NY Times: “As Trump Rails Against Loss, His Supporters Become More Threatening”

 

A Georgia campaign rally with Donald Trump for Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue this month featured a ridiculous video that made it appear as though Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff was calling for violence against Trump supporters – which, of course, he has never done.[1] This example, coupled with Trump Republicans’ ongoing attacks on the 2020 election results and their promotion of wild conspiracy theories, is beyond reckless … and Senators Loeffler and Perdue have been supporting Trump and the Radical Right at every step. All of this shows in stark terms what’s at stake in Georgia. Besides the Senate majority being on the line, we cannot afford to have these two Trump enablers remaining in the Senate where they will continue to further Trump’s delusional conspiracy theories and hateful agenda even after he’s out of office. Ever since it became clear that Donald Trump decisively lost the election, he’s been attacking elections officials – regardless of their political party – in swing states that he’s falsely claimed to have won. As they have campaigned in advance of the January runoffs, both Loeffler and Perdue have joined him in making these egregious attacks. And the attacks have consequences. We’ve seen death threats, plots in other states to storm state capitals and kidnap governors – which are absolutely connected to the Trump Republican rhetoric in Georgia – and even Georgia’s Republican election officials are pleading with Trump, Loeffler, and Perdue to put an end to the incendiary accusations.[2] Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensberger, and Gabriel Sterling, another Georgia elections official, have both received death threats in the wake of the general election. Sterling, a Republican whose staff has also been threatened, pleaded with the White House and his fellow Republicans at an emotional press conference earlier this month to stop pushing reckless conspiracy theories. And he called out Senators Loeffler and Perdue by name for their cowardly complicity in Trump and the Far Right’s attacks. "Someone's going to get hurt, someone's going to get shot, someone's going to get killed," said Sterling.[3] The stakes couldn’t be higher. We’re running multiple ad campaigns across various channels and mobilizing our activists in – and out – of Georgia for calling, texting, and other voter contact programs. But we need you with us … all the way through Election Day on January 5. We have exactly 2 weeks left. Thank you for staying with us through the last stages of this fight. Together, we can and will take back the Senate from the Republicans’ dangerous majority. In solidarity, Sarah Medeiros, Digital Team     [1] “WATCH: Trump holds rally in Georgia ahead of Senate runoff election.” (WPSD NBC-6 Local, 12/05/2020.) [2] “As Trump Rails Against Loss, His Supporters Become More Threatening.” (NYT, 12/08/2020.) [3] “'Someone's Going To Get Killed': Ga. Official Blasts GOP Silence On Election Threats.” (NPR, 12/01/2020.)

 

Mail-in voting was popular in places like Cape Cod in 2020. Is it here to stay?

Jessica Hill Cape Cod Times

Published Dec 22, 2020

Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in voting was at an all-time high in 2020. More than 1.5 million ballots were cast by mail in the November general election in Massachusetts, accounting for nearly 42% of the nearly 3.7 million ballots cast across the state

Although universal mail-in voting was a popular alternative in November, it is not yet clear that it will become a permanent option in the future.  

The Legislature passed a law in the summer that expanded mail-in voting beyond absentee ballots and increased the number of early in-person voting days for the 2020 primary and general elections.

Earlier this month, the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker extended mail-in and early voting to March 2021 to cover spring town elections. There is no proposal before the Legislature to make mail-in voting a permanent part of the state's election process.

But the issue has spurred an informal debate between town clerks and legislators.

“I believe mail-in voting is here to stay,” Barnstable Town Clerk Ann Quirk said. “It is so important for people to exercise their right to vote. If this is what’s going to help them, we’re all going to do this and with a happy face.”  

Legislation would be needed to expand mail-in voting for future elections, and certain changes would make the process easier for town clerks. 

Quirk said she would like to see legislation that expands early voting by mail and eliminates absentee ballots. 

Absentee voting, which every state allows, is typically done only under certain circumstances, such as illness, military deployment or a college student studying in a different town or state. Mail-in voting was offered as an option to all registered voters.

Only one ballot — absentee voting or mail-in — would be necessary, Quirk said. Eliminating one of the two would lighten the workload for town clerks.

