Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Ballot questions put to an early test

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Ballot questions put to an early test

Presented by

BALLOT BASELINES — Two new polls offer an early glimpse into how Bay Staters view several of the ballot questions being pushed for 2024 as the first major signature deadline looms.

Surveys out this week from UMass Amherst/WCVB and center-left Priorities for Progress show majority support for auditing the Legislature and local-option rent control. But would-be voters are torn over two other proposals: replacing MCAS as a high school graduation requirement and decriminalizing psychedelics. Let’s break it down:

MAJORITY SUPPORT — Roughly two-thirds, or 67 percent, of the 700 Bay Staters surveyed in the UMass Amherst poll would vote in favor of Auditor Diana DiZoglio having the power to crack open lawmakers’ books. The mid-October poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 5.1 percentage points.

That’s similar to the results of the PFP poll , which found 63 percent of the 500 registered voters they surveyed would “definitely” or “probably” back DiZoglio’s ballot question. That poll, conducted Sept. 28-Oct. 3, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Those results stand in stark contrast to the fierce resistance DiZoglio’s review is seeing from Democratic legislative leaders who argue that she doesn’t have the constitutional authority to probe their practices and procedures.

MASS FISCAL ALLIANCE:
MASS FISCAL ALLIANCE used to send out expensive glossy postcards with MISINFORMATION/DISINFORMATION and outright LIES that you had to hunt down for the TRUTH.

TRANSPARENCY? Used an out of state postal permit

Right-Wing Organization MassFiscal Exposed
https://massaflcio.org/news/right-wing-organization-massfiscal-exposed

Fiscal irresponsibility from Mass Fiscal Alliance
Blocking Safe Communities Act would drive up state and local costs
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/fiscal-irresponsibility-mass-fiscal-alliance/

In mailing, foes tie MassFiscal to hate group
https://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/local_news/in-mailing-foes-tie-massfiscal-to-hate-group/article_ec201c9e-2b5f-5cc5-ace6-e8b62877c311.html

ICYMI: WGBH CONTRIBUTING WRITER CONTINUES EXAMINATION OF MASS FISCAL ALLIANCE’S PRIORITIZATION OF CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGY OVER REAL SOLUTIONS TO STATE CHALLENGES
excerpt:
“Now why, you might ask, aren’t all these political elites paying attention to Mass Fiscal Alliance’s poll,?” wrote Professor Cunningham last week. “And if you’ve been reading my posts recently, you realize it’s because these professionals know a fake when they see one.”
As you will recall, in 2014, Mass Fiscal Alliance was exposed as a Republican Super PAC after spending nearly $1 million sending out misinformation to voters in an attempt to target Democratic State Representatives who faced Republican opponents.

https://massdems.org/press-releases/icymi-wgbh-contributing-writer-continues-examination-of-mass-fiscal-alliance-s-prioritization-of-conservative-ideology-over-real-solutions-to-state-challenges/

As DiZoglio waits to see whether Attorney General Andrea Campbell will let her try to sue the Legislature into compliance, volunteers from organizations as disparate as the progressive Our Revolution Massachusetts and the MassGOP have been collecting signatures for the ballot question. Doug Rubin, a spokesperson for the ballot campaign, said volunteers — and DiZoglio herself — have gathered more than 40,000 names. And the conservative Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is now pledging to join the effort . Rubin said he’s confident the ballot committee will get the requisite 74,574 signatures by Nov. 22, when they’re due to local officials.

Support was similarly high for the ballot measure filed by state Rep. Mike Connolly that would let cities and towns institute rent control. It notched 65 percent support in the PFP poll and 64 percent in the UMass Amherst/WCVB survey.

MIXED SIGNALS — Just over half, or 52 percent, of respondents to the UMass Amherst poll would vote to remove MCAS as a requirement for receiving a high school diploma, while 29 percent said they would vote against it. Max Page, the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association that’s pushing the ballot question to end the MCAS requirement, said the union is “confident” it will hit the signature threshold before the November deadline.

