| | |  | By Stephanie Murray | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! VP BUZZ ON BEACON HILL — As speculation about Joe Biden‘s running mate continues to grow, Sen. Elizabeth Warren‘s name keeps coming up. Warren has spoken with Biden by phone, according to a Washington Post report. She’s remained in the public eye, and California Rep. Ro Khanna, a national co-chair of the Bernie Sanders campaign, said “she needs to be on the ticket” in a Twitter thread this week. One person who is not speculating on the veepstakes is Gov. Charlie Baker, who said he’s focused on the state’s coronavirus response, and not what would happen if Biden chooses Warren to join him on the Democratic ticket. If a vacancy did occur, the Republican Baker has the power to appoint an interim senator to serve until a special election. "I haven't spent two seconds thinking about that. Really haven't,” Baker said at a press briefing on Thursday. But at least one Beacon Hill Democrat is thinking about it. A House lawmaker is drafting legislation that would require the governor to appoint a member of the same party as the departing senator to the seat, and expects the first draft of a bill in the next week or so. Of course, this all depends on two huge variables: Whether Biden chooses Warren, and whether they win in November. It wouldn’t be unheard of for the legislature to change the law around a Senate vacancy — lawmakers changed the rules in 2004 and again in 2010. But this time around, some may be reluctant to vote for a change during an election year, especially when the state is in crisis mode and Baker is so popular. And keep in mind Warren doesn’t have the same deep connection to the legislature as the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, whose seat was at issue the last time the law was changed. Several lawmakers I spoke to said things may get more serious if the Biden campaign got involved. MOULTON RAISING MONEY FOR MA-04 DEMS — Rep. Seth Moulton has said he will not endorse in the race to replace Rep. Joe Kennedy III, but the congressman appeared as the special guest at a virtual fundraiser for Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss last month, and he will appear at a fundraiser for City Year co-founder Alan Khazei in the coming weeks, according to Khazei’s campaign. Moulton's leadership PAC, Serve America, has placed both candidates on its watchlist, which it uses for races that have multiple service-oriented candidates. Moulton appeared at an April 23 fundraiser for Auchincloss, an Afghanistan veteran, hosted by Foley Hoag attorneys Brian Carey and Paul Kim. And Moulton has known Khazei since 2006, when they recruited young veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan to attend a “ServiceNation” summit. "The watch list isn’t an endorsement, but Seth is happy to appear as a guest at events for any candidate on the list," Moulton spokesperson Michaela Johnson said. "There's a crowded field here and they are both great candidates—and ultimately we want someone with a service background to win this race.” Auchincloss and Khazei are the two top fundraisers in the 4th District race. Both have raised more than $1 million over the course of their campaigns. If campaign contributions dry up, particularly from small dollar donors as the economy trends downward, fundraising could be key for candidates to buy television and digital ads to stand out in the crowded field. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Rep. Lori Trahan and Rep. Bill Keating speak with reporters about the HEROES Act. Rep. Seth Moulton speaks at an end-of-year celebration for Georgetown University students. State Sen. Eric Lesser and his mother Dr. Joan Granucci Lesser discuss Covid-19 and mental health via livestream. | |
| | JOIN TODAY - HOW DOES THE GLOBAL ECONOMY START MOVING AGAIN? The pandemic has caused the global economy to come to a halt, triggering economic crises around the world. What happens next? Join Global Translations author Ryan Heath today at 1 p.m. EDT for a virtual discussion with Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, focused on the trade-offs and investments needed to get the global economy moving again, the role that China can be expected to play, and how growing debt and deficits will impact the developing world. Have questions? Submit yours by tweeting it to @POLITICOLive using #AskPOLITICO. REGISTER HERE TO PARTICIPATE. | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Mass. officials announce 167 new coronavirus deaths, 1,685 more cases as state sees 3rd highest testing day,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts health officials confirmed on Thursday that another 167 people died of coronavirus, bringing the statewide death toll to 5,482. Officials also confirmed another 1,685 cases of the virus, for a total of at least 82,182 across the state. That’s based on 14,329 tests conducted on Thursday, according to the state’s Department of Public Health.” – “1 Million Job Losses: The Economic Toll Of The Coronavirus In Mass. Keeps Rising,” by Callum Borchers, WBUR: “More than 1 million Massachusetts workers have lost jobs in the age of the coronavirus, a sobering total that underscores the challenge ahead, as the state