There are certain aspects of the mail-in voting process that could also be streamlined, she said.

For instance, equipment could be installed in the clerk's office that would save staff time when filing voter registration information in preparation for the election. The current process forces them to input information multiple times, increasing the chances for human error, Dennis Town Clerk Terri Bunce said. 

If mail-in voting is to continue, she said she would need a bigger budget for more workers and more supplies. Having both early mail-in and in-person voting requires a lot more resources, she said.

In the last election, the three people who staff the town clerk's office were doing much more work, Bunce said. Because of the pandemic, she could not use all of her workers, because there was a limited number of people allowed to work in the office simultaneously.

“Voting by mail during a pandemic makes sense,” she said, adding that it doesn't make sense in normal times. "Why kill all the town clerks in Massachusetts? It’s exhausting.”

State Sen. Susan Moran, D-Falmouth, co-sponsored an amendment that extended early voting for any annual or special municipal or state election held in the spring on or before June 30, 2021. The proposal was tacked onto the $46 billion Senate budget that was sent to the governor. A Baker amendment cut the extension to March 31.

Baker's amendment also allows for 10 days of in-person voting if the local election official recommends it and it receives approval from the appropriate municipal authority.

Falmouth Town Clerk Michael Palmer supports the expansion of early mail-in voting because it made voting easier and helped boost voter turnout. But he said he opposes the 10-days of early in-person voting, because in-person early voting unnecessarily exposes staff and voters to COVID-19. 

Moran said she is worried that having different processes in different municipalities will confuse voters and have the effect of suppressing the vote.

“My personal perspective is that we should make the right to vote as easy as possible so that we get every voice of every person to be able to be heard in electing their officials,” Moran said. “I think mail-in does that.”

If mail-in voting is expanded, state Rep. Timothy Whelan, R-Brewster, said he will listen closely to the town clerks in his district and learn from them what they think the best practices are to secure mail-in votes and make the procedure better.

Whelan said he likes the idea of early voting but is more of a “traditionalist” when it comes to voting. Voting in person makes people feel comfortable and that their vote is secure, Whelan said.

“I think what we did this time was really necessary given the pandemic,” Whelan said. “I just don’t know that I’d support it going forward for all elections.” 

Moran, meanwhile, said she saw mail-in voting as a practical and appreciated solution to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I certainly agree with the clerks that I’ve spoken with in that mail-in voting should be expanded into the future,” Moran said. “It worked well, and the in-person early might be narrowed or curtailed to something that is less costly for towns and more amenable to the town process.” 

 

Right whales enter a new year filled with uncertainty

Doug Fraser Cape Cod Times 

Published Dec 23, 2020 

For North Atlantic right whales, the most endangered great whale — and marine mammal —  on Earth, the good news for the new year started early, with the birth of three calves in the fall.

But a fourth calf washed up dead on a North Carolina beach in late November, believed to have died of natural causes soon after birth.

For a species that now numbers 366 individuals with less than 100 females, the births were hailed as a sign that something at least was going right.

“One of the positives is that two of the three mothers are new mothers,” said Philip Hamilton, a research scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. Hamilton oversees the Anderson center’s North Atlantic right whale photo-identification catalog. 

After years where the numbers of calves fell below the number of dead whales lost to entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships, Hamilton found solace in these new mothers.

“It suggests that their physical condition is finally good enough to support a calf,” he said. “I’m am hopeful that some of the other long-term moms will have also reached that condition.”

It takes a lot of energy for a yearlong pregnancy and nursing a 14-foot long calf.

Entanglement injuries and problems finding food are two prime reasons why there were just 22 births from 2017 to 2019, one-third the average annual birth rate according to NOAA.

Right whales prime food source is zooplankton that researchers think have shifted the timing and location of their blooms in response to climate change and warming waters in the Gulf of Maine. Researchers have found that right whales are underweight and showing up in unlikely places such as the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada as they search for food. 

According to NOAA, the historic average of three years between births has lengthened to six to 10 years. While females reach sexual maturity at 10 years, Hamilton said a large number of potential new mothers have still not had their first calf. 

