10/06/2017 06:49 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) and Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Programming note: Playbook will go dark on Monday to mark the holiday, but I'll be back in your inbox first thing Tuesday.
BUMP STOCK BAN BUMPED TO TOP OF AGENDA - Less than a week after the Las Vegas shooting, a potential ban on a device used by the shooter, bump stocks, has a clear path to fruition on Beacon Hill.
It's hardly surprising to see action on this from the State House, given Massachusetts has the nation's strictest gun laws - a major point of pride for House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who shepherded a major update to the laws in 2011.
Gov. Charlie Baker said yesterday he would sign a bill banning bump stocks, kicking off what will be a fast-tracking of state Rep. David Linsky's newly introduced bill doing just that. Shortly after Baker's comments, DeLeo's office told me the House will "move quickly on the issue," and the Senate President's office said they "expect the Senate to move forward as quickly as possible."
For the record, don't expect much in terms of roadblocks. The most vocal critics to a potential bill, the Gun Owners Action League, which has recently battled against Attorney General Maura Healey for her enforcement of the state's assault weapons ban, has taken no position on bump stocks, State House News reports.
And because there's always a Massachusetts connection on a national level, Rep. Seth Moulton yesterday kicked off a "perfectly bipartisan effort" with Florida Rep. Carlos Curbelo to introduce a bill that would ban the manufacture, sale, and use of bump stocks.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Democratic candidates for governor Bob Massie, Jay Gonzalez, and Setti Warren plan to gather signatures in support of the $15 minimum wage and paid family leave in front of Park Street Station at 1 p.m. The campaigns have agreed to each only bring two staffers and no campaign t-shirts are allowed - Rep. Niki Tsongas and Rep. Jim McGovern attend the North Central MA Chamber of Commerce Luncheon in Fitchburg - Gov. Charlie Baker welcomes Delaware Gov. John Carney to Springfield to highlight the efforts of Springfield's Empowerment Zone Partnership.
FRESH OUT OF THE GATE - The latest installment of The Horse Race, the new podcast about Massachusetts' most exciting races from yours truly and MassINC Polling Group's Steve Koczela. This week: Boston loves Marty Walsh, and very little else, so says the MassINC Polling Group's post-preliminary poll for WBUR. Why is Walsh the front-runner when voters are dissatisfied on so many issues? We also check in on Baker and the MBTA (cue ominous sound effect), Gabriel Gomez and the expanding Senate field, and Seth Moulton frying a sizzling steak in Iowa. Subscribe and listen now on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
** 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 **
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "State readies campaign to warn 80,000 of health insurance spikes," by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Business Journal: "The group overseeing the state's online insurance market is preparing an aggressive outreach campaign to help up to 80,000 people who could see drastic increases to their insurance premiums."
- "Showdown On Criminal Justice Reform Takes Shape On Beacon Hill," by Steve Brown, WBUR: "A showdown between the more liberal Senate and the more conservative House of Representatives is taking shape on Beacon Hill, as both branches get set to take up an overhaul of the state's criminal justice laws."
- "Renewable energy fans flex lobbying muscles in Massachusetts," by Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press: "Renewable energy advocates are increasingly spending more on lobbying to capture the ears of Massachusetts lawmakers. An Associated Press review of state lobbying records found that in 2016, energy interests reported spending a combined $6.7 million lobbying Beacon Hill. Six out of every 10 of those dollars - or about $4.1 million - came from groups pushing renewable energy initiatives or fighting against fossil fuel-related projects, like the construction of natural gas pipelines."
