|
|
| |
 |
|
|
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
CLOCK IS TICKING ON VOTE-BY-MAIL — Rep. Joe Kennedy III is again pressuring lawmakers today to pass a vote-by-mail bill before the 2020 election in the fall. Kennedy will hold a press conference on Zoom with Attorney General Maura Healey, calling for changes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier in April, Kennedy rallied the congressional delegation for a similar press conference which included Reps. Katherine Clark, Lori Trahan, Jim McGovern and Ayanna Pressley.
There are a number of vote by mail proposals out there, including several bills filed by state lawmakers. Kennedy is calling for the state to mail ballots to every registered voter in Massachusetts, a proposal pollster David Paleologos said could boost turnout and be a boon for Kennedy's Democratic primary campaign against Sen. Ed Markey.
While both lawmakers are popular among Democratic primary voters, those voters favor Kennedy at a higher rate, said Paleologos, who is the director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. As a result, high voter turnout could help Kennedy bolster his chances against Markey, who is popular among party activists - typically some of the state's most reliable voters.
"He is the most popular person on the statewide polling," Paleologos said of Kennedy. "You want the pool of people to be as high as it possibly can, because otherwise your votes are being left off the table."
Secretary of State Bill Galvin, however, has raised concerns about how Kennedy's vote-by-mail plan would work, and is drafting his own proposal. Galvin would prefer to allow voters to either mail their ballots or vote in person, he told the Boston Globe. He plans to release his version in May.
Asked about voting by mail during a press briefing on Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker said he expects the conversation to gain steam "at some point" when information about the spread of the virus becomes more clear.
"I fully expect at some point, when we know a lot more about what the facts on the ground look like in the summer and the fall, people can start having a conversation about what they think they need to do to make sure people can vote," Baker said.
But if the state is going to pass any sort of vote-by-mail legislation in time for the fall, it's going to have to happen sooner than later, according to Galvin's office.
"Since we begin printing ballots for the state primary in June, we would need certainly need the legislation to pass by then," Galvin spokesperson Debra O'Malley said in an email.
"In order to get ballots ready as quickly as possible , having everything in place before the June 2nd deadline for primary candidates to file with our office would be necessary, so we could go to print on those ballots immediately," O'Malley added.
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: ACTIVISTS SEEK LGBTQ+ CORONAVIRUS DATA — A coalition of activists are calling on state Senate lawmakers to include a breakdown of coronavirus case data by sexual orientation and gender identity in the chamber's version of a new data collection bill that passed in the House last week. The letter, sent yesterday afternoon, is addressed to Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means chair Michael Rodrigues.
"The LGBTQ+ community continuously experiences barriers to health care and faces additional factors that lead to our community being considered high risk," the letter says. "We simply cannot afford for that data to fall through the cracks."
The push for more data comes after the state began collecting and sharing coronavirus statistics on race and ethnicity earlier this month. The letter is signed by representatives from the Bay State Stonewall Democrats, Fenway Health, PFLAG National and the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund, among others. The letter.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Rep. Jim McGovern is a guest on JALSA's "Schmoozefest" livestream. Rep. Richard Neal tours Repro Systems in Pittsfield. Senate President Karen Spilka speaks at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce virtual forum. Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal and Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone are guests on WGBH's "Greater Boston."
Sen. Ed Markey hosts a livestream with 32BJ SEIU President Roxana Rivera. Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Attorney General Maura Healey hold a Zoom press conference. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joins a virtual policy briefing hosted by the Alliance for Business Leadership.
|
|
| |
LIVE TODAY - WHY IS THE PANDEMIC HITTING MINORITY COMMUNITIES THE HARDEST ? African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately at risk of being hospitalized or dying from Covid-19. What can be done to mitigate the impact and save lives? Join POLITICO's Laura Barrón-López today at 4 p.m. EDT for a virtual discussion focused on the pandemic's outsized impact on minorities with Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), chairwoman, Congressional Black Caucus and Uché Blackstock , MD, founder & CEO, Advancing Health Equity. Have questions? They'll answer as many as they can. REGISTER HERE TO PARTICIPATE.
|
| |
| |
|
 | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
|
|
|
| DATELINE BEACON HILL |
|
- "States have a long way to go on testing, review shows," by Sharon Begley, STAT News: "More than half of US states, including Massachusetts, will have to significantly step up their COVID-19 testing to even consider starting to relax stay-at-home orders after May 1, according to an analysis by Harvard researchers and STAT. Massachusetts is doing more testing than most other states, the report said, but it's still not nearly enough: It would have to conduct 30,000 tests a day to be assured of promptly identifying most infected residents, but in the past week it averaged just above 10,000 a day."
- "Answer on whether Massachusetts coronavirus business closures will end May 4 expected later this week," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "While the end of his executive orders draw nearer, Gov. Charlie Baker said he does not yet have an answer on whether Massachusetts businesses and agencies will reopen on May 4 as scheduled. Speaking a week from the state's expected reopening date, Baker said his answer will depend on trend data he receives in the next couple of days, just as he said last week that the trend data would be a key factor in his decision."