Hamilton was reluctant to make a prediction, but a significant number of prospective mothers appeared to have been feeding in the Gulf of St. Lawrence this year, and he said it was conceivable that as many as 20 calves could be born in 2021. 

“I’m going to stick with hope,” Regina Asmutis-Silvia, North American director of Whale and Dolphin Conservation, said when asked whether she was optimistic for the coming year. 

More calves born than dead whales is a good start, she said, but she thinks the plight of the right whale has finally grabbed the attention of the public, fishermen and regulators. 

“I think there’s a lot more awareness. A lot more urgency, and I think there’s a lot more willingness in the (fishing) industry, as well as regulators,” Asmutis-Silvia said. 

Fearing draconian regulations, closures and even a shut down of lobster and gillnet fisheries, some fishermen and their trade organizations were initially reluctant to participate in finding solutions.

But the threat of widespread closures, in particular, and litigation helped push them to find ways to continue fishing while protecting whales. Asmutis-Silvia is cheered by fishermen's participation in various pilot projects to design and test whale-safe gear such as ropes and devices that break under the pressure of a swimming whale and ropeless systems that deploy buoys from the ocean bottom instead of the traditional vertical line connected to a surface buoy. 

“I think it is amazing to see manufacturers working with the fishing industry. ...That is critical, and it gives me a lot of hope,” she said.

With court judgments in two lawsuits applying pressure on federal and state agencies to come up with a plan to save right whales, the new year could see substantial changes to fisheries.

Amy Knowlton, a senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center, is hopeful that NOAA would meet a court-imposed deadline to have new regulations by May of 2021. In general, the new plan will shoot for at least a 60% reduction-in-fishing effort, including a 30% reduction in vertical lines in Massachusetts and a 50% reduction in Maine.

“There’s not a lot of denial going on (in the fishing industry),” she said. “But there’s still a lot of work to do to educate.”

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution whale researcher Mark Baumgartner agreed there is a lot more awareness now of the danger right whales face. With Massachusetts about to expand winter and early spring right whale closures to all state waters in 2021, Baumgartner says it places even more importance on developing ropeless buoy technologies that will be both affordable and reliable. But he does not see that happening in 2021.

“The technology is not there and what is there is in its early stages,” he said, adding he is encouraged that research has moved into the trial phase on a small scale.

On another front, progress could potentially be made on slowing ships down.

Ship strikes are the second leading cause of right whale mortality and injury. While there are seasonal mandatory speed limits of 10 knots along the right whales' migratory route and in feeding areas, the speed limits are voluntary in areas that haven’t yet been included as protected zones. Vessel studies have shown is that ships are violating the speed limit.

“We know the ships are a danger and that right whales are there. Why not have some accountability for companies that don’t slow down or make the speed limits mandatory,” Baumgartner said.

Tracking ship speeds is relatively easy since all commercial vessels over 65-feet long and all towing vessels over 26-feet long must have a tracker that identifies the vessel and tracks its course and speed.

Baumgartner said the tracking would make it possible to shame companies in the supply chain that get products shipped by repeat offenders as a way to force those shippers to slow down.

 

Stimulus bill includes plan to expedite bridge replacements

Ethan Ganter Cape Cod Times 

Published Dec 23, 2020

A commitment to the replacement of the aging Cape Cod Canal bridges. along with federal transportation dollars, were tucked into the massive package of emergency relief, government funding and tax cuts approved by Congress this week. 

The replacement of the 85-year-old Bourne and Sagamore bridges was among 65 projects the Secretary of the Army would expedite to preconstruction planning, engineering and design, if justified, as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 — one of several pieces of legislation that was included in an omnibus package passed along with the $900 billion stimulus bill. 

Also in the more than 5,000-page package, which made headlines for the contentious $600 stimulus checks, was possible funding for bridges in poor condition and other transportation projects, U.S. Rep. William Keating said. He had already spoken with Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack about the potential for as much as $60 million for bridges across the state in the federal budget portion of the bill, he said.

Transportation overall will receive about $45 billion in the economic relief piece of the legislation.

