09/07/2017 07:10 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) and Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Isolated showers this morning before becoming mostly sunny with a high of 75. It'll be a cool and otherwise clear night as the Patriots kick off against the Mariners at Gillette tonight.
CHARLIE'S MORNING ON THE HILL -- Gov. Charlie Baker is in Washington, DC today as he delivers his first-ever congressional testimony to the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
He's there to talk about about stabilizing health insurance markets in 2018, as part of a bipartisan group of governors from Montana, Utah, Tennessee, and Colorado. Afterwards, Baker will go from Capitol Hill to the Newseum, where just before noon he'll participate on a panel about the role of research in combating the opioid epidemic, according to his public schedule.
Baker's expected to highlight four key components in his congressional testimony: bipartisan cooperation, market stabilization, federal/state partnerships, and taking action on rising health care costs. No surprises here, just the same bullet points he's made for a while. He'll also ask that any changes be made gradually and have state-based flexibilities. Read his full prepared remarks, if you're interested.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, the HELP committee chair and Tennessee Republican who invited Baker and the four other governors, has said that any health care insurance stabilization package passed by Congress would need to be "small, bipartisan, and balanced" and give states more flexibility in approving insurance policies. Health care watchers on the Hill expect the governors, all fairly moderate on health care issues, will fall in line with what the Senate is already exploring and will show a state-based backing for those ideas.
FWIW: Sen. Elizabeth Warren is a member of the HELP committee, but Baker's press office refused to say whether they had reached out to or had any interaction with her ahead of today's hearing.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
** A message from New England Clean Power Link: Poised to supply Massachusetts with 1,000 MW of clean, renewable power, the New England Clean Power Link is ready to roll. The only project with a Presidential Permit, full site control and full host state support, the innovative buried project will help Massachusetts meet its legislative requirements for lower carbon emissions. More **
TODAY - Acting Governor Karyn Polito takes the reigns of the corner office while Gov. Charlie Baker is in Washington for the day, and will be in western Massachusetts with tours of Middlefield, Dalton, and Haydenville - Boston Public Schools students return to classes for their first day of school - The advocacy group advocating for the North-South Rail Link holds a town hall event in Framingham.
ON THE STUMP -
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Massachusetts Democrats have their first LG candidate in Quentin Palfrey , who is announcing his bid today. The first-time candidate is a former White House senior adviser for jobs and competitiveness in the Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Obama administration. He also served as the health care division chief for the Massachusetts Attorney General's office from 2005 to 2009, and has most recently served as executive director for the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT. Palfrey tells me key issues for him will be around promoting good jobs at fair wages, paid family leave, the so-called millionaires tax, and pushback against President Donald Trump "and how states can be leaders in the fight against Trump." Palfrey, 43, is a Weston resident and Southboro native.
- "Federal judge dismisses Mass. Senate candidate's $15 million libel suit against tech blog," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "A federal judge has dismissed the $15 million libel suit brought by US Senate candidate Shiva Ayyadurai against a California-based technology blog over articles that rejected his claim of inventing e-mail."
- RICK GREEN SENDS BEANS - Mass Fiscal founder Rick Green, vying for the Republican nomination in MA-3, sent a package of Boston baked beans to Dan Koh at Boston City Hall with a note welcoming Koh to the 3rd district.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Democrats launch super PAC to win back statehouses," by POLITICO's Gabriel Debenedetti: "Aiming to play a similar role as Senate Majority PAC does for Senate races and House Majority PAC does for House races, Forward Majority is launching this week as a vehicle for winning back state legislatures ahead of the next round of redistricting in 2021. ... Forward Majority's campaigns director is Ethan Roeder, Obama's 2008 and 2012 data director, and its polling and analytics director is longtime political and corporate operative Saul Shemesh. It is launching with support from a trio of honorary co-chairs: Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Massachusetts Reps. Joe Kennedy III and Seth Moulton."
- "Extra tax on wealthy, paid leave for workers clear ballot hurdles," by Jim O'Sullivan, Boston Globe: "In addition to choosing their next governor and US senator, the state's voters might have a chance to decide whether to require presidential candidates to release their tax returns to appear on the presidential ballot here - one of 21 petitions that Attorney General Maura Healey certified Wednesday for the 2018 ballot."
