IMPEACHMENT show comes to SPRINGFIELD — Baker on WELD 2020 — Boston has WORST rush hour traffic in US

Feb 12, 2019

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEYER IN NEAL'S BACKYARD — Billionaire Tom Steyer is taking his show on the road. Steyer and his Need to Impeach organization will hold a town hall in Democratic Rep. Richard Neal's district tonight to urge the Ways and Means chairman to get the ball rolling on impeaching the president.

"The people in this district really want this to happen. They want this president impeached and removed. They want to have it happen now," Steyer told me yesterday afternoon, talking about tonight's town hall in Springfield.

Steyer's Need to Impeach campaign is targeting a handful of key House committee chairs who could play a role in impeaching President Donald Trump, beginning with Neal. Earlier this month, Need to Impeach spent $109,000 on two weeks of television ads targeting Neal, and another $100,000 on digital ads, according to a spokesman. The group also plans to pay a full-time organizing manager and up to 25 part-time paid canvassers to knock on doors and make phone calls in Neal's district.

The group is targeting Neal because his position as chairman of Ways and Means allows him to subpoena the president's tax returns. Neal has repeatedly said he's carefully building a case to request Trump's tax documents and — in the event of a likely legal battle — Democrats should resist the urge to move too quickly. But Steyer disagrees, and says there's a cost to keeping Trump in office.

"We better get going or it's never going to happen," Steyer said. "The idea of moving judiciously, of moving carefully, of all the other words they have for moving slowly, is completely unnecessary."

Steyer wouldn't say whether he'd back a primary challenger if the congressman does not move on impeachment, calling it a "conditional question." But the billionaire did poll voters in Neal's district who are likely to cast ballots in the 2020 Democratic primary.

Seventy-eight percent of likely 2020 Democratic primary voters said the president should be impeached, without hearing the group's messaging, according to a poll commissioned by Need to Impeach at the end of January. Polling firm Change Research conducted an online poll of 813 likely 2020 Democratic primary voters in Neal's district from Jan. 25 to Jan. 28. Steyer also touted a petition signed by 21,000 of Neal's constituents.

"We think Congressman Neal, when he hears how strongly his constituents feel about this, will do the right thing. What we're trying to do is let him know how strongly they feel," Steyer said.

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TODAY - Rep. Seth Moulton talks foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. Sen. Harriette Chandler, Rep. Linda Dean Campbelland Rep. Andy Vargas speak in support of the Civics Project Trust Fund. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh attends a Harm Reduction Commission meeting. The Boston Globe talks about its recent Valedictorians Project at the Boston Public Library.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

WHY WOULD A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST BELIEVE THIS INSIPID QUESTION IS WORTHY TO ASK AND REPORT WITH ALL THAT'S TRANSPIRING?

- "Gov. Charlie Baker on Bill Weld's possible run for president: 'That's a personal decision.'" by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld is considering a run for president in 2020, either as a Republican or a Libertarian. Weld was the former boss to then-cabinet secretary and now Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. But the current governor will not say whether he would like to see one of his political mentors run for office."

- "Baker: Avert Shutdown To Help 'Regular People,'" by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "With the possibility of another federal government shutdown looming at the end of the week, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday that members of Congress should 'see some of the regular people' who would be impacted by yet another shutdown. President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders struck a deal late last month to reopen the federal government after the longest shutdown in history. Trump, however, said that if a deal over border wall funding cannot be reached by Feb. 15 he will either shut down the government again or declare a national emergency to build a border wall."

- "DeLEO, SPILKA NEED MORE TIME ON ASSIGNMENT DECISIONS," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service:"Nearly six weeks into the two-year session, legislative leaders on Monday declined to put a date on when they would assign lawmakers to the committees that will review the thousands of bills awaiting attention. Senate President Karen Spilka pegged her timeframe as 'soon.' Neither Spilka or House Speaker Robert DeLeo gave a concrete answer when asked if they would make their appointments this week, with DeLeo also saying he hoped to do so soon."