Leaders brokered the coronavirus package on Sunday and the text was unveiled on Monday. 

U.S. senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren commended the infrastructure bill for including several Massachusetts projects. 

“During the coronavirus pandemic, it is more important than ever that we provide relief and support to communities throughout Massachusetts,” Sen. Markey, D-Mass, said in a statement. “I am proud that the water infrastructure legislation passed today includes many of our key provisions, which will provide new and more robust resources to help localities recover and grow their economies, while also bracing for the impacts of climate change. I look forward to building on this progress with comprehensive investments in sustainable and resilient infrastructure in the next Congress.”

Markey is a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, which had jurisdiction over the legislation. 

Sen. Warren, D-Mass, also was glad to see the legislation support critically important infrastructure projects in the state. 

"I will continue to fight to ensure our communities have the resources they need to protect against future impacts of climate change and allow for continued economic growth,” she said in the statement.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns and operates the two automobile bridges over the Cape Cod Canal. Facing increasingly bigger and more frequent maintenance, the Corps announced earlier this year that it planned to replace the bridges, though the state would lead the new construction efforts and take over ownership once they were completed.   

What the new bridges would look like and the timeline for replacement haven't been nailed down yet, but a report by the Corps last fall included wider lanes to meet highway standards, a median, shoulders and separated pedestrian and bicycle areas. The bridges would have two travel lanes in either direction, plus a pair of auxiliary lanes for vehicles getting on and off the adjacent exits. 

The Corps' projected construction could start as early as 2025, but funding has not yet been allocated for the estimated $1 billion project.

It's not clear what would be expedited or how this change would affect the project's trajectory since the Corps and the state have said they plan to do it. 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was thankful for the state's delegation for working for extra money and is evaluating how this new funding can help improve the transportation network across the state, a spokeswoman wrote in an email.

MassDOT continues to meet with the Corps and is working on internal design planning for the roads around the canal with more information for the public next year.

Corps spokesman Bryan Purtell said it wouldn't be prudent to comment on pending legislation. 

"We will have to wait for this stimulus bill to be signed by the President into law and then passed down to (the Department of Defense) and through the Secretary of the Army priority chain before we may have any specifics for release or know more how this affects specific projects," he said. 

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: POLICE BILL back on BAKER’S DESK – VIRUS SPREAD sparks NEW RULES – EVICTION WAVE has arrived

