10/31/2017 07:18 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, MASSACHUSETTS. Clear skies and gusty winds with a high in the mid-50s in Boston.
WHAT TAX REFORM LOOKS LIKE IN MASSACHUSETTS - Taylor Thomas of PoliticoPro's Data Point team crunched the data, and found that the GOP "plan would eliminate some of the most popular and most-used deductions taken by Massachusetts' residents - the real estate and state and local tax deductions - but would likely preserve several popular credits, including the child tax credits and earned income tax credit."
Data shows the most popular tax deduction in both number of claims and value of the deduction here is for state and local taxes - It's potentially on the chopping block, and one that Gov. Charlie Baker has specifically opposed eliminating.
Of tax credits, the foreign tax credit proved most popular in the 4th and 5th congressional districts, represented by Reps. Joe Kennedy III and Katherine Clark, respectively. It's also likely to be eliminated under the current Republican tax plan. In the majority of the state's congressional districts, the Earned Income Tax Credit is the most popular.
Naturally, there's a Massachusetts connection to the ongoing tax debate on Capitol Hill. Rep. Richard Neal, the highest-ranking Democrat on the powerful and tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, has made it clear bipartisanship will be key to a successful tax overhaul - and to winning his support. Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren has been tapped by Democratic party leadership to head up opposition to the current GOP proposal, calling it a way for Trump and wealthy members of his cabinet to personally and financially benefit. And as you read here yesterday, Warren's high-profile role is something one of her GOP challengers has already seized on.
- Check out the state's tax credit and deduction breakdowns by congressional districts from Politico Pro's Data Point team ($).
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Former AG Martha Coakley and the CEO of Dicerna Pharmaceuticals Doug Fambrough testify before the Labor and Workforce Development Committee on needed updates to the Trade Secrets Act - Rep. Niki Tsongas is honored at a women in the military event at the State House. Sec. of Veterans Services Francisco Urena, Women Veterans' Network Representative Gail Cavanaugh McAuliffe, and State Reps. Colleen Garry and Linda Campbell, are expected to attend - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Setti Warren holds a conference call with reporters about Massachusetts' efforts to fight the opioid epidemic.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
** 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/2zcTOi3 **
- "Bump stock ban gets last-minute pushback," by Christian M. Wade, Salem News: "Members of the Gun Owners Action League of Massachusetts have flooded lawmakers with phone calls in the past few days in an attempt to scuttle a House proposal they claim would outlaw basic modifications or maintenance of firearms, including simple lubrication of gun parts."
TAKEN FOR A RIDE - "25 Investigates: Lawmakers billed taxpayers for bogus commutes," by Eric Rasmussen and Erin Smith, Fox 25: "State lawmakers have charged taxpayers for their commutes to the State House when they never even made the trip to Beacon Hill, according to a 25 Investigates review that had one politician running from our camera ... No one has charged taxpayers for more days traveling to the State House in the last two years than state Rep. Sean Garballey, who raked in more than $4,000 in commuting expenses at a price tag of $10 per day."
TAKEN FOR ANOTHER RIDE - "25 Investigates: Lawmakers charge taxpayers for commutes - when they weren't allowed," by Eric Rasmussen and Erin Smith, Fox 25: "For years state lawmakers have collected cash for their State House commutes - between $10 and $100 a day depending on how far they had to go. All that was supposed to end on Jan. 4, according to the new law. ... Yet 25 Investigates found two dozen lawmakers still billing taxpayers for their daily commute through the month of January and the state Treasurer Deb Goldberg kept paying them."
- "Legislative leaders say they've dealt with sexual harassment complaints," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "The leaders of the House and Senate both acknowledged Monday that their offices have received complaints of sexual harassment occurring at the State House, but neither man would go so far as to blame a unique culture on Beacon Hill for the recent stories of women being abused by men in power."
- "Female Massachusetts lawmakers call for mandatory sexual harassment training on Beacon Hill," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "The female lawmakers are going further. They are calling for the implementation of an anonymous survey to determine the level of sexual harassment in the building. They want all state employees to undergo mandatory sexual harassment training."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Warren visits Salem to discuss opioid crisis," by Paul Leighton, Salem News: "Hundreds of thousands of people visit Salem every October. But one visitor attracted more attention than most on Monday."
