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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
WARREN HEADING NORTH — Coming off the heels of a successful Iowa swing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced two planned trips to New Hampshire yesterday. She'll make stops in Manchester and Concord this weekend, and return to the Granite State at the end of February for a high-profile party dinner.
Warren got out ahead of the pack when she announced her candidacy on the last day of 2018. Right now, she's still the only household name Democrat with an exploratory committee, and she's staffing up in key early-voting states and at home . She's shifted from tying her Republican Senate opponent to President Donald Trump at any opportunity last year to abstaining from saying the president's name at all.
"Any doubt she's got national currency, that doubt is starting to diminish," Democratic donor Sean Curran told me yesterday. He's donated to Warren in the past, but hasn't given to her exploratory committee.
As we near the end of the second week in January, 2020 hopefuls are coming out of the woodwork. Sen. Kamala Harris embarked on a national book tour seen largely as a soft launch for her 2020 bid, and billionaire activist Tom Steyer held court in Des Moines to announce he's not running — after recently hiring former Gov. Deval Patrick adviser Doug Rubin.
BETO O'ROURKE IS A FOSSIL FUEL SOCK PUPPET WHO HAD VOTED TO SUPPORT tRUMP ! CHECK HIS VOTING RECORD BEFORE YOU SUPPORT HIM !
Beto O'Rourke is mapping out a solo road trip (where he'll avoid early voting states) while "Draft Beto" efforts run a high-profile social media campaign and try to lock down staff and resources to get him in the race. But Warren remains the only big-name Democrat officially exploring a run, and while Democrat Julian Castro plans to announce his 2020 candidacy in San Antonio, she'll be headed up I-93 to talk to first in the nation primary voters.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY - The Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments in Boston. The Gaming Commission meets. The Cannabis Control Commission meets.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Beacon Hill looks to tackle school funding formula in new session," by Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: "The year on Beacon Hill is starting with renewed momentum to overhaul the state's troubled, 26-year-old school funding formula, which critics say now perpetuates inequality in education by short-changing some communities and favoring others. After efforts to rewrite the formula collapsed at the end of the Legislature's formal session last July, Governor Charlie Baker kicked off his second term last week vowing that Massachusetts 'can and must do better' to bridge the gap between urban and suburban school performance."
- "WARNING OF FLOODED CITIES, SPILKA PUTS CLIMATE CHANGE ATOP TO-DO LIST," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Senate President Karen Spilka told a room full of environmental advocates on Wednesday that nothing the Legislature does in the next two years will be as important as addressing climate change, but the Democratic leader gave no assurances of what that policy solution might look like. Spilka, who was elected to her first full term as president last week, dropped by a breakfast event on Wednesday morning where she described a 'real sense of urgency' on Beacon Hill to tackle climate change."
- "America's Most and Least Popular Governors," by Cameron Easley, Morning Consult: "For the first time in more than two years, a Democrat was named one of the 10 most popular governors in the country. The GOP held its grip on the rest of the top 10, with Govs. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts (72 percent approval), Larry Hogan of Maryland (68 percent), Kay Ivey of Alabama (63 percent) and Chris Sununu of New Hampshire (60 percent) — each of whom was comfortably re-elected in November — checking in at Nos. 1-4 for the third quarter in a row."
- "MASS. FAMILIES FACE HOME HEATING EMERGENCY, $30 MILLION SOUGHT," by Kaitlyn Budion, State House News Service: "Human service activists and lawmakers rallied outside the State House Wednesday, calling for the state to help offset a cut in federal funding by allocating $30 million to help low-income families afford winter home heating bills. Most of the 48,000 households in Massachusetts that heat with oil have used up their benefits or will do so by the end of January, according to the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, which said 160,000 households in Massachusetts are served under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program."
- "LAW ENFORCEMENT VIEW TOO PREVALENT ON PAROLE BOARD, COUNCILORS SAY," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: " A hearing on Gov. Charlie Baker's nomination of the Parole Board's executive director to serve as a member of the board instead transformed Wednesday into an opportunity for activists and councilors to raise their issues with the board and Baker's recent nominees. A former prosecutor, Gloriann Moroney has served as executive director of the Parole Board since July and since early 2016 has been the board's general counsel. Baker nominated her on Jan. 2 to serve a five-year term as a member of the Parole Board, subject to confirmation by the Governor's Council."
- "A WINDOW INTO THE STATE HOUSE," by Jason Pramas, DigBoston: "Now starting his second term, Rep. Mike Connolly (D-Somerville) represents the leading edge of this nascent political current. Part of a generation that was inspired by grassroots democratic movements like Occupy and Black Lives Matter, that was enraged by the election of Trump, and that has an increasingly favorable opinion of socialism, he first showed up at the House chamber a couple of years ago. After beating Cambridge's Tim Toomey—the pol who owned the 26th Middlesex district seat for 24 years—in a tough race. One of the things that makes Connolly different than many other state legislators is that he writes a blog."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Althea Garrison finally takes her seat on the Boston City Council," by Michael Levenson, Boston Globe: "If, at first, you don't succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try again. That may be the lesson of Althea Garrison's unlikely return to elected office. The indefatigable Dorchester resident has appeared on the Boston ballot no fewer than 32 times since at least 1982, as a Democrat, Republican, and independent perennially running for state representative, City Council, or mayor."
- "Council president calls for overhauling civil service hiring system for public safety jobs," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell called for overhauling and possibly eliminating the city's use of the civil service system to fill public safety jobs, saying the process thwarts the hiring of women and people of color in police and fire departments. The recommendation was one of 10 that Campbell laid out Wednesday, when the council returned for its first meeting of the year, to address what she described as the city's shortcomings in diversifying its police and fire departments. It follows the release of a city-commissioned report this week that found a male-dominated culture in the Fire Department that has left women uncomfortable, and in several cases led to alleged discrimination and harassment."
- "Rachael Rollins Rises To National Stage With Country's Progressive DAs," by Phillip Martin, WGBH News: "When Rachael Rollins was sworn in last week, she broke several barriers. She became the first female district attorney for Suffolk County. She became the first woman of color to become a DA in Massachusetts. And she also became part of a small but growing league of progressive DAs elected across the country who say they will take a new approach to the job. This new approach to jurisprudence and the very notion of justice has put Rollins — and other progressive DAs — on the national stage."
- "Massachusetts state employee salary database 2019," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "The state's payroll in 2018 included salaries and wages for a total of 109,881 full-time employees, according to data from the Massachusetts Comptroller's CTHRU website. The highest-paid state worker, for the second year in a row, was University of Massachusetts Medical School chancellor and senior vice president of health sciences Michael Collins, who took home $1.07 million."
- "City program connects seniors with low-cost heat upgrades," by Daniel Sheehan, Dorchester Reporter: "Every winter as temperatures plunge, the Mayor's 311 hotline receives a barrage of heat emergency calls, many of them from senior citizens. This year, an initiative from the Department of Neighborhood Development called the Seniors Save Program is taking direct aim at that annual crisis by proactively replacing aging and faulty heating systems for qualifying seniors. Richard O'Brien, associate director at the Boston Home Center, told the Reporter that the program was born this year as a response to a growing trend of extreme weather in recent winters."
- "Israel awards Patriots owner Robert Kraft the 'Jewish Nobel' prize," by Aron Heller, Associated Press: "New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been awarded Israel's 2019 Genesis Prize in recognition of his philanthropy and commitment to combating anti-Semitism, organizers of the prize announced on Wednesday. The $1 million award, widely known as the 'Jewish Nobel' prize, is granted each year to a person recognized as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews through professional achievement and commitment to Jewish values."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Springfield police detective Luke Cournoyer testified he lied to cover up kicking of handcuffed juvenile suspect in explosive case that rocked department," by Dan Glaun, Springfield Republican: "On a clear mid-June morning last year, Springfield Police Narcotics Detective Luke Cournoyer walked into a grand jury room in the city's federal courthouse. He was there to undo a lie that had haunted him and his department for more than two years, he testified during an hour and 15 minutes of questioning by U.S. Department of Justice attorneys. Protected by a promise of immunity from criminal prosecution, Cournoyer admitted that he had helped cover up one of the most damaging scandals in the Springfield Police Department's modern history - the alleged assault of a juvenile suspect who stole an unmarked police car in February of 2016."
