PRESSLEY rips Trump’s State of the Union speech — Dems take aim at LOGAN noise — IOWA CAUCUS results trickle out
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Stephanie Murray is in New Hampshire this week to help with POLITICO's 2020 primary coverage, so I'm jumping back across the New York border to report on all things Massachusetts. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch with me at syoung@politico.com. Reach Stephanie at smurray@politico.com.
PRESSLEY RESPONDS TO SOTU — After President Donald Trump wrapped up his State of the Union Address Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley offered a vastly different take on his tenure in office as she delivered the Working Families Party's response . The congresswoman, who boycotted the joint congressional address, argued that the president has "attacked our communities with racist, xenophobic and hateful rhetoric, and even more bigoted destructive policy" since entering the Oval Office. She pledged to help "usher in a bold progressive vision of America" and stressed that the state of the WFP's movement "is strong."
Pressley further offered a message for the president: "I want to remind Donald J. Trump that I see right through him. The American people see right through him. Tonight we reject short-sighted policies that work for the wealthy and powerful few, but leave the worker and the immigrant behind."
Congressman Joe Kennedy III, who delivered the Democrats' State of the Union rebuttal in 2018, meanwhile, said in a statement that Trump "has proven himself incapable of practicing the unity he preaches during his State of the Union addresses."
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: MA LAWMAKERS TARGET AIRPLANE NOISE — Several members of Massachusetts' congressional delegation are calling on airlines with major operations at Boston's Logan International Airport to reduce airplane-related noise issues, which they said have affected state residents since the Federal Aviation Administration introduced the NextGen satellite-based navigation system in 2013.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey joined U.S. Reps. Stephen Lynch, Joe Kennedy, Katherine Clark and Ayanna Pressley in asking American Airlines, Delta and Southwest Airlines to "take steps to alleviate concerns of communities affected by increased airplane noise." They noted that other airlines with operations in Boston have voluntarily worked to address airplane-related noise problems. "We ask that your company take steps to reduce airplane noise from your fleet and provide information about how your company has worked to mitigate noise-related complaints associated with your airplanes by February 28, 2020," they wrote in letters sent to the airlines this week.
KHAZEI CASH ON HAND — Alan Khazei ended 2019 with more than $663,000 in his campaign's war chest — more than any other Democrat running in the state's Fourth Congressional District, according to newly posted campaign data filed with the Federal Election Commission.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito join Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Katie Theoharides and New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell to announce funding for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grants at the SeaStreak Ferry Office. Polito also chairs a weekly meeting of the Governor's Council at the State House. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick holds a Youth Climate Town Hall in Concord, New Hampshire. Sen. Elizabeth Warren holds a "get out the vote" event at Nashua Community College.
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- "Valley senator says Mass. college athletes should be paid," by Chris Lisinski, The Lowell Sun: "Allowing college athletes to sign endorsement deals would improve equity and ensure that those who generate significant revenue for their schools can reap benefits themselves, Sen. Barry Finegold told colleagues Tuesday. One day before a key legislative deadline, Finegold was the lone speaker at a Higher Education Committee hearing that only had his bill on the agenda. In addition to opening the door for members of Massachusetts college sports teams to receive paying endorsements, the bill would establish a fund to compensate injured players and would prevent athletes from losing National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility when they are drafted by professional sports teams."
- "As lawmakers decide fate of driver's license bill, activists stage hunger strike at Massachusetts State House," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "While Gov. Charlie Baker addressed reporters in the House Speaker's office Monday afternoon, activists with empty bellies sat on the floor of Nurse's Hall chanting protest songs. 'Licencias, si! Promesas, no,' they said, which means 'yes to licenses, no to promises' in English. About two dozen activists with Movimento Cosecha, an immigrant advocacy group, spent the first day of their hunger strike rallying for a bill that would expand driver's licenses to immigrants regardless of legal status. But the controversial immigration bill is among hundreds competing to advance before the legislative session ends in July."
- "New 2% fee may fund affordable housing," by Christian M. Wade, The Gloucester Daily Times: "Housing advocates want to carve out a new source of money to help cities and towns cover the cost of new affordable units, but fiscal watchdogs say the move will add to the burden on property owners. A proposal by state Rep. Jay Livingstone, D-Boston, and state Sen. William Brownsberger, D-Belmont, would allow communities to add a transfer fee up to 2% onto property tax bills. Local governing boards would have to approve the new fee by a two-thirds vote and also get approval from a majority of the community's voters in a local referendum."
- "Massachusetts hands-free driving law begins Feb. 23: Here's what you need to know," by Scott J. Croteau, MassLive.com: "When Feb. 23 hits in Massachusetts, people can no longer use their cell phones while driving or riding a bicycle unless it is in hands-free mode. Drivers who are 18 or over will be allowed to use cell phones in vehicles in a limited capacity. Police officers will issue warnings only until March 31, but after that, drivers violating the new hands-free law will face a series of fines."
