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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
SCOOP: MARKEY RETURNING FOSSIL FUEL DONATIONS — Sen. Ed Markey is returning $17,700 in campaign contributions that either violate a pledge he took to refuse money from players in the fossil fuel industry, or do not meet his campaign's standard to decline cash from corporate PACs.
The donations from fossil fuel lobbyists are at odds with Markey's role as a co-author of the Green New Deal, a central theme of his reelection campaign. Markey received the money in the first quarter of 2020, which began in January and ended March 31. He raised close to $1.2 million in the quarter that just ended.
It's not the first time the Malden Democrat has returned campaign funds. Markey gave back nearly $47,000 in contributions that violated the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge in October.
This quarter, Markey is returning $12,700 in contributions . His campaign said last night it made the decision to return funds after a review of his finance report, following a POLITICO inquiry on Monday afternoon. The No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge bars contributions over $200 from PACs, executives or lobbyists involved with its list of banned companies.
Markey will return $5,600 from Joseph Hooley, a contribution he accepted the day before Hooley joined the board of ExxonMobil, according to his FEC report. Hooley joined the board on Jan. 1, 2020, and the contribution was marked for Dec. 31, 2019. Technically, the contribution came in the last quarter of 2019, but showed up on Markey's first quarter finance report of this year after being transferred from Markey's Victory Fund, according to his campaign.
Markey will also return $5,600 from Vincent Roberti, the chairman of the lobbying firm Roberti Global. Roberti's firm is registered to lobby for Nord Stream 2 AG, a natural gas pipeline project between Russia and Germany, which is listed by the no fossil fuel pledge.
Additionally, Markey will return $1,000 from Muftiah McCartin, an attorney at the firm Covington & Burling who was paid $360,000 to lobby by the oil and gas company BP in 2019. Markey will also return $500 from Ryan Mulvenon of Cassidy & Associates, who lobbies for the power generator LS Power, another company listed by the no fossil fuel pledge.
"Senator Markey is fully committed to the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, and our campaign's commitment and intention is to operate with the highest standard of donation integrity," Markey's campaign said.
Markey will return an additional $5,000 in contributions from two trade association PACs. While those groups don't violate the No Corporate PAC Pledge outright, Markey's campaign says the PACs do not meet their standards. He will return $2,500 from the American Cable Association Inc PAC and $2,500 from the The Real Estate Roundtable Political Action Committee.
An aide to Rep. Joe Kennedy III, Markey's Democratic primary opponent, took a shot at Markey's standing as a progressive Democrat in light of the returned contributions last night. Kennedy, who supports the Green New Deal, has come under fire for his stock holdings in the fossil fuel industry.
"It's the latest example of his 'progressive' record being a mile wide — but an inch deep," Kennedy spokesperson Emily Kaufman said.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Rep. Richard Neal tours a factory in East Longmeadow. Rep. Katherine Clark hosts a tele-town hall with Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta. Rep. Seth Moulton and Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood go live on Facebook.
Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius is a guest on WGBH's "Boston Public Radio." State Sen. Jamie Eldridge and state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa talk about coronavirus and the health care system via livestream.
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WAS A "PANDEMIC PLAYBOOK" IGNORED? - TODAY: The Obama White House left a "pandemic playbook" for the Trump administration that hasn't been utilized during the Covid-19 outbreak. Join POLITICO health care reporter Dan Diamond today at 4 p.m. EDT for a virtual discussion with Beth Cameron, former member of the National Security Council's pandemic response team. What steps should be taken to prepare for the possibility of a second wave or an outbreak in the fall? What impact will the Trump administration's decision to cut funding to the WHO have? Cameron shares her thoughts and answers your questions. Submit yours by tweeting it to @POLITICOLive using #AskPOLITICO. REGISTER HERE TO PARTICIPATE.
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 | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
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- "Mass. reports 1,566 new coronavirus cases, 103 new deaths; Walsh warns police will keep dispersing crowds," by Martin Finucane, Travis Andersen, Danny McDonald and Jaclyn Reiss, Boston Globe: "The state reported Monday that the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Massachusetts had risen by 103 cases to 1,809, up from 1,706 the day before. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases climbed by 1,566 to 39,643. The Department of Public Health also reported a total of 169,398 people in the state had been tested, up from 162,241 a day earlier."