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY Presented by Transportation for Massachusetts GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. PROGRAMMING NOTE: We made it! This is the last newsletter of the year. Massachusetts Playbook will not publish beginning Dec. 24. I’ll be back in your inbox on Jan. 4. In the meantime, send tips to smurray@politico.com. I hope you have a healthy, restful holiday. See you in 2021! WHAT TO WATCH AHEAD OF 2021 — We are almost at the end of a long, strange year. The pandemic upended daily life in March, and a winter surge in cases will spill into 2021. There could be major changes afoot on Beacon Hill, and a relatively quiet fight for Boston City Hall is about to get louder. Here are five story lines to watch while Playbook takes a holiday hiatus until January. PANDEMIC RAGES ON: The upcoming holidays have the potential to spike the Covid-19 case rate in Massachusetts, which is already quite high. The state has reported more than 101,000 cases of the virus in the month of December, which Gov. Charlie Baker says is partially the result of Thanksgiving gatherings. The day after Christmas, the state will impose tighter restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. END OF SESSION CRUSH: The Legislature's two-year session is coming to a close, meaning lawmakers are up against an end-of-year crunch to pass bills that are left on the table. This period would have come during the summer, but lawmakers extended the session due to the pandemic. With abortion and police reform almost out of the way, some of the bills lawmakers could send to the governor’s desk deal with health care, climate change, transportation and economic development. THE NEXT SPEAKER: House Speaker Robert DeLeo is in talks with Northeastern University about a new job, and Majority Leader Ron Mariano says he has the votes to become the next speaker. It's not clear when DeLeo might depart the House, but lawmakers say it could happen soon, even before new lawmakers are sworn into office in January. KEYS TO THE MASSGOP: The Massachusetts Republican Party will select its next leader at the beginning of January. Chair Jim Lyons, who has embraced President Donald Trump over Gov. Charlie Baker during his term, is running for reelection. Challenging Lyons is state Rep. Shawn Dooley. The leader of the party could influence the 2022 gubernatorial race if Republican Baker runs for a third term and draws a primary challenger, which could happen. MEANWHILE IN BOSTON: The Boston mayoral race could heat up quickly at the beginning of 2021. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is widely expected to run for a third term, and a campaign announcement could come early in the year. Running against him are Boston City Councilors Andrea Campbell and Michelle Wu. But Walsh is still in the running to serve as President-elect Joe Biden's labor secretary, my POLITICO colleagues report, which would throw the mayoral race into a real frenzy. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. A message from Transportation for Massachusetts: By embracing a bipartisan, multi-state solution to transportation emissions, Governor Baker is showing real leadership on our climate crisis. Thank you for this important step, Governor! The Transportation & Climate Initiative limits pollution from transportation based on a proven model from the electricity sector that has reduced costs for consumers and businesses while growing the economy. It’s a smart approach to a big problem, and will improve quality of life for residents across the Commonwealth. Learn More.   THE LATEST NUMBERS – “More than 2,000 now hospitalized with COVID-19, as officials report 3,293 new cases, 43 deaths,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials confirmed another 3,293 coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the number of active cases statewide to 82,303. Officials also announced another 43 COVID-related deaths, for a total now of 11,549 confirmed fatalities since the start of the pandemic.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “Baker tightens restrictions amid virus surge,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: “With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rising, Gov. Charlie Baker is tightening limits on business capacity and public and private gatherings. Beginning Dec. 26, most businesses will be required to reduce capacity to 25% for two weeks. The restrictions also reduce limits on public and private gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.” – “Baker says new coronavirus restrictions will help school districts bring students back in person,” by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker said Tuesday that a new slate of coronavirus restrictions that take effect Saturday will ultimately help school districts get more students back to classrooms for in-person learning.” – “House accepts revised police accountability bill, putting it on the verge of becoming law,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts House on Tuesday approved a revised version of a sweeping policing bill, making it all but certain the state will soon enact legislation that emerged after protests over police misconduct and the death of George Floyd gripped Massachusetts and beyond. The legislation would create for the first time a system for certifying police officers in Massachusetts and give a new civilian-led panel the ability to revoke their licenses for a range of misconduct.” – “AG Healey: Police Reform Bill As Amended Is 'A Really Good Thing,'” by Zoe Mathews, GBH News: “Facing the threat of Gov. Charlie Baker's veto, the Massachusetts Senate approved modifications to a landmark police reform bill Monday. The House will take it up Tuesday. The sticking point had been proposed restrictions on police use of facial recognition technology.” – “What to know about the race to be the next Massachusetts House