develops a recovery plan. In the past eight weeks, 826,013 workers have filed initial claims for conventional unemployment insurance, according to U.S. Labor Department figures published Thursday. That is more than during the 18-month Great Recession.” | | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| – “Baker wants to be world’s biggest COVID-19 tester,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker unveiled a COVID-19 testing initiative on Thursday that he said would make Massachusetts the biggest tester on a per capita basis in the world. Massachusetts is already a worldwide leader in testing. The state averaged 10,377 COVID-19 tests a day in May and has the capacity to do 30,000 tests a day.” – “In Mass., dozens of illegal evictions attempted, despite pandemic moratoriums, Healey says,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “The state’s top law enforcement official has stopped dozens of illegal evictions in Massachusetts in recent weeks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities said this week. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s office said it has received about 15 complaints of illegal evictions since a statewide moratorium went into effect, and has secured the withdrawal of almost 50 evictions that were filed against tenants in court before the state law went into effect.” – “Massachusetts officials want more voting options during coronavirus pandemic, but can’t agree on execution,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: “Speaker after speaker told lawmakers Thursday that more opportunities to vote by mail and more early voting will help the statewide elections in September and November proceed with minimal risks of COVID-19 transmission. But on the specific details of how to do that -- whether to mail ballots to every voter or only those who request one, how long in-person early voting periods should last, and how polling places should be spread out to maintain social distancing -- there was frequent disagreement.” – “Massachusetts short-term borrowing bill during coronavirus pandemic heads to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “As the cost of containing the coronavirus accumulates, Gov. Charlie Baker’s bill authorizing the state to borrow money to fill any spending gaps this fiscal year is a signature away from becoming law. The Massachusetts Senate enacted the bill Thursday during its first remote session, following the House’s vote Wednesday enacting the legislation.” – “Audits uncovering non-compliant nursing homes,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Audits of more than 350 skilled nursing homes across the state indicate a minority but significant number of the facilities are not in adherence with a 28-point checklist of infection control procedures, industry sources said. The sources said they didn’t have exact numbers, but some industry officials complained privately that the audit process itself was chaotic with mixed messages on the standards for inspections.” – “Massachusetts casinos may be last in the country to reopen, companies tell Gaming Commission; shutdown extended to at least June 1,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “Representatives for Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission Thursday that they expect the state’s casinos to be among the last in the country to reopen following shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Many police departments are giving out masks instead of fines for scofflaws amid coronavirus,” by Emily Sweeney and Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Roughly one week after Governor Charlie Baker’s statewide order requiring people to wear face coverings in public when they can’t socially distance to combat the spread of COVID-19, many police departments are reluctant to fine violators, preferring instead to distribute masks and educate the public on the need to wear them.” – “Should employers check temperatures? Major Mass. businesses are split.” by Greg Ryan, Boston Business Journal: “Century Bank is taking them. Suffolk Construction, too. Stop & Shop is checking them, but not in every store. Putnam Investments is interested in doing so. But Ernst & Young’s Boston office has no such plans. Goodwin’s local office isn’t so sure, either. When it comes to checking employee temperatures at the workplace to screen for Covid-19, it seems there are as many plans in place as there are employers in Massachusetts.” – “Colleges anticipate big drop in international student enrollment due to coronavirus pandemic,” by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: “Stricter US visa policies and anti-immigration rhetoric have slowly eroded international student enrollment at American colleges and universities in recent years, but the coronavirus pandemic is shaping up to be a far greater threat and could sharpen the financial pain for many institutions.” – “CVS Opening 10 Drive-Thru Test Sites In Mass.” The Associated Press: “CVS is opening 10 new COVID-19 test sites at Massachusetts pharmacy locations starting Friday, the company said. The sites are in Bridgewater, Carver, Charlton, Danvers, Northampton, Raynham, Wellesley, Westport, West Springfield and Worcester.” – “Advocates