Meanwhile, a plurality — nearly 46 percent — of voters in the PFP poll said they would oppose legalizing psychedelic substances like mushrooms, while 41 percent would support it. Massachusetts for Mental Health Options, the group behind that ballot campaign, told Playbook they’ve hit the signature requirement and are submitting their sheets to local clerks for certification.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Here’s one for the Swifties: More Massachusetts voters think Taylor Swift should be dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (29 percent) than Tom Brady (13 percent), according to the PFP poll. But the majority of those surveyed said the singer-songwriter shouldn’t be dating either one.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announce Community One Stop for Growth awards at 10:30 a.m. at Suffolk Downs. Healey touts tax relief at State Street’s headquarters at noon. Driscoll speaks at the Developers of Color Summit at 12:30 p.m. at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is at the City of Boston Archival Center at 9 a.m. AG Andrea Campbell hosts an open house at the AGO's Worcester regional office at 4 p.m. PFP holds a noon webinar .

Tips? Scoops? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com .

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

Don’t let cavities rain on your parade. Delta Dental of Massachusetts is committed to educating communities around the state, rain or shine, about the importance of oral health. Your oral health is a key predictor of overall health and can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and other health concerns later in life. A healthy smile is a powerful thing, so speak with your dentist and learn more at ExpressYourHealthMA.org.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

CLIMATE REPORT — Healey administration climate chief Melissa Hoffer is out with an 86-page report of recommendations for how the state can act "with far greater urgency" to meet its goals around reducing emissions, increasing resiliency and protecting environmental justice communities.

Among the recommendations is a plan for how the state will begin to transition its fleet to electric vehicles — something Healey promised to do on the campaign trail but that the state now faces "significant challenges" to actually doing. Read the full report .

— “Stephanie Fattman to pay record-high penalty to settle allegations that her husband schemed to boost her campaign,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Stephanie Fattman, the Worcester County official whose husband was accused of funneling tens of thousands of dollars through the state party to bolster her 2020 campaign, has agreed to pay $137,000 under a deal with state prosecutors, marking one of the highest totals to settle campaign finance violations in Massachusetts history. Her husband, state Senator Ryan Fattman, will also pay $55,000. … All told, the Fattmans, Ryan Fattman’s father, and a local town GOP committee that the senator’s brother helped lead will pay more than $207,000."

Ryan Fattman maintained in a statement that he and his wife were “targets of political persecution” and that they did nothing wrong other than having the "audacity to challenge the ruling Democrat party’s candidates and beat them, multiple times over.”

He also argued that politicians from both sides of the aisle regularly donate to their state parties to help elect candidates — and showed CommonWealth Magazine data to back it up .

— “Mass. students are absent from school at 'staggering' rates, says state education official,” by Max Larkin, WBUR: “In 2019, just 13% of kids statewide were designated chronically absent. That rate rose, by June 2022, to nearly 29%. The latest data from June shows modest improvement, but it remains above 22%. … At the board meeting Tuesday, [Education Commissioner Jeff] Riley said his office will offer $4 million in support to districts to better track absences and to work with students’ families to get them back in school. He also proposed assigning greater weight to attendance data as an accountability measure to gauge which districts warrant state intervention in the year ahead.”

— “Report finds Mass. in bottom 5 states for biz tax climate; here’s why,” by John L. Micek, MassLive: “The Bay State finished 46th in the nation for its business tax climate, ahead of only neighboring Connecticut, as well as California, New York and New Jersey in the rankings list compiled by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, a Washington D.C-based think tank."

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

FROM THE HUB

HOLY CANNOLI — Ron DeSantis is no stranger to Boston-area traditions. He went to Harvard, after all. So when the Florida governor came to town to fundraise for his presidential campaign on Monday, he made sure to stop at Modern Pastry for a lobster tail, sfogliatelle and cannolis to share, plus a small cake for his five-year-old son.

“I had always done Mike’s Pastry back when I was in school,” DeSantis told reporters in New Hampshire the next day. “The more people I’ve met from Boston were like ‘no, no, you’ve gotta do Modern.’ And so I was like all right we’re gonna do it.”

Kelly and Lisa’s take: as a Massachusetts native (Kelly) and a longtime transplant (Lisa), we’ve tried both pastry shops many times — and we prefer Mike’s.

— “In District 5, a stark choice for voters for Boston City Council,” by Danny McDonald, The Boston Globe: “There is Jose Ruiz, a 63-year-old retired Boston police officer who says he admires Republicans Charlie Baker and Ronald Reagan and enjoys the support of former Boston mayor Martin J. Walsh. ... He faces Enrique José Pepén, a 27-year-old self-described progressive who stepped down from his City Hall post as the executive director of the city’s neighborhood services to run for office, and has the endorsement of his former boss and a longtime Walsh political rival, Mayor Michelle Wu.”