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| DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Massachusetts Pauses Evictions And Foreclosures," by Saraya Wintersmith, WGBH News: "Governor Charlie Baker Monday signed into law a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, making Massachusetts one of a handful of states to pass housing stability bills during the pandemic. The moratorium, which applies to residential and small commercial tenants, will remain in effect for the next 120 days or 45 days after the COVID-19 emergency declaration has been lifted, whichever is sooner."
- "Baker accused of misplaced COVID-19 priorities," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Two leading officials in the state's nursing home industry said on the Codcast that the Baker administration focused too much attention in the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis on hospitals and not enough on long-term care facilities. 'The state has done a tremendous job of focusing on hospital surge and doing all we can through social distancing and tracing methods to really try to protect our communities, but where the virus is most severe is in our long-term care facilities,' said Tara Gregorio, president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association."
- "State Watchdogs Have Been Banned From Nursing Homes, Along With All Visitors," by Chris Burrell, WGBH News: "Massachusetts has a staff of 300 ombudsmen who field complaints and make unannounced visits to nursing homes to check on patient care, but these watchdogs have not set foot inside such a facility since the second week of March. In an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus, government regulators more than five weeks ago banned both ombudsmen and family members from entering nursing homes and other long term care facilities."
- "Even in a pandemic, the gears of the Mass. Legislature grind as slowly as ever," by Matt Stout and Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: "In New Jersey, state lawmakers moved a dozen bills in a single day last week, all via remote voting. Michigan legislators were checked for fevers before voting to extend the governor's emergency powers. New York lawmakers managed to pass a $177 billion budget. But in Massachusetts, the Legislature, which remains in session 41 days into a state of emergency, has not adjusted the process for its primary job: to pass laws."
- "Hair stylists ask Gov. Charlie Baker for 'soft opening' in Massachusetts ahead of May 4," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Hair stylists in Massachusetts are asking the governor to make an exception to his executive order shutting down non-essential businesses until May 4, calling for a 'soft opening' of salons. The petition, created Wednesday on MoveOn.org, calls for a 'soft opening' of salons on April 27, more than a week before the non-essential business order is expected to lift."
- "State revises guidelines for who gets ventilators in crisis, following complaints about equity," by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts has revised its guidelines for who should get lifesaving medical care if hospitals become overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, a shift that comes in response to widespread concern that the state's initial plan would allow more people from disadvantaged groups to die. The guidelines, which are not mandatory, are intended to help shape the decisions hospitals would make if they do not have enough life-saving equipment, such as ventilators, to serve every patient in need."
- "Massachusetts opens unemployment applications to gig workers, self-employed," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Out-of-work self-employed, gig and contract workers struggling to make ends meet amid coronavirus shutdowns will be able to start earning unemployment insurance in Massachusetts this week as the state rolls out its expanded program under the federal CARES Act."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Mass General models show flattening curve; COVID-19 patients not expected to overwhelm the system during this week's surge," by Liz Kowalczyk, Boston Globe: "Doctors and mathematicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, part of a little-known modeling team, are now optimistic that the number of coronavirus patients has plateaued at their institution, as well as in their larger hospital network, and will not overwhelm clinicians. The Mass. General predictions come at a time when the state is considered a national hotspot for COVID-19 and when data show 100 to 150 Massachusetts residents dying daily from the virus."
- "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says Boston schools likely canceled for the rest of the year," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says 'there's no question' students won't be going back to school on May 4 — the last day schools are required to stay closed under the governor's order. Addressing reporters on Monday, Walsh said he's still in discussions with Gov. Charlie Baker about potentially lifting or extending the order, but said officials are leaning towards closing Boston schools for the remainder of the year."
- "Hospitals redeploy thousands of health care workers to respond to COVID-19 crisis," by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: "In just a few weeks, thousands of Massachusetts hospital workers have been redeployed — suddenly thrust into new roles to respond to the coronavirus crisis. It's an extraordinary effort that reflects the enormity of the pandemic and is crucial to hospitals' ability to manage soaring numbers of patients sick with COVID-19. More than 3,700 people with confirmed or suspected coronavirus already have been hospitalized in Massachusetts."
- "The coronavirus has devastated restaurants. So what will happen when they reopen?" by Erin Kuschner, Boston.com: "Imagine, for a moment, that the dine-in ban has lifted. That we live in a world where restaurants welcome diners to do more than grab a bag of takeout. Picture brunches with friends and post-work drinks with coworkers and birthday dinners and everything like it used to be. Now hold that thought. The coronavirus public health crisis has already left a monumental mark on the restaurant industry, and when we are allowed to dine out again — whether that resumes on May 5 or beyond — it will be far from business as usual."