- "Massachusetts banned from using Breathalyzer test pending reforms at state police agency," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "A District Court judge has decided that no Breathalyzer tests administered in Massachusetts can be used in court until the state's Office of Alcohol Testing undergoes major reforms. The ruling by Judge Robert Brennan comes after years of litigation over the reliability of the Breathalyzer test that is used in Massachusetts. During the course of the litigation, it was discovered that the Office of Alcohol Testing intentionally withheld important evidence from defense lawyers."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Elizabeth Warren Knows Something Other Presidential Hopefuls Don't: Exactly Why She's Running For President," by Ruby Cramer, BuzzFeed News: "When Warren hit the campaign trail this weekend, her team seemed poised, prepared even, for an uncertain week. They had taken risks, booking big venues they weren't sure they could fill and making the decision to take randomly selected, unscreened questions from the audience at the end of each event. As it turned out, she answered difficult questions with easy confidence and more than filled the room at every stop on the trip, sending a small team of advance staffers to set up space for outdoor overflow crowds. But when she boarded a Southwest flight for Iowa on Friday, there was one thing her team knew for certain: Elizabeth Warren can tell people exactly why she's running."
- "If Elizabeth Warren runs for president and wins, here are the people who could go for her US Senate seat," Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Elizabeth Warren is another step closer to a 2020 presidential run, so it's time for some speculation closer to home. Not about 2020, but about what happens if Warren becomes the first Massachusetts Democrat to win the White House since John F. Kennedy. Her US Senate seat will be up for grabs, so expect a horde of Democrats and Republicans, possibly enough to fill the Massachusetts State House, 10 times over."
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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- "New Tax-Writing Chair Has Taken Thousands from Companies He Criticized as Offshore Tax Dodgers," by Donald Shaw, Sludge:"While Neal has talked up his bills to stop corporate offshore tax avoidance and called out companies that engage in the practice, a Sludge review of Federal Election Commission data shows that his re-election campaigns pulled in large—often maxed-out—contributions from PACs and individuals affiliated with some of the top corporate tax dodgers in the U.S., including many of the companies that he has singled out for criticism."
- "US Rep. Richard Neal offers plan to address pension 'crisis,'" by Shannon Young, Springfield Republican: "With many 'multiemployer' pension plans reportedly on the verge of running out of money, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, announced legislation Wednesday that seeks to address the impending retirement savings 'crisis' and ensure Americans do not lose benefits earned throughout their working lives. Neal, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, unveiled a bipartisan-backed measure that would help shore up retirement savings plans through the creation of a new Treasury Department office."
- "Mashpee tribe's casino land bill re-introduced in Congress," by Rebecca Hyman, Taunton Gazette: "Mashpee Wampanoag tribal leaders are hoping the new Congress will take a fresh look at legislation aimed at keeping the tribe's land in trust and reviving the prospects of a Taunton casino. The tribe announced Monday that legislation meant to end the ongoing legal challenge to the tribe's reservation was re-introduced in Congress by U.S. representatives William Keating and Joe Kennedy."