- "Pro Athletes Made the Case for Marijuana in Boston," by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: "As the struggles of current and former professional athletes have come under increased scrutiny in recent years-including traumatic brain injuries and reports linking contact sports with opioid abuse and mental health issues-sports stars assembled in Boston this week say one possible remedy is not getting the respect or airtime it deserves: marijuana."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Democrats' Leftward Shift and Its Impact on 2020," by Amy Walter, Cook Political Report: "Earlier this year, Sen. Elizabeth Warren gave a speech to the annual gathering of liberal activists known as NetRoots Nation, where she made clear that her brand of progressive politics, not the more centrist brand practiced by President Clinton and Hillary Clinton, was the core of the Democratic identity. ... The New York Times op-ed Warren was referring to - 'Back to the Center, Democrats,' was co-authored by Mark Penn, pollster to the Clintons for much of their political careers. ... The latest data from the Pew Research Center, proves both Penn and Warren correct. Democrats have moved dramatically leftward since the 1990s on issues like the social safety net, immigration, and race relations. On those issues, the so-called Warren wing represents the mainstream of Democratic opinion."
- "Sen. Warren Calls for Accountability From Financial Firms," by Bloomberg: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, comments on the Equifax data breach."
ON THE STUMP -
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Beth Lindstrom is making her Senate campaign official. Her long-awaited campaign launch to challenge Sen. Elizabeth Warren will happen on Saturday Oct. 14 at noon at District Hall in the Seaport District.
ALSO FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - Former governor and former Libertarian vice presidential candidate Bill Weld plans to co-host a fundraiser for Beth Lindstrom on Oct. 18 in Canton. Journalist Leslie Marshall will also co-host. Suggested contributions to the campaign range from $1,000 host to $2,700 co-chair designations.
And that's not Weld's only fundraiser coming up - "Libertarian Bill Weld will head up a fund-raising event . . . for the GOP," by Frank Phillips, Boston Globe: "Now Weld is returning to his roots - at least temporarily. He is helping to head up a big fundraising event in Cambridge next week - for the state Republican Party. And he is throwing his support to GOP US Senate candidate Beth Lindstrom and Governor Charlie Baker in the 2018 election."
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - ALMOST EVERY MEMBER OF THE BOSTON DELEGATION SUPPORTS MICHELLE WU. From Wu's campaign : "The Michelle Wu for Boston Campaign today announced endorsements that Boston City Council President Michelle Wu has received from members of the Boston state legislative delegation. Wu is running for re-election to a third term as Boston City Councilor At-Large." The list: Sen. Joe Boncore, Sen. Will Brownsberger, Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, Sen. Michael Rush, Rep. Evandro Carvalho, Rep. Nick Collins, Rep. Ed Coppinger, Rep. Dan Cullinane, Rep. Russell Holmes, Rep. Kevin Honan, Rep. Dan Hunt, Rep. Adrian Madaro, Rep. Liz Malia, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, Rep. Michael Moran, Rep. Byron Rushing, Rep. Dan Ryan, Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez, Rep. Angelo Scaccia, Rep. Chynah Tyler
- Who from the Boston delegation didn't endorse Wu? Rep. Jay Livingstone.
- "Political money flows to Vargas in 3rd Essex race," by Peter Francis, Eagle-Tribune: "City Councilor Andy Vargas has built a substantial lead in campaign contributions in the contest for the 3rd Essex District seat, raising nearly twice as much as his Democratic primary opponent, School Committeeman Paul Magliocchetti. So far, Vargas has received 332 contributions totaling $28,971.43 to his campaign during the first reporting period."
- "Tito Jackson proposes four debates; Mayor Walsh wants two," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "The saga over a mayoral matchup got even more tangled Thursday, with City Councilor Tito Jackson challenging Mayor Martin J. Walsh to four debates and the mayor sticking to his plan for just two. 'The people of Boston are owed an opportunity, and they deserve the opportunity to hear what each of us has to offer,' Jackson said."