speaker,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “Massachusetts House Speaker Bob DeLeo still hasn’t officially said he’s leaving. But don’t tell that to the two state representatives who have already declared their candidacies to replace him.” – “House members following DeLeo-Mariano script,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “One veteran House lawmaker said on Monday that Ron Mariano’s ascension as speaker has been one of the smoothest, most unified, most calm transitions he has ever witnessed. That’s because this speaker transition is following a script that has been honed and crafted for years.” – “Council resolution in honor of DeLeo fails, drawing instead a listing of speaker’s faults,” by Marc Levy, Cambridge Day: “A fairly rote resolution of thanks to the speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for years of service went a surprising direction Monday, with only one-third of Cambridge city councillors voting yes.” – “Lawmakers reach agreement for telehealth coverage,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts House and Senate leaders said Tuesday they’ve reached a deal on legislation that would mandate insurance carriers cover telehealth services in any case where in-person services would be covered, extending emergency requirements the state had put in place amid the pandemic.” – “AG calls out Bristol sheriff in ongoing battle over alleged civil rights violations at his detention center,” by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday fired back at Bristol Sheriff Thomas Hodgson in a sharply worded letter, suggesting he should discuss with her office his concerns about a recent investigation into alleged civil rights violations at his detention center.” – “Sec. of State Galvin’s office sanctions Retire Happy company for allegedly defrauding senior citizens and retirees,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin’s office on Tuesday announced sanctions against a Nevada-based company for allegedly defrauding retirees in the Commonwealth. In a statement, Galvin’s office identified the company as Retire Happy.”   EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT TRANSITION PLAYBOOK, SUBSCRIBE TODAY: A new year is quickly approaching. Inauguration Day is right around the corner. President-elect Joe Biden's staffing decisions are sending clear-cut signals about his priorities. What do these signals foretell? Transition Playbook is the definitive guide to the new administration and one of the most consequential transfers of power in American history. Written for political insiders, this scoop-filled newsletter breaks big news daily and analyzes the appointments, people and emerging power centers of the new administration. Track the transition and the first 100 days of the incoming Biden administration. Subscribe today.     FROM THE HUB – “Walsh To Bostonians: Over The Holidays, Stay Home And Keep It Small,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “In a low-key COVID-19 briefing that will likely be his last before Christmas, Mayor Marty Walsh urged Bostonians to contain the virus’s spread by exercising caution as they celebrate the winter holidays. ‘You should only celebrate only with the people that you live with,’ Walsh said, echoing advice from Gov. Charlie Baker and others.” – “Inside the Bunker at Boston Public Schools,” by Mike Damiano, Boston Magazine: “To say that Cassellius’s daily life in Boston has not been smooth is something of an understatement. She has one of the highest-stakes jobs in Boston, and the ‘second-hardest job in the city after mayor,’ one source told me. (Second-hardest job in the country after president, another said .)” – “Mass. Long-Term Care Facilities Prepare For Coronavirus Vaccines After Months Of Isolation And Loss,” by Carey Goldberg, GBH News: “Anticipation. That’s what retired biology teacher Janet Brady feels about the coronavirus vaccinations expected to begin at Massachusetts long-term care facilities next week. And she says many of her neighbors at the Orchard Cove assisted living residence in Canton feel the same.” – “Cardinal O’Malley details Christmas Mass safety plan during COVID-19 pandemic,” by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: “The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has taken ‘significant preparations’ to celebrate Christmas Masses safely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and a reduced number of parishioners will be able to attend services in person, the archdiocese said Tuesday.” THE OPINION PAGES – “Why I’m exploring a run for governor of Massachusetts,” by Danielle Allen, The Washington Post: “I’ve spent my life as a scholar and writer, social entrepreneur and policy innovator, working to advance the cause of healthy constitutional democracy. I am confident that even academics can make the leap to politics, and bring something of value to the work of governance.” DAY IN COURT – “Rollins joins with defense in calling for the immediate release of man serving time for murder conviction,” by Adrian Walker, Boston Globe: “Robert Foxworth was tried and convicted in 1992 of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a suspected drug dealer in Dorchester. Now 53, Foxworth awaits the reversal of a conviction both defense attorneys and Suffolk County prosecutors believe to be unjust.” WARREN REPORT – “Sen. Warren introduces bill to provide free Covid testing for teachers, students and essential workers across U.S.” by Will Feuer, CNBC: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren is pushing legislation that would provide free Covid testing for teachers, students, essential workers and others who have high exposure to the coronavirus, expanding federally funded screening efforts throughout the U.S.” DATELINE D.C. – “‘Surprise’ medical billing banned after Richard Neal gets on board,” by Liz Goodwin, Boston Globe: “Congress banned the surprise, sky-high medical bills patients get when they use an out-of-network service