Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Amore’s in for auditor

Thursday, March 3, 2022

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Amore’s in for auditor

EXCLUSIVE: AMORE TALKS AUDITOR RUN — Anthony Amore sought more government transparency when he ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state. Four years later, he’s making the same push while seeking a different office.

Amore is launching his campaign for state auditor today, giving Republicans a foothold in a race that has so far been dominated by Democrats Chris Dempsey and state Sen. Diana DiZoglio.

His calls for transparency aren’t unique in a contest in which all three candidates are aiming to be the state’s next chief accountability officer. What sets him apart, Amore said, is his job experience: auditing and managing security programs for the FAA, and serving as security director and chief investigator for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum ( no, he’s not revealing who stole the art).

He also has pocketbook issues on his mind. “We’re in the midst of record inflation, and it’s having a serious impact on taxpayers in Massachusetts,” Amore, 54, told Playbook in an interview. “As state auditor, I can make sure those taxpayers see their money well spent.”

Amore would start by auditing the auditor’s office. He wants to tackle wasteful spending by state universities, in hopes of easing student loan debt, as well as the “fraud” he says could occur if the state approves drivers’ licenses for undocumented immigrants.

The Winchester Republican also wants to “protect the accomplishments of the Baker administration” — Amore cited Gov. Charlie Baker’s work on health care and housing — “and make sure they’re not undone as soon as [Baker] walks out of office.”

Amore is the third Republican to declare for statewide office this week. The GOP now has candidates for every constitutional office except treasurer — though Amore, a frequent MassGOP critic, isn’t on the same page as his party’s leadership. Beth Lindstrom, who managed Scott Brown’s successful 2010 U.S. Senate bid before launching her own failed Senate run in 2018, will chair Amore’s campaign.

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Speaking of the auditor’s race, DiZoglio joined The Horse Race podcast this week to talk about her social justice and equity audit plan and her fight for transparency around non-disclosure agreements. Here are excerpts from her interview, and check out the full episode:

On auditing the Legislature: “I plan to do a deep dive into our state agencies regarding the abuse of those non-disclosure agreements — find out how many have been used, where they’ve been used, if we can find out why they’ve been used and how much in our tax dollars have been spent on silencing government workers. But I also plan on auditing the Legislature. I’m the only candidate in this race that’s committed to auditing the Legislature.”

On her equity audit: “We know that across the board minority [and] women-owned businesses are not being treated fairly and in the same regard as others, and we are taking a look really at Massport’s 25-point plan that they have to increase diversity in state contracting. They have a great model over there. It’s a good starting point; they want to make sure that 25 percent of their contracts are minority owned.”

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 1 p.m. Rep. Ayanna Pressley hosts a noon press conference to call to end qualified immunity. Rep. Jim McGovern brings House Rules Committee members on a tour of Worcester Public Market at 5:15 p.m. Auditor Suzanne Bump provides closing remarks at the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Women Leading Government Conference at 3:30 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com. Also, we’re aware that some links may be missing from Playbook when we publish. Our engineers are still working on it.

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ABOVE THE FOLD

“Jan. 6 committee says Trump violated multiple laws in effort to overturn election,” by Kyle Cheney and Nicholas Wu, POLITICO: “The Jan. 6 select committee says its evidence has shown that then-President Donald Trump and his campaign tried to illegally obstruct Congress’ counting of electoral votes and ‘engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States.’ In a major release of its findings, filed in federal court late Wednesday, the committee suggested that its evidence supported findings that Trump himself violated multiple laws by attempting to prevent Congress from certifying his defeat. “The Select Committee also has a good-faith basis for concluding that the President and members of his Campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States,” the committee wrote in a filing submitted in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California.”

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— “Massachusetts reports lowest daily count of coronavirus cases in 7 months,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The state Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 907 daily coronavirus cases, down from last Wednesday’s total of 938 infections. The 907 daily virus cases is the lowest single-day tally since 883 cases on Aug. 3.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— WINDS OF CHANGE: House Speaker Ron Mariano is looking to shore up support for the offshore wind bill his chamber plans to take up today. Mariano and state Rep. Jeffrey Roy , the House chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, penned a Boston Globe op-ed arguing that Massachusetts is losing its edge in the offshore wind game and that the bill up for debate this afternoon will help “attract world-class manufacturing facilities, intensive workforce training initiatives, and the investment necessary to prepare our electric distribution system for the energy needs of the future.”