— “A Boston Jewish Community Relations Council group reportedly resigns after members call for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “Green Line extension repair will take 2 weeks, Eng says,” by Bob Seay, GBH News: “Officials say essential work to widen more than half of the Green Line Extension tracks will take days, not months — and the project can be completed without a full shutdown. MBTA General Manager Phil Eng on Tuesday said the contractors who built the misaligned tracks will pay to correct them, and that the team responsible for the flawed project has been replaced.”

— “‘Compass Rail’ places Springfield at center of Massachusetts rail expansion,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “It’s no longer simply called ‘east-west rail’ according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation."

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

DAY IN COURT

— “Massachusetts, 40 other states sue Instagram over child marketing,” by Aaron Pressman, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts joined 40 other states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday in filing lawsuits against Meta Platforms, accusing the company of purposely harming children who use its popular Facebook and Instagram apps. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell sued Meta in Suffolk Superior Court as part of a larger legal effort that includes a multistate federal lawsuit against the company filed in California."

— “Lawyers for former Holyoke Veterans Home leaders argue state prosecutors pitched skewed case to grand jury to secure criminal charges,” by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: “Lawyers in the Holyoke Veterans Home criminal neglect case on Tuesday dueled before a judge in Hampden Superior Court over whether a prosecution against two of the home’s former leaders should move forward. The hearing took place before Judge Edward McDonough Jr., who previously dismissed the case against onetime Superintendent Bennett Walsh and medical director Dr. David Clinton, having ruled the two did not fit the legal definition of ‘caretakers.’”

PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW .

DATELINE D.C.

FOURTH TIME’S A CHARM? — U.S. House Republicans have their fourth speaker nominee: Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.). We'll see if this one sticks. Keep up with POLITICO’s Congress team .

FROM THE 413

— “Michael Case will serve on Washington's Select Board, though he didn't run for the position,” by Jane Kaufman, Berkshire Eagle: “Michael Case has agreed to serve as a Select Board member, taking a position he has served in the past. Case didn’t run for the position and was apparently surprised that he garnered the 17 votes that put him in first place to fill the vacancy created when John Fish resigned in the summer from a term that expires in 2025. Case was briefly western regional director at the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. He resigned after an investigation into his conduct.”

— “State picks Hadley motel for homeless shelter; town prepares to accommodate 34 people placed at the Knights Inn,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

As a mission-driven organization, Delta Dental of Massachusetts is invested in the health of our communities. Oral health goes beyond the mouth, and we know that access to dental care can impact everything from mental and physical health, to economic well-being. That’s why we’re committed to Massachusetts and working together to confront the systemic challenges of a health system that doesn’t work for everyone. We see change as an opportunity for progress on things that matter. We’re working to increase access to oral care across the state, support the expansion of a more diverse dental workforce, and incentivize preventive care. These priorities not only express Delta Dental’s values, they help everyone in our communities express their health. To learn more about Delta Dental’s commitment to the community, visit ExpressYourHealthMA.org.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “One family scammed the lottery for $20 million. Then their luck ran out,” by Keith O’Brien, Globe Magazine: “In less than a decade, the Jaafar family of Watertown managed to claim more than $20 million in lottery winnings from over 14,000 scratch tickets and other games — a stunning run of success that just didn’t add up.”

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

IT’S OFFICIAL — President Joe Biden won’t file for the 2024 primary ballot in New Hampshire , a move that has long been expected with the state poised to flout top national Democrats' preferred nominating calendar.

New Hampshire Democrats are expected to launch a write-in campaign for Biden, and New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley expressed confidence in a statement that the president will win the primary and reelection.

Still, Biden is skipping New Hampshire’s likely unsanctioned contest just as Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), is expected to launch a challenge to him on Friday in Concord, my colleagues report.

WAITING ON SUNUNU — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu spent more time on the campaign trail with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis yesterday than he has with any other presidential candidate so far this cycle. But the Granite State governor said he’s waiting until at least after the third debate (Nov. 8) to make up his mind about which non-Donald Trump candidate he’ll back for the GOP nomination. More from NHPR .

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Rep. Jim Cantwell, who serves as state director to Sen. Ed Markey.

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 .

Follow us on Twitter