on Monday, after Massachusetts Representative Richard Neal dropped his objections to earlier proposals and prevailed with his version of a fix.” – “Congress proposes $10 billion in relief for the child-care industry, but advocates say it’s only a ‘down payment,’” by Megan Leonhardt, CNBC: “Although the vast majority of child-care programs opened back up after the spring stay-at-home orders lifted, many daycare center and preschool owners are taking on huge financial losses — both personal and professional.” – “US Rep. Richard Neal touts COVID-19 relief bill as a ‘triumph for good sense,’” by Ron Chimelis, Springfield Republican: “He didn’t mention the Republican Party by name, and predictably gave Democrats the lion’s share of credit. Even so, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said the COVID-19 relief package approved late Monday indicates hope for the future of bipartisan legislation in Washington.” – “COVID stimulus ‘only the beginning,’ Massachusetts lawmakers pledge,” by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: “After both houses of Congress passed a $908 billion COVID-19 stimulus package on Monday night, Massachusetts lawmakers pledged to continue fighting for more aid after President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.”       KENNEDY COMPOUND – “Joe Kennedy III calls on Joe Biden to extend eviction moratorium for the duration of the pandemic,” by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: “The federal moratorium on coronavirus-related evictions is getting extended for another month, as part of the wide-ranging pandemic relief bill passed by Congress on Monday. Rep. Joe Kennedy III says it’s hardly enough. In a letter Tuesday, the outgoing Massachusetts congressman called on President-elect Joe Biden to extend the national moratorium.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “Mass. Has Strong Rules About Burning Wood For Electricity. In 2021, It Plans To Roll Them Back,” by Miriam Wasser, WBUR: “If built, the facility would be the state’s only large-scale biomass plant and would burn about 1,200 tons of wood per day in a city the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has ranked the ‘Asthma Capital’ of the country. Until now the plant has been on hold because biomass isn't profitable in Massachusetts. But this could change early next year with new state rules about who qualified for renewable energy subsidies.” FROM THE 413 – “'The wave ... has definitely arrived': With moratorium lifted, eviction notices flood Berkshire County,” by Danny Jin, The Berkshire Eagle: “After the expiration of Massachusetts’ eviction moratorium, hundreds of renters in Berkshire County found eviction notices taped to their doors. In the month after Oct. 17, when the moratorium was lifted, 327 14-day notices were served through the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office. During the same period last year, 102 were served.”   TUNE IN TO NEW EPISODE OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe for Season Two, available now.     THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Stimulus bill includes plan to expedite bridge replacements,” by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: “A commitment to the replacement of the aging Cape Cod Canal bridges, along with federal transportation dollars, were tucked into the massive package of emergency relief, government funding and tax cuts approved by Congress this week.” – “North Brookfield votes to end Native American school mascot,” by Kim Ring, Telegram & Gazette: “By unanimous vote of the School Committee Monday night, North Brookfield became the latest community to shed the Native American mascot that has been the high school's symbol since 1960. Committee members have been mulling the move for some time and last month listened as Native Americans told them the mascot was inaccurate and hurtful and after a half-century of asking communities to do away with the images of their people, it is time for a change.” – “A Twitter user compared house prices in Fall River and L.A. Here's what happened next.” by Lynne Sullivan and Linda Murphy, The Herald News: “Fall River has an abundance of stately homes, and now the world knows it. Well, maybe not the whole world, but thanks to a Tweet from B.M.C. Durfee High grad Hunter Reis, showing the difference between a $1 million home in Fall River vs. a $1 million home in Los Angeles, ‘Fall River’ is trending on Twitter.” A FAVORITE #MAPOLI TRADITION – “Jingle Bells: Staying in Political Harmony From a Distance,” NBC10: “It’s the time of year when politicians on both sides of the aisle come together in harmony for a holiday song with Alison King, a tradition 2020 couldn’t interrupt — for the most part.” BEST SELLER ALERT – “The Last Days of John Lennon” by James Patterson with Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge made the New York Times best seller list for nonfiction. NYT. HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY – to Joe Beebee, who celebrates Thursday. A message from Transportation for Massachusetts: Governor Baker is providing regional leadership on climate by joining with Governor Lamont and Governor Raimondo to address pollution from transportation. Vehicle tailpipe emissions cause lung disease and asthma. Recent research has shown that air pollution increases morbidity rates of COVID-19. At a time of uncertainty and gridlock in the federal government, states like Massachusetts are leading. The Transportation & Climate Initiative puts a cap on transportation emissions, requires polluters to contribute to the solution, and gives us all better and cleaner options for getting around. By participating in TCI, Governor Baker is supporting good-paying jobs upgrading our region’s infrastructure -- and getting our economy back on track. Learn more at www.t4ma.org/tci.   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 Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA