Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Republicans' latest feud

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Republicans' latest feud

FIGHTING WORDS — Republicans are sparring with each other again, but not for the usual reasons.

Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette, a Republican challenging Rep. Jim McGovern, wants lieutenant governor hopeful Kate Campanale to drop out of that contest over her 2018 legislative vote against banning so-called conversion therapy — or to at least do a better job of explaining her position. His new call comes after Sossa-Paquette, who is gay, hammered Campanale on the issue in a series of tweets yesterday.

Campanale was one of 14 House lawmakers who voted against banning the use of conversion therapy — a discredited program that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity — on minors. Campanale’s vote has dogged her since she set foot on the campaign trail as Chris Doughty’s running mate in the governor’s race.

Campaign spokesperson Holly Robichaud told Playbook that neither candidate supports conversion therapy, and that Campanale’s vote was against a bill “that would have prevented therapist[s] from engaging freely with their clients.” That’s similar to how both Campanale and Doughty have explained her stance in recent interviews.

It’s strange to see a congressional candidate going after one of his party’s LG hopefuls rather than his Democratic rival. But issues like this are deeply personal, especially for Sossa-Paquette, who was the target of antigay remarks by a GOP state committee member last year who was “sickened” that he and his husband had adopted children.

The continued focus on Campanale’s old conversion-therapy vote also comes as political fights over gender identity and sexual orientation play out in other — often redder — states. And as national politics infiltrate local races, Bay State candidates may find themselves increasingly questioned over — or held accountable for — these broader trends.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. State Rep. Liz Miranda is out with a new campaign video emphasizing her local roots and her legislative accomplishments as she vies for the open Second Suffolk state Senate seat that cuts through the heart of Boston’s predominantly Black neighborhoods

“If you’re afraid your family won’t be able to afford to live in a neighborhood they love, this campaign is for you,” Miranda narrates in the three-minute video titled “Brick by Brick," adding, “We have the chance to co-build this movement that redefines what is politically possible: bringing the power from Blue Hill Avenue all the way to Beacon Hill.”

Miranda is also staffing up. She’s hired Richeline Cadet as her deputy campaign manager and Joseph Okafor, who was with her 2018 state representative campaign, as organizing director. Kevin Higgins, Miranda’s former legislative aide, is her finance director. Her campaign said she's also collected enough signatures to get on the ballot.

The Second Suffolk race is shaping up to be one of Boston’s biggest political battles this year. Miranda has so far out-raised her rivals, state Rep. Nika Elugardo and the Rev. Miniard Culpepper. But Culpepper, who's only been in the race for a month, has the most cash on hand after raising $59,132 in March.

TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito speaks at the WBDC Reactory Summit at 8 a.m. in Worcester. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu discusses progress toward electrifying the city’s vehicle fleet at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School at 10 a.m. Rep. Lori Trahan participates in a “Gouged at the Gas Station: Big Oil and America’s Pain at the Pump” subcommittee hearing at 10:30 a.m.

Tips? Scoops? Are you the Boston-area woman whose Whole Foods is facing food shortages? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

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BIDEN TIME

— STUDENT LOAN STRUGGLE: The White House plans to extend the pause on federal student loan payments through the end of August. But even as they cheered the move, some Bay State Democrats again urged President Joe Biden to go further.

“Welcome news. Now #CancelStudentDebt,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who’s been pushing the president to wipe out up to $50,000 in federal student loan debt per borrower, tweeted . Pressley’s office cited “record support in Congress” for canceling student loan debt after nearly 100 lawmakers signed onto a letter last week urging Biden to extend the payment pause.

State Attorney General Maura Healey, who’s fought for student debt cancellation alongside Pressley and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, said extending the moratorium is a “good step” but that she continues to “advocate for the discharge of student loans across this country by the Biden administration through executive action.”

If she becomes governor, Healey said there is “a lot we can do when it comes to reducing student debt, and part of that has to do with investments in public higher education, which I’m very supportive of.” Asked by Playbook whether that means free community or public college, Healey reiterated the need for “more funding” and said there’s a “deeper discussion” to be had.

Her Democratic rival, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, has called for debt-free public college for Massachusetts students and also supports canceling federal student loan debt.

GOP former state Rep. Geoff Diehl said “we shouldn’t be focusing on loan forgiveness” and that what college students “need most” are “lower education costs in the first place and a quality job once they graduate.” Republican Chris Doughty supports reducing student loan debt by treating it “like a 401k contribution and matching assistance programs.”

