Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The debate over debates continues

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The debate over debates continues

Presented by National Grid

TAKING AIM — It wasn’t the pre-convention debate that Sonia Chang-Díaz wanted, but the state senator still got a few licks in against Democratic gubernatorial rival Maura Healey during a forum last night.

Chang-Díaz challenged the two-term state attorney general’s record on race and equity issues throughout the Boston Ward 4 and Ward 5 Democrats’ forum moderated by GBH’s Callie Crossley. It’s the first of two April forums to which Healey agreed in response to Chang-Díaz’s call for three pre-convention debates.

By the end of the hour, Chang-Díaz was appealing directly to Healey, not to the Democratic activists on the Zoom.

“Candidate to candidate, person to person, I think we both acknowledge that debates are the cornerstone of our democracy,” Chang-Díaz said. “We've already received offers from NBC Boston and [GBH] to host debates before the convention. So I want to ask you tonight, right now, will you agree to participate in these debates with me for the good of the people of Massachusetts?”

Healey, after a few moments of awkwardness, replied that “we actually have a debate next week” — in reference to a WBUR and Environmental League of Massachusetts forum next Wednesday — and said “I look forward to continuing to talk about policy over the next six weeks.”

Healey took some of the wind out of Chang-Díaz’s sails heading into last night’s forum by finally releasing a policy proposal, responding to a major critique of her campaign by prioritizing a key issue that’s driven Democratic primary voters to the polls before: climate change.

Her ambitious plan calls for reaching 100 percent clean electricity by 2030; establishing a Cabinet-level climate chief; and electrifying MBTA and school buses by 2030 and all public transportation by 2040.

There were openings for Chang-Díaz to hammer Healey over her climate plan during the forum: Healey wants “affordable” transportation but stops short of calling to make it fare-free in her plan. She also didn’t mention East-West rail, another thing Chang-Díaz has championed. But Healey talked at length about her climate plan last night with little pushback from Chang-Díaz beyond a dig about being late to the game. Maybe that will change next week. Some argue it needs to.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Sometimes Playbook takes a village. There are going to be a few people helping me out the rest of this week (shout out to Madison Fernandez for pitching in today, and a big thank you, as always, to my editors). Please bear with us and keep the emails coming at lkashinsky@politico.com!

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito participate in a roundtable on the administration’s dangerousness and “revenge porn” legislation at 10:30 a.m. in Salem. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jim McGovern discuss a federally funded rail trail project at 11:45 a.m. at Northampton City Hall. McGovern holds a listening session at VFW Post 8006 in Florence at 5:30 p.m. Rep. Jake Auchincloss speaks at the Atlantic Council’s New American Engagement Initiative at 2 p.m.

HOW DID NATURAL GAS BECOME 'RENEWABLE' ?

A message from National Grid:

There Is A Better Way. National Grid is announcing our path to a fossil-free energy future. By using renewable natural gas, and green hydrogen produced from water using wind energy, we can achieve a fossil-free energy future by 2050 or earlier.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— “The count of 10,624 breakthrough infections last week was a 156% spike from the 4,154 fully vaccinated cases during the prior week,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The state Department of Public Health reported a daily average of 1,629 COVID-19 cases over the holiday weekend, which was up 22% from the daily rate of 1,333 infections during the previous weekend. … In the state’s weekly breakthrough report, the count of 10,624 breakthrough infections last week was a 156% spike from the 4,154 fully vaccinated cases during the prior week.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— NOT SO FAST: Gov. Charlie Baker’s bill to reform the state’s criminal dangerousness law isn’t dead, but it’s not going anywhere fast. The judiciary committee now has until June 30 to act on the dangerousness bill, plus Baker’s attempt to update the state’s wiretapping law. Baker’s keeping up his pressure on lawmakers to act on his dangerousness bill and legislation that would outlaw “revenge porn” by participate in another roundtable with survivors at 10:30 a.m. at Salem State University.