Say 'There Needs To Be A Plan' To End Mass. Prison Lockdown,” by Jenifer B. McKim, WGBH News: “Massachusetts prisoners have been in an unprecedented lockdown for six weeks in the state’s 16 prison facilities in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, prompting concerns among advocates and some state officials about whether the practice is posing a new slew of health threats.” – “Western Mass., Cape & Islands hit hardest by unemployment during coronavirus pandemic, analysis suggests,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “Parts of Western Massachusetts and the Cape & Islands are seeing some of the highest numbers of unemployed workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Pioneer Institute analysis. Barnstable and Berkshire counties have the highest percentage of the share of the state’s unemployed, with 28% and 27.9% of workers currently out of work, according to the study.” | | PRIMARY SOURCES |
| – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: “Massachusetts Norfolk County (Franklin & Medway) Representative Jeffrey Roy Endorses Alan Khazei For Ma-04,” from the Khazei campaign: “Massachusetts State Representative and Chairman of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, Jeffrey Roy, announced his endorsement of Alan Khazei’s bid for Congress in the fourth congressional district … Calling Khazei a ‘movement leader, coalition builder, and policy innovator,’ Representative Roy highlighted his belief that Khazei is the candidate who is most prepared to effectively represent the 4th district in Washington.” – “Ed Markey, Joe Kennedy III to debate in Springfield June 1 after coronavirus delay,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “The primary race between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III will pick up steam in the coming weeks, as the candidates prepare to face off in a televised debate on the evening of June 1. Initially planned for mid-March in Springfield, the debate was delayed in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.” | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES |
| – “With low ridership, the MBTA is planning to expedite repairs, starting with the Blue Line,” by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: “It’s a question that flummoxed transportation officials even before the coronavirus pandemic: Is it better to slowly fix crumbling infrastructure bit by bit over a long period of time, or create a much greater inconvenience by shutting down entire MBTA lines for a few weeks to get the work done quickly?” | | DAY IN COURT |
| – “Pastor from Adams Square Baptist Church sues city, Gov. Charlie Baker after being fined for in-person services during coronavirus pandemic,” by Melissa Hanson and Scott J. Croteau, MassLive.com: “The pastor of the Adams Square Baptist Church in Worcester has sued the city and the governor after being fined for holding in-person services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Charlie Baker has issued an order banning any gatherings larger than 10 people.” – “Courts to start reopening in phases this summer,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Massachusetts courthouses are tentatively planning to start reopening for in-person proceedings in phases at some point this summer with jury trials set to resume in September if schools reopen, according to a letter sent to members of the bar by the leaders of the state court system.” | | WARREN REPORT |
| – “Warren, Levin introduce legislation for federal contact tracing program,” by Zack Budryk, The Hill: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) on Thursday introduced legislation that would establish a federal coronavirus contact tracing program, calling for it to be incorporated into the next relief package to pass Congress.” | | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| – “Rep. Trahan, Sen. Markey hit nursing homes in Facebook Live broadcast,” by Aaron Curtis, The Lowell Sun: “U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and Sen. Ed Markey held a Facebook Live broadcast to discuss the need for increased oversight at nursing homes amid the coronavirus pandemic, as well as their support of the $3.3 trillion coronavirus relief package unveiled Tuesday .” – “After PPP ‘failure,’ Rep. Pressley pushes new grants for small businesses,” by Allison DeAngelis, Boston Business Journal: “Federal lawmakers and members of the hard-hit restaurant industry, which struggled with how to handle the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, are eyeing new legislation that could provide $124 billion in aid. U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley on Thursday joined celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, local restaurateur Michael Leviton, Besse King of Boston’s Villa Mexico and others to discuss on a virtual call the state of the restaurant industry.” | | KENNEDY COMPOUND |
