POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook TRUMP’s Mass. connection — BAKER defends hires — Taxing CHARLEMONT?

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook TRUMP’s Mass. connection — BAKER defends hires — Taxing CHARLEMONT?

CHARLIE BAKER DEFENDS INCOMPETENT POLITICAL HACKS!

- "Gov. Charlie Baker defends Massachusetts Revenue Department hiring practices," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday defended the hiring practices at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue after a Boston Globe story reported that the state's former revenue chief hired several of his neighbors and friends. 'Every single one of those people was qualified to do their job,' Baker said. 'I have full confidence in Secretary Heffernan.'"

CHARLIE BAKER'S POLITICAL HACKS!

- "The Right to Bear Influence," by Will Meyer, the Shoestring: "In July, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker appointed Ron Amidon (pictured above), the then-president of GOAL (Gun Owners' Action League), the Commonwealth's NRA affiliate group, to head the state's Department of Fish and Game. The $27 million office is responsible for maintaining wildlife and fisheries and issuing hunting licenses. GOAL has lobbied aggressively to change the state's fish and wildlife laws and has pushed for standard NRA-style legislation, including but not limited to attempting to repeal Massachusetts' ban on assault weapons."

BRISTOL COUNTY SHERIFF HODGSON TOO BUSY GRABBING HEADLINES TO DO HIS JOB?

- "Bristol County report on suicide deaths leaves out key details," by Christopher Burrell and Jenifer McKim, New England Center for Investigative Reporting: "The two jails there hold 13 percent of county inmates but account for more than one-quarter of county jail suicides in Massachusetts. Over the last dozen years, 16 inmates have killed themselves in the jails located in North Dartmouth and New Bedford. And lawsuits against Sheriff Thomas Hodgson and his department are mounting."