Busy Week Coming In State, City Politics

On Monday, of course, all attention is on whether Jim Rice finally gets into the Hall of Fame. But beyond that....

--Tom Menino gives his State of the City address Tuesday, ten months before the mayoral election, and we don't have a single declared candidate including Menino himself. What, am I supposed to just focus on the substance of the speech, rather than the politics? BO-RING! But seriously, a question for you: what would you most like to hear hizzoner say Tuesday?

--Wednesday is the deadline for filing bills for the new state legislature session. Lots of newly elected senators and reps are right now scrambling like it's finals week. But how ambitious can you be in the current fiscal climate?

--Speaking of the fiscal climate, the state House of Representatives is expected to debate giving the governor extra budget-cutting power Wednesday, that will almost certainly mean local-aid cuts. There's a fun, district-pleasing vote to start the new year, huh?

--Question #2: What would you most like to hear Gov. Patrick say in his State of the State address Thursday?

--New city council Prez Mike Ross has promised to announce new committee assignments this week, an ambitious timetable. I assume Murph will run Ways & Means again, but wouldn't you love to see it given to Michael Flaherty?

--Oh, and Vitale gets arraigned, Aloisi starts his job, Gants's SJC confirmation kicks off, lobbyists file their disclosures (you hear that, Friends of Sal?), the MBTA Finance Committee holds a special meeting about how broke the authority is, and the hearings on PhARMA gift regs continue. Just a few little dramas to keep us busy before dawn breaks on the Age of Obama !