- "Baker gives nursing homes $130 million - with strings," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Gov. Charlie Baker announced Monday that the state will give nursing homes another $130 million to help them respond to the coronavirus outbreak, but will require the facilities to adhere to new standards on staffing and testing in order to get the money. Nursing homes that repeatedly do not live up to the standards for infection control could be put into receivership or even shut down, according to the new rules."
- "Baker: State lacks jurisdiction to fund Steamship Authority," by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: "The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority wrote to Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this month seeking help to offset its losses during the pandemic, but the governor appears to be directing the ferry line toward the federal government for any type of economic life raft. 'So, first of all, the Steamship Authority is basically not an entity that we have jurisdiction over, for all intents and purposes,' Baker said at his daily press conference Monday."
- "New coronavirus law allows notary publics in Massachusetts to witness signatures over video conferencing," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "People who need a notary to file power of attorney documents, close on a home or conduct other legal business can now do so over video conferencing after Gov. Charlie Baker signed the remote notarization bill Monday afternoon. The new law, which came out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, allows notary publics to perform their jobs through video conferencing until three days after the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted in Massachusetts."
- "House plans votes by phone," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: A month and a half into the coronavirus pandemic, the Massachusetts House on Monday announced plans to resume formal legislative sessions this Thursday via remote voting. 'What we do is we create a virtual chamber,' said Rep. Kate Hogan, a Stow Democrat who helped craft the rules. She is a member of DeLeo's leadership team and the House's coronavirus work group."
|
| FROM THE HUB |
|
- "MGH coronavirus simulator suggests Mass. fatalities would spike if restrictions lift suddenly," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "As some states across the country begin loosening restrictions meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, a new interactive online tool from Massachusetts General Hospital allows public health experts and armchair epidemiologists to chart the possible outcomes of different reopening strategies. The COVID-19 Simulator, which allows users to model different scenarios through the end of summer for the entire nation or one state at a time, shows dramatically different outcomes based on how quickly restrictions are lifted."
- "Boston Will Not Reopen Non-Essential Businesses On May 4, But No Official Answer From State," by Derek J. Anderson, WBUR: "Amidst the numerous questions about Massachusetts' coronavirus response, one keeping popping up: Will non-essential businesses open up again on May 4? Gov. Charlie Baker was asked again for an update on the ban during a press conference on Monday, but he reiterated his statements from over the weekend, expressing a need for a plan to reopen. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, however, took a hard stance during a press conference today, saying the city would not be reopening on May 4."
- "Boston cemeteries see large increase in burials due to coronavirus," by John R. Ellement and John Tlumacki, Boston Globe: "Paul Harris had a shovel in his hand as he stood six feet deep in the earth, working to square off the edges of the grave he and other City of Boston workers were digging at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan on Saturday. Harris and his colleagues have been working essentially nonstop for about two months as the coronavirus pandemic claims victims by the dozens — and relatives and friends turn to the city's three active cemeteries as final resting places for their loved ones."
- "Boston Initiates Coronavirus Testing Program In Three Communities," by Saraya Wintersmith, WGBH News: "This week a random cross-section of 1,000 residents of three Boston neighborhoods will be invited to submit to coronavirus and antibody testing, Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts General Hospital have announced. The tests — a nasal swap and a finger prick — are meant to help health and city officials understand more about the spread of coronavirus in two of the city's hardest hit neighborhoods and one where access to testing has been an obstacle, said Marty Martinez, the city's health and human services chief, in an interview with WGBH News."
- "Harvard will reopen in the fall, but whether it's remote or on campus is uncertain," by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: "Harvard University officials said Monday that the school is preparing for many, if not all, of its classes to be delivered remotely when the fall semester starts in early September, an acknowledgment that it may be unsafe for students to immediately return to campus. Harvard said on Monday that it briefly considered delaying the start of the academic year until spring 2021, but ultimately rejected that idea."
- "Housekeepers Can't Work During The Pandemic. Some People Are Paying Them Anyway," by Phillip Martin, WGBH News: "Julia Moore, a Cambridge resident, likes her house to be 'eat-off-the-floor' clean and spends a lot of time keeping it that way: sweeping, vacuuming, scrubbing and mopping. But as a full-time therapist and consultant, she said, she can only do so much. So, Moore employs a housekeeper named Sharon. 'She usually comes in once a week, and she's 's been with us for 17 years,' said Moore. In early March, just short of what would have been 18 years, the threat of coronavirus brought those weekly visits to an abrupt halt."
