9/21/2017 07:02 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) and Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Mostly cloudy and breezy with a high of 73 in Boston.
SESSIONS GETS THE UNWELCOME WAGON - Attorney General Jeff Sessions is as close as it gets to a Trump-aligned, persona non-grata in the city of Boston. Mayor Marty Walsh has taken to his bully pulpit to denounce the AG and Trump administration's policies on sanctuary cities, travel bans, and more. And as soon as news broke that Sessions would be in town today to deliver a speech on "transnational criminal organizations" to federal law enforcement officials, one of the groups behind the anti-Trump Women's March in Boston - the ACLU of Massachusetts - got busy.
For the ACLU, it's a rare chance to protest one of the biggest figures of the Trump administration on its own turf. As such, they've planned an "unwelcoming party" for Sessions outside of Moakley Courthouse where the attorney general is expected to speak this afternoon. "The public outcry against Jeff Sessions' presence in Boston is just the latest example of Massachusetts residents standing up against the worst excesses of the Trump-Sessions administration," Carol Rose, ACLU of Massachusetts executive director, tells me.
Rose is also counting on these same activists to turn out to the State House next Wednesday to support legislation that would, as she put it, "protect Massachusetts residents from Trump-Sessions' cruel and unconstitutional policies that target immigrants, people of color, poor people and the LGBTQ community."
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Boston Mayor Marty Walsh hits the campaign trail and plans to greet morning commuters at Green Street Train Station in JP at 7 a.m. - Gov.Charlie Baker visits Cape Air in Hyannis to meet with CEO and former Cape and Islands State Sen. Dan Wolf (who has mulled challenging Baker in 2018), as well as the company's president and employees - It's Massachusetts Day at the Big E in Springfield and Sec. Bill Galvin plans to visit.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "GE, Boston Foundation to offer support for city's Amazon HQ2 bid," by Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal: "Amazon's request for proposals said the company would 'encourage testimonials from other large companies' regarding 'a stable and consistent business climate' when considering locations for the so-called HQ2 project."
- "Boston Globe still not forthcoming about its printing woes," by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal: "But current and former local print industry professionals who spoke to the Business Journal on the condition of anonymity in recent days pointed to several questions that remain unanswered."
- "Commission: Change to Atlantic Time Zone will bring state economic, health benefits," by J.D. Capelouto: "Shifting all of Massachusetts to follow the Atlantic Time Zone year-round could result in a better economy, less crime and a healthier workforce, according to a draft report released Wednesday. The special commission chaired by Lowell Sen. Eileen Donoghue, a Democrat, was established last summer and tasked with creating a report on whether a time zone switch would be effective. The 11-member panel convened at the Statehouse to review and discuss the draft."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Sen. Elizabeth Warren slams Republicans for ACA repeal effort," by Shira Schoenberg, Masslive.com: "U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Wednesday that she is worried Republicans will have enough votes in the U.S. Senate to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 'This is a serious fight right now,' Warren said."
- "Democrats are trying to limit foreign influence on U.S. elections - beginning with Google and Facebook ads," by Kurt Wagner and Tony Romm, Recode: "Federal law already bars that sort of political spending, but lawmakers - including Rep. John Sarbanes and Sen. Elizabeth Warren - stress in a letter to the Federal Elections Commission that countries like Russia 'have routinely deployed sophisticated tactics in making political expenditures to evade detection.'"
** A message from PhRMA: Are middlemen really holding down the cost of medicines? Biopharmaceutical companies set the list prices for their medicines, but it's your insurer that decides how much you pay out of pocket. More than one-third of the list price is rebated back to middlemen, but these savings aren't always shared with patients. http://onphr.ma/2uiAQVk **
ON THE STUMP -
- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Democrat Jay Gonzalez has rolled out a Women's Economic Agenda. In it, Gonzalez proposes to increase representation of women and minorities on the boards of groups that do business with the state, eliminate the tipped wage, and end gender discrimination in disability insurance benefits to "aim to level the playing field for working women in Massachusetts and expand economic opportunity," according to the Gonzalez campaign.
- "Stealth GOP-run website praises Baker, rips Democratic foes," by Matt Stout, Boston Herald: "A controversial website that brands itself as a 'news company' but is sponsored by the partisan Republican Governor Association is touting the "indisputable accomplishments" of Gov. Charlie Baker - who sits on the RGA's executive committee - while criticizing his Democratic rivals."
- "L'Italien defends living outside district she wants to represent," by Christian M. Wade, Lawrence Eagle Tribune: "To be sure, L'Italien doesn't live far outside the district. Andover is one of three towns partially represented by the 3rd District seat; Sudbury and Winchendon are the others. ... Three Andover voting precincts - including the 8th precinct, where L'Italien lives - are in the 6th District represented by Democrat Seth Moulton."