- "Supervised injection sites seen as 'roadblock to death,'" by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Drug users and parents who have lost children to overdoses asked lawmakers Wednesday to advance a proposal that would allow the creation of dedicated sites where people can use illicit drugs under medical supervision. The Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Committee held a hearing on Sen. Will Brownsberger's bill (S 1081) that would allow the Department of Public Health to approve the implementation of 'safer drug consumption programs' in Massachusetts, provided the local board of health had already signed off."
HEADLINE OF THE DAY - "New pot czar has inhaled," by Jack Sullivan, CommonWealth Magazine: "Despite voting against the referendum to legalize marijuana last November, Steven Hoffman, the chairman of the new state board charged with regulating the nascent retail pot industry, said he thinks the drug is 'harmless' and will cause no more problems than alcohol. 'I personally believe marijuana is a harmless drug,' Hoffman said in an interview with CommonWealth shortly after he met with the media for the first time Wednesday. 'Just like alcohol, which can be overused and abused, I think it should be kept away from minors.'"
- "Charlie Baker should help reclaim the GOP or leave it," by Dave Denison, Boston Globe Magazine: "Even before Trumpism, Baker had little in common with the national GOP: He supports abortion rights and gay rights; he favors expanded health insurance coverage; he's not a climate-change denier; he works in good faith with Democrats."
- "What's with Charlie Baker's transit hires?" by Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe: "It's a great time to rob a bank. Pick a new head of the MBTA who has no public transit experience and is touted as a turnaround king, even though his last place of employment may face bankruptcy. Or hire an ex-MBTA manager as a $30,000 a month consultant to the state's commuter rail, despite a series of rocky endings to his previous transit gigs. Governor Charlie Baker isn't a bank-raiding Willie Sutton. But with Massachusetts Democrats diverted by the daily horrors of President Trump, the most popular governor in America is making some curious and potentially costly personnel moves for an operation he pledged to rejuvenate."
TRUMPACHUSETTS -
- "Mass. joins other states in suing Trump administration over DACA," by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts and 15 other states sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its plans to abolish a policy that has given nearly 800,000 immigrants a reprieve from deportation, contending the move is discriminatory and hits Mexicans especially hard."
- "Mass. Considers Barring Trump From 2020 Ballot Unless He Releases Taxes," by Mike Deehan, WGBH News: "In it's never-ending search for ways to hamstring the Trump presidency, the Massachusetts Legislature will consider a change to state law that could bar President Donald Trump from appearing on the state's 2020 presidential ballot."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Booker and Warren: Women in prison deserve dignity," by Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren, CNN: "In July, we introduced the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, a bill that would help address the unjust conditions incarcerated women face. The bill would institute a number of reforms that strengthen family ties and support rehabilitation, including requiring the Federal Bureau of Prisons to consider the location of children when placing mothers behind bars, expanding visitation policies for primary caretakers, banning shackling and solitary confinement for pregnant women, and prohibiting prisons from charging for essential health care items, such as tampons and pads."
- "Joe Lieberman warns against a Liz Warren run for president," by Laurel J. Sweet, Boston Herald: "Former vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman believes U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be the undoing of the Democratic Party if she's picked to run against President Trump in 2020. 'She's obviously very bright and her voice should be heard. But look, I got into politics because of another senator from Massachusetts: John F. Kennedy. He was the inspiration of our generation,' Lieberman, 75, a former U.S. senator from Connecticut, said today during an appearance on Herald Radio's 'Morning Meeting' program ."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "GREAT ESCAPE" - Globe: "Strategy defers power - and blame," "Trump sets deal with Democrats," "Mass. joins suit seeking protection of immigrants," "DEADLY STORM AIMS AT FLORIDA," "Some crazy cats keep stealing the beatnik books," "Pot czar vows to honor will of Mass. voters."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Poll: Don't give raises to Boston's unwanted teachers," by Dan Atkinson and Kathleen McKiernan, Boston Herald: "The School Committee is preparing to vote on a contract that gives unwanted teachers a 5 percent raise while 50 percent of city residents think those educators should make less money, according to a recent poll."