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— “Massachusetts coronavirus cases jump by 27%, hospitalizations rise,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The state Department of Public Health reported 1,116 COVID-19 cases, a 27% increase from 882 infections recorded last Tuesday. Health officials are warning that the omicron BA.2 ‘stealth’ variant is spreading around the region.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Senate unionization bid could test pro-labor stance of Spilka,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “Staffers in the Massachusetts Senate — and soon the House — are pushing to unionize. But in an ironic twist, their ability to unionize is dependent on the agreement of Senate and House leadership — the same people who will sit on the opposite side of any bargaining table. … The IBEW maintains that [Senate President Karen] Spilka can voluntarily accept the union, should she choose to do so. If she does not, it will require legislation passed by the House and Senate and signed by the governor to change the law. … Under House and Senate procedures, it is House and Senate leadership who decide whether a bill is brought to the floor for a vote.”

— More: House Speaker Ron Mariano’s office declined comment when asked by Playbook whether he would voluntarily recognize a union of House staffers.

— And more: “As Massachusetts Senate staffers move to organize, Gov. Charlie Baker declines to weigh in,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “It’s under the purview of House and Senate members how to ‘choose to organize their activities,’ Baker told MassLive Tuesday afternoon, less than a day after news broke about the Massachusetts State House Employees Union.”

— “As Beacon Hill moves toward undocumented drivers' licenses, big-city mayors voice support,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “As momentum builds at the State House to let undocumented immigrants obtain drivers' licenses in Massachusetts, several big-city mayors are urging lawmakers to finally make the proposal a reality. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson and Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan all voiced support for the Work and Family Mobility Act during an online briefing by proponents Tuesday.”

— “‘A new reality’: State’s decision against Mass General Brigham’s suburban expansion could mean tighter regulation of costs and hospital growth,” by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s decision Friday to not recommend several components of Mass General Brigham’s massive, $2.3 billion expansion may mark a turning point in how the state regulates hospital growth. … According to experts, the rejection appears to be the first time in decades that DPH has stood in the way of hospital expansion, and could be meaningful as the agency fields another big project: the $434 million expansion of outpatient services by Boston Children’s Hospital.”

— WATCHFUL EYE: The number of state house reporters is on the rise in Massachusetts and nationally, according to new Pew Research Center data. But fewer state house reporters are on the beat full time. Pew researchers logged 43 state house reporters in Massachusetts, including full-time and part-time reporters and student journalists. That’s up from 32 reporters in 2014, the last time Pew conducted the survey.

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FROM THE HUB

— “At Healey’s opioid funding announcement, Quincy opposition to Long Island bridge remains,” by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: “It was supposed to be a victory lap of sorts for Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. And, to a certain extent, it was. But even at a Tuesday news conference where Healey, who is running for governor, highlighted $525 million in funds secured to fight the ongoing opioid epidemic, including $22 million for Boston, there were underlying points of division regarding the best approach to tackling the ongoing public health emergency, underscoring the political complexities of the problem.”

— SUPERVISED INJECTION SITES: Healey expressed support for so-called safe injection sites when asked during the press conference whether such sites should be part of the region’s response to the opioid crisis.

“I certainly have supported efforts at harm reduction. Safe injection sites are part of that,” Healey said, adding that it’s “up to communities and municipalities to work through some of that and what makes sense.” FWIW, Gov. Charlie Baker opposes safe injection sites.

— Related: “State to get $525M from latest opioid settlement,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “A $26 billion settlement with Johnson & Johnson and three of the nation's largest drug distributors — McKesson Corp, AmerisourceBergen Corp and Cardinal Health Inc. — that was finalized by a federal judge last month resolves claims by states and local governments that they helped fuel a wave of opioid addiction. Massachusetts will get $525 million over the next 18 years from the deal, which will be shared with cities and towns, according to the attorney general’s office.”

— “11 key things Boston families want in the next schools superintendent,” by Naomi Martin and Christopher Huffaker, Boston Globe: “A bilingual Bostonian of color. A special-education expert. An operations whiz who can ensure buses arrive on time and buildings are renovated. In four recent Zoom sessions held by the search committee for a new Boston Public Schools superintendent, students and parents shared a wide range of characteristics they believe are crucial for the district’s next chief to possess.”

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “Quincy Mayor ‘Not So Sure’ on Fare-Free Buses,” by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service (paywall): “‘I think it needs more study,’ Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch said Tuesday when asked if he supported Boston's two-year program eliminating fares on a trio of bus routes. ‘I think we need to deal with the challenges we face, and I’m not so sure without a funding source that we can provide free service every day.’ Koch, a member of the MBTA Board of Directors who represents cities and towns that help fund the transit system, said there may be ways to approach fare-free options and that officials will ‘continue to flesh those out.’”