- "These City Council candidates have more campaign cash than Tito Jackson," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "Stephen Passacantilli of the North End, who is seeking to replace longtime Councilor Sal LaMattina in District One, has raised about $284,000 since May and had about $118,000 remaining as of mid-September. ... And Michael S. Kelley, who is seeking to replace District Two Councilor Bill Linehan, who is also leaving his seat, has raised about $215,000 since February, according to state records. He had about $67,000 by mid-September."
- "What the challengers would say to Mayor Walsh if they had a debate," by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe: "More important, incumbent Mayor Marty Walsh could use the grilling debates provide - even if the three men hoping to unseat him have slim to no chance of beating him. It's good for the city to have the mayor kept on his toes."
- "Walsh, Jackson focus on mobilizing supporters," by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: "At 11 a.m. last Saturday, Mayor Martin Walsh and District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson crossed paths at the ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Freedom House. Walsh thanked Jackson for his advocacy on behalf of the reconstruction of the Grove Hall youth services agency. The two danced along with a New Orleans-style second line band to the front of the building, where the mayor performed the ceremonial cut of the ribbon."
- "Clown candidate mum on moves, motives behind run," by Dan Atkinson, Boston Herald: "The clown running for City Council does not want to talk about why he changed his name earlier this year or why he's loaned $1 million to his campaign - and criticized the Herald's coverage of the race while trying to turn an interview around on a reporter."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "'GROSS NEGLIGENCE,'" "POWERHOUSE!" - Globe: "Mueller's inquiry extends to Trump," "'Landmark' parks sought for Fort Point," "Help wanted, times 50,000," "A PLACE OF REFUGE, RIVEN BY MURDERS," "SJC narrows first-degree murder rules."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Amazon could find those 50,000 jobs hard to fill in Boston area," by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: "For years, Massachusetts tech executives have been complaining about how hard it is to fill job openings - that whether they're looking for a few or 50, there just aren't enough qualified candidates for companies to grow at the pace they want. So imagine if one tech company came in and tried to hire 50,000 people. That's the potential if Amazon selects Boston for its second headquarters."
- "Prudential Center shows security robot the door," by Steve Annear, Boston Globe: "It looks like at least one robot won't be taking a human's job - for now, anyways. After months of patrolling the Prudential Center, a security robot appeared to have been escorted from the property by two human security officers on Tuesday."
- "Easthampton marijuana dispensary to hire 50-60 workers and operate 17 hours a day," by Mary C. Serreze, Masslive.com: "Hampden Care Facility plans to hold a job fair, hire 50-60 workers and open its medical marijuana dispensary at the Keystone Mill by the end of the year. Plants are already being grown within the 37,000-square-foot 122 Pleasant St. facility, officials from the company said."
- "Turkeys are 'strategizing' in Cambridge and officials want to do something about it," by Steve Annear, Boston Globe: "The Harvard Square turkey just got put on notice. During a Cambridge City Council meeting this week, elected officials discussed a problem that has become all-too-familiar for municipalities in Greater Boston: the abundance of feathered creatures that walk the streets like they own the place, threatening residents who cross their paths."
- "Northeastern Dining Workers Say They're Ready to Strike," by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: "Unionized dining hall employees will announce Wednesday at 5 p.m. their intent to vote on a strike early next month."
- "Boston Transportation Advocates Aren't So Sure About Their Mayor," by Stephen Miller, City Lab: "Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is poised to cruise to a second term this year, but an expected electoral landslide doesn't mean everyone is happy. Transportation advocates in 'America's Walking City' say the past four years have brought big promises, but not much on-the-ground progress for walking, bicycling and transit."
COMING THIS FRIDAY - The Horse Race, a new #mapoli campaigns podcast from MassINC Polling Group President Steve Koczela and yours truly. Tune in as Steve and I keep you on the inside track with every twist, turn, scoop, and poll you need in Massachusetts' races to watch. Subscribe to us on SoundCloudahead of the first episode, out first thing Friday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Sean Powers, former personal aide to Charlie Baker in the 2010 race and current Braintree City Councilor, and CQ Roll Call's Toula Vlahos, a Boston Globe alum.
DID THE HOME TEAMS WIN? Yes! - The Red Sox beat the Orioles 9-0.
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** A message from PhRMA: Are middlemen really holding down the cost of medicines? Ever wonder who decides what you pay for your medicines? It's not who you might think. Biopharmaceutical companies set the list prices for their medicines, but it's your insurer that ultimately determines how much you pay out of pocket. More than one-third of the list price of a medicine is rebated back to middlemen, like insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These rebates and discounts create savings of more than $100 billion, but these savings aren't always shared directly with patients. Patients share the costs. They should share the savings. http://onphr.ma/2uiAQVk **
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