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Presented by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
SCOOP: AOC IN BROOKLINE — New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will stump for Brookline Select Board candidate Raul Fernandez next weekend, just a few days ahead of that town's May 7 election.
"They'll discuss the power and importance of grassroots campaigns, her experiences as a freshman congresswoman, and why getting involved at the local level is so important," according to the event posting on Facebook. Tickets to the "Conversation on Grassroots Campaigning" event at Coolidge Corner Theatre on May 4 are $100, and will be followed by a rally that's free for campaign volunteers.
Q&A WITH CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY — I caught up with Rep. Ayanna Pressley earlier this week to talk about her new bill that would address inequalities in the workplace; impeachment; and the 2020 race. Our conversation was edited for length and clarity.
You've introduced the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act with Rep. Katherine Clark. How did that come about and why is it so important to you?
"Sen. Patty Murray and Katherine Clark were working on this together and Congresswoman Clark extended an opportunity for me to join in and I enthusiastically said yes. I see it in so many ways as a furthering and a continuation of the work that I did on the City Council, so to have the opportunity to do that work on the federal level with these incredible partners, and to do it in a bicameral fashion, and to offer something that is more inclusive and really unprecedented.
I'm grateful for the renewed focus and elevated consciousness on issues related to sexual harassment and violence and workplace discrimination thanks to #MeToo and Time's Up and Enough is Enough. But the forward face of those movements is not representative of every worker. This legislation is. Not only is it unprecedented in how inclusive it is, but in the reforms that are offered. The fact that we're eliminating mandatory arbitration and nondisclosure agreements, expanding the statute of limitations to four years, to name a few."
What is the largest impact this bill would have for working women?
"At the height of the #MeToo moment, I was regularly asked by activists and reporters if I could share an example, as a woman, my own #MeToo moment, and I could not come up with one. That's not because it hasn't happened. It is because it's just a conflated part of our experience and our identity as women in the world. I think a lot of times we just chalk these things up to culture, in the same way we do racism or misogyny, and culture can be changed because all culture is, is human behavior. So this is an opportunity to change human behavior, to change workplace culture and also to empower workers across every industry and agency to know their rights and to strengthen their pathways to healing and to justice if they are victims.We're being more bold in our dialogue and now we need to be even bolder in our legislating."
Now that the Mueller report has been released, where's your thinking on impeachment?
"I've always said that it was on the table. And now I have signed onto the resolution that was offered by Rep. Green and Rep. Tlaib to initiate impeachment proceedings. I do believe what is un-redacted in the Mueller report provides sufficient grounds on obstruction of justice, witness tampering, trying to suppress the independent investigation from happening at all. There's so much that's been happening in the light of day that it gives us great pause about what is happening in the dark. And if the formal grounds for impeachment were based on moral crimes then we would have initiated these proceedings a long time ago, because that list is too long to cite. And I understand the pause. This is a decision we must enter into soberingly, and that you feel a great sadness about. This is about the presidency, and I think it's easy to make it just about who's there now, but this is precedent-setting. If we're going to all this administration to operate at this level of lawlessness, what are we saying about this office? What are we saying about the future? Ultimately, history will judge us by this moment."
There are a number of presidential candidates who want your endorsement. What are you thinking about when you look at the 2020 field taking shape, and what are you looking for in a candidate?
"My initial response is just a sense of pride. Look at the candidates our party is putting forward. I think it is really emblematic of the big tent that we say we are. We're seeing that play out in the diversity, the historic and unprecedented diversity in this field of candidates and I'm really celebrating that. I think primaries are healthy, they're the bread and butter of presidential elections. I'm like anyone else — I'm enjoying watching the forums and the debates and policy positions as they are rolled out. I'm going to continue to do that. I'm 100 days in this new role at a time where the country is at a defining crossroads. I am head-down learning and doing my job. There will be plenty of time for endorsements, but that is not anything happening in short order on my side. I look forward to hearing more about the vision from these candidates and specifically how it will benefit people the people that I represent in the Massachusetts 7th."
Do you think that decision will come in the fall?
"I have no idea. Just like any voter, this decision is deeply personal and it's visceral. There's not an exhaustive calculation. When I feel so moved, that's when I'll act."
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito hold a cabinet meeting at Gloucester City Hall. Baker and Polito promote the administration's housing legislation in Salem. Rep. Richard Neal and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh are guests on "Boston Public Radio." Rep. Joe Kennedy III visits Newton North High School, the MSAA 2019 Teen Mental Health Summit in Westborough, Community Counseling of Bristol County in Taunton, the Bristol County Bar Association Dinner and the A Wish Come True Dinner in Swansea. Rep. Katherine Clark attends the Asian Community Development Corporation's Annual Dim Sum Breakfast and later speaks at the Malden Senior Center. Rep. Ayanna Pressley speaks at a New England Council congressional roundtable.
