Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: ‘No on 5’ campaign tips off

Thursday, September 5, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: ‘No on 5’ campaign tips off

TIPPING THE SCALES — The group opposing a ballot question that would eventually allow restaurant workers to collect their tips on top of the state’s $15/hour minimum wage is hitting the airwaves today.

The restaurant-backed coalition, dubbed “The Committee to Protect Tips,” is rolling out TV and digital ads today that will air across the state.

In the 30-second TV spot, two tipped employees deliver a direct-to-camera pitch against the ballot question, claiming they’ll earn less if the question passes. It’s an argument opponents have made along the way as the question worked its way to the ballot.

“Your servers are asking you to vote no on Question 5,” the video’s narrator says.

An approximately $250,000 initial spend will keep the ads running through the week. The group expects to shell out at least $1 million in September with plans to ramp up in October as Election Day approaches, Chris Keohan, a strategist for the group, told Playbook – the latest ballot effort to shell out serious cash to get their argument before voters.

Among the campaign’s top donors: the Massachusetts Restaurant Association; Apple American Group LLC, the largest Applebee’s franchisee; Hampshire House Corporation, a restaurant group that includes Boston-based Hampshire House and the Cheers restaurants on Beacon Hill and in Faneuil Hall; Davio's owner/chef Steve DiFillippo; and Anna’s Taqueria LLC.

Meanwhile, One Fair Wage, the national group behind the question, is hosting a star-studded fundraiser in West Hollywood tonight. It’s hosted by Chrissy Teigen and attendees include Meena Harris, the niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as actors Sarah Paulson, Keegan-Michael Key, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Matt Bomer.

Ballot committees will soon have to file reports with the state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance, giving a closer look at who’s bankrolling each ballot campaign, and how much cash supporters and opponents have to sway public opinion.

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Democratic state Rep. Marjorie Decker may emerge victorious from her tense primary race after all.

After more ballots — including some from overseas — were counted Wednesday, Decker now holds a 41-vote lead over challenger Evan MacKay, CommonWealth Beacon reported . Decker told the State House News Service she feels “very good about the process so far,” though a recount could still be possible. MacKay’s campaign didn’t respond to an inquiry last night about whether they would seek one.

It’s not the only result still up in the air after Tuesday’s elections.

State Rep. Matt Muratore declared victory yesterday over Kari MacRae in the Republican primary for the Plymouth and Barnstable seat state Sen. Susan Moran left to pursue a county clerk role.

But with a margin of less than 1 percent with 99 percent of the vote tally reporting, per results from the Associated Press, MacRae plans to call for a recount, she told Playbook yesterday. More from the Cape Cod Times.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and state and local officials visit a Head Start program to tout the now permanent funding for the pandemic-era Commonwealth Cares for Children grants at 10 a.m. in Lowell. Healey meets with Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States Lui Tuck Yew at 4:30 p.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper visit the Lee K-8 School at 7 a.m. in Dorchester. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on GBH News’ “Boston Public Radio” at 1 p.m. Warren, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Lori Trahan and Rep. Stephen Lynch hold a press conference on Steward CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre ’s refusal to appear at a Senate HELP Committee hearing despite a subpoena at 10 a.m. in Boston.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: kgarrity@politico.com .

DATELINE BEACON HILL

*****STEWARD******

— “Five Steward hospital sales approved by federal bankruptcy judge,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “The sale of five Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts was approved by a federal bankruptcy court judge Wednesday, ending doubts of whether the beleaguered medical centers could have a chance to stay open. Lawrence General Hospital was approved to buy Holy Family Hospital in Methuen and Haverhill; Lifespan Health System, a Rhode Island-based company, can purchase St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton; and Boston Medical Center can buy St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton and Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton under the plan approved by Judge Christopher Lopez, with the caveat that the sales must happen by Sept. 30, or the buyers can back out.”