— “Top official at state soldiers’ homes was fired days after bringing safety concerns to state inspector general,” by Andrea Estes, Boston Globe: “The longtime public health official chosen to oversee the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home after a catastrophic COVID outbreak in 2020 said he was terminated for raising concerns that dangerous disease prevention practices persisted even after the deaths of 76 veterans that spring. Eric Sheehan, who was tapped to identify and fix problems at state-run veterans’ homes in Holyoke and Chelsea after the Holyoke tragedy, alleged in a whistle-blower claim that staff continued to place COVID-infected veterans too close to uninfected veterans, a practice that allegedly fueled the original outbreak. Sheehan said he became so worried about safety issues that he went to Inspector General Glenn Cunha. Four days later, in October 2021, Sheehan was fired by the secretary of Veterans’ Services, though it’s unclear if his supervisors knew about his visit to the inspector general.”

— “Governor Charlie Baker visits Springfield to discuss dangerousness bill,” by Kate Wilkinson, WWLP: “It was about listening for the Baker Administration on Wednesday, hearing the stories of survivors who right now feel they are still in danger. … ‘I don’t understand how a state like Massachusetts can be so progressive and so committed to women’s issues are letting this one slide,’ said Governor Baker during an exclusive sit-down interview with 22News.”

— “Mass. says it has 29,000 pending waiver requests for unemployment overpayments,” by Larry Edelman, Boston Globe: “In its most-detailed public accounting of unemployment insurance overpayments, the state said it had nearly 29,000 pending requests for waivers from Massachusetts workers who were later found to be ineligible for benefits or got bigger checks than they should have. The majority of waiver requests are related to pandemic programs paid for by Congress.”

— “Report: MassHealth paying claims to dead people,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “The state’s Medicaid program paid out an estimated $6.4 million in claims to nearly 2,700 dead people over a four-year period, according to a new report.”

— “Transfer fee will be an early test of how Michelle Wu’s policies fare on Beacon Hill,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Even Martin J. Walsh, a former state lawmaker, couldn’t get Beacon Hill on board with it when he was mayor of Boston. Now, facing a crisis in the city’s housing market, his successor will once again ask for state sign-off on a proposal to tax high-dollar real estate transactions to raise money to fund affordable housing.”

— “‘We need to change the system.’ Overcrowded homeless shelters ask state to double its budget,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “[Lyndia Downie, the executive director of shelter provider Pine Street Inn] gave testimony during a virtual meeting calling on legislators to significantly increase portions of the 2023 state budget dedicated to helping homeless providers. Shelters across the state report overcrowding, a lack of staffing resources and a heavy financial burden on shelters and providers that has worsened conditions for those experiencing homelessness.”

— "Less than 10% of applicants have been granted medical parole, frustrating some Mass. lawmakers," by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "Several of the lawmakers, along with some prisoner advocates, said issues at the health care unit inside MCI-Norfolk raised questions about the state's medical parole law."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

— “Mass. pandemic emergency sick leave program to end March 15,” by Mike Deehan, GBH News: “Massachusetts workers who need time off work to recover from COVID-19 infections will have to rely on traditional paid leave benefits starting in less than two weeks, when the state’s pandemic emergency sick leave program expires.”

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston School Committee to give outgoing superintendent $314,000 severance pay,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “The Boston School Committee has agreed to pay Superintendent Brenda Cassellius just over $314,000 — about one year’s pay — when she leaves. Last month, Mayor Michelle Wu and Cassellius announced a split on June 30 by ‘mutual agreement.’ But several people Wednesday night praised the superintendent and questioned whether she was really leaving by choice or being forced out.”

— “Boston board of health takes flak from councilors over meeting frequency, state law,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Several councilors are taking aim at the Boston Public Health Commission, saying the body should be reformed — and that it appears to have ignored state law in abdicating its powers under the emergency declaration.”

— “Kim Janey to track historical landmarks in Boston Foundation appointment,” by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: “Former Boston acting mayor Kim Janey has joined The Boston Foundation for a one-year appointment, spearheading a project that will catalog and preserve historical landmarks in the city’s neighborhoods of color, the foundation announced Tuesday.”

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ON THE STUMP

— “Robyn Kennedy, executive director of YWCA in Central Massachusetts, announces bit for Sen. Harriette Chandler’s seat,” by Michael Bonner, MassLive: “[Robyn] Kennedy’s experience in the statehouse extends back to 2005 working in the office of then Sen. Edward Augustus Jr. She then worked in the office of Gov. Deval Patrick for a year followed by six years for Lt. Gov. Tim Murray as a policy advisor and deputy chief of staff.”

— “Fenton, Morneau announce candidacies for Governor’s Council,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A Springfield attorney who has served his city as a Ward 2 councilor since 2009 and an East Longmeadow resident who is the former president of the Hampden County Bar Association are the first candidates to announce bids to fill the Governor’s Council seat being vacated by Mary Hurley. Michael A. Fenton of Springfield and Jeffrey Morneau of East Longmeadow issued statements Wednesday that they intend to run as Democrats for the 8th District councilor position.”