- "Vocational schools across Mass. donate 13,000 masks, 140,000 gloves to organizations across state," by Matt Berg, Boston Globe: "After Massachusetts schools closed in March to stem the spread of the coronavirus, 27 vocational schools joined together to donate over 13,000 masks, 140,000 gloves, and other valuable supplies to support first responders and medical professionals fighting on the front lines of the pandemic."
- LOL: "She mapped out a perfect plan for Boston Marathon Monday. Just one thing was missing, and it wasn't the race," by Nicole Yang, Boston.com: "Using a fitness app called Strava, Devers designed a roughly eight-mile route that began in the Boston Common and circled through the streets of Back Bay. The circuitous path ended at the marathon's finish line and would spell, 'Boston Strong,' in her app's GPS. Well, that was the plan at least. Once Devers checked her phone, she realized she had made a mistake: The 'N' in 'Boston Strong' was missing. ' Boston Strog,' Devers laughed. 'I'm an idiot.'"
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| PRIMARY SOURCES |
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- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "Former Mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu endorses Alan Khazei for Congress in Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District," from the Khazei campaign: "Citing Alan Khazei's leadership in building the nation's service movement and getting City Year Louisiana launched in record time following Hurricane Katrina, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu endorsed Alan Khazei's bid for Congress in Massachusetts' 4th congressional district."
- "Galvin backs early voting by mail for fall elections," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The state's top elections official is backing expanded voting by mail for this year's elections, due to the uncertainty around the coronavirus's trajectory. But what that process could look like is up in the air, with multiple legislative proposals, some of which Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin says are unworkable."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "For second time, N.H. judge rejects bail request from Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, man charged in deaths of seven motorcyclists," by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: "For the second time, a New Hampshire judge has refused to hold a bail hearing for Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, the Massachusetts man accused of killing seven motorcyclists during a crash in 2019 while he was allegedly on bail from another charge and operating a pickup truck with a trailer under the influence of drugs."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: MOULTON GETS HIS SIGNATURES — Rep. Seth Moulton will turn in 3,710 signatures to get on the ballot in September today, according to his campaign. Moulton stopped collecting signatures in person in early March due to coronavirus, and collected the rest by using volunteer phone banking and the postal service. Candidates for the House need 1,000 certified signatures to get on the ballot. The Supreme Judicial Court reduced that number from 2,000 signatures last week due to the pandemic.
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "Area 4/20 'stoner holiday' recreational marijuana sales go bust amid COVID-19 state shutdowns," by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: " Last year on April 20 at The Summit Lounge, a private marijuana club on Water Street, a local marijuana grower donated flower to share, painting classes were in full swing, and the club reached its capacity by about 2:30 p.m. This year, on Monday 4/20 — 'the national stoner holiday' as club owner Kyle Moon called it — only a couple of employees were at the shuttered club cleaning and painting."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "FINAL SALUTE," — Globe: "Thousands thrust into unfamiliar roles," "Hospitals expect to handle surge." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "The roar of Revolutionary muskets wasn't heard in Lexington on Patriots Day 2020," by John R. Ellement and Joanne Rathe Strohmeyerr, Boston Globe: "This year, there was no roar of muskets on the Lexington Green. The annual commemoration of the battle between Minutemen and British soldiers on April 19, 1775, was not held Monday for only the second time in the past 48 years because of the coronavirus pandemic. For historical reenactors who hold the Patriots Day commemoration dear, it was a heavy blow."
- "City program has paid nearly $300,000 to Quincy landlords," by Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger: "More than 250 Quincy residents have had their rents paid by the city's new rental assistance program established to help those who were laid off from various industries amid the coronavirus pandemic. So far, 240 checks totaling roughly $300,000 have been sent directly to the landlords of waitstaff, bartenders, hotel workers and other hospitality industry employees by the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, President Tim Cahill said Monday."
- "Brewster nursing home virus outbreak infects 60 residents," by Cynthia McCormick and Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: "In one of the Cape's first publicly reported cases of a nursing home outbreak, nearly two-thirds of the residents at Pleasant Bay Nursing & Rehabilitation Center have tested positive for COVID-19. As of Monday, after three rounds of testing, 60 of the 92 residents at the facility on South Orleans Road have tested positive, according to a statement from the town."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Henry Brechter and Chuck Colbert.
NEW EPISODE: THE 'STAY AT HOME' STRETCH - On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray speak with George Cronin of Rasky Partners about the fate of ballot question campaigns during the coronavirus pandemic. 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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