10/25/2017 07:06 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) and Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Heavy rain and breezy today with a high of 66 in Boston.
KINGSTON MAKES IT OFFICIAL - Winchester Republican John Kingston makes his US Senate campaign against Sen. Elizabeth Warrenofficial tonight. He's doing it in a speech delivered at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate, "to make a statement, standing there in a replica of the Senate chambers, that this is not a Democratic seat, it does not belong to any one party, and together, we will break the Democratic stranglehold," according to a release from the Kingston campaign.
Kingston, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist, pledged to run a "different kind of Republican campaign than people are used to seeing," and would retire Warren "and her toxic brand of Washington politics."
Warren's 2020 aspirations were a key selling point: "We have just one shot as Republicans at derailing Sen. Warren's presidential aspirations," Kingston said.
Kingston called himself the "only Republican with the record, resources, and message to defeat Sen. Warren." The Globe reported earlier this week that Kingston tried to use his fundraising prowess, plus his record and message, as ammo to unsuccessfully dissuade fellow GOP contender Beth Lindstrom from seeking the Senate seat and to instead run in the MA-3 race.
In the release this morning, Kingston's campaign also touted his latest $3.2 million in fundraising, which included $3 million of his own money. They also unveiled a six-minute video of Kingston's family and friends talking about his history as an independent leader.
** 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 **
ALSO TODAY - State Rep. Geoff Diehl is holding a press conference on taxes later this morning. His campaign wouldn't elaborate about what tax issues he'll address at the Boston-based event.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Gov. Charlie Baker and LG Karyn Polito will hold a roundtable with Undersecretary of Public Safety and Security Jennifer Queally, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. and Safe Passage Director of Program Anthia Elliott to discuss the work of the Governor's Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez runs the stairs at Harvard Stadium with fitness group the November Project - Wealthy GOP businessman John Kingston makes his campaign against US Sen. Elizabeth Warren official in a 7 p.m. speech at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate in Dorchester.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Baker lowers expectations before recess," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Gov. Charlie Baker has lowered his expectations for the final three-plus weeks on the Legislature's calendar before its seven-week holiday recess. Baker in July demanded action on a major Medicaid savings proposal by mid-September and has filed at least 10 non-budget related bills since January that are still awaiting consideration. On Monday he sounded like a governor resigned to accepting a slower pace in the Legislature."
- "The state lost track of sex offenders. Now, an official is defending the agency responsible," by Martin Finucane, Boston Globe: "State Auditor Suzanne Bump called Tuesday for the state's Sex Offender Registry Board to step up its efforts to keep track of the convicted sex offenders who are scattered in communities across the state, saying the board was 'falling short' in its responsibility to protect the public. But Public Safety Secretary Daniel Bennett said Bump was ignoring the 'reality of how this agency is set up.'"
- "Auditor says DCF skips follow-ups on reports of suspected child abuse," by Chris Villani, Boston Herald: "The Department of Children and Families has failed to follow up on reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, according to state Auditor Suzanne Bump, citing a soon-to-be-released audit. Bump told Herald Radio's 'Morning Meeting' her office has been looking into whether the required reports were made to DCF - and whether DCF took steps to intervene - after examining Mass Health data."
- "'We are getting left behind:' East-West rail supporters urge state's transportation committee to back study," by Dan Glaun, Masslive.com: "Dozens of Western Mass. supporters of Sen. Eric Lesser's proposal to study Springfield to Boston rail service attended and testified at a State House Transportation Committee Tuesday, urging the committee to support the measure. Lesser had chartered a bus to bring in rail advocates from Springfield, who described East-West rail in both personal and economic terms as a necessary way to increase equity between Western Mass. and Boston."
