11/01/2017 07:17 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski)
GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Welcome to November.
A DEADLINE DEFERRED - An impasse between the House and Senate has caused the state to miss a key fiscal deadline that, if it continues, could have a negative impact on the state's bond rating.
Lawmakers wouldn't openly comment on the cause for the holdup but State House News Service reports the delay stems from disagreements around phrasing for legislation that would ban gun bump stocks as well as funding for youth violence prevention.
The midnight Wednesday deadline called for the legislature to pass a budget that would cover costs for the rest of 2017. By Tuesday afternoon, once it became clear the state House wouldn't act on the mini-budget, the Senate started pointing fingers. A statement from state Senate Ways and Means Chair Karen Spilka criticized the unprecedented impasse: "in all my time in the legislature ... we have been able to finish the close-out at least by late October." That's strong language coming from the Ashland Democrat who's served in the legislature since 2001.
The House and Senate both have the chance to hash this out in sessions later today, but prolonged delays could be a problem. The state's ability to meet deadlines such as the one it missed last night can play a key role in determining the state's bond rating. And the resolution rests solely on the legislature. Though Gov. Charlie Baker is out-of-state for the rest of the week, his office indicated Acting Gov. Karyn Polito would be ready and able to sign the compromise bill as soon as it hits her desk.
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 heads to Palm Springs until Monday to spend time with his wife. It'll be a working vacation, according to his office: Baker still plans to call in to the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis meeting in Washington, D.C. today and will be in regular communication with his staff while in California - Senate candidate and state Rep. Geoff Diehl holds a forum in Groton on securing borders with panelists including Bristol County SheriffTom Hodgson and retired ICE agent Walter Hempel - Open Enrollment for Massachusetts residents to buy their own insurance on the Health Connector begins.
** A message from PhRMA: 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 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 **
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Pastors and activists rally for Senate criminal justice bill," by Jim O'Sullivan, Boston Globe: "The House is poised Wednesday to tee up a controversial criminal justice bill that passed the Senate last week but was criticized Tuesday by Governor Charlie Baker, who said he had 'very significant concern' with the measure."
- "Some At State House Clearly 'Feel At Risk,' Says Former Mass. State Rep. Ellen Story," by Carrie Healy, New England Public Radio: "Because it is a hierarchical system, and the women reps are treated differently than the women staff, or the women lobbyists. So I can say genuinely: yes, I would have people walk down the hall with me and talk about my legs. Or there was one rep years ago, from Worcester, who lamented how I dressed. He said, 'Ellen you dress like a librarian!' 'Cause I wore suits. He said, 'Why don't you wear fancy dresses?' And that was just funny."
- "Rosenberg vows to update harassment training," by Chris Villani, Boston Herald: "'One of the two (sexual harassment) cases we had in the Senate in the three years I have been head of the Senate involved an intern,' Rosenberg told Herald Radio's 'Morning Meeting' program yesterday. 'We are going to beef up training when it comes to interns.'"
- "Charlie Baker is nation's most popular governor. Again," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "And in a new Morning Consult poll, he maintains the distinction: Sixty-nine percent of Massachusetts voters approve of Baker's job performance, while just 17 percent disapprove."
- "T budget deficit up," by Jack Sullivan, CommonWealth Magazine: "MBTA officials are eyeing a nearly 67 percent spike in the agency's projected structural deficit, a hole caused by lower fare revenues from people avoiding what they view as the unreliable service and continued cost overruns by the agency's paratransit service despite privatization."
MOULTON MATTERS -
SETH MOULTON ON HALLOWEEN COSTUMES - "I was going to dress up as a House Republican for #Halloween. But then I was told I'd have to have my spine removed."
ON THE STUMP -
- "The mantra in Boston mayoral races: lean left," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "Jackson's embrace of a full-throated liberal agenda matches up well with the political pulse in Boston - but it's not doing much to jump-start his underdog campaign. ... That's because the incumbent mayor he is trying to topple wears the progressive label nearly as well as his challenger."
- "Council candidate claims Marty's Walsh support - in Spanish and Mandarin," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "It's the type of campaign flier that can get lost in translation. ... Mayor Martin J. Walsh maintains he won't endorse anyone in any City Council race, though a flyer being distributed by District 1 candidate Stephen Passacantilli's team seems to make that suggestion, even if it's in a different language."