— “Meet NYC’s new ‘Train Daddy’: Richard Davey hopes to last longer at MTA than Andy Byford,” by David Meyer, New York Post: “The MTA’s new permanent head of subways and buses hopes to hold the gig longer than his most recent predecessor, Andy Byford — but [Richard Davey, the former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation from 2011 to 2014] said Tuesday that he has not spoken with the Brit whose jovial approach earned him the adoration of New York and the nickname ‘Train Daddy.’”

DAY IN COURT

— “Man, 78, exonerated in decades-old arson case over juror anti-Semitism,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “A man convicted of arson nearly 40 years ago for burning down his vacation home in the Berkshires has been exonerated, due partly to anti-Semitic comments made by jurors in his case.”

— “North Adams man who was part of the Jan. 6 insurrection gets 3 years probation,” by Greta Jochem, Berkshire Eagle: “A [North Adams] man who was part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 was sentenced last week to three years probation. Brian McCreary’s sentence, which was handed down Friday in D.C. District Court, also includes 42 days of intermittent confinement and two months of home confinement, according to court documents.”

WARREN REPORT

— “Elizabeth Warren’s plan to break up Big Everything,” by Sara Morrison, Vox: “Her new bill, the Prohibiting Anticompetitive Mergers Act, doesn’t just break up Big Tech: It breaks up Big Everything, and it prevents companies from getting too big in the future. It would also fundamentally change how agencies evaluate and block proposed mergers, a process that currently gives companies a lot of power and agencies relatively little. [Sen. Elizabeth] Warren says the bill crystallizes her vision for how the government can stop industry consolidation that has broken America’s markets, hurt its economy, and threatened its democracy.”

FROM THE 413

— “Springfield has paid out $877K since January to settle 3 lawsuits claiming police misconduct,” by Patrick Johnson, Springfield Republican: “Since creating a $5 million fund to settle police misconduct lawsuits, Springfield has paid out $877,500 in three cases, including two of the three teens accusing officer Gregg A. Bigda of civil rights violations and a city man assaulted by the front desk officer at police headquarters when he complained about a parking ticket.”

— “In unusual move, Berkshire DA used part of state budget to hire media relations firm during first year in office,” by Nancy Eve Cohen, New England Public Media: “During [Berkshire District Attorney Andrea] Harrington’s first year as district attorney, her office hired Kivvit, a Chicago-based media relations group. Her office also had contracts with The Management Action Center, a Washington-based organizational management firm, that first year and again in 2021. It’s unusual for DAs to spend part of their budgets on media firms, according to interviews with prosecutors and a review of documents obtained from public records requests to the three district attorneys serving western Massachusetts.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH: “Charts: See how much the typical rental costs are in your town, according to Census data,” by Daigo Fujiwara and Christina Prignano, Boston Globe: “Rents in Massachusetts are sixth highest among states, according to the data released last month, with the median renter paying $1,336 per month. That’s an increase from $1,006 in 2010. Lexington had the highest rental costs in the state at $2,431, followed by Brookline at $2,305, and Cambridge at $2,293.”

— “Maura Healey and education leaders unite against bias and hate in high school sports,” by Bob Hohler, Boston Globe: “Attorney General Maura Healey and state education authorities pledged Tuesday to mobilize against a surge of racist, homophobic, and antisemitic behavior in Massachusetts high school sports.”

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— “Trump aide seeking NH House seat voted in 2 states in 2016,” by Brian Slodysko and Holly Ramer, Associated Press: “A former Trump administration official now running for Congress in New Hampshire voted twice during the 2016 primary election season, potentially violating federal voting law and leaving him at odds with the Republican Party’s intense focus on ‘election integrity.’ Matt Mowers, a leading Republican primary candidate looking to unseat Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, cast an absentee ballot in New Hampshire’s 2016 presidential primary, voting records show. At the time, Mowers served as the director of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential campaign in the pivotal early voting state. Four months later, after Christie’s bid fizzled, Mowers cast another ballot in New Jersey’s Republican presidential primary, using his parents’ address to re-register in his home state.” WMUR reports that the New Hampshire attorney general’s office is reviewing the matter.

TRANSITIONS — Francesca Paris has left the Berkshire Eagle to join NYT's The Upshot as a fellow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to John Lechner.

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