— “ Baker, with business backing, renews push for tax relief,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Baker’s fiscal 2023 budget proposal included tax breaks for seniors, renters, low-income taxpayers, and parents of dependent children. It would modify the estate tax and lower the tax rate on short-term capital gains. The proposal comes as Massachusetts is awash in money from state tax revenues and federal COVID recovery aid. But the House Ways and Means Committee, in a budget proposal that will be debated by the full House next week, declined to adopt any tax changes. House Ways and Means chair Aaron Michlewitz said House leaders prioritized reinvesting in programs and services, like early childhood education and job training.”

— “Commission to review Mass. state seal and motto struggling to get the job done,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “A special commission charged with reviewing and possibly revamping Massachusetts’ official state seal and motto decided Tuesday to request a third extension to finish that job. The commission is now asking the Legislature for a deadline of March 31, 2023 to complete its work. The legislation that created the commission originally established a deadline of October 1, 2021 for the body to issue its findings.”

— “Baker opposes fed charter school rule change,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Gov. Charlie Baker has joined 17 other Republican governors calling on the Biden administration to put the brakes on a new Department of Education rule that they argue will make it more difficult for privately run charter schools to get federal funding. In a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Baker and other governors outline their opposition to the proposed rules and call on the administration to suspend implementation of the regulations for a year to give the public more time to weigh in on the plans.”

— “After two Governor’s Council members side with Devaney, meeting livestreams restored,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “After a month-and-a-half-long crusade by Governor’s Council member Marilyn Devaney to restore the Governor’s Council livestream, the video will return for the next meeting on April 20. Devaney issued a motion to restore the livestream during a previous meeting, which died without a second. Tuesday morning, two additional council members, Eileen Duff and Mary Hurley, issued a statement calling for the restoration of the stream using the same platform the state Legislature uses to stream every meeting.”

— “Report: Voters might not have final say in referendum,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Massachusetts voters go to the polls in November to decide whether Uber and Lyft drivers should be classified as independent contractors, but a new report suggests that might not be the final word on the issue. The report, released Wednesday by Tufts University’s Center for State Policy Analysis, notes that a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Maura Healey, which calls for recognizing drivers as employees under the state’s wage and hour laws, is unlikely to be fully resolved by the Nov. 8 elections.”

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VAX-ACHUSETTS

— “CDC estimates new Omicron version accounts for 20 percent of New England COVID-19 cases,” by Martin Finucane, Boston Globe: “The new subvariant, BA.2.12.1, was in the news after it was spotted along with another new subvariant in New York and blamed last week by officials there for pushing up cases in the central part of the state. … BA.2 still accounted for 75.6 percent of cases in New England as of Saturday, according to CDC estimates. (The CDC included the other subvariant detected in New York, BA.2.12, in the BA.2 count.) But BA.2.12.1, which experts say appears to be even more contagious, has been coming on strong. It has been accounting for a rapidly growing share of cases, rising from 1.5 percent on March 19 to 20 percent on Saturday.”

FROM THE HUB

— IT’S BACK: Boston magazine dropped its annual ranking of the “100 Most Influential Bostonians” yesterday, and Mayor Michelle Wu topped the list, followed by Rep. Ayanna Pressley in the No. 2 spot. State Attorney General and Democratic frontrunner for governor Maura Healey is ranked seventh, ahead of Sen. Elizabeth Warren in eighth. Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark, Sen. Ed Markey, and Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito (as a team) are also on the list, though it should be noted none of them actually live in Boston. Other notables include secretary of state hopeful Tanisha Sullivan, former state senator and Black Boston Covid-19 Coalition cofounder Dianne Wilkerson, the Bay State Banner’s Yawu Miller and … Patriots QB Mac Jones?

— “Homes in the Boston area are growing even more expensive this spring,” by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: “The median price for a single-family home in Greater Boston hit $789,500 in March, according to the Greater Boston Association of Realtors, up 9.4 percent from the same month last year. Condominium prices climbed at the same pace, to $675,000, the highest median price GBAR has ever recorded.”

