Bill Weld has made bipartisanship one of his main political selling points. But if Democrats draw clear lines with Baker on a series of issues – the income surtax for example or privatization or new taxes on marijuana or online rentals – the dynamic could shift back to the traditional Republican- versus- Democrat format. And no one can say at this point whether Donald Trump in the White House will be good politically for Baker, or bad.

The conventional wisdom is bad, but we saw what happened to conventional wisdom in 2.