Friday, November 3, 2017

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook A TAX plan panned — PORTRAIT politics — The pitched battle over LOWELL High School



11/03/2017 07:13 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski)
TGIF, MASSACHUSETTS. Mostly cloudy with a high near 75 (!) in Boston today.
THAT'LL BE A NO FROM MASS. - There's no love lost for the Republican tax plan unveiled yesterday from the Massachusetts delegation on Capitol Hill - or the corner office on Beacon Hill.
He's the most powerful Democrat on the tax-writing Ways and Means committee and Rep. Richard Neal blasted the tax plan as "400 pages of broken promises to middle-class families" crafted through "a rushed, partisan and secret process," in a statement to reporters. Rep. Niki Tsongasechoed those points in a tweet, calling it "written in secret, burdens hardworking families & ups deficit."
Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren cut a video with Sen. Bernie Sanders to break down the tax plan's winners and losers for the senators' social media platforms - and cited a Boston Globe story by Annie Linskey about the Koch brothers' serious interest in the tax cut. "We're talking once again about a system that's been rigged right here in Washington," Warren tells the camera.
And Gov. Charlie Baker only had tepid support for the process - or at least that he "looks forward to Congress carefully vetting the legislation," according to a spokesman. Baker previously came out against the potential elimination of the state and local tax deduction - which would be eliminated in the plan unveiled yesterday. As his office put it again last night, "Governor Baker has serious concerns about the impact that eliminating the state and local tax deduction would have on Massachusetts families."
GET SMART ON THE NEW TAX PLAN - "Who pays more under the Trump-House GOP tax plan?" from POLITICO's Bernie Becker.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Acting Gov. Karyn Polito hits events in Lowell, Dracut, Methuen, and Maynard - Sen. Ed Markey holds a press conference responding to the GOP tax plan at his office at the JFK federal building in Boston - The Anti-Defamation League honors Boston Globe editorial page editorEllen Clegg at its 11th annual Women of Valor luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. 
** 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 -
THEY PASSED IT - "Mini budget sent to Baker includes bump stock ban," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Devices known as bump stocks that were used in the Las Vegas shooting a month ago to turn ordinary rifles into automatic weapons would be banned in Massachusetts under a bill the Legislature sent to Gov. Charlie Baker's desk on Thursday after weeks of bickering between the House and Senate."
DRIVING THE CONVERSATION - "Don't just change the rules. Change the culture," by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe: "I hope they're terrified. ... I hope that every single man in Massachusetts politics who has objectified and harassed women is losing sleep at night, worrying his names will come out. Only if they believe that inexcusable behavior has consequences will they stop behaving inexcusably."
- "Bump suggests code of conduct for state legislators," by Andy Metzger, State House News Service: "If there has been a marked decline in the amount of sexual harassment within the State House over the past three decades, State Auditor Suzanne Bump missed it. ... 'I'm not speaking from personal experience because, for whatever reason, I've never had to deal with anything other than the occasional crude comment or misplaced attempt at humor, but from the stories that circulate, it doesn't sound to me that it's gotten better,' Bump said Wednesday."
FRAMING - "Terry Murray's portrait breaks a long streak," by Jim O'Sullivan, Boston Globe: "'I really felt very strongly that as the first female that I wanted to stand in front of the state symbols and be holding the gavel, to show the authority of the office, for females to see that it was something they could attain,' the former state Senate president said Thursday."
IN OTHER PORTRAIT NEWS - "Female lawmakers look to diversify Statehouse art from 'dead white guys,'" by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Walk down the Statehouse hallways and, in the words of Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, 'The corridors are lined with dead white guys.' ... Now, top female lawmakers are calling for the creation of a task force to study the art in the Statehouse 'to ensure that it is reflective of the people of Massachusetts.'"
- "A call for a change in thinking on domestic violence," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "A change in thinking around domestic violence -- like the shift toward viewing drug addiction as health issue -- is needed to help ensure victims get the support they need, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito told lawmakers."
- "$558M benefits bonanza: Unused days could hit taxpayers' wallets - hard," by Matt Stout, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts taxpayers are on the hook for a staggering $558 million in unused sick and vacation time for state workers, according to a top Beacon Hill watchdog who is warning the potential retirement payouts could turn into a massive budget hit."
WARREN REPORT -
BIG - "Asked if DNC system was rigged in Clinton's favor, Warren says 'yes,'" by Sophie Tatum, CNN: "Asked Thursday by CNN's Jake Tapper whether she believes that the Democratic campaign organization was tipped in favor of Clinton over her primary opponent, independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Warren responded without hesitation: 'Yes.'"
MOULTON MATTERS -
- "A Democrat Fights His Own Party as Well as Trump," by Albert R. Hunt, Bloomberg View: "A Q&A with Representative Seth Moulton on taxes, the draft, veterans and the 'lying draft dodger.'"
ON THE STUMP -
THE VERY CONTENTIOUS FIGHT YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT - "Pro-downtown Lowell High group has outraised and outspent Cawley proponents," by Todd Feathers, Lowell Sun: "Save Lowell High School, the pro-downtown committee that gathered enough signatures to put the question on the Nov. 7 ballot, has raised nearly $46,000 and spent more than half of that on mailers, signs, political strategists, and polling."