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A message from the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School:
Harvard's John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics is the premier arena for political speech and debate. Upcoming Speakers: Thursday, April 25 at 6PM with Dr. Peter Navarro and Kennedy School Dean Doug Elmendorf; Monday, April 29 at 6PM with Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Ash Carter. https://iop.harvard.edu/forum/upcoming |
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Charlie Baker steps up the pressure for housing bill," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "Welcome to Housing Choice Palooza. Baker went to Lawrence Thursday for an event with Mayor Dan Rivera to promote his housing bill, while Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito trekked to Barnstable. On Friday, Polito and Baker will meet up with their housing chief, Mike Kennealy, in a Salem brewery. The next stop? Kennealy and Polito head to Williamstown on Tuesday. Someone should order up tour T-shirts. They are eyeing a crucial hearing in May, when the Legislature's housing committee will take up the bill. The legislation is aimed at encouraging more mixed-use projects, particularly in town centers and near train stations, and enabling municipalities to reduce lot-size and parking requirements. Accessory-dwelling units, aka in-law apartments, would be easier to approve. "
- "Senate passes Gender X bill, expands scope," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "A bill to let people choose "X" as a gender instead of female or male on driver's licenses and birth certificates passed the Senate nearly unanimously again, but this time with an adopted amendment to extend that option to all state forms. "Government documents should not be formed based on people's prejudices or their biases, they should be based on reality, the way people live their lives," Arline Isaacson, co-chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, said. 'Now, thanks to the Senate, that will be the case.'"
- "How much is Massachusetts spending on housing immigrants facing deportation? A move to find that answer has died on Beacon Hill," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "County jails in Massachusetts are believed to reap millions from the federal government to house immigrants facing deportation. But details on how much it costs to detain an immigrant each day and how much is reimbursed by the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the net gain of housing immigrants in county jails — are hard to come by."
- "Here's why Sarah Palin's 'death panels' are now being debated in Massachusetts," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican:"The debate over former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's inaccurately named "death panels" has come to Massachusetts. The debate centers on a measure of cost-effectiveness for health care, which assigns a value to a life that changes based on whether a person is healthy. The Affordable Care Act - after public outcry - bans the use of the measurement in Medicare. Now, Rep. Angelo Puppolo, D-Springfield, is trying to ban its use by MassHealth or private insurers in Massachusetts."
- "Under Uber, Lyft pressure, Massport scales back anti-congestion plan," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "IN THE FACE of strong opposition from Uber and Lyft, the Massport board scaled back its anti-congestion plan at Logan International Airport on Thursday by reducing the proposed fee hike on ride-hailing trips and allowing drop-offs at the curb for a large number of passengers. The board lowered the proposed fee for ride-hailing pickups and drop-offs from $5 to $3.25 while Massport staff decided to back away from their original plan to handle all pickups and drop-offs in the central parking garage."
- RELATED: "Did Baker flip on the Massport congestion plan?" by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine. Link.
- "Holmes files amendment to block legislative pay hike," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: " State Rep. Russell Holmes attempted to cut pay for the Speaker and House leadership Thursday, filing an amendment essentially reversing a hefty raise that the House voted for themselves in 2017. "I still believe that two years ago we made a very bad decision," Holmes said outside the House Chamber. "Structurally, I think it's very bad for the commonwealth for us not to be paid the same because of the fact that we have, essentially, the exact same job." The House voted themselves an $18 million pay raise package in 2017, an average 40% increase, overriding a veto from Gov. Charlie Baker, who called it 'fiscally irresponsible.'"
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Electric scooters should not be allowed on 'narrow' North End streets, state rep. says," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com:"Electric scooters have yet to arrive in Boston, but a state lawmaker is urging city leaders to consider making one area off limits to the trendy vehicles: the North End's inner streets. State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, of the 3rd Suffolk District, says the city should place temporary restrictions on micro-mobility vehicles to keep them out of the neighborhood's narrow streets, where they could pose a risk to public safety."