THE TSONGAS ARENA -
- "A Freelance Diplomat Takes Scandinavia," by Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic: "Ex-Ambassador Rufus Gifford is still big in Denmark. But can he bring his political appeal back home? ... While Gifford has yet to declare his candidacy, he is likely preparing to run for Congress in Massachusetts's third district."
LORI TRAHAN MAKES SOME HIRES - including polling firm GBA Strategies, which has done work for Rep. Katherine Clark, Democratic media consulting group The Campaign Group, and Boston-based digital ad agency Liberty Concepts, which have previous clients including Attorney General Maura Healey.
- "Urena won't seek open congressional seat," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "The day U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas announced she would not seek re-election in 2018, Veterans Affairs Secretary Francisco Urena's wife was in labor with the couple's second child. ... The Marine Corps veteran's growing family is part of the reason he says he won't run for Congress."
- "Congressional hopeful Steve Kerrigan talks tolls, funds," by Boston Herald staff: "And look, I think the last resort should go to tolls. I think if you create a fair structure and a fair system across the region for tolling, where you reduce perhaps the tolls across the board, but spread out the toll areas, I think it's something worth looking at."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "TRAIL OF TERROR" - Globe: "8 killed in NYC terrorist attack as truck driver targets bike path," "Trump brushes off adviser's significance," "GOP struggles to focus on taxes," "Much of Maine still in dark after howling storm," "C'MON, PATRIOTS, TAKE A REAL STAND," "3 professors accused in sexual misconduct."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Newton man was among those injured in NYC truck attack," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Chestnut Hill resident Martin Marro was in New York for a reunion of college friends, said Newton City Councilor James Cote late Tuesday night. ... Cote said Marro, who originally hails from Argentina, sustained non-life threatening injuries and that five of Marro's friends from Argentina were killed when a truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path in Manhattan."
- Gov. Charlie Baker responds to NY attack - "I am horrified to learn of today's deadly attack in New York City that has claimed innocent lives and my heart goes out to the families and loved ones impacted by this senseless act of terrorism. My thoughts and prayers remain with New York and I commend the first responders who acted quickly to help the victims. While there are no credible threats to Massachusetts, our administration is in constant communication with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Commonwealth Fusion Center and authorities to closely monitor activity."
- "1st marijuana grow facility in Berkshires planned for Pittsfield," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "The first marijuana grow facility in Berkshire County is on track to open in February. ... Berkshire Roots is building a 26,000-square-foot cultivation facility and medical marijuana dispensary on Dalton Avenue in Pittsfield."
- "Hank Investigates: Short Term Rentals," by Hank Phillippi Ryan, WHDH 7: "Heading to a short term rental on the Cape? Or a weekend getaway to see fall foliage? If you book a place to stay through popular online sites-how do you know if the rental is safe, or inspected? You may have no idea and neither do city and town officials. Hank Investigates."
- "How Tough Is Boston's Housing Market? Try Buying A Three-Family In Dorchester," by Adam Reilly, WGBH: "To break into the housing market, she's hoping to do what countless Bostonians have done before - buy a multi-family home, live in one of the units, and rent out the rest to make money and cover her costs. But if she sets her heart on this particular property, she may be disappointed."
- "Public paychecks: The highest-earning state employees so far in 2017," by David L. Harriss, Boston Business Journal: "There are 2,866 state employees who are out-earning Gov. Charlie Baker this year."
- "Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. cleared to start flow through Otis State Forest spur," by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle: "The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday granted the company permission to put portions of the Connecticut Expansion Project in service beginning Wednesday, since the Massachusetts and New York sections are ready to flow gas."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Liberty Square Group vice president of communications and affairs Molly Horan and Massasoit Community College communications pro Sarah Connors Yunits
THE HOME TEAMS DID NOT PLAY
TWO FOR THE SHOW - We've got two showdowns coming at you this week on The Horse Race. 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.
- And save the date for a live Horse Race event at Ned Devine's in Boston on Nov. 28. No actual horses, just a lot of jockeying for #mapoli insights. Plus, there will be swag! More details coming soon.
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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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