Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Coming soon to your screens

Friday, July 22, 2022

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Coming soon to your screens

NEW: TO THE AIRWAVES — The Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign is readying a major television ad blitz in support of the so-called millionaires tax ballot question, and organizers say the MBTA’s continued failures are helping make their case.

Proponents of the Fair Share Amendment are reserving at least $10 million in TV ads from mid-August through Election Day in November, the campaign said, upping the ante in what’s now the most prominent ballot battle of the year.

The Fair Share Amendment would add a 4 percent surtax on annual income above $1 million and earmark that revenue — estimated to be upwards of $1.3 billion a year — for education and transportation projects.

Organizers say the T’s latest calamity is fueling interest in the campaign for the transportation-funding tax that will be Question 1 on the November ballot. Andrew Farnitano, a spokesperson for Fair Share for Massachusetts, said the group's website received more than 900 signups on Thursday from people looking for more information about the campaign or to volunteer.

“Safe public transit isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity,” Fair Share for Massachusetts tweeted out after an Orange Line train caught on fire Thursday morning, sending passengers jumping out of windows and leading one woman to leap off a bridge into the Mystic River before swimming to shore and walking away.

Gov. Charlie Baker was inflamed by the conflagration during an appearance on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” yesterday, calling the incident “unacceptable” and saying “stuff like this … makes me crazy.” But he balked at labeling the troubled T, which is undergoing a federal safety inspection, as a “total mess,” arguing that performance has “dramatically” improved over his eight years in office.

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Attorney general candidate Shannon Liss-Riordan is homing in on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in a new ad hitting the airwaves this weekend.

“The Supreme Court’s dangerous attack on abortion rights is a call to action. They’re coming for marriage equality and voting rights next,” Liss-Riordan narrates in the 30-second spot shared first with Playbook. “For decades, I’ve led the legal battles and forged new law to protect your rights here in Massachusetts and across the country. … Now I’ll be your champion in the courtroom.”

Liss-Riordan’s campaign cut her abortion-related ad as attorney general races across the country refocus on the issue, though the position holds more importance in states where abortion access is in jeopardy. The ad will replace the one Liss-Riordan currently has airing as part of a more than $1.3 million buy.

Speaking of ads, Democratic auditor candidate Chris Dempsey is reserving $300,000 in ads for the two weeks before the primary, his campaign said.

TODAY — Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito make a grant announcement at Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School at 8:30 a.m. Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a reception to support relocated Ukrainian families at 10:30 a.m. at her Lowell office.

THIS WEEKEND — LG hopeful and state Rep. Tami Gouveia is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Incorruptible Mass hosts a campaign kickoff at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse for its endorsed candidates. Rep. Seth Moulton is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tips? Scoops? Beach recommendations? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

— “BA.5 variant on the rise as Massachusetts COVID cases jump 24%,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “State health officials on Thursday reported more than 10,000 confirmed COVID cases over the past week, another virus uptick as the highly infectious BA.5 variant spreads across the region. The daily average of 1,464 COVID cases is a 24% jump from the daily rate of 1,183 infections during the previous week.”

— “Massachusetts reports 30 new monkeypox cases, another one-week high as WHO considers declaring global emergency,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The 30 new monkeypox cases in the Bay State is up from 18 cases during the previous week. The 30 new cases were diagnosed in men within the past week, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. It brings the total number of monkeypox cases in the state to 79 since the state’s first case was announced in mid-May.”

— “Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts,” by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "After Supreme Court ruling, Mass. lawmakers scramble to tighten state’s gun laws," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "The Democratic-led House passed language Thursday that would broaden who is prohibited from getting a license to carry, require gun owners to renew their licenses twice as often, and seek to mandate that a police official perform a 'personal interview' of anyone applying for a license. House Speaker Ronald Mariano said that leaders in both chambers have agreed to expedite legislation he said would bring the state in line with last month’s high court decision, which ruled unconstitutional a New York law — similar to one in Massachusetts — that required applicants to prove a 'special need' to get a license to carry a firearm in public. ... But the proposal immediately drew criticism. Police and others questioned the need to require renewals more often, and gun rights advocates predicted the legislative effort would fail to stave off litigation."

— "Here’s what’s in the Legislature’s energy/climate change legislation," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Legislature suspended its rules and whisked through a climate change bill on Thursday that seeks to make Massachusetts the 'Saudi Arabia of wind,' promotes the adoption of zero emission vehicles, and allows 10 communities to bar fossil fuel infrastructure in new construction. ... The compromise bill blends two very different pieces of legislation — a House bill focused primarily on offshore wind development and a Senate bill targeting ways to use that green power to reduce climate emissions."