- "Setti Warren's campaign blasts 'secret meeting' between Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Steve Wynn," by Gintautas Dumcius, Masslive.com: "During an October trip to Nevada, Baker met with Wynn, a top GOP fundraiser who is building a $2.4 billion resort casino north of Boston. ... Baker's itinerary included a clean energy summit and a visit to a Las Vegas memorial honoring the victims of the Oct. 1 mass shooting at a music concert. ... Both were on Baker's public schedule regularly released to reporters, while his meeting with Wynn was not. Wynn mentioned the sit-down while speaking to attendees of a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday."
- "A sleepy mayoral campaign nears its end in Boston," by Meghan E. Irons and Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "Mayor Martin J. Walsh sidled up to the luncheon crowd Thursday at Coppersmith in South Boston to tout the city's job growth, housing units under development, and public safety improvements over his four years in office. The mic wasn't working - not that it seemed to matter."
ENDORSEMENT WATCH - AG Maura Healey and Treasurer Deb Goldberg endorsed Boston City Council President Michelle Wu via Twitter.
WOOD WAR - Herald: "BRAVE HEART" Globe: "GOP tax plan: Boost rich, with a nod to middle class," "Local home buyers face more obstacles," "Cuts to aid business: Deductions targeted," "Melting justice, with a dollop of joy," "After a bias claim, the fallout persists," "Election won't end housing-cost debate," "ON THE REBOUND."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Anti-Semitic incidents on the rise in New England," by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: "The number of anti-Semitic incidents reported in New England in the first nine months of 2017 is 'significantly higher' than last year, according to new data from the Anti-Defamation League."
- "Worcester answers Puerto Rico evacuees' call for help," by Cyrus Moulton, Lowell Sun: "Many have fled the widespread devastation, arriving on the U.S. mainland to try to rebuild their lives. So far, CENTRO, the nonprofit multicultural social services organization that is coordinating the resettlement effort, has registered 79 families - comprising more than 200 individuals - who have come to Worcester. Meanwhile, 113 students have enrolled in Worcester public schools and more are arriving at a clip of approximately seven students a day."
- "New Bedford asks for state aid for people arriving from Puerto Rico," by Jennette Barnes, New Bedford Standard-Times: "Mayor Jon Mitchell has written a letter to Gov. Charlie Baker seeking help with education and shelter for people relocating from hurricane-battered Puerto Rico. ... Fifty-one children whose families fled the aftermath of Hurricane Maria are attending New Bedford city schools, and state aid to education won't cover them, Mitchell said in the Oct. 31 letter."
- "Cape Cod fishermen have high hopes for halibut," by Doug Fraser, Cape Cod Times: "It's a divergence shrouded in mystery as deep as the ocean on either side of the Hague Line, the boundary that separates the two nations out to the 200 mile limit of their exclusive economic zones. The target date to rebuild the U.S. Atlantic halibut stock to healthy levels is 2056, nearly 40 years in the future. ... But Cape Cod fishermen believe the future may be happening now. They have been seeing more halibut in recent years and believe the science is wrong."
- "Following outage, Grid wants to bill ratepayers $39M for tree-clearing," by Brian Dowling, Boston Herald: "National Grid is pushing for $39 million from Bay State ratepayers for a 'ground-to-sky clearing' of trees to help keep the lights on in what consumer advocates say is a slap in the face to frustrated homeowners left powerless for days this week following a severe storm."
'TIS THE SEASON - "Calendar says early November, but Salvation Army preparing for Christmas," by Alana Melanson, Lowell Sun: "Bad jokes, good-hearted ribbing and thoughtful remembrances were all on the menu of the Salvation Army's 25th Annual Christmas Castle Breakfast."
- SPOTTED: Herald columnist Howie Carr with President Donald Trump at the White House. Pic from Carr's Twitter.
ALSO SPOTTED - Boston's Edward M. Kennedy Institute came to Capitol Hill on Thursday and held a bipartisan symposium at the Kennedy caucus room in the Russell Senate Office building.... topic: Mental health, addiction, and the national opioid crisis. In the room: Vicki Reggie Kennedy, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. Rob Portman, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and moderator and New York Times chief Washington correspondent Carl Hulse.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to DCCC alum and SEIU Local 509 communications director Christiana Stephenson and city of Somerville director of intergovernmental affairs Tim Snyder.
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to Jessica Taubner, chief of staff to City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who celebrates on Saturday.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! - The Bruins beat the Golden Knights 2-1.
FRESH OUT OF THE GATE: THE LATEST HORSE RACE EPISODE - We've got a trio of campaign ads, some outside spending (we see you, Mercer Money) and a persistent Elizabeth Warren this week. Plus, as we race towards election day we've got our eye on two in particular. Listen to the end to find out which ones! ... Our special guest is the delightful Kathryn Burton, advisor of all things campaign-y. Subscribe and listen now on iTunesand 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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