— “Candidate announces run for Bristol DA,” by Tom Reilly, The Sun Chronicle: “A former Bristol County prosecutor will challenge her former boss in the Democratic primary for district attorney in September. Shannon McMahon, who served under DA Thomas Quinn from 2014 to 2016, announced her candidacy in a virtual press conference Wednesday.”

HEALEY WATCH

— “Maura Healey takes on TikTok,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “After taking on Donald Trump and Purdue Pharma, Attorney General Maura Healey has turned her attention to social media, launching an investigation into the physical and mental health harms to young people caused by the popular short video app TikTok.”

DAY IN COURT

— “Accused Capitol rioter from Athol pleads not guilty in DC court,” by Domenic Poli, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The Athol man arrested in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol pleaded not guilty to seven federal charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday and was released on personal recognizance.”

— “Due in prison in two days, former mayor Jasiel Correia II asks judge for another delay,” by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: “Less than 48 hours before convicted former mayor Jasiel Correia II was scheduled to step foot in a New Hampshire federal prison, his defense attorneys have asked for yet another delay to the start of his six-year sentence for fraud and government corruption.”

RUSSIA-UKRAINE

— “Sen. Ed Markey urges USPS to invest in electric fleet to help ‘empty Vladimir Putin’s oil- and gas-funded piggy bank’,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive: “Sen. Ed Markey pressed the federal government to wean itself off of fossil fuels, arguing that buckling under oil industry pressure and failing to make robust investments in electric vehicles all while importing $20 billion in crude oil from Russia poses significant threats to both public health and national security.”

— “Rep. Ayanna Pressley on Ukraine: ‘We need to treat this for what it is, and that’s a humanitarian crisis’,” by Judie Yuill and Matt Baskin, GBH News: “Well, personally, I continue to oppose further broad-based sanctions, because more broad-based sanctions will punish innocent Russian civilians that are risking their lives and taking to the streets, in fact, in opposition to Putin’s aggression and this violation of international law. So I think what’s important is that we continue to center the people on the ground most directly impacted by this invasion, [Pressley said].”

— “Bans on Russian booze are largely symbolic,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Russian-made spirits have become a target amid the growing backlash against the invasion of Ukraine, with New Hampshire and other states pulling the products from stores shelves in an effort to punish the country. But package store owners and liquor industry officials say the gestures of solidarity with Ukrainians — while admirable — are largely symbolic, as very few vodka brands imported to the United States still produce the liquor in Russia.”

DATELINE D.C.

IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN, BUT… The entire Massachusetts delegation received perfect scores on the League of Conservation Voters Environmental Scorecard.

THE LOWELL CONNECTOR

— “Golden will seek Lowell city manager opening,” by Jacob Vitali, Lowell Sun: “With applications to become the next city manager now open, Democratic state Rep. Tom Golden has confirmed he will apply for the job. … Although Golden will pursue the city manager job, he said he also intends to run for his state representative seat.”

FROM THE 413

— “New allegation of abuse deemed credible against former Pittsfield priest,” by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: “A review board run by the Diocese of Springfield has upheld a new allegation of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest who served parishioners of a Pittsfield church in the mid-1980s.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Call for freedom D.C.-bound: Auburn Mall rally boosts People's Convoy,” by Craig S. Semon, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “‘Let freedom ring!’ That was the universal message promoted by supporters who came out to show solidarity for the People’s Convoy Wednesday in the Auburn Mall parking lot. American and pro-Trump flags were waved by a crowd of a few hundred, as several spoke to rally the crowd during a peaceful demonstration.”

— “State reports rise in cross-border vape smuggling,” by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: “Law enforcement officials reported seizing a sizable amount of banned and untaxed vaping products linked to cross-border smuggling last year, according to a new report by the Multi-Agency Illegal Tobacco Task Force. More than 213,000 ‘electronic nicotine delivery systems’ were seized by state police and members of the task force in the previous fiscal year, the report noted.”

— “The Green Line is coming to Somerville. Big changes are coming too,” by Catherine Carlock, Boston Globe: “With the long-planned extension set to open this month, millions of square feet of development are in the works around Green Line stations in eastern Somerville.”

TRANSITIONS — Former acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Nathaniel Mendell has joined Morrison & Foerster in Boston as a partner in its investigations and white collar defense group.

— Autumn McLaughlin is VP of communications at BlueHub Capital; Caitlin Romasco joins Casner & Edwards as an associate; Dustyn Marie Mascia is now of counsel at Sherin and Lodgen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Sen. Barry Finegold and Grace Nowakoski.

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