- "Chambers of commerce retool to support business communities during crisis," by Stefania Lugli and Meghan Sorensen, Boston Globe: "Ever since their creation, chambers of commerce have revolved around social events and in-person networking to benefit businesses and communities alike. Now, as many businesses have been forced to close their doors in response to the coronavirus crisis, chambers are getting creative to provide necessary tools and resources to their communities. The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce has introduced a daily business advisory and twice-weekly business assistance webinars on topics such as unemployment and how to reach customers online."
|
| PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
|
- "T approves $212m hike in fare collection contract," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The MBTA oversight board on Monday unanimously approved a $212 million amendment to its contract with a pair of private vendors to develop, install, and manage a new fare collection system, bringing the total cost to just over $935 million.T officials cautioned that the fare collection initiative is still contingent on the vendors refinancing at a lower cost their existing debt on the project and any new debt needed."
|
| DAY IN COURT |
|
- "State courts to remain closed to the public amid COVID-19 pandemic until at least June 1," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: "The state's courthouses will remain closed to the public until at least June 1, according to an order by the Supreme Judicial Court issued Monday. That mandate extends a previous order that courts be closed to the public through May 4, aligning with Gov. Charlie Baker's executive order that nonessential businesses and government agencies shutter until that date amid the COVID-19 crisis."
|
| WARREN REPORT |
|
- "'Little or no transparency': Warren wants data on White House medical supply program," by Benjamin Siegel and Anne Flaherty, ABC News: "Two Senate Democrats are now probing 'Project Airbridge,' the Trump administration program aimed at getting medical supplies to hospitals amid the pandemic, warning the effort is too opaque. While the White House has touted the Jared Kushner-backed program as an innovative public-private partnership designed to clear logistical logjams and bureaucratic red tape, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., are worried that the administration is not doing enough to facilitate the supply of personal protective equipment to communities battling the coronavirus."
|
| ABOVE THE FOLD |
|
— Herald: "MASKACHUSETTS," — Globe: "States face long road ahead on testing," "A grim tally as Baker warns on reopening." |
| FROM THE 413 |
|
- "Holyoke Soldiers' Home superintendent assured Board of Trustees members of plans for staffing, prevention of COVID-19," by Jeanette DeForge, Springfield Republican: "Eleven 11 days before the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, the facility's superintendent told his Board of Trustees that staff had successfully contained a flu outbreak and were taking similar precautions to prevent the coronavirus. It didn't work."
|
| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
|
- "Pastor defends Worcester church service that drew 56 worshippers," by Bill Doyle, Telegram & Gazette: "Adams Square Baptist Church pastor Kris Casey said after much research, consultation and prayer, he decided to celebrate on Sunday what he believes was the first public service for more than 10 people inside a church since Gov. Charlie Baker's March 23 ban on gatherings of more than 10 people, a ban intended to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus."
- "Quincy mayor: We aren't slowing down on city projects," by Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger: "Mayor Thomas Koch says the city's projects are moving ahead as scheduled amid the coronavirus pandemic that has seen event postponements, school cancellations and millions of job losses across the state. 'It's a good time to be doing planning and construction because we have the time,' Koch said Monday. ' Why not take full advantage of it? Wherever there are challenges, there are opportunities.'"
- "DCU Center crippled by cancellations, postponements," by Nick Kotsopoulos, Telegram & Gazette: "The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation or postponement of 42 events at the DCU Center, and has left the city-owned facility cash-strapped and without any event-related revenue coming in. That has forced ASM Global, the company that operates the DCU Center for the city, to lay off nine employees and put most of its other employees on some level of furlough, according to Sandy Dunn, the facility's general manager."
- "Coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on those seeking help for opioid addiction," by Kiernan Dunlop, SouthCoast Today: "Before the coronavirus pandemic reached New Bedford, the city was already fighting an epidemic on another front — the opioid epidemic. Now those working to help people overcome their addictions are left with the wrenching choice of giving people access to care or keeping their admission numbers down to prevent the spread of COVID-19."
|
| MEDIA MATTERS |
|
- "Layoffs, senior leadership shifts at Gannett's Mass. newspapers," by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal: "The parent company of the largest newspaper chain in Massachusetts laid off several newsroom employees on both Friday and Monday, and shifted the responsibilities for its top editors, expanding the role of one editor to oversee four daily newspapers. The moves come less than a month after Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) announced it would furlough all but the lowest-paid employees for one week per month during April, May and June. "
TRANSITIONS - Amanda Drane leaves the Berkshire Eagle to join the Houston Chronicle as a business reporter.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Sports Illustrated's Jason Schwartz, who is 35; and Patrick Lally, director of sports marketing for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and former adviser to Sen. Ed Markey (h/t Ed Cash).
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.
|
|
| |
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE FINANCIAL MARKETS? JOIN US WITH NASDAQ CEO ADENA FRIEDMAN TODAY : Global financial markets have been on a roller coaster since the pandemic hit and there is no shortage of speculation on what is next. Join POLITICO's chief economic correspondent and author of the Morning Money newsletter, Ben White, today at 9 a.m. EDT for a virtual conversation with NASDAQ CEO Adena Friedman to gain some clarity. What is the Federal Reserve doing to keep markets functioning? How quickly can the private sector bounce back from the crisis? Will this roller-coaster ride continue? Have questions? They'll answer as many as they can. REGISTER HERE TO PARTICIPATE
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Follow us on Twitter
|
| |
Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family
|
Follow us
|
|
| |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.