— “Massachusetts sports betting bill in jeopardy, with Gov. Charlie Baker and House Speaker Ron Mariano both voicing doubts,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “As Beacon Hill lawmakers navigate a crush of legislation to ship to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk before the end of formal sessions next week, the fate of a sports wagering bill is far from a sure bet. Baker, who has vocally urged lawmakers to advance sports betting legislation while lamenting missed opportunities including the Super Bowl, struck an ambivalent tone about the bill’s trajectory Thursday afternoon. … Asked if the bill will reach the finish line, [House Speaker Ron] Mariano told reporters at the Massachusetts State House: ‘Realistically, I don’t know. I don’t know. We’re far apart.’”

VAX-ACHUSETTS

Markey, Warren and Kerry walk with Biden in Somerset, Mass., on Wednesday. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo

— SUPERSPREADER IN CHIEF?: President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 Thursday morning after the double-vaxXed and double-boosted president experienced “some fatigue” Wednesday night.

It’s unlikely POTUS picked up the virus in Massachusetts, given the timing. But he could have spread it here, whether on Air Force One with members of the congressional delegation or when he was shaking hands with House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka and others after his Somerset speech.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, both in their 70s, Reps. Jake Auchincloss and Bill Keating, and national climate adviser Gina McCarthy were all on the plane with Biden. Mariano, Spilka and Attorney General Maura Healey were among the local dignitaries who greeted the president after his remarks.

And that means a whole lot of testing and waiting, at least for those deemed close contacts. Markey, Warren, Auchincloss and Keating all tested negative Thursday. So did Mariano and Spilka, though they’re not considered close contacts. It would be particularly bad timing for the state lawmakers to get sick, with formal sessions ending in less than 10 days and a flurry of major bills still working their way through chambers and conference committees.

President Joe Biden greets people after speaking about climate change and clean energy at Brayton Power Station, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Somerset, Mass. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry is at right. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo

— "Biden’s whereabouts in the week leading up to his Covid diagnosis," by Kelly Hooper, POLITICO.

— "Biden world not looking to change things up after Covid infection," by Adam Cancryn and Jonathan Lemire, POLITICO: "President Joe Biden’s coronavirus diagnosis may have disrupted his day. But it’s not giving the White House any pause about how it’s handled the pandemic threat that still looms over his presidency."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “T called worse off now than during snowmageddon,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The lead car of an Orange Line train crossing the Mystic River caught fire early Thursday morning, prompting panic on board the train and the evacuation of close to 200 people, including one person who jumped from the bridge into the water. The image of flames leaping out from underneath the train car followed by billowing black smoke was another devastating blow for confidence in the MBTA, which has been hit with one safety issue after another over the last six months. … Rick Dimino, the president of the business group A Better City, issued a statement on Thursday saying what many transit advocates have been whispering for some time – that the challenges facing the T are worse now than they were in 2015, when snowmageddon forced the shutdown of the subway system for several days.”

— “‘It was like a scene out of a nightmare’ - passenger recalls train fire on Orange Line,” by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: “At one point, [Jennifer] Thomson-Sullivan and other passengers looked out of the window, and they could see flames leaping up on both sides of the train. ‘For a minute, it was coming up on both sides,’ she said. ‘That’s when everyone started freaking out. In my brain at that moment, I thought, ‘Oh my God.’ People rushed to the back of the car where I was sitting. There was a gentleman frantically trying to open the emergency exit. But the door would not open.’”

— "Gov. Charlie Baker open to dissolving the MBTA," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: "Hours after an Orange Line train burst into flames with about 200 passengers on board, Gov. Charlie Baker said he’s open to exploring a dissolution of the MBTA. Baker was responding to an inquiry on the GBH 'Ask the Governor' radio program Thursday, where he was asked for his thoughts on a proposal from state Rep. William Straus, D-Mattapoisett, who said the T is no longer serving its purpose, and should be absorbed as a public transit division of MassDOT."

FROM THE HUB

— "Mass and Cass Roundhouse negotiations with Boston at ‘impasse,’ locals say," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Mass and Cass-area community groups say negotiations with the city and Boston Medical Center over the former Roundhouse hotel have stalled due to the large institutions’ unwillingness to sign off on an end date — and the city says it’s committed to funding it through next June."

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YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: 350 Mass Action and the Massachusetts chapter of the Sierra Club have endorsed Quentin Palfrey for attorney general, per his campaign, handing him a pair of endorsements from environmental groups in a big climate week in the Bay State.