FROM THE HUB

- "Bragging rights? Boston now has the worst rush-hour traffic in the country, report says," by Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "It's probably crossed your mind while grinding through another commute into downtown, or in one of those horizon-bending backups on Routes 128 or 3: Boston must have the worst rush-hour traffic in the country. Now you can back that up with numbers. Gridlock during the peak of the morning and evening commutes was worse in Boston in 2018 than in any other major metropolitan area, even Los Angeles with its infamous traffic, according to a report from Inrix, a transportation data firm that publishes annual rankings of congestion around the world."

- "Former prosecutor, Boston cop, state rep plan Allston pot shop," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A former state rep, an ex-Suffolk County prosecutor and a former high-ranking Boston cop are teaming up to run a proposed pot shop in Allston. Former Suffolk County prosecutor Amy McNamee is listed as the CEO of Union Twist, a recreational and medical marijuana shop proposed for 259 Cambridge St. Former Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief Daniel Linskey is the security consultant and former state Rep. Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston from 1999-2011) is the chief operating officer. All three are listed as the company's 'founding team.'"

- "Boston city councilors look to extend term limits," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "Boston city councilors are considering whether to extend their terms to four years, an effort Council President Andrea Campbell said would strengthen the role of the council. In addition to extending the council terms from two to four years, Campbell proposed banning candidates from running for two city positions at once and requiring that the city hold a special election whenever there is a vacancy in one of the council's four at-large seats."

- "Boston officers are suspended in payroll investigation," by John R. Ellement and Maggie Mulvihill, Boston Globe: "Three officers assigned to provide security at the front desk of the Boston Police Department's Roxbury headquarters have been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into alleged payroll abuse. A department spokesman, Sergeant John Boyle, said Monday that the three officers — Louis A. Vasquez, David A. Stewart, and Curtis Carroll — are being investigated by the Internal Affairs Unit."

- "US attorney releases new antiopioid TV and radio ads," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "US Attorney Andrew E. Lelling has released a series of television and radio public service announcements intended to raise awareness about the dangers of opioids. The ads come more than a year after Lelling's predecessor drew fire from addiction specialists for antiopioid bus advertisements that employed scare tactics and misrepresented the treatment of babies born dependent on opioids."

- "DOT notes: Get ready for Pike delays," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS over the Massachusetts Turnpike near where Boylston Street and Massachusetts Avenue intersect will result in lane closures starting later this year and last for a total of 16 months, state transportation officials said on Monday. Looming in the future is an even more disruptive project on the Turnpike. The state is replacing the elevated section of the Turnpike between Boston University and the Charles River as part of a massive overhaul of the highway in the Allston area. That work is expected to start in 2020 and last eight to 10 years."

DAY IN COURT

- "Michelle Carter Begins Jail Sentence For Texting Suicide Conviction," by Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press: "A Massachusetts woman who sent her suicidal boyfriend a barrage of text messages urging him to kill himself was jailed Monday on an involuntary manslaughter conviction nearly five years after he died in a truck filled with toxic gas. Michelle Carter was sentenced to 15 months in jail in 2017 for her role in the death of Conrad Roy III, but the judge allowed her to remain free while she appealed in state court. Massachusetts' highest court upheld her conviction last week, saying her actions caused Roy's death."

WARREN REPORT

- "Is Warren the best Democrat to beat Trump? Her speech didn't show it," by James Pindell, Boston Globe: "It may be too early for most Democrats to know which candidate they will back, but they do know what they want in a candidate. And that was something US Senator Elizabeth Warren failed to address in her presidential kickoff Saturday. By far the top priority for Democratic voters, according to a CNN poll out this week, is a candidate who has a 'good chance to beat Trump.' This was just the latest poll showing that attribute is more important than having the right experience, or being progressive, or being on the right side of generational change."

- "Elizabeth Warren wants to ban the US from using nuclear weapons first," by Kelsey Piper, Vox: "Two weeks ago, a major national security bill was introduced in both houses of Congress — and hardly anyone noticed. That bill, introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith, was the No First Use Act, and it aims to transform US nuclear weapons policy."