ON THE STUMP -
NEW THIS MORNING - Maura Healey wades into district City Council endorsements: "Attorney General Maura Healey today endorsed two inspiring newcomers running for open seats on the Boston City Council, Lydia Edwards in District 1 and Kim Janey in District 7," according to Healey's campaign.
- "Brianna Wu will raise funds for her congressional bid by killing Nazis in a Wolfenstein II playthrough," by Boing Boing: "US Congressional candidate (MA-8) Brianna Wu ... will be killing virtual Nazis today. Brianna will be doing a playthrough of the new video game Wolfenstein II, whose tagline is 'Make America Nazi-free again.' The playthrough starts today at 5 pm Eastern."
- "Desalination Plant For Sale? Brockton Mayor's Race May Determine If City's Buying," by Craig LeMoult, WGBH: "The city of Brockton has been trying to figure out for more than a decade how best to meet the need for drinking water. And that debate is now playing out in the city's mayoral election, with the candidates disagreeing over whether the city should purchase a nearby desalination plant."
- "Keller @ Large: Previewing 2018 With Mass Dem. Party Chair Gus Bickford," by Jon Keller, WBZ: "Bickford has urged those who aren't fans of President Donald Trump to gear up to get rid of Gov. Charlie Baker next year, saying that their mutual party affiliation compromises Baker. He gave an example in how Baker, despite serving on the President's opioid commission, didn't criticize the president's decision not to tie federal funds to his emergency declaration on the opioid crisis."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- "Diverse field of contenders seek to replace Tsongas," by Christian M. Wade, Lawrence Eagle Tribune: "The scramble to succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas is shaping up to be the marque race on the 2018 ballot, with at least a dozen declared candidates running for the open seat. ... But it also features one of the most ethnically diverse group of individuals ever to run for Congress in Massachusetts, political observers say, with candidates whose roots span the globe from Asia to the Middle East to the West Indies."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "GONE FISHIN'," "THROWN FOR A LOOP" - Globe: "Former Trump campaign chief, two aids indicted," "Saved from an overdose, but not peril," "In Lawrence, self-imposed exile is over," "Winds leave pockets of destruction," "An apology worthy of Francis Underwood."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "10 percent revived by Narcan in Mass. died within year, study says," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "One in 10 Massachusetts residents who were revived from an overdose by a fast-acting antidote went on to die within a year, according to research providing stark evidence that merely reversing overdoses will not end the opioid crisis."
- "Andover may be without power until Thursday," by Paul Tennant, Eagle-Tribune: "Halloween trick-or-treating has been postponed until Friday, Keefe said."
- "MBTA control board puts off decision on late-night bus service," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's governing board on Monday put off a decision on new overnight bus service, saying the agency should find a cheaper way to extend hours."
- "Harpoon parent acquires Ipswich's Clown Shoes," by Donna Goodison, Boston Herald: "It's Mass Bay Brewing Co.'s first acquisition since 2000, when it bought Catamount Brewery in Windsor, Vt., to expand its brewing capacity."
SEEN AND HEARD - At last night's 2017 New England Council Annual Dinner: Gov. Gina Raimondo, jumping on the pro-Baker lovefest in her introduction of the Massachusetts Republican, honored as the New Englander of the Year. "Maybe the Democratic Governors Association won't be happy I say this, but I love Charlie Baker." Raimondo quipped, according to a tipster.
MAZEL! - to the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action's new affiliation Bend the Arc. Both groups will remain fully independent while working together to advance social and economic justice in the United States, inspired by Jewish values and tradition.
TRANSITIONS -The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation's executive director, Lonnie A. Powers, who has led the organization since its founding, will retire in August 2018.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Boston Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham and the pride of Wellesley, POLITICO's own Michael Kruse.
DID THE HOME TEAMS WIN? Yes and no! - The Celtics beat the Spurs 108-94 while the Bruins fell to the Blue Jackets 4-3.
START YOUR WEEK OFF STRONG: WITH THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE HORSE RACE - We've got two showdowns coming at you this week. First, we analyze Marty and Tito after their first (and last) mayoral debate. Then, John Kingston and Beth Lindstrom get testy over a U.S. Senate seat. Plus, turns out local elections are important - who knew? We're joined by a very special guest host this week: WGBH's one and only Mike Deehan! Subscribe and listen now on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
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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/2zcTOi3 **
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