| – “‘We have a lot of work to do’ on combating coronavirus, ousted vaccine expert Dr. Rick Bright tells Rep. Joe Kennedy III,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “Dr. Rick Bright, who helped lead coronavirus vaccine efforts before a demotion sparked his whistleblower complaint on the Trump administration’s pandemic response, warned lawmakers Thursday that steep challenges remained in combating the outbreak while reopening the U.S. economy.” | | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| – “Smog-Causing Pollutant Way Down In Mass. — For Now,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “Traffic has dropped by about half in Massachusetts during the coronavirus shutdown, and that means cleaner air, at least for now. NASA data indicates that the level of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which comes mostly from cars and trucks, has dropped about 30% in the Northeastern United States. And that regional drop seems to be playing out locally, says Jeffrey Geddes, an assistant professor of earth and environment at Boston University.” | | ABOVE THE FOLD |
| — Herald: “PERFECT STORM,” “GIVE THE KID A SHOT,” — Globe: “Making space by sharing the roads,” “Baker wants more tests, as cases persist.” | | FROM THE 413 |
| – “Senator, advocates speak to how COVID-19 is ‘shining a light on hunger’’ by Anita Fritz, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Farmers and advocates looking to end hunger in the Pioneer Valley and beyond met online this week to discuss with state Sen. Jo Comerford what can be done. Comerford, D-Northampton, brought advocates together to discuss not only the issues and how they might be resolved but the ‘inequities related to food insecurity.’” – “Mayor Bernard can enforce conditions on Crane reopening, state confirms,” by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: “The mayor of North Adams is within his rights to demand Crane Stationery Co. prove it reopened for ‘essential’ work during a pandemic, according to the state Department of Labor Standards. The company refused to comply but opened anyway, triggering $4,000 in fines as of Thursday.” | | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| – “New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell: For An Industrial City, 'Zoom Doesn't Do You Much Good,'” by Zoe Mathews, WGBH News: “Massachusetts remains one of the hardest hit states in America from the coronavirus pandemic, complicating decisions about a potential reopening of businesses. Jon Mitchell, mayor of New Bedford, joined Boston Public Radio to outline what steps the industrial city has taken to ensure safety in a new normal.” – “Central Mass. hospitals losing millions in coronavirus fight,” by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: “At first glance, it doesn’t seem to make much sense. Furloughs at some hospitals in the midst of a pandemic? Record financial losses as patients flood intensive care units? However, interviews with several hospital and healthcare executives paint a dire picture of hospital finances because of the coronavirus.” – “To prevent ‘Zoom bombing,’ Milford seeks to limit public access to remote meetings,” by Alison Bosma, MetroWest Daily News: “Boards and committees in Milford are being asked to limit public comment at remote meetings. ‘It’s a learning curve, we’re still learning this, we’re taking baby steps,’ town attorney Charles Boddy said Monday night. ‘We don’t need to jump in and take unnecessary risks, and when it comes to just allowing generally anyone, at any time to participate, it is an unnecessary risk.’” | | MEDIA MATTERS |
| – “WCVB-TV president and general manager Bill Fine will retire later this year,” by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: “Bill Fine, the president and general manager of WCVB-TV Channel 5, announced Thursday that he plans to retire from Hearst Television later this year. A Massachusetts native and Boston University alum, Fine began his television broadcasting as a sports anchor in the 1970s and went on to become a successful executive leading two of Hearst’s largest TV properties, according to a press release from WCVB-TV.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to MuckRock executive editor J. Patrick Brown, Jay Hulings and Kevin Connor. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to Christian Scorzoni and The Lowell Sun’s Alana Melanson, who both celebrate Saturday, and to Jamie Hoag and Ralph Neas, who celebrate Sunday. NEW EPISODE: H-O-R-S-E – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith, Maeve Duggan and Stephanie Murray discuss the state’s plans to reopen, and a recent poll of Massachusetts nurses. Special guest Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics talks about the future of the NBA. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud, or watch on Facebook. 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. | |
| | POLITICO Magazine Justice Reform: The Decarceration Issue, presented by Verizon: Over the past decade, the longstanding challenge of criminal-justice reform has emerged into the spotlight with a new twist: Both Republicans and Democrats are onboard. But if both parties want to lower the incarceration rate, why are our jail and prison populations still so high? The latest series from POLITICO Magazine works to answer this important question and take a deeper look into what it will take to make progress in the policy and politics of justice reform. READ THE FULL ISSUE. | | | | | | |
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