- "Promoting 'hope' after 'trauma': Isaura Mendes marks 20 years of pushing for peace in Dot," by Daniel Sheehan, Dorchester Reporter: "For Isaura Mendes, this Saturday will mark two decades of providing programming and support to victims and survivors of street violence in Dorchester. She established her non-profit organization, The Bobby Mendes Peace Legacy, after her son Bobby was murdered in 1995. Her resolve to continue her work was bolstered in 2006 when another son, Matthew, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Uphams Corner. Mendes will mark the 20th anniversary of the Peace Legacy on Saturday evening at First Parish Dorchester on Meeting House Hill at an awards dinner that will feature the presentation of $1,000 scholarships in the form of "Matthew Courage" awards to seven students, most of them from Dorchester's Boston International School."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Mass. Judge Charged With Obstruction For Allegedly Helping Man Evade Immigration Officials," by Kaitlyn Locke, WGBH News: "Newton District Court Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph has been indicted on obstruction of justice charges for allegedly helping a man in the country illegally evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling announced Thursday that Joseph and former court Officer Wesley MacGregor were charged with one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and two counts of obstruction of justice — aiding and abetting. MacGregor was also charged with perjury. "We cannot pick and choose the federal laws we follow, or use our personal views to justify violating the law," Lelling said in a statement."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Warren, Brown raise alarms about biggest bank merger since crisis," by Victoria Guida, POLITICO: "The biggest proposed bank merger since the 2008 financial crisis is drawing flak from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other key Democrats, who warn that it could create another institution so large that its failure would threaten the economy. The potential deal between BB&T and SunTrust, which would create the nation's sixth-largest retail bank, has also sparked fears about branch closings and whether the marriage will reduce consumers' access to credit, concerns that were voiced on Thursday at a public hearing in Charlotte."
- "Warren and Sanders pounce as Biden enters the race," by Gregory Krieg, CNN: "Joe Biden is in -- and the knives are out. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts welcomed the former vice president to the 2020 Democratic primary on Thursday by reminding voters of their old clashes over the nation's bankruptcy laws. "I got in that fight because (families) just didn't have anyone and Joe Biden was on the side of the credit card companies," Warren said after being asked about the issue following a rally in Iowa. "It's all a matter of public record." The nearly two-decade-old Warren-Biden feud is, indeed, well documented."
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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- Ayanna Pressley slams 'pundits' over use of Marathon bomber to debate voting rights for jailed," by Christina Prignano, Boston Globe: "Representative Ayanna Pressley is pushing back against "pundits" who invoked Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a debate over voting rights for those who are incarcerated. Pressley was responding to a flurry of headlines in the last week over Senator Bernie Sanders' recent comments that people convicted of crimes, even serious ones, should still be allowed to vote while serving their sentences."
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| THE CLARK CAUCUS |
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- "As Moulton runs for president, Tierney considers a comeback," by James Pindell, Boston Globe: "A significant chunk of Representative Seth Moulton's presidential announcement video this week retold the story of his upset victory five years ago over an 18-year incumbent. He framed the moment as launching his political career by bucking the establishment. Now, as Moulton travels the country, back home on the North Shore the man he defeated in that race is weighing a rematch. Friends and former aides to John Tierney have been trying to convince Tierney to run again for the seat that he won in 1996 and eight times thereafter. Some have offered to form a finance committee. Those who have discussed a possible run with Tierney say he has been listening with an open mind."
- "Democrat Seth Moulton says he's unafraid to address 'what it means to be a patriot,'" by John DiStaso, WMUR: "Presidential candidate Seth Moulton says he plans to talk about issues that he says his fellow Democratic candidates tend to avoid as he campaigns for the party's nomination. Appearing on the latest installment of WMUR's "Conversation with the Candidate" series, Moulton said that as a military veteran who has led an infantry platoon in combat, he has an understanding, not shared by most of the other 19 Democrats in the field, of what it means to lead and unite people 'behind a common mission to serve the country.'"
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "John Havlicek, 1940-2019," — Globe: "Newton judge charged with obstructing justice," "Uber, Lyft limits OK'd for Logan." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "Pioneer Valley and Gill-Montague districts to explore merging," by Melina Bordeau and Max Marcus, Greenfield Recorder: "School and town officials are exploring the possibility of merging the Gill-Montague Regional School District with the Pioneer Valley Regional School District. There are two ways it could work. One is to form an entirely new district, which would require first forming a planning committee comprised of three members from each of the potential member towns. The other way would be to modify one of the existing district agreement documents to include the other district's towns."