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- "Gov. Charlie Baker says state's transportation system on its way to being far better, but getting there will be 'disruptive' and require patience," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday highlighted steps aimed at improving the state's public transportation, telling guests at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast that a few years from now, the transit system should be in far better shape than it is now. 'But it will be disruptive and it will require a certain amount of patience,' he said. 'I don't have any patience for this. I would like it to all be here by tomorrow.' In his speech at the Marriott Copley Place, Baker mentioned plans to bring new subway cars and bi-level commuter rail coaches online and efforts to bring commuter rail service to the South Coast and extend the MBTA's Green Line into Somerville."
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- "Mashpee Wampanoag, Tribe Behind Taunton Casino, Ready For Appeal Hearing," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe will get a hearing before a federal judge this week to appeal a 2016 ruling that 321 acres of reservation land in Mashpee and Taunton could not be held in trust for the tribe, which had broken ground on a $1 billion casino in Taunton. Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a tribal newsletter last week that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit will take up the tribe's appeal at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Boston."
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- "Elizabeth Warren claims 'tight, three-way race' in Iowa as she pivots to New Hampshire," by Lisa Kashinsky, The Boston Herald: "Elizabeth Warren put on a show of bravado about her performance in Iowa as she swept into New Hampshire on Tuesday, calling it a "tight, three-way race at the top" despite lagging nearly 7 points behind Bernie Sanders and nearly 9 points behind front-runner Pete Buttigieg as results dribbled out of the Democratic Iowa caucus debacle. 'It's a tight, three-way race at the top. We know the three of us will be dividing up most of the delegates coming out of Iowa,' Warren said, referring to herself, the Vermont U.S. senator and the former South Bend, Ind., mayor. 'I'm feeling good,' she told the crowd of 475 gathered at the Colonial Theatre in Keene, N.H., late Tuesday morning. Later that afternoon, after a nearly 24-hour delay due to technical issues, the Iowa Democratic Party released caucus results from 62% of precincts that showed Buttigieg at 26.9% and Sanders at 25.1%, with Warren trailing in third at 18.3%, ahead of former Vice President Joe Biden at 15.6%."
- "Elizabeth Warren says she's 'feeling good' as she campaigns in New Hampshire," by Jess Bidgood, The Boston Globe: "After 90 minutes of sleep, an energetic Senator Elizabeth Warren took the stage at an ornate theater here on Tuesday and made an implicit suggestion about the chaos after Democrats in Iowa failed to report any results from Monday night's caucuses: It is unclear who won, but it wasn't Joe Biden. 'Here's what we know: It's a tight, three-way race at the top,' Warren said, referring to internal data from the campaigns showing her, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg bunched together. 'We know that the three of us will be divvying up most of the delegates coming out of Iowa.'"
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- "Here's the State of the Union response Ayanna Pressley gave for the Working Families Party," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Rep. Ayanna Pressley delivered a response to President Donald Trump's annual State of the Union speech Tuesday night — not for the Democratic Party but for a smaller, progressive political group, the Working Families Party. Pressley, the first woman of color to represent Massachusetts in Congress, was pegged last week to deliver the official response for the Working Families Party, which has a presence in nearly 20 states and often backs Democratic candidates. In her rebuttal, the Boston Democrat made the case for an inclusive, working-class moment to fight back against Trump's 'hateful rhetoric' and 'bigoted, destructive policy.'"
- "Trahan's legal bills near $380,000 amid ethics probe," by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: "Representative Lori Trahan, who has been embroiled in a probe into her campaign financing, has accumulated nearly $380,000 in bills to a Washington, D.C., law firm, half of which came in the last three months of 2019, according to her latest filings. Trahan still owed Perkins Coie LLC roughly $347,000 as of Dec. 31, according to a campaign finance report the Westford Democrat filed late Friday with the Federal Election Commission. That includes $191,000 in bills from the last quarter — a sum that nearly matched the $204,000 she reported raising in those three months. The new bills came amid a busy time for Trahan's lawyers."
- "Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez boycotting Donald Trump's State of the Union address," by Rick Sobey, The Boston Herald: "U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley said she's boycotting President Trump's State of the Union on Tuesday, saying she won't attend the 'sham' address and called his presidency 'not legitimate.' ... Pressley, the first-term congresswoman from Boston, said in a statement, 'The State of the Union is hurting because of the occupant of the White House, who consistently demonstrates contempt for the American people, contempt for Congress, and contempt for our constitution — strong-arming a sham impeachment trial in the Senate. This presidency is not legitimate.'"
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- "Marijuana community agreements face scrutiny under house bill," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "The Cannabis Control Commission would be explicitly empowered to 'review, regulate and enforce' the legally required contracts between marijuana businesses and their host communities under a new House bill teed up for debate and a vote Wednesday. The House Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously Tuesday morning to give a favorable report to a committee bill addressing one of the most vexing issues confronting the still-young legal marijuana industry in Massachusetts and the regulators tasked with ensuring equitable access to the sector."