TRUMPACHUSETTS -
HEALTH CARE WATCH - "Federal agency nixes Mass. request for special fund to stabilize health insurance rates," by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: "Federal health officials have rejected a request from Governor Charlie Baker's administration to establish a special fund to help stabilize health insurance rates in Massachusetts next year. Baker administration officials sent their 84-page request in early September, worried that President Trump's administration would end federal subsidies that help insurance companies discount coverage for lower-income Americans. The White House confirmed Oct. 12 that it would halt the subsidies, calling the payments unlawful."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Senator Warren Defends the CFPB Forced Arbitration Rule," in a floor speech last night. Watch it on YouTube. (11:02).
- "Elizabeth Warren Calls for SEC Insider Probe of Navient Trades," by Shahien Nasiripour, Bloomberg: "The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should investigate possible insider trading of shares of student loan company Navient Corp., Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Representative Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, said Monday in a letter to the agency chairman, Jay Clayton. The trades occurred just before public disclosure of a letter from the Department of Education to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that marked an important shift in Trump administration policy."
MOULTON MATTERS -
- "Moulton, Mass. business leaders urge bigger study of North South Rail Link," by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal: "David Torchiana, CEO of Partners Healthcare, Robert Beal, former president of Related Beal and John Fish, CEO and chairman of Suffolk Construction Company are among the business leaders who are backing the request, which was delivered to Baker's office Tuesday."
- "Moulton: Making Salem a safe, welcoming city," by Seth Moulton, Salem News: "At home in Salem, our friends and neighbors have different views on how to fix this system and what we can do in our community to help. As your representative in Congress, I have been a vocal advocate for serious immigration reform. It is a place where we ought to set aside our party differences and come together as Americans - Democrats and Republicans, the Congress and the White House - to make us both a more secure and a more welcoming country."
ON THE STUMP -
- "Aggressive Jackson Takes Aim At Unyielding Walsh In WGBH Debate," by Mike Deehan, WGBH: "With two weeks to go before Bostonians head to the polls to determine if Mayor Marty Walsh deserves a second term in City Hall, City Councilor Tito Jackson took aim at the Walsh administration Tuesday night at the final debate between the pair. The exchange, hosted by WGBH News and moderated by Boston Public Radio hosts Margery Eagan and Jim Braude, covered many of the top issues on voters' minds, with attacks from Jackson being met in most cases by stern defenses of Walsh's record."
- "Gov. Baker Comes to Haverhill to Raise Money for Toohey Rep. Bid," by WHAV: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was in Haverhill Friday specifically to help raise money for Republican state representative candidate Shaun P. Toohey. Baker joined a crowd of supporters at a Toohey campaign rally."
TSONGAS ARENA -
KOH MAKES IT OFFICIAL - "Dan Koh launches bid for 3rd district congressional seat," in an email to from his campaign out this morning: "Over the coming weeks, Dan will be traveling across the Third District on foot - #RunningForThe3rd through all of its 37 cities and towns, covering more than 140 miles and listening to voters along the way. ... Joined by his wife Amy, Koh will kick off the first leg tomorrow morning - Thursday, October 26. They will run through Andover and Haverhill, finishing up at Wicked Big Cafe (19 Essex. St. in Haverhill) at 8:30 AM." Watch Koh's official announcement that was posted on his campaign website this morning.
WOOD WAR - Herald: "'Her story ... is universal'" - Globe: "Fierce, frank mayoral face-off," "Two GOP senators denounce Trump," "MGH aims to ease a cancer test," "A great taste of UMass, for what it's worth," "New mode of bike rentals makes inroads."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
NEW ZEALAND EDITION - "Scott Brown: US ambassador to New Zealand investigated over inappropriate comments," by Eleanor Ainge Roy, The Guardian: "Brown said the official complaints related to comments he had made at a party in the Samoan capital, Apia, where he told attendees they looked 'beautiful' and could make hundreds of dollars working in the hospitality industry in the US. Brown and Huff said they had 'no idea' the comments would be regarded as offensive."
- "Green Line extension back on track; cos. certify build within budget," by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: "Two companies have certified that they can design and build the Green Line extension to Somerville within the MBTA's cost limit of $1.3 billion, allowing the long-anticipated project to advance to the next stage, officials said. 'Now we know we have a project that we can build from the resources we have available,' Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said at yesterday's MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board meeting. 'And while there's lots more work to be done, I think that today really marks the day when we can be sure there's going to be a Green Line extension.'"
FREE SPEECH RALLY FALL-OUT - "Berkshire slander suit seeks $50 million from Boston Mayor Marty Walsh," by Bob Dunn, Berkshire Eagle: "A former North Adams man is suing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for $50 million, claiming he falsely associated him with hate groups during last August's Boston Free Speech Rally. Brandon Navom, who now lives in Lowell, said the mayor's comments cost him his job and opened him up to threats after falsely claiming associations with white supremacists and other hate groups."
- "Is Boston headed for a bike-business border battle?" by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "There's a border war in the bike-rental business. A new generation of companies providing on-the-spot bicycles has infiltrated Greater Boston, and they have a crucial distinction from the popular Hubway system used in the area: They do not rely on fixed docking stations, but rather let users park and lock the rental nearly anywhere they want."
- "In Salem, The Sanctuary For Peace Debate Roils The Mayor's Race," by Adam Reilly, WGBH: "Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll is currently campaigning for a fourth term - and also for Salem's so-called Sanctuary for Peace ordinance, which was passed by the city council this spring but now faces repeal. The ordinance says Salem will 'serve all residents ... regardless of immigration status'; that 'City employees, [except] police officers, shall...refrain from inquiring about...immigration status'; and that Salem will 'support...immigrants and their civil rights.' Driscoll argues that according to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' own criteria, that doesn't make Salem a sanctuary city - with the attendant risks that designation currently brings."
- "Weed Warriors: Meet Six Women Shaping the Cannabis Industry," by Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone: "Among the many benefits of marijuana legalization - from an influx of tax revenue to a reduced prison population - the emerging $7 billion market is providing new opportunities, with fewer barriers, for enterprising women. As a product, cannabis 'crosses genders, ethnicities, economic backgrounds and political views,' says Sally Nichols, a leading pot investor. 'To me, that was a game-changer.' Here are six women advancing the cause of America's most intoxicating cash crop."
MEDIA MATTERS - "Can sports turn the local podcast business into a green monster?" by Nicholas Quah, Nieman Lab: "And so it's to the credit of WBUR, one of Boston's two public media institutions, that it moved to seize on both this natural advantage of the medium and the emerging genre of the daily podcast to serve a constituency well within their jurisdiction: the Boston sports fan, its own very specific species of human with its own dynamics, traditions, and diaspora. Season Ticket, as the podcast is called, is off to a reasonable start. In its first two weeks, the show received approximately 200,000 downloads across its first 10 dispatches (a 20,000-per-episode average), which is a workable floor for what is essentially a show that's not meant for everybody."
MAZEL! - to Massachusetts' new chief medical examiner Mindy Hull.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Anthony Gesualdi, state Sen. Joe Boncore's chief of staff, who celebrated on Tuesday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Lawrence state Rep. Marcos Devers, WGBH's own Adam Reilly, Erica Mattison, legislative director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts, and Russell Pandres of Rep. Niki Tsongas' office
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! - The Celtics beat the Knicks 110-89.
ONE FOR THE MONEY (AND YOUR #MAPOLI LISTENING PLEASURE) - In the latest installment of The Horse Race, it's that time of year - flannel, fall activities, and FEC REPORTS! Democratic campaign fundraising guru Sean Curran walks us through what the quarter three reports mean, Lauren is vindicated in her special election love, and Steve gets sentimental about public opinion polling. Keeping up with our trivia? Listen to the episode to find out last week's answer. This week: What Massachusetts city was nicknamed the City of Notions in the 19th century? Subscribe and listen now on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
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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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