— “Healey selects former N.J. State Police lieutenant colonel to lead Mass. State Police,” by Sean Cotter and Shelley Murphy, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey has selected Geoffrey D. Noble, a retired New Jersey State Police lieutenant colonel, to serve as the next leader of the Massachusetts State Police, the first from outside the department’s ranks as critics call for reforms following multiple recent scandals. … The new colonel will be asked to bring reform to a department that’s beleaguered by multiple recent scandals that have shaken public faith in the department as well as its internal morale, critics have said.”

NICE TRY, NED LAMONT — Those new signs that decree Connecticut home of the “Basketball Capital of the World”? Gov. Maura Healey isn’t having it.

FROM THE HUB

— “Michelle Wu, BPS superintendent join door-knocking push to keep chronic absenteeism down ahead of first day of classes,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “On the final day of summer vacation for most BPS students, the mayor, superintendent and a host of volunteers made a big push to keep kids in classes and chronic absenteeism down this school year.”

BALLOT BATTLES

— “MCAS repeal could impact standards, report says,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “A proposal to repeal the MCAS high school graduation mandate could make it harder to maintain the state’s educational standards, according to a new report. Question 2, one of five referendums set for the Nov. 5 ballot, asks voters if they want to scrap the decades-old mandate requiring 10th-graders to demonstrate proficiency in math, English and science through a series of standardized tests known as the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. If voters approve the measure, students would still need to take the 10th-grade MCAS exams, but they would no longer need to earn a passing score or other state approval.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Who is running the Police Department in Leominster? Mayor, city officials won't say,” by Craig S. Semon, Telegram & Gazette: “More than a week since a city councilor asked in a public meeting about the job status of Police Chief Aaron F. Kennedy, the mayor has yet to comment to members of the council or the press.”

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING

— “What we know about the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia, the deadliest school shooting this year,” by Dalia Faheid, CNN.

— “A memorial blooms for Hersh Goldberg-Polin in Brookline,” by Sam Mintz, Brookline.News.

— “With little transparency or oversight, billions of dollars flow to private, religious schools,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News. PAYWALL

— “SJC clerk race upends usual glide path to the ‘velvet coffin’,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Beacon.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW HAMPSHIRE residents clog Massachusetts highways seeking higher paying jobs due to economic failures in NEW HAMPSHIRE....KELLY AYOTTE has a mixed record that should be carefully considered prior to support. She opposed the IRAN AGREEMENT that mandated UN INSPECTORS on the ground. She opposed raising the federal minimum wage, she opposed DODD-FRANK, she voted to FAST TRACK KEYSTONE XL - bringing the TAR SANDS PIPELINE across sensitive areas of the US for EXPORT, voted to limit EPA ability to regulate power plant emissions, voted against a hearing for Justice Merrick Garland, VOTED against MANDATORY BACKGROUND CHECKS and much else.....

— “New Hampshire is the latest sign of Donald Trump’s shrinking map,” by Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: “Donald Trump hasn’t set foot in New Hampshire since he won the state’s GOP primary in January. His campaign hasn’t sent a high-profile surrogate here since the spring. And now, even as they insist he can win here, some of Trump’s most ardent supporters in this blue-leaning swing state are openly saying that his campaign should focus its efforts elsewhere.”

ON THE AIRWAVES — As Democrats duke it out in what’s become a fierce battle for the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire’s gubernatorial race, the Democratic Governors Association has been stepping in to knock the likely Republican nominee, former Sen. Kelly Ayotte.

The DGA-backed PAC Put New Hampshire First is launching two new ads today tying Ayotte to former President Donald Trump (who she famously unendorsed in 2016, but is backing this time around) and slamming her for stances she took in the Senate on abortion.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Nicole Herendeen of Benchmark Strategies, Michael Ratty, Jen Flanagan and Guillermo Samuel Hamlin.

HAPPY BELATED — to Carl Nilsson, founder and president of Field First, who celebrated Aug. 30; John Cruz of Everytown for Gun Safety, who celebrated Aug. 31; and to Roger Reed and Emily Armstrong, who celebrated Tuesday.

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