A message from National Grid:

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “Mass. officials: Masks will no longer be required on the MBTA or at airports,” by Martin Finucane, Boston Globe: “People will no longer be required to wear masks on the MBTA or at Logan International Airport, state officials announced Tuesday in the wake of a federal judge’s ruling that voided the national mask mandate for public transportation. … Most of the state’s 15 regional transit authorities were also dropping mask requirements, but people should check with their RTA to confirm, the officials said. Masks will still be required by users of MBTA’s paratransit service, The RIDE.”

— More: “ Justice Department punts mask ruling appeal to CDC,” by Sarah Owermohle, Adam Cancryn, Erin Banco and David Lim, POLITICO.

ON THE STUMP

— THE HORSE RACES: The new UMass Lowell Democratic primary poll shows a nearly dead heat in the state auditor race between Chris Dempsey and state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, with more than half of likely voters still undecided. In the lieutenant governor race, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll leads the field with 22 percent support, followed by state Sen. Eric Lesser with 10 percent, state Rep. Tami Gouveia with 9 percent and state Sen. Adam Hinds with 7 percent. UMass Lowell didn't include Bret Bero. Nearly half of likely voters are still undecided for LG.

— “With new climate plan, AG Healey aims high,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “Attorney General Maura Healey, who has said she would be the ‘most aggressive governor in the country on climate,’ spelled out a plan for addressing the climate crisis if she’s elected that includes appointing a cabinet-level climate chief and pledging to achieve a 100 percent clean electricity supply by the end of the decade. Her plan, released Tuesday, calls for tackling each of the state’s three major sources of emissions — buildings, transportation, and power plants — with a broad program of benchmarks and reforms that includes hard deadlines for meeting emissions targets. It includes proposals to allow cities and towns to ban natural gas in new buildings, and pledges to convert 1 million homes to electric heat and replace 1 million gas burning cars with electric by the end of the decade.”

— More: “Healey climate plan calls for cabinet czar,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “ Democratic gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey began to flesh out her policy positions on Tuesday by unveiling a climate change plan that calls for the appointment of cabinet-level official to oversee and coordinate the effort and sets ambitious goals for eliminating the use of fossil fuels in generating electricity and powering the MBTA.”

— “Attleboro mayor 'not surprised' Baker backing Sheriff Thomas Hodgson for re-election,” by Tom Reilly, The Sun Chronicle: “The fact that two Republicans widely seen as moderates are helping launch the re-election campaign of the famously Trump-friendly sheriff of Bristol County has raised some political eyebrows statewide. But not everywhere.”

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DAY IN COURT

— “Ex-chair of tribe that welcomed Pilgrims goes on trial,” the Associated Press: “A former chairperson of the Massachusetts tribe whose ancestors aided the Pilgrims goes on trial Tuesday for bribery, extortion and other federal charges related to the tribe’s planned casino project. Cedric Cromwell’s criminal trial opens in U.S. District Court in Boston after being delayed for months by the coronavirus pandemic. He’ll be on trial with co-defendant David DeQuattro, the owner of an architecture firm in Providence, Rhode Island.”

— “Judge declines to dismiss Capitol riot case against former Natick resident,” by Abby Patkin, MetroWest Daily News: “A federal judge has denied former Town Meeting member Sue Ianni’s motion to dismiss charges stemming from her alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot.”

WARREN REPORT

— LISTEN: to Sen. Elizabeth Warren answer “questions on the midterms, messaging, favorite D.C. scandals, and more” on yesterday’s episode of “Pod Save America.”

— “Biden administration eases student loan forgiveness through income-based repayment plans,” by Michael Stratford, POLITICO: “The Biden administration on Tuesday announced changes to federal student loan repayment plans that will make it easier for millions of borrowers to have their debts forgiven after being required to pay for 20 or 25 years.”

HOW DID NATURAL GAS BECOME 'RENEWABLE' ?

A message from National Grid:

National Grid is announcing our path to a fossil-free energy future for our customers and communities. Our fossil-free plan will help achieve the Northeast’s aggressive climate goals and set a new standard for energy companies.