TSONGAS ARENA -
- ANOTHER NAME - State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell tells me she is "just considering" a run for the MA-3 seat. The Methuen-based rep said she has been asked by multiple people to consider it, and cited her streak as a moderate Democrat representing gateway cities which could be viable in a more conservative district like the Third. Campbell says a decision from her won't come until the end of the year at the soonest, citing her love for her job at the State House. "I still feel there's a sense we don't have enough candidates that are actually from the district running from this race," she said. "And it's still an open field."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "VEGAS SHOOTER SCOPED FENWAY," "THE BUCS STOP HERE" - Globe: "RETHINKING GUNS AS DETAILS EMERGE," "Trump set to start undoing nuclear deal with Iran," "A day for sports fans to cheer - and cringe," "Wildfire shrouds peak foliage in N.H. mountains."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Newton's offer of cop for Puerto Rico aid comes too late," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Newton Mayor Setti Warren has been highly critical of what he considers to be a lackluster effort by Gov. Charlie Baker to send hurricane relief resources to Puerto Rico, but as the state put together a team of police officers to deploy to the island Warren's police department was not among those contributing personnel. The Newton Police Department volunteered one bilingual police officer from the city to deploy with a contingent of 69 law enforcement officers from 11 local departments and the State Police, but did not make the offer until a day after Baker's office announced that the Massachusetts relief package had been accepted by Puerto Rico."
- "Amazon in Enfield? Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts issues letter supporting Connecticut HQ," by Peter Goonan, Masslive.com: "The Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts has issued a letter supporting a bid by Enfield, Connecticut to be selected as the second national headquarters of multi-billion dollar internet retail giant Amazon. The Seattle-based company is looking to locate a second headquarters in North America that could result in as many as 50,000 full-time jobs over the next 15 years in the chosen area, with a capital investment of more than $5 billion ."
- "Clinton Global Initiative University coming to Northeastern," by Jake Johnson, Boston Globe: "Bill and Chelsea Clinton will visit Northeastern University next weekend for the 10th annual Clinton Global Initiative University, the Clinton Foundation announced Thursday. The former president and his daughter will join more than 1,000 university students and experts Oct. 13-15 to address such issues as hurricane and disaster response, the opioid epidemic, relief for refugees and displaced populations, and violence against women."
- "Bioshelter takes root in Worcester," by Scott O'Connell, Worcester Telegram: "Representatives from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Worcester Common Ground on Thursday celebrated the completion of Worcester's first and, according to its creators, the region's only bioshelter, in the city's Piedmont neighborhood. The shed-like structure, tucked next to three-deckers on a block at Jacques Avenue and Ethan Allen Street, is intended to be a self-sustaining greenhouse, capable of growing plants in all seasons without the aid of fossil fuels. Exactly how and for what purpose the bioshelter will be used is yet to be determined, said its developers, who intend for it to be planned and operated primarily by residents in the neighborhood."
- "Pilgrim owner backs off another nuclear plant closure," by Christine Legere, Cape Cod Times: "Entergy Corp. has once again reversed a decision on closing one of its nuclear power plants, raising questions about its 2019 shutdown of the Pilgrim station. A company spokesman, however, said there were no plans to keep the Plymouth plant open beyond the announced closure date."
- "Activists relentless as Tennessee Gas tries to wrap up pipeline work, gas to flow in Nov.," by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: "When all else fails, keep bugging the pipeline company, and try a little voodoo. 'I think us just being here is having an effect,' said Steven Botkin, one of around 20 activists in Otis State Forest on Thursday to remind everyone that methane will soon be flowing through this slice of state-owned and protected land. Indeed, their presence temporarily stopped some work, created a few other hassles, and a touch-and-go moment between a young water protector and a Massachusetts State Police trooper."
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to Boston Magazine contributing editor David S. Bernstein; WGBH senior news editor Peter Kadzis; Nicole Giambusso, PR director at Salem State University; Kate-Marie Roycroft, director of public policy for the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs; Mark Orlowski,executive director and founder of the Sustainable Endowments Institute; and The New York Times' Charlie Savage, a Boston Globe alum (h/t wife Luiza Savage), who all celebrate Saturday.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and no! - The Bruins beat the Predators 4-3 and the Patriots topped the Buccaneers 19-14. The Sox fell to the Houston Astros 8-2.
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** 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. More **
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