KENNEDY COMPOUND

- "Rep. Joe Kennedy Introduces Resolution Against Trans Military Ban," by Judy Ring, Advocate: "U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III today introduced a nonbinding resolution opposing Donald Trump's ban on military service by transgender people and urging the Department of Defense to not reinstate the ban. 'No one willing to serve in our armed services and sacrifice for this country should be subjected to intolerance and bigotry from their commander in chief,' Kennedy said in a press release."

MOULTON MATTERS

- "Congressman Seth Moulton 'taking a serious look' at White House run," by Laurel J. Sweet and Mary Markos, Boston Herald:"U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton is giving serious thought to tossing his hat into an already crowded field of Democrats hoping to unseat President Trump in 2020, telling students at Salem State College this morning that he was taking a 'serious' look at a White House run."

ALL ABOARD

- "North Shore RIDE drivers settle negotiation with vendor," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A potential strike that would have impacted users of the MBTA's RIDE service on the North Shore was averted with a deal struck Sunday night, according to union officials. The T announced in an email Sunday evening, 'The MBTA is advising RIDE customers that potential service impacts could come as a result of a possible work stoppage on the part of a RIDE vendor, which if carried out, would take effect with the start of service on Tuesday, February 12.'"

- "T notes: Fare gates left open at many stations on Patriots parade day," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE CITY OF BOSTON estimated 1.5 million people came to the New England Patriots championship parade last week, but MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak says he still doesn't know how many of them rode public transit. Poftak, speaking after a meeting of the Fiscal and Management Control Board on Monday, said it takes time to gather fare information from across the transit agency. He also said any count would be off because many fare gates were thrown open during the crush of passengers."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "LOCKED UP," — Globe: "Maine's plight" Deaths exceed births," "Tentative deal set up to avoid US shutdown," "PRISON-BOUND IN SUICIDE CASE."

FROM THE 413

- "For better or worse, legal pot side effects appear minimized in Berkshire County," by Kristin Palpini, The Berkshire Eagle: "If it weren't for all of the out-of-state license plates in the parking lot and a line of men in all-weather togs standing outside in the rain and snow on Route 7 in Great Barrington, signs that recreational marijuana is present in Berkshire County would be hard to find. After one month of legal recreational marijuana sales, businesses near the county's two recreational marijuana dispensaries — Temescal Wellness on Callahan Drive in Pittsfield and Theory Wellness on Stockbridge Road (Route 7) in Great Barrington — haven't seen a significant uptick in customers or spending. The cannabis depots began selling recreational marijuana in January."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

- "Immaculate Conception Church time capsule disappoints in Fall River," by Peter Jasinski, Herald News: "A crew of demolition workers were dismayed last week when they learned the time capsule they found while tearing down Immaculate Conception Church was almost completely empty. 'Those of us that were present were very disappointed with the findings,' developer Thomas St. Pierre said via text message. According to St. Pierre, little more than a handful of coins were found in the time capsule, along with what he described as a 'watery pulp solution.'"

- "'She was evil' — Brockton woman recounts racial abuse at Market Basket," by Marc Larocque, Brockton Enterprise: "A Haitian-American woman said she was on the receiving end of hateful racial slurs and vandalism to her vehicle from a still-unidentified woman at Market Basket in Brockton on Feb. 1. Now, the Brockton Area Branch NAACP is sticking up for her, calling on the Brockton Police Department to pursue justice."

- "Fearing separation, Worcester family heads to D.C. for immigration march," by Mark Sullivan, Telegram & Gazette:"Twenty years ago, Lucia Benitez left her three young children behind in the care of their grandmother in El Salvador and came to Worcester to build a future for her family. And now, she might be forced to leave her family again. Ms. Benitez, 45, resides in this country under Temporary Protected Status, which under the Trump administration may be revoked this year, requiring her to return to El Salvador. She is among more than 500 Massachusetts residents who have traveled to Washington, D.C., for a pro-immigration march and rally Tuesday morning."

SPOTTED: Among sheriffs meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday ... Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson.

SPOTTED: Sen. Ed Markey walking into a Sunday matinee of "They Shall Not Grow Old" at the Uptown Theater in Cleveland Park.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Falmouth state Rep. David Vieira and former MassUniting spokesman Reggie Zimmerman.

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