We will use renewable natural gas, green hydrogen generated from wind and solar power, battery storage, and greater energy efficiency to make our National Grid system fossil-free by 2050 or earlier. Climate scientists say renewable natural gas is a win-win for the environment.

There Is A Better Way to keep energy affordable, reliable, and clean. That’s why we are creating a hybrid pathway that preserves customer choice while delivering the clean, affordable energy future our customers want and deserve. See How.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

— “A fossil-free National Grid? Critics call it a pipe dream,” by Bruce Gellerman, WBUR: “The company’s ‘clean energy vision’ is designed to transform the way the gas utility provides heat throughout its New England territory, while continuing to rely on its vast gas infrastructure. Currently, most homes and businesses in the region burn natural gas for heat, which National Grid distributes to customers through a network of pipelines. By mid-century, if the company fails to change its business model, the net-zero requirements of the state climate law will essentially put it out of business. … The key to National Grid’s plan is using their same pipeline distribution system, but providing a different mix of gas, said Stephen Woerner, regional president of the utility: ‘We eliminate fossil fuels and we replace them with renewable natural gas and green hydrogen.’”

— “Don't skip environmental justice in rush to build infrastructure, advocates warn,” by Emma Foehringer Merchant, GBH News: “Gov. Charlie Baker is asking the Massachusetts Legislature to approve a $9.7 billion transportation and environmental infrastructure bond bill to help build bridges, roads and railways across the commonwealth. But some advocates worry the state is not taking the steps necessary to ensure such projects don’t do undue harm to low-income or minority communities.”

FROM THE 413

— “Is West Stockbridge 'full of drama?' Police are investigating someone running over a campaign sign,” by Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle: “Police are investigating after someone drove their vehicle onto the lawn of a Select Board member who is up for reelection, in an apparent attempt to flatten his campaign sign. Police also are trying to find out who stole three of the signs in two areas of town belonging to Eric Shimelonis, who is running for a second term.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Worcester names four finalists for school superintendent,” by Scott O’Connell: “The candidates are Charles Grandson, chief equity and strategy officer for the Boston Public Schools; Sonya Harrison, assistant superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia; Rachel Monarrez, deputy superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District in San Bernardino, California; and Malika Savoy-Brooks, chief of academic support for the Philadelphia schools.”

MEDIA MATTERS

— “Joe Kahn named next executive editor of The New York Times,” by Michael M. Grynbaum and Jim Windolf, New York Times: “Kahn will succeed Dean Baquet, whose eight-year tenure is expected to conclude in June. He has local ties, growing up outside Boston and serving as president of Harvard’s undergraduate daily, The Crimson.”

MEANWHILE IN MAINE

— "Biden pushes infrastructure plans in visit to New Hampshire," by Chris Megerian, Associated Press: “President Joe Biden went to Portsmouth Harbor in New Hampshire on Tuesday to highlight how last year’s infrastructure bill can improve shipping and help resolve the country’s supply chain debacles that have contributed to inflation at a 40-year high. The president used the trip to say that America is healthier than ever as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic and a severe but short recession. It’s a crucial message as polling suggests many voters are uncomfortable about the future and Biden’s own economic leadership as high inflation has overwhelmed the job gains during his watch.”

— EYES EMOJI: Biden’s visit to New Hampshire, his second in six months, comes as speculation swirls about whether he’ll run for president again in 2024 — The Hill reports that Biden told former President Barack Obama that he's in — and about whether Democrats facing tough reelection fights will stand with Biden or distance themselves from a president with poor approval ratings. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), for instance, has spoken out against Biden’s recent decision to lift Title 42. But yesterday she said that it was an “honor” to work with the president and her colleagues to pass the infrastructure law. Biden, in return, praised Hassan as a “key player” in the bill and called her “one of my friends for a long, long time.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to state Rep. Dan Hunt, Jessie Zimmerer, David Beauregard and Colin Reed.

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