— “Candidates clash in debate over policing at Mass. and Cass,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “About seven weeks ahead of Massachusetts’ primary election, candidates presented different approaches to tackle a crisis of mental health, substance use disorders and criminal activity in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, also called Mass. and Cass. Candidates for the state Senate 2nd Suffolk District, Suffolk County sheriff and Suffolk County district attorney faced off at a debate Wednesday in Roxbury hosted by grassroots political organization Boston’s Communities of Color. Throughout roughly four hours of debates, candidates primarily focused — and clashed — on the roles police, prisons and incarceration should play for those living in the long-embattled neighborhood.”

— “Challenger Jynai McDonald files FCC complaint against Springfield Technical Community College for allowing state Rep. Bud Williams to host radio show during campaign,” by Patrick Johnson, Springfield Republican: “Jynai McDonald, who is challenging incumbent state Rep. Bud L. Williams in the Sept. 6 Democratic primary, has filed a complaint alleging Springfield Technical Community College violated federal rules by allowing Williams to host a weekly radio program during the campaign. McDonald said she is seeking to have WTCC-FM either take Williams off the air during the campaign or give her an equal amount of airtime. The station said it took Williams off the air earlier this month in accordance with its own policies around political campaigns.”

— BAKER’S BLESSING: No one’s got it in the race for governor, at least not yet. GOP Gov. Charlie Baker said he “doesn’t know” if he’ll endorse in the Republican primary. “I have a lot of work to do, and I have a day job,” he said on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.” Baker is backing Republican Anthony Amore for auditor and said he’s “supporting a lot of down-ballot candidates,” including state Rep. Lenny Mirra, who he’ll appear with in Hamilton on Aug. 2.

FROM THE DELEGATION

— “Auchincloss on Why Biden Chose Brayton Point For Climate Speech,” by Marcus Ferro, WBSM: “On the ride up, [Rep. Jake] Auchincloss said he, [Rep. Bill] Keating [and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey] had a conversation with the president and his staff discussing climate legislation. Auchincloss specifically mentioned district concerns to [President Joe] Biden's staff, such as an amendment in the Coast Guard reauthorization bill that would harm the offshore wind industry, and expressed confidence that concerns with the amendment would be addressed.”

DATELINE D.C.

— "‘He chose not to act’: Jan. 6 panel details Trump’s actions during Capitol riot," by Nicholas Wu and Kyle Cheney, POLITICO: "While rioters smashed through police lines at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Donald Trump asked aides for a list of senators to call as he continued to pursue paths to overturn his defeat."

FROM THE 413

— “If elected governor, what would Maura Healey do to spur economic development in the Berkshires?” by Greta Jochem, Berkshire Eagle: “Healey said she sees the Berkshires as a leader in developing the arts and tourism sectors across the state. ‘Massachusetts, we can be competing a lot harder when it comes to being a leader in arts and culture and hospitality,’ she said. ‘And this is a region that can drive that, I know, and can drive jobs and opportunity along with that.’"

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Mass. police say they want more mental health collaborators, but there's a shortage,” by Nancy Eve Cohen, New England Public Media: “Orlando Taylor III, 23, of Springfield and Miguel Estrella, 22, of Pittsfield — both men of color — were killed in separate incidents by western Massachusetts police this year. At the time of the shootings, each was in the midst of a mental health crisis. Both police departments work with mental health professionals, known as co-responders, to help people in crisis. But at the time of the shootings, none were on duty.”

— “Nearly all of Mass. under severe or moderate drought conditions,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “The northeastern part of Massachusetts has been under severe drought conditions this week, and most of the rest of the state is seeing moderate drought readings, according to the US Drought Monitor.”

— "How hiring a school superintendent landed in small claims court, and drew claims of bullying," by Rachael Devaney, Cape Cod Times: "When Christine Markowski learned the Truro School Committee hired a new superintendent with little input from Truro Central School parents and didn't seem to follow federal equal employment opportunity and school affirmative action policies, she sued them for $5.7 million."

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

A BET’S A BET — If you saw Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian sporting some … odd … garb recently, that’s because he lost a bet with San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto over the outcome of the NBA Finals that also included making a $500 donation to Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell.

TRANSITIONS — Alexis Lian is now director of policy for the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy.

— Aaron Moser is now manager for M&A at FirstLight Power. He most recently was an MBA associate at Broadscale Group.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Rosemary Powers.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to former state Sen. Kathleen O’Connor-Ives, Meg Montgomery, Vasundhra Sangar, Jeremy D. Goodwin, Mariane Pearl, Jane Rayburn of EMC Research and your Massachusetts Playbook scribe, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-er Stacey Monahan.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: UNSAFE HARBORS — Axios Boston's Mike Deehan breaks down the state budget for hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela. The Boston Globe's Catherine Carlock dives into the recent ruling on Boston's municipal harbor plan. 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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