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| IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
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- WOULD NOT FLY IN VERMONT: "All wet: Taxpayers tapped for $1.1 million on state workers' bottled water," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "Taxpayers are picking up the $1.1 million tab for state workers to drink bottled water, an approximate 23-percent increase in the past five years. The state's spending on bottled water and rental costs for equipment have steadily climbed by more than $200,000 over the past five years. In 2014, the state spent $892,843, followed by $920,272 in 2015, $913,806 in 2016, $1.17 million in 2017 and $1.1 million in 2018, according to state records."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "Pot cafes get approval from advisory panel," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "A Cannabis Control Commission subcommittee voted to recommend that pot cafes and weed delivery vans be allowed despite reservations of some members. Members of the Public Safety and Community Mitigation Subcommittee narrowly recommended delivery-only pot businesses with four members supporting it and three opposed during their meeting Wednesday, while two members of the committee opposed social use establishments. Both recommendations come with a wide range of conditions."
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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- "Pittsfield, North Adams face losing free school lunch funds If shutdown continues," by Adam Shanks, Berkshire Eagle: "Federal funding that provides free lunches and breakfasts at Pittsfield and North Adams schools is secure — for now. But public schools in North Adams and Pittsfield could be on the hook for the cost of the thousands of free meals they provide to students if the federal government shutdown continues past March."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "LITTLE LIFESAVER," — Globe: "All the cat wanted was a little fresh air...," "President digs in on wall, walks out on talks," "Momentum builds to revise school funding." |
| BEHIND THE TOFU CURTAIN |
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- TALK ABOUT A ROLLBACK: "Northampton City Council rapped over loss of Walmart's donated ammunition," by Bera Dunau, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "The withdrawal of a donation of ammunition to the Northampton Police Department by Walmart, and the subsequent claim that criticism has negatively impacted police morale in Northampton, has touched a nerve in the city. Walmart pulled the $13,000 donation in ammunition to the NPD after the City Council decided to send it to committee for consideration on Dec. 20, a move that was criticized by Mayor David Narkewicz."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "New first justice named for New Bedford District Court," by Curt Brown, Standard-Times: "Judge Douglas J. Darnbrough is the new first justice of New Bedford District Court, the Trial Court announced late Wednesday afternoon. State District Court Chief Justice Paul C. Dawley announced the appointment to the staff of New Bedford District Court. Jennifer Donahue, a spokeswoman for the Trial Court, confirmed the appointment for The Standard-Times."
- "Counting Quincy's Asian population a challenge in 2020 census," by Erin Tiernan, Patriot Ledger: "As the courts consider whether a citizenship question will be included in the 2020 census, city officials are worried the politically charged rhetoric could deter members of Quincy's large Asian-immigrant population from participating. State Rep. Tackey Chan, Quincy's only Asian-American representative on Beacon Hill, said the inclusion of such a question — and the media debate surrounding it — could mean undocumented immigrants, people with family members who are undocumented and even resident aliens won't participate in the survey due to fears of deportation."
- YOU SHALL NOT PASS: "Northbridge man blocks access to West Hill Park in dispute with Army Corps of Engineers," by Susan Spencer, Telegram & Gazette: "The barricade and sign were put up on Sunday by Ross W. Smith of 50 West Hill Road, after what he described as two years of frustration over not being listened to by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials regarding a proposed driveway on his land to a house he wants to build for his son and grandchildren. The barricade has received attention across social media, as dog walkers, runners, mountain bikers and others who come to enjoy the network of trails surrounding West Hill Dam encounter the new obstacle. While there is room for pedestrians to pass, motorists can't get by."
- "Fall River officials accused of bias in decision to block addiction treatment center," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe:"The opioid crisis has come down hard on Fall River: Each year, rescue crews revive hundreds of people who have overdosed, and dozens more die; 50 babies out of every 1,000 births are born dependent on drugs. But even amid struggles to address the problem, city officials are facing allegations of discrimination against addicted people, because they blocked a proposal to build a new treatment facility."
TRANSITIONS - Kimberly Atkins is leaving the Boston Herald. She is currently its Washington bureau chief.
- Bora Chiemruom was nominated to serve on the Asian American Commission by Auditor Suzanne Bump.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Chris Buchanan, director of public affairs and state and local government relations for Walmart, and Samantha Hooper, media relations manager at Massport.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Celtics beat the Pacers 135-108.
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