- "Longtime City Councilor Melissa Mazzeo launches bid to unseat mayor," by Amanda Drane, The Berkshire Eagle: "Melissa Mazzeo has spent a decade on the City Council, and now she's setting her sights on City Hall's corner office. Mazzeo, flanked by family and friends, announced her mayoral candidacy Thursday at City Hall. She promised to start going door to door the same night. The councilor at large got her start on the council in 2009, when she ran in a special election for the Ward 3 seat formerly occupied by now-Mayor Linda Tyer, who had resigned from the council to assume the role of city clerk.Mazzeo was the top vote-getter in her at-large race in 2014, and was elected to a two-year run as council president."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Lawyer: School district went 'too far' with safety plans for sex assault victims," by Breanna Edelstein, Eagle-Tribune: "School administrators "went much too far" when they had victims of sexual assault sign contracts that dictated where they could be in North Andover High in relation to their attacker, according to an attorney recently hired by the district to examine the practice. The attorney, Jeff Sankey, found that the district has legally sound policies spelled out in its handbook, but the school safety plans overstep First Amendment rights and are too binding for victims."
- "WPI named Worcester Red Sox academic tech adviser," by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: "Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Laurie Leshin could neither confirm nor deny a project to develop an advanced nacho-delivery system. But she assured her guests Thursday that technology will be leading off at the new Worcester Red Sox ballpark, as Ms. Leshin and Pawtucket Red Sox Chairman Larry Lucchino signed a deal making WPI the official Worcester Red Sox academic technology adviser. "I've been drafted; the dream of every girl," Ms. Leshin joked as she donned a Worcester Red Sox jersey and handed Mr. Lucchino a WPI hat at a signing ceremony."
- "Salem's Satanic Temple: IRS has designated it a tax-exempt church," Associated Press: "The Satanic Temple says it's been designated a church by the Internal Revenue Service. The Salem, Massachusetts-based organization provided The Associated Press with a notice it recently received communicating its new tax-exempt status. The letter used a code that classifies it as a "church or a convention or association of churches." The group is now listed in an IRS database for tax-exempt organizations."
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| MEDIA MATTERS |
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- "Improper Bostonian magazine says it's shutting down after 28 years," by Don Seiffert, Boston Business Journal. Link.
TRANSITIONS - Todd Boudreau and Matt Karlyn join Morrison & Foerster as corporate partners.
MEET THE DOCTOR TAKING OVER FOR ATUL GAWANDE — Asaf Bitton is the incoming head of Ariadne Labs, the Gawande-founded, Harvard-affiliated think tank in Boston that's gotten buzz for its investigations into checklists, safe births and end-of-life care.
So what happens to Ariadne now that its famous founder was tapped to lead a new company for Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan? "I think there's a recognition among our key partners and key stakeholders that Ariadne Labs has grown into more than being Atul Gawande's lab," Bitton said on POLITICO's "Pulse Check" podcast. "It's a set of programs that are each doing really pathbreaking work, important work." Link.
REMEMBERING JOHN HAVLICEK, from ESPN: "The Boston Celtics announced Thursday evening that John Havlicek, one of the greatest players in the history of one of the sport's most decorated franchises, died at the age of 79." Link.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to former Rep. Niki Tsongas, who is 73; Peru state Rep. Paul Mark, former analyst for the city of Fall River Ralf S. Rho, and Katie Prisco Buxbaum, southwest finance director for Kamala Harris 2020, and a Gavin Newsom, Andrea Campbell and Renee Korgood alum.
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to Patrick Bench, president of Benchmark Strategies (h/t Nicole Herendeen), MIT's Seth Mnookin, Brendan Joyce of Northwind Strategies, WEMF's Mike Crawford, Emmett Folgert, Lou Mandarini, executive director at Massachusetts Laborers Benefit Funds; and Mansoor Abdul Khadir, northeast director for the DNC.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and yes! The Bruins beat the Blue Jackets 3-2. The Red Sox beat the Tigers 7-3.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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A message from the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School:
The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics is Harvard University's premier arena for political speech, discussion and debate. The forum hosts heads of state, leaders in politics, government, business, labor and the media, and is free and open to the public. Join us for the following upcoming events: Ricardo is Dead. Long Live Fair, Balanced, and Reciprocal TradeThursday, April 25 - 6:00pm A presentation on U.S. trade policy by Dr. Peter Navarro, Director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, moderated by Harvard Kennedy School Dean Doug Elmendorf. A Conversation with Senator Bob Corker: Reflections on a Life of LeadershipMonday, April 29 - 6:00pm The Hon. Bob Corker (R-TN), former U.S. Senator from Tennessee, discusses his public service and lessons in leadership with former Secretary of Defense and current Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Ash Carter. https://iop.harvard.edu/forum/upcoming |
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