- "Charles Murray event draws protest," by Brandon J. Dixon and Anna Kuritzkes, Harvard Crimson: "Amid peaceful protest and a heavy security presence, controversial sociologist Charles A. Murray '65 discussed his scholarship and President Donald Trump's election at an event intended to 'test' the boundaries of free speech on campus."
- "Berkshire Museum: Ex-employee says Shields spoke early of art sales," by Larry Parnass, Berkshire Eagle: "The executive director of the Berkshire Museum began to speak of "monetizing" the institution's art holdings soon after arriving in 2011, according to a former collections manager. 'He'd ask, 'Why do we need all these Japanese block prints?'' said Leanne Hayden, who now works at a museum in Maine, said of Van W. Shields. 'Van came in and started talking about monetizing the collection. I heard it from him the whole time,' Hayden told The Eagle."
- "Goodell with a clown nose? Foxboro's Route 1 billboards can be functional, funny, offensive," by Rick Foster, Sun Chronicle: "With Patriot Place and NFL games at Gillette Stadium reliably attracting large crowds with plenty of disposable income, competition for the attention of potential customers driving along Route 1 is intense. Nearly a dozen large billboards line the roadway between Route 140 and the Walpole town line, many of them electronic boards that rotate ads for vodka, TV shows or casinos in high definition. But not all the ads are hawking products."
- "Fans stand by Sox in sign-stealing scandal," by Jim Hand, Sun Chronicle: "Stealing signs is as old in baseball as spitting tobacco juice and the Red Sox should not be severely punished for it, local fans are saying in the wake of a new sports spying scandal. The New York Yankees have accused the Sox of using high tech devices such as an Apple watch to steal signs and relay them to hitters."
- "Goose-poop proliferation ruffles feathers in Chelmsford, beyond," by Alana Melanson, Lowell Sun: "Health Director Sue Rosa said the town was lucky the geese weren't a bigger problem earlier in the summer. But starting in mid-August, the geese had taken over."
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to state Sen. Jen Flanagan and Rick Green, chairman of the board of Mass Fiscal Alliance.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Mary Jeka, SVP & General Counsel at Tufts University, Ren Zheng, IT wizard, and Seth Moulton's Senior Policy Advisor Eric Kanter, who will be celebrating with both FlyWheel and Funfetti.
LONDON CALLING: Have you signed up for the new London Playbook yet? London is the third international power center to get a dedicated Playbook, joining a growing community of more than a quarter of a million Playbook readers worldwide. Author Jack Blanchard brings a unique fix of original news, sharp insight and a bit of fun to Westminster insiders, political buffs and anyone who is tracking politics in the U.K. - Sign up today [here]
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! - The Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1.
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - Former Sen. Barry Finegold's name was misspelled in yesterday's email.
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.
FOR MORE political and policy news from Massachusetts, check out: http://politi.co/1qNSlWx
SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook http://politi.co/2lQswbh ... New York Playbook http://politi.co/1ON8bqW ... Florida Playbook http://politi.co/1OypFe9 ... New Jersey Playbook http://politi.co/1HLKltF ... Massachusetts Playbook http://politi.co/1Nhtq5v ... Illinois Playbook http://politi.co/1N7u5sb ... California Playbook http://politi.co/2bLvcPl ... Brussels Playbook http://politi.co/1FZeLcw ... London Playbook http://politi.co/2xfDPuK ... All our political and policy tipsheets http://politi.co/1M75UbX
** A message from New England Clean Power Link : Poised to supply Massachusetts with 1,000 MW of clean, sustainable power, the New England Clean Power Link is ready to roll. The only project with a Presidential Permit, full site control and full host state support, the innovative buried project will help Massachusetts meet its legislative requirements for lower carbon emissions. The entire line will travel underground and underwater, and is expected to deliver low-cost electricity to the Commonwealth over the next 40 years. Massachusetts can expect to reap $19.9 billion in benefits over the next 20 years alone, while ratepayers can expect to save $655 million a year in energy costs. Most importantly, the project is 100% privately financed and comes with a fixed-price bid, protecting taxpayers and ratepayers alike from any cost overruns. The project's developers have also established a $20 million fund to assist low-income ratepayers in western Massachusetts. http://politi.co/2gqhWpr **
POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA
No comments:
Post a Comment