- "Marijuana business threatens court action after Sturbridge reverses vote," by Craig S. Semon, The Telegram & Gazette: "A co-owner of a retail marijuana business threatened to take the town to court Monday night after selectmen voted to grant a host community agreement for the store but then reneged moments later. In a 3-2 vote Monday, the Board of Selectmen voted in favor of the agreement with 253 Organic LLC of Turners Falls for an adult-use marijuana establishment at 138 Main St. (Route 131) Selectmen Mary B. Dowling and Priscilla C. Gimas voted against it, saying they were concerned about excessive traffic on Route 131."
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— Herald: "Candidates limp into N.H. after Iowa Caucus chaos," "And ... gone Sox send Mookie Betts, David Price to Dodgers in blockbuster deal" — Globe: "After the debris of Iowa, New Hampshire looms large," "It's Buttigieg over Sanders - for now," "Candidates recalibrate for primary," "Sox set to trade Betts and Price"
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- "Buttigieg, Sanders lead as Iowa releases partial results," by Steve Peoples, Thomas Beaumont, and Alexandra Jaffe, The Associated Press: "The Iowa Democratic Party released partial results of its kickoff presidential caucus after a daylong delay late Tuesday showing former Midwestern mayor Pete Buttigieg with a slight lead over progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the opening contest of the party's 2020 primary season. The results followed 24 hours of chaos as technical problems marred the complicated caucus process, forcing state officials to apologize and raising questions about Iowa's traditional place atop the presidential primary calendar. It was too early to call a winner based on the initial results, but Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar were trailing in the tally of State Delegate Equivalents, according to data released for the first time by the Iowa Democratic Party nearly 24 hours after voting concluded."
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- "Guest column Sen. Adam Hinds: Trees and transportation: building on recent climate action," by Sen. Adam Hinds, The Daily Hampshire Gazette: "The Massachusetts Senate passed landmark legislation to confront climate change last week. The Next Generation Climate package of bills includes important leaps forward that now await House approval and Gov. Charlie Baker's signature. But even this legislation is just the next step; we will continue to do more in key areas, especially in transportation and carbon sequestration. The science related to climate change has been clear for 30 years. We are now dangerously close to setting off irreversible chain reactions in our climate beyond our control. Yet precisely at this moment of crisis, our national government is reversing progress made to date."
- "Illnesses spark concerns about workplace hazards at Springfield courthouse," by Brian MacQuarrie, The Boston Globe: "With its comfortable interior and downtown views, the judicial chamber in the northeast corner of the Hampden County courthouse is among the nicest in the building. But it lay unwanted and vacant for a year after Judge William J. Boyle, the first justice of Springfield District Court, retired in 2018. A popular jurist and avid runner, Boyle had been stunned to discover he suffered from ALS, the degenerative disease that kills nerve cells and withers muscles. He died at age 62 in September. Boyle wasn't the first casualty of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who had worked in the office."
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- "City Council supports lowering voting age for Cambridge's local elections to 16," by Meghan Sorensen, The Boston Globe: "The Cambridge City Council has approved a measure that calls for lowering the voting age in the city to 16 for municipal elections. At a meeting Monday night, councilors approved sending a home-rule petition to the Legislature. Under current state law, voters must be at least 18. 'I think we are joining a growing course of cities and towns across the country and certainly here in Massachusetts to see how we can lower the voting age for our young people, and how we can get them more involved in the election process,' Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon, who supported the measure, said Tuesday."
- "Attleboro area state senators support climate-change legislation," by Jim Hand, The Sun Chronicle: "Both area state senators joined their colleagues in supporting legislation to combat climate change, but the Republican Party says the measures will turn Massachusetts into another California. Sens. Paul Feeney, D-Foxboro, and Becca Rausch, D-Needham, voted with the overwhelming majority of the Senate in passing three climate change bills last week."
- "Smith College Says Student Is Being Monitored Out Of 'Abundance Of Caution' For Possible Coronavirus," by Laney Ruckstuhl and Angus Chen, WBUR: "A Smith College student is now in isolation "out of an abundance of caution" after she told the school she has "cold-like symptoms" and may have been on the same flight from China as the man who has the state's first confirmed case of novel coronavirus, a Smith spokeswoman said Tuesday."
TRANSITIONS - Sharman Sacchetti joins WCVB Channel 5 as political reporter effective Feb. 5.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Patrick Bruce, deputy political director at the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, Trevor Kincaid, and former state Rep. John Businger.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-0.
FOR YOUR COMMUTE: NET ZERO TO HERO - On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith talk with Senate President Karen Spilka and Sen. Mike Barrett about climate bills passed by the state Senate last week. Spilka also offers a look